Using Product Page Linkbait for Ecommerce
Creating truly engaging content to build links and gain social shares for an ecommerce business can often prove a little tricky. That’s where thinking outside the box and creating high quality linkbait comes in.
Linkbait, put simply, is content that has value and is share worthy. The ultimate goal is to attract links, along with gaining social shares and exposure. Done well, linkbait can be an incredibly cost effective way to increase your online presence and boost your position in search rankings. So how can it be used in ecommerce? Product pages, both fake and real, are one of the most popular choices.
Here’s a look at some successful ecommerce linkbait and why it did so well.
ThinkGeek’s Canned Unicorn Meat
With over 29k of Facebook shares and thousands more from twitter and Pinterest, this page from ThinkGeek is a truly successful piece of linkbait. For only $9.99, shoppers can purchase a can of delicious unicorn meat (later revealed to be a slightly less gruesome ‘dismembered stuffed unicorn in a can’). Not only was this fake page incredibly successful but it’s also a very low maintenance and potentially low cost piece of content. The content of the page also gives value (and more reason to share) with its hilarious product description and image gallery. ThinkGeek even invites customers to upload their own ‘Action Shots’ – another great way to encourage people to share.
Old Spice’s Fake Product Sites
Old Spice are known for their hilarious and unusual marketing, and these fake product websites didn’t disappoint! The cologne brand created 9 fake websites, each for an unusual and unnecessary product such as Executive Spray Tan Parties or Flavoured Soul Patch Powder. Click anywhere on the page and you face a video “Internetervention” from the Old Spice guy. Not only did this campaign create a huge buzz, generating plenty of links and shares, but Old Spice also cleverly added a call to action. Viewers were encouraged to share the fake pages with friends, tricking them into an Internetervention themselves and of course socially sharing the sites.
This is a great example of creating linkbait to tie in with a popular topic. Uploaded to coincide with the release of the hugely popular Hobbit films, this fake product page featured a replica of Bilbo Baggins’ door complete with Gandalf’s rune. It’s not only worth creating content to coincide with current topics but also specific ones. This fake product was picked up by fan websites and shared amongst the online community of Hobbit fans. Making something with value to a certain group of people can also give you a specific starting point for outreach and PR.
Wish’s 10 Downing Street Experience
It’s not just fake products that can net you links and shares. Gift experience providers Wish caused a stir with this fantastic fake experience page. Customers were presented with the opportunity to purchase a trip into this highly regarded political location for the small sum of £250,000. It’s not just the idea that makes this a great piece of link bait, but also how well it is executed. The copy that accompanies the product is funny enough to give value to readers and make them laugh, a great way to get it shared.
[image error]
