Link building requires consistent effort in order to yield results. While you may succeed in building some links after a certain amount of time, you’ll need to continue earning a steady stream of links in order to guarantee better rankings in search; over time, earned links will gradually disappear. This cycle is perfectly natural and is one major reason why skilled SEO gurus focus intently on earning mentions all over the internet. Link building can be stressful and fruitless in some situations, but there are a few ways to short-circuit the process in your favour. By stirring up some controversy, you can earn plenty of links: we’ll share below what you should (and shouldn’t) do.

Use Valid Information

Generating controversy can be great for your link building strategy, but any claims you make need to be backed up by actual facts. While there will always be some people who call into question the validity of any fact, you do not want to open yourself up to criticism because your data is faulty. When pinging users with controversial opinions, it’s essential that you rely upon generally-accepted sources for citing your information. Not only will it minimize any unnecessary criticism for your brand, but it will ensure that the maximum number of links possible is earned. After all, you’re far less likely to earn links from reputable places if you’re not carefully evaluating your information’s validity and claims.

Use Authority

Some blogs may simply provide personal opinions on a wide variety of issues. In this case, you may not necessarily speak from a position of authority. If, however, your blog or website operates as an authoritative source on a particular topic or issue, then it only makes sense to drum up controversy surrounding this area. Additionally, it is always worth attempting to connect the controversy of the broader topic with any products, services or promotional efforts your website provides. This will not only ensure more links are being built for SEO through the controversy, but it’ll also funnel a greater share of that traffic into inspecting what you have to offer.

Avoid Provocative Images

Expressing your thoughts in a controversial way can be a great way to initiate dialogues and earn links. However, overtly offensive images and forms of media can take this too far. Many websites may be reluctant to link back to your content if you are pinging users with content that is not acceptable for work or home. It’s one thing to have a controversial paragraph written out and cited; it’s quite another to display graphic images that may be suggestive in one or more ways. As such, building your “link bait” should revolve around making the overall content controversial in an ideological sense rather than an overtly graphic sense. This will ensure even those who disagree with you are more likely to drop a link back to your site.

If you can be selective with your claims and facts by citing reputable entities, use your position to speak authoritatively on the subject and avoid excessively graphic content, then you’re very likely to score big with a controversial blog post, article or other form of content.