That's Not "Link Baiting", It's Having Bloody Good Content

Re: http://searchengineland.com/070626-095424.php

It seems to me that what search engine land is calling "link baiting" is really just having content worth reading.

For example, to use a non-social old-media style link bait: I write a book. It's gooood. People want more. They look for my name in the bookstore and read more of what I wrote. That's not "bait." That's good content.

Or, a pre-social media example: I write a website. It explores, in graphic, college-aged detail, the details of sexually translated diseases. It's the first website of its kind. People link to it, and email people about it. Is this "bait"? No, it's a good website.

Moreover, using the term link-baiting implies that your content needs a special lure, that day in and day out you are NOT proving "bait"-worthy content. If you commit to you content, then it's not a lure. It's just good content. If you are selling good, then the good content might be good selection, good customer service, good usability -- but the service itself should be the lure.