link bait 

1. In SEO, content placed on a web site specifically for the purpose of enticing people to link to it.

2. (occasionally) Content that turned out accidentally to be link bait.

Your PR is zero. You need some link bait.

link bait by Downstrike September 19, 2006

link baiting 

The web publishing practice, usually on news or blogging sites, where something controversial is written (or a controversial headling is written) that the publisher knows will get a lot of interest from site visitors.

The ultimate goal is that the link will then appear on link aggregating sites (Digg, Fark, StumbleUpon, College Humor, Drudge, etc.), which will bring even more traffic to the site.

"Hey, look at this! 'Gay Preacher Caught Having Sex With Porpoise!'"

"Hah, looks like link baiting to me."

link baiting by Felio July 27, 2009

linkbait 

A headline or title that attracts a high volume of online links. Applies particularly to bloggers hoping to land on the homepage of Digg or Reddit, or anyone hoping that their post will go viral on Twitter.

"Top 10" lists always make for great linkbait.

linkbait by Dona Francisquita March 22, 2010