Vent: I totally thought link-building was pointless until a buddy's wedding speech

Okay, so I was at my friend's wedding a few weeks back, and another guest (who knows I do websites) asked me the simplest question about how his new bakery could get noticed online. I gave my usual spiel about focusing on good content, but he asked 'What about those mentions you always hear about, do those really help?' and I just brushed it off. Later, during the speeches, the bride talked about how they met at this tiny coffee shop and told everyone to check it out. It hit me (right there, with cake in hand) that's what a real, natural mention looks like, you know? I'd been dismissing all link-building as spammy, but that moment showed me it's just the digital version of a genuine recommendation. Now I'm trying to help people get those real shout-outs instead of chasing sketchy directory links. Funny how a wedding can change your whole work view.

3 comments

3 Comments

max4896d ago

I read an article calling that "earned media" and it finally made sense. It's just people talking about stuff they like without being paid. Your wedding story is the perfect example of that idea working in real life.

umaf446d ago

Honestly that "earned media" idea seems way too clean. Just because someone isn't getting a direct paycheck doesn't mean the talk is free or honest. People share stuff hoping for likes or to look cool, which is its own kind of payment. Your wedding story could have been shared more for social credit than pure love of the product. Calling it "earned" makes it sound noble when a lot of it is just basic human want for attention.

quinn_park2d ago

Felt the same way about earned media sounding too neat. But that wedding example (seriously, it stuck with me) showed how even social credit drives can spread real love for a product. So the term 'earned' works because it's talk the brand actually triggered, for better or worse.