In my last post, I touched on how to use social engineering to spread the Tall Tale around the web as link bait. This isn’t something I just dreamed up a few days ago, but I think I’ve come up with a way to implement this somewhat devious plan.
The problem as I see it is creating an infrastructure for misinformation – a propaganda machine. I’m pretty sure that I know what needs to be done and, while the process probably could be automated, my gut is that it will work best if we put together decent sized team.
Now keep in mind, we will be promoting link bait - stuff that has a chance to go viral if we, well – incubate the virus (so to speak). We are not going to be promoting your lame sales copy for [insert ANYHING here] or some post on your blog that you thought was pretty good but can actually be thrown into the mediocrity trash bin. We’re going for the funny, outrageous, or unusual (and sometimes useful too).
I think a fairly large team (30-50) will be required to do it right and may take up to an hour of work per day per team member – but probably less. The benefit will be that the team will work in unison to promote whatever link bait we can dream up. So, when you create some link bait (that doesn’t suck), the infrastructure will be in place to help it go viral.
So, some precursors:
For the most part, I don’t think that we will have to use sites in our network to promote the bait: and certainly not all of them for any story. On some occasions, we might want to use some of the sites if it really makes sense – but it won’t be compulsory. We want to leave as few footprints as possible.
If you think I haven’t completely lost my mind and want to be part of this team – I’m laying the groundwork for it now. Once it gets going and we start having success, the doors will be closed to further applicants. We’re not going to publish our results. We’re just gonna keep pumping out link bait after link bait and take over this whole Web 2.0 thing.
I will be keeping the identities of the members secret even from other members (unless they want to be known).
To apply:
Send an e-mail to stonecutters@seoblackhat.com including:
1. Who you are (Name, where you’re from and some background wouldn’t hurt)
2. An e-mail address with the TLD of the site you want me to look at as a “resume.”
3. If you are a regular submitter to any sites – tell me where and provide links.
4. Any Instant Message client ID where I can contact you.
5. If you have successfully built link bait before, send me the links.
6. What industry you focus in.
7. If you have A Respected sig on any of the bigger forums, include it.
8. If I have linked to you, you have linked to me or we have traded e-mails in the past – refresh my memory.
If you think something else might help your application – include it. I take bribes too – JUST KIDDING! (actually, I’m joking if you are).
12 Responses to “SEO Black Hat is Building a Link Bait Team”
George Bush ruined my life. You see in the last two years my wife left me for another man, I have been assaulted with a basebat upside the head. No babysitter nor employer will employ me for more then 3 months. I can’t get my ex-wife to pay child support, and a lot of other things have happened and it is all because George Bush and his cronies are tapping into my life to make it miserable because I made a bad comment about him on a political blog.
Why not just create 100s of accounts on all the 2.0 sites and some automated bots that traverse and form fill, hidden by proxy?
That’s what I’m intending to do.
Excellent Question.
This is much bigger. We are going to be infultrate the A, B and C list bloggers. We are going to Get trusted submitters at slashdot, and boing boing, and fark . . . etc, etc.
This is more than spamming a few solcial bookmarking sites - that’s just a part of it - that’s why we need a team.
Look how this guy tried to bribe me to get on the team 
My Valued Friend,
My name is Mike Ato. Please do not be shocked as why I contacted you. I write you this mail in absolute secrecy and in dear need of your assistance and cooperation. I hope you will not fell embarrassed and I expect you to keep this confidential. Be assured that I am writing you in good faith and trust because I have that conviction to contact you hoping for you full cooperation.
I am a Regional Branch Manager in International Commercial Bank Ltd, Ghana. Over the last two quarters of the year 2004/05 our regional branch made an excess profit of two million, eight hundred and fifty thousand US dollars ($2,850,000) through my numerous transactions as the branch’s manager. I tactful place this profit in an Escrow Account Deposit and did not declare it to our head office while accounting for our annually fiscal profits.
Please can I really trust you to hold this money for me until I arrive in your country and pick it up myself and you deduct 30% of the total money as your remuneration? If you can be of assistance to me, please respond immediately. If you cannot, then can you forget I contacted you? Equally, I will need your help in investing the fund in your country.
I want you to get me a good current account in your country where I can move this money. I will discreetly give you all the information concerning the account so that you can apply to our Head Office for the transfer of the fund to the account.
My dear do not be afraid, there is practically no danger to your person. I will carefully handle the logistical implementation of the transfer. I am hoping for your perfect understanding of my situation and position.
Thanks
Mike
LOL - that just shows that the Nigerian email scammer has moved to Ghana!
I actually know an older gentleman who almost fell for one of those emails - fits the perfect demographic: gullible and never believes “if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is”. LOL
any ideas where to buy a gun?
qwer12, I hear the Boy Scouts are handing out UZI’s
so, how is it going? team complete or a seat left for me?
Send in an app - I’ve approved 15 so far and deferred a buch and sent back some qualifier questions to others. Some REAL quality folks are getting involved - this is going to work.
As long as my team is “Team Discovery Channel”, I’m in.
Oh wait, you already accepted my app.
I feel sorry for the older generatation, and internet newbies.
They are just getting to grips with web 1.0, and now they have web 2.0 to get to grips wiith, closely followed by webscam 2.0 (live from Ghana!)
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Very interesting. Is that sorta like the Indie Virus that you’re planning on?