Hijack Other's Links

Ever wished you could add your own personal touch to the links you share online? Well, there's a clever marketing tactic that lets you do just that. It's called link hijacking, and it's changing the game for businesses looking to make the most of their online presence.

Link hijacking allows you to add your own call-to-action (CTA) or message to any link you share, even if it leads to someone else's website. This means you can promote your brand or offer while sharing valuable content from other sources. It's like having your cake and eating it too – you get to provide useful information to your audience while still keeping them engaged with your business.

This tactic is significant because it turns every shared link into a potential marketing opportunity. Instead of simply directing traffic to other sites, you're creating a subtle but effective way to keep your brand in front of your audience's eyes. It's particularly useful for businesses that regularly share industry news, research, or other third-party content with their followers.

While it might sound complicated, link hijacking is actually quite simple to implement. There are user-friendly tools available that work similarly to URL shorteners, but with the added bonus of allowing you to overlay your own message or CTA on the destination site. This means you can start using this tactic quickly and easily, without needing advanced technical skills or a big marketing budget.

Why this works

Link hijacking works effectively for several reasons, particularly for internet-based businesses:

1. Leverages existing content. Instead of constantly creating new content, businesses can piggyback on high-quality, relevant content from other sources while still promoting their own brand or offer.

2. Increases brand visibility. Every shared link becomes a mini-advertisement for your business, keeping your brand top-of-mind even when users are engaging with third-party content.

3. Improves user experience. By adding valuable context or offers to shared links, you're enhancing the user's experience and providing additional value.

4. Boosts conversion opportunities. Each hijacked link is a potential touchpoint for conversions, whether it's signing up for a newsletter, starting a free trial, or making a purchase.

5. Enhances content curation strategy. For businesses that regularly share industry news or insights, link hijacking allows them to add their unique perspective or expertise to curated content.

6. Cost-effective marketing. Compared to paid advertising, link hijacking is a low-cost way to increase brand exposure and drive traffic to specific offers or landing pages.

7. Measurable results. Most link hijacking tools provide analytics, allowing businesses to track engagement and refine their approach over time.

Real-world applications:

• SaaS company. A project management software startup used link hijacking to add a "Try our 14-day free trial" CTA to industry blog posts they shared, resulting in a 15% increase in trial sign-ups.

• E-commerce store. An online fashion retailer added product recommendations to fashion news articles they shared, leading to a 10% boost in click-through rates to their store.

• Digital course creator. An online educator used link hijacking to offer a free mini-course when sharing relevant industry research, increasing their email list subscribers by 20%.

• Marketplace app. A freelance services platform added a "Join our community" CTA to shared articles about the gig economy, resulting in a 25% increase in new user registrations.

To implement link hijacking effectively:

1. Choose relevant, high-quality content to share
2. Craft compelling CTAs that add value to the shared content
3. Test different messages and offers to optimize performance
4. Monitor analytics to understand which types of content and CTAs perform best
5. Use link hijacking as part of a broader content strategy, not as a standalone tactic

By thoughtfully implementing link hijacking, internet businesses can turn every shared link into a potential marketing win, driving engagement and conversions while providing value to their audience.

How you can steal this

Here's how you can implement link hijacking for your internet business:

1. Choose a link hijacking tool. Start by selecting a tool like Sniply or Shary. These platforms allow you to create custom links with overlaid CTAs.

2. Identify valuable third-party content. Look for high-quality articles, studies, or resources relevant to your audience. Focus on content that complements your offerings without directly competing with them.

3. Craft compelling CTAs. Create short, action-oriented messages that add value to the shared content. For example:

   • SaaS company. "Try our project management tool free for 30 days"
   • E-commerce store. "Get 15% off your first purchase"
   • Digital course creator. "Download our free e-book on [topic]"
   • Marketplace app. "Join our community of freelancers"

4. Design your overlay. Most link hijacking tools allow you to customize the appearance of your CTA. Keep it visually appealing but not intrusive. Use colors that complement your brand and the destination site.

5. Create your custom link. Input the original URL and your CTA into the link hijacking tool. It will generate a new, shorter URL that you can share.

6. Share strategically. Distribute your custom links across your social media channels, email newsletters, and other marketing touchpoints. Be sure to provide context for why you're sharing the content.

7. Monitor and analyze. Use the analytics provided by your link hijacking tool to track clicks, conversions, and engagement. Pay attention to which types of content and CTAs perform best.

8. A/B test your CTAs. Experiment with different messages, offers, and designs to optimize your results. For example:

   • SaaS company. Test "Start your free trial" vs. "See how [product] can help you"
   • Marketplace app. Compare "Find your next gig" vs. "Earn more as a freelancer"

9. Respect the original content. Ensure your CTA adds value without detracting from the user's experience of the shared content. Avoid overly aggressive or misleading messages.

10. Integrate with your content strategy. Use link hijacking as part of a broader content curation and sharing strategy. Balance hijacked links with your own original content to maintain credibility.

11. Consider the user journey. Think about where users will land after clicking your CTA. Create dedicated landing pages that align with the message in your overlay for a seamless experience.

12. Stay compliant. Be aware of any legal or ethical considerations in your industry. Always be transparent about your brand's involvement in the shared links.

By thoughtfully implementing link hijacking, you can turn every shared piece of content into a potential conversion opportunity, all while providing value to your audience and expanding your brand's reach.

Examples of hijack other's links

Here are some examples of how different internet businesses can effectively use link hijacking:

• SaaS company. A project management software startup shared industry blog posts about productivity with a "Try our 14-day free trial" CTA overlay. This resulted in a 15% increase in trial sign-ups from shared content.

• E-commerce store. An online fashion retailer added product recommendations to fashion news articles they shared. For example, when sharing an article about summer trends, they overlaid a CTA for "Shop our summer collection - 20% off". This led to a 10% boost in click-through rates to their store.

• Digital course creator. An online educator used link hijacking to offer a free mini-course when sharing relevant industry research. Their CTA read "Get our free 3-day email course on [topic]", which increased their email list subscribers by 20%.

• Marketplace app. A freelance services platform added a "Join our community of 100,000+ freelancers" CTA to shared articles about the gig economy. This resulted in a 25% increase in new user registrations.

• Subscription box service. A monthly book subscription box overlaid "Get your first box for $5" on book review articles they shared. This tactic increased their conversion rate for new subscribers by 30%.

• Social media scheduling tool. When sharing articles about social media marketing best practices, this company added a CTA saying "Schedule a week of posts in 10 minutes - Start free". They saw a 40% increase in free trial sign-ups from these shared links.

• Online learning platform. This company added "Access 1000+ courses for $1" to educational news articles they shared. The result was a 35% uptick in new student enrollments.

• Fitness app. When sharing articles about health and wellness, this app overlaid a CTA saying "Track your progress with our free 30-day challenge". This led to a 50% increase in app downloads from shared content.

To implement link hijacking effectively:

1. Choose relevant, high-quality content to share. Focus on articles, studies, or resources that provide value to your audience and complement your offerings.

2. Craft compelling CTAs that add value to the shared content. Make sure your message is clear, concise, and action-oriented.

3. Test different messages and offers to optimize performance. Try variations in wording, offers, and design to see what resonates best with your audience.

4. Monitor analytics to understand which types of content and CTAs perform best. Use this data to refine your strategy over time.

5. Use link hijacking as part of a broader content strategy, not as a standalone tactic. Balance hijacked links with your own original content to maintain credibility and provide diverse value to your audience.

Remember, while link hijacking can be a powerful tool, it's important to use it ethically and transparently. Always ensure that your overlays add value to the user experience rather than detracting from the original content.