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I am looking for the appropriate term or phrase (I think there is one ) that is used to refer to the practice of artificially increasing the Internet traffic on a subject, a product or an ad, for instance, (with more views, likes etc. ) to make them appear more attractive and more popular.

I am not familiar with Internet terminology so I can't do appropriate research on my own.

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    click bait is a cheap trick for getting more visitors. For example, using controversial titles, attractive thumbnails etc on YouTube videos..
    – NVZ ♦
    May 2, 2016 at 11:37
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    I don't think it's off topic, but more context would definitely improve the question.
    – NVZ ♦
    May 2, 2016 at 11:42
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    I think it's called "Paying a bunch of Chinese to generate fake traffic."
    – Hot Licks
    May 2, 2016 at 12:12
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    on a tangent, I don't know the term, but someone who make such posts or artificial promotions for a private company is often called a "corporate shill"
    – P. O.
    May 2, 2016 at 12:15
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    For one part, it's search engine marketing. Otherwise, it's "buzz marketing/creation/generation". See also viral marketing.
    – Graffito
    May 2, 2016 at 12:25

2 Answers 2

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Click-bait refers to internet content whose only merit is to generate traffic. If I wanted to say a site has modified their content to degrade from it's quality for the sake of increasing traffic, I might say the site click-baited their content.

Search engine optimization (SEO) refers to the practice of making your site more likely to be returned by search engines.

Astro-turfing is used to describe a company or political group pretending to be a bottom up movement. A typical tactic is create false internet profiles and creating comments or reviews using an alias.

Perhaps one of these terms suits your purpose.

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It is an umbrella term and can work in several scenarios.

Try tout - to solicit patronage

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    I think you are on the right track. Please elaborate.
    – NVZ ♦
    May 16, 2016 at 7:28
  • @NVZ I don't think I possibly could because I've personally experienced it being used it when people promote a nightclub, store or some service. It is too broad.
    – vickyace
    May 16, 2016 at 7:49

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