Pro-Wrestling's marketing is far different than the typical marketing. Because in the wrestling world, there's "good guys," who are known as "face" characters (gimmick). There's "bad guys," who are known as "heel" characters (gimmick). Each character has a way to get the other person "over." Its not rage bait, they're marketing. Its actually pandering to that particular current storyline.
For example, right now. Yes, literally right now, we are on the road to wrestleMania. The biggest match on the card is Roman Reigns, and Cody Rhodes. The heel is a champion, the face is the challenger in that storyline. Here, they're trying to "push" Rhodes. But there's another match that's just as big. Rey Mysterio vs Dominik Mysterio. Now, in this case, Rey is face, Dom is heel, but in this case, they're trying to put Dom over. Including Rey, because its his son. Passing of the torch. Rey is being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame.
My point is, rage bait isn't the idea for it. The idea is to sell characters via storyline.
To better understand, and this can be applied to politics.
Now,
@Katrina, you're asking
HOW to get attention to your site. I don't know which site you're talking about in your question, but I'll use Christianity Haven as the prime example here. This past weekend - and please don't get mad, and please just hear me out. This past weekend there was a tragedy that hit a private Christian school. The best time to actually get "attention" for your site, would have been right on the heels of the news. You don't actually need to be rage baity with this one, you can just make a thread discussing the issue... Your thread can be an article - a news article. Type it out, and get some posts in there. And then, start marketing. You don't need to be rage baity, as I said, just use the story as a way to get the news out there. Don't worry about immediate conversion, worry about how search engines find your content. If new users see it, let them decide to get in there. If they don't like it, tough luck.
What I am saying is, use your forum as a news website.
Your job as administrator or owner is to attract people to your site - whether it's good, or bad. If bad actors are on your site, you know what to do. But, what I'm saying is, start thinking on your feet, start thinking like a marketing person - Who do I want to attract? Where do I want to find them? How do I reach them? Marketers always have these questions. Who is this news article for? If it's on a christian website, then you know who to target - christians.