Evergreen Times

Admit it! You’ve clicked on that clickbait before. How did that go? Should you try the same strategy? Here’s why I think clickbait is not something a freelance writer or website owner should craft or host. Too bad I used a clickbait title for this, but I couldn’t resist.

Have I written clickbait stuff before? Up to a point. Those “5 tips for” and “Absolutely must have” titles are a dead giveaway. And, I have to be honest, I’ve written them for money, which is a motivation most of us will understand. For my sins, I’ve even tried to turn them into reasonably good-quality pieces of writing, but I still hate them. Except for the money. Everyone likes money. But I spent it already.

Here’s why you really, really should avoid clickbaiting on your website especially if you like money.

It’s a Cheap Shot and it Makes You Look Cheap

Clickbaiting attracts readers by being emotive and sensational. It’s a cheap shot and if you’re honestly hoping to attract a savvy readership, you should probably avoid titles like “Supercharge Your Business With These 3 Tips.” All businesses are different. What works for one may not work for another. And if we could all be “supercharged” why aren’t we already? Obvious bollocks isn’t going to get you anywhere with a thinking audience.

Clickbait over-promises and under-delivers. Do you want to be remembered for that? You shouldn’t! Cheap will always be cheap, and quality and cheapness seldom reside under one roof. So, what impression would you prefer to create?

People are Smarter Than You Think

Clickbait appeals to the lowest possible common denominator. Most people recognize it and won’t touch it unless they’re very bored or just curious as to how bad it’s going to be. And it usually doesn’t disappoint on that score.

Your “10 Beauty Hacks that Cosmetics Companies Don’t Want You to Know About” are going to include commonsense tips like “drink enough water” and “get good quality sleep.” Cosmetics companies don’t give a damn about whether people know these things or not.

So, you can use cucumber to soothe the area around your eyes. Whoop-de-do. Everyone knows that, but “LaGorgeousness Cream with Collagen and plumpy uppy stuff” has greater commercial appeal because people don’t have to spend at least half an hour with slices of cucumber over their eyes.

A typical reaction to clickbait goes along the lines of “Oh for heaven’s sake.” Did it give you an ad placement opportunity? If that’s all you wanted, good luck to you. Most of us want quality websites. Clickbait doesn’t result in that.

Clickbait is Often Superficial or Factually Incorrect

The whole point of clickbait is… wait for it… to get clicks. What happens after that isn’t really important. That means that the content itself is often shoddy, poorly put together, badly researched, wildly inaccurate, or deliberately untrue. I’ve often said that AI can’t replace human writers, but if you trained it on clickbait, it’d probably deliver a “perfect” result. Any fool can do it, and lots of fools do.

I suddenly got an urge to try Chat GPT on this. Given the instruction “Create a clickbait article on clickbait” I got:

🔥 “CLICKBAIT Exposed! The Dark Secrets of Online Manipulation Revealed! 😱 Don’t Fall for These Sneaky Tricks Again!”

You won’t believe what’s really happening behind those irresistible headlines! Prepare to be shocked as we lift the curtain on the devious world of CLICKBAIT and its mind-bending tactics. Brace yourself, because your online experience will never be the same after this eye-opening read!

🎯 #1: The Psychology Behind Clickbait: How They Hack Your Brain! 🧠💔

Discover the sinister techniques used by clickbait creators to tap into your deepest emotions and trigger impulsive clicks. Find out how they exploit your curiosity, fear, and desires for their gain!

🕵️‍♂️ #2: The Clickbait Masterminds Unmasked: Who’s Pulling the Strings? 😈🎭

Unravel the mystery behind the shadowy figures orchestrating the clickbait universe. Are they genius marketers or digital con artists? Learn their shocking secrets!

🚦 #3: The Clickbait Hall of Shame: Top 10 Most Outrageous Headlines! 😡👎

From “This Will Change Your Life Forever!” to “You Won’t Believe What Happens Next!” – we expose the most over-the-top and downright deceitful clickbait headlines. You’ll be furious at how they’ve manipulated your emotions!

💡 #4: Clickbait or Legit? How to Spot the Difference and Protect Yourself! 🕵️‍♀️🛡️

Arm yourself with the essential tips and tricks to discern between genuine content and clickbait trash. Stay one step ahead of the clickbait trap and safeguard your online experience!

📈 #5: The Clickbait Empire’s Dark Side: How It’s Shaping the Internet! 🌐💻

Discover the shocking influence of clickbait on content creation, social media, and even traditional news outlets. The scary truth about how they’re reshaping the online landscape!

🧪 #6: Clickbait’s Toxic Impact on Society: From Misinformation to Mental Health! 😢🤯

Delve into the harmful consequences of clickbait on vulnerable individuals and the spread of false information. Uncover the real-world effects of this digital epidemic!

🚫 #7: Banned! The Most Controversial Clickbait Scandals Exposed! 💣🚨

We dig deep into the dark history of clickbait and unveil the shocking cases that led to bans and lawsuits. You won’t believe the chaos they’ve caused!

💻 #8: Clickbait Click Wars: Inside the Battle for Your Attention! 🎮🕹️

Step into the high-stakes world of clickbait warfare as media giants compete for your clicks. Discover the tactics they use to outwit each other and dominate your feed!

💰 #9: Clickbait’s Billion-Dollar Industry: Follow the Money Trail! 💸🔍

How much are these catchy headlines really worth? Uncover the eye-watering profits that fuel the clickbait empire and the surprising ways they monetize your curiosity!

🔒 #10: Clickbait No More: Take Back Control of Your Online Experience! 🛡️💪

Empower yourself with foolproof strategies to resist the allure of clickbait and navigate the internet with confidence. Reclaim your time and attention from the clickbait clutches!

🔗 Don’t let the clickbaiters manipulate you any longer! Share this article with friends and family to spread awareness about this digital deception! 🚀💻

As clickbait goes, it’s a work of sheer genius. Spot the emotive language, the notion that everyone’s out to “get” you, the overuse of emojis and exclamation marks, and the lack of proof for the sweeping statements made. What’s more, it keeps promising and then fails to deliver. Perfect.

I don’t ordinarily recommend Chat GPT, even when you give it a reasonable question, but in this genre, it’s superb and as an example of clickbait, it’s spot on. For once, I wholeheartedly recommend Chat GPT – for clickbait. But that was just a diversion. Let’s get back to the topic at hand.

Clickbait Incurs Search Engine Penalties

Assuming you’re in this for the long haul and want good page authority and search engine rankings, clickbait isn’t a great idea. Yes, you can hide good content behind a clickbait title, but people looking for good information probably won’t click it. And, if your content is actively misleading or poor-quality (thanks, Chat GPT – where are your facts?) you’ll incur search engine penalties. Here’s hoping I don’t!

Clickbait only requires a sensational headline, lots of emojis (optional but preferred), questionable “facts” and a heavy dose of paranoia. Thoughtful content requires human empathy, thorough fact-checking and – you guessed it – at least a bit of real thinking. Get in touch if you’d like me to do some of that for you.