What are Clickbait Titles – Does it Actually Work in 2023
Last Updated on 17th March 2023 by Ajmer Singh
Clickbait titles are headlines that are designed to grab a reader’s attention and entice them to click on a link to an article or video.
These types of titles are often sensationalized, misleading, or hyperbolic in nature and are used to increase website traffic and engagement.
Clickbait titles are commonly used in online journalism, social media, and online advertising.
While they can be effective in driving clicks, they can also be seen as manipulative and unethical.
What are Clickbait Titles?
Clickbait titles are headlines that promise more than they deliver.
They are used to lure the reader into clicking on the article, with the hope that they will be entertained or informed by what they find.
Clickbait titles can have advantages and disadvantages.
On the one hand, they can be attention-grabbing. On the other, they can be annoying or misleading.
Clickbait Title Examples!
– ’15 Things You Should Never Say to Your Kids’
Advantages:
The title makes you wonder what could be in the article that would make you not want to say them to your kids.
It might be interesting or useful information.
Disadvantages:
The title is misleading, as the article only has 15 tips. It’s not a complete guide to never saying certain things to your kids.
– ‘You’ll Never Believe What Happened Next!’
Advantages:
The title promises something exciting will happen in the article. It makes you want to know what it is.
Disadvantages:
The title is misleading, as it doesn’t deliver on its promise of something exciting happening soon after.
– ‘What Happened To This Man At Age 30 Can Teach Us All A Lesson!’
Advantages:
You can learn something from the article, even if it’s not directly about what happened at age 30.
Disadvantages:
The title is vague and could mean a lot of different things. It’s not clear what the lesson is that you’re supposed to learn.
– ‘You’ll Never Guess Who Wrote This Heartbreaking Letter’
Advantages:
The title is intriguing and makes you want to know who the letter was written by.
Disadvantages:
The title is misleading, as you do guess who wrote the letter in the end. It’s not a big reveal.
– ‘The Sad Reality About What We Do To Pets’
Advantages:
The title paints a picture of something sad; it’s emotional.
Disadvantages:
The title is misleading, as it doesn’t paint an accurate picture of what the article is about. It promises more than it delivers.
– ‘7 Things You Should Never Say to Someone Who Has Lost a Loved One’
Advantages:
This headline lists things you shouldn’t say, which would be useful information to know.
Disadvantages:
The title lacks context and is vague, so it isn’t clear who these things should never be said to or why they shouldn’t be said.
Some readers could also get annoyed at not being told specifically what shouldn’t be said instead.
Why you should avoid clickbait titles?
Clickbait titles are misleading and leave out important details, so readers could be disappointed after reading the article.
They also often lack context, which means you have to read a lot of text before understanding why the information is useful.
Why you should use clickbait titles?
They are designed to make people want to read the article.
They are also sometimes used when writing about something controversial, so they get more attention.
If there’s a lot of text in an article, for example, it might be necessary to summarise it in the title in order for people to be able to tell what it’s about.
If you do use clickbait titles, make sure they are not misleading or leave out too much information.
You should specify what the article is about and emphasise why your readers would want to read it.
FAQS about Clickbait Titles!
A: Social media is where you tend to share quick posts and articles, so it’s easier to write vague or misleading titles.
People using social media might be looking for entertainment as well as information, so they prefer compelling titles over informative ones.
Q: How can I make sure my clickbait title is accurate and doesn’t mislead readers?
A: Make sure you specify what the article is about and emphasise why your readers would want to read it.
You can also list the advantages and disadvantages of using a particular clickbait title.
Q: Is it okay to use a clickbait title if my article is really long?
A: It’s better to use an informative and factual title, even if there’s a lot of text in the article.
If you want people to continue reading your article but don’t know what to write for a clickbait title,
aim to be accurate and clear in order to avoid misleading readers.
Q: What if my article is about something controversial?
A: If you’re writing about something controversial, using a clickbait title can be a way to get more attention.
However, make sure that the title is accurate and doesn’t mislead readers.
You should also emphasise why people would want to read the article.
Q: How do I avoid clickbait titles if my website doesn’t allow them?
A: If you can’t use clickbait titles, make sure your title is accurate and emphasises why someone would want to read the article.
You can also write a brief summary of the article as the first sentence or paragraph.
This will give readers a taste of what the article is about without misleading them.
Q: What are some examples of clickbait titles?
A: ‘7 Things You Should Never Say to Someone Who Has Lost a Loved One’
‘Why I’m Banning My Kids From Saying These 9 Phrases,’
‘You Won’t Believe How This Man Stole An Entire Castle,’
‘This Is The Most Dangerous Place In The World To Live.’
‘The Shocking Truth About (Controversial Topic)’
‘5 Ways to (Something Useful)’
‘9 Simple Tips To Help You Avoid (Something Scary)’
‘Everything You Need To Know About (Something Confusing)’
Q: Aren’t all titles a form of clickbait?
A: Not all titles are clickbait, but some are more likely to be than others.
Informative and factual titles are less likely to be misleading, while clickbait titles are designed to make people want to read the article.
You should avoid using misleading or vague titles that leave out important information.
Using a clickbait title isn’t always a bad thing, but you should be careful not to mislead your readers.
If you’re going to use one, make sure it’s accurate and emphasises why they would want to read the article.
You can also list the advantages and disadvantages of using a particular clickbait title.
If you want people to continue reading your article but don’t know what to write for a clickbait title, aim to be accurate and clear in order to avoid misleading readers.
Q: Do clickbait titles really work?
A: Yes, they can make writing articles easier by generating more views and comments.
However, you should always check that your title is accurate or it could mislead readers instead of attracting them.
Q: What are the advantages and disadvantages of using a clickbait title?
A: Some advantages of using a clickbait title are that it can generate more views and comments on an article.
It can also help to attract more readers to an article.
However, you should be careful not to mislead your readers with a clickbait title.
If the title is inaccurate, it could damage the credibility of your website or article.
You should also emphasise why people would want to read the article.
Some disadvantages of using a clickbait title are that it can be misleading and damage the credibility of your website or article.
It can also generate negative reactions from readers.
You should always make sure that your title is accurate before publishing an article.
Q: When should I avoid clickbait titles?
A: You should avoid using clickbait titles if your website doesn’t allow them, as this could damage the credibility of your website or article.
You should also make sure that your title is accurate and emphasises why people would want to read the article.
Q: Which words can I use in a clickbait title?
A: You can use words like ‘you’, ‘people’, and ‘never’. You could also try to emphasise the main topic of your article.
For example, if you were writing an article about animal rescues, you may want to use words like ‘pets’ or ‘rescued.’
Q: What are some tips for creating a clickbait title?
A: 1. Make sure your title is accurate and emphasises why people would want to read the article.
2. Use provocative or eye-catching words to generate more interest.
3. Avoid using words that could be misleading or inaccurate.
4. Try to be clear and concise in your title.
5. Emphasise the main topic of your article.
6. Use numbers or lists to make your title more enticing.
7. Be creative and come up with a catchy headline that stands out from the rest.
8. Always check for accuracy before publishing an article.
9. Test different titles to see which one generates the most interest.
10. Remember that a clickbait title isn’t always a bad thing, but you should use it sparingly and be careful not to mislead your readers.
Conclusion
Clickbait titles are a form of click-baiting.
The practice is often used by websites to attract attention and increase the number of clicks on their content, but does this really work?
It depends on what your topic is about.
If you’re trying to promote an article about something like “how to make pancakes from scratch” then it’s probably not going to be as effective,
as if you were promoting an article with more sensationalist headlines such as “The Shocking Truth About Pancakes.
In general, though, research has shown that people tend to react negatively when they feel tricked or manipulated into clicking something.
So it might be worth considering whether using a title like “How To Make Scrumptious Pancakes From Scratch!!”