The majority of people usually understand what clickbait is, but if you’re one of the few who still don’t understand it, then this is the perfect article for you.
Clickbait is a headline that is sensational in order to entice you to click on a link to an article, image, or video. Clickbait titles frequently play on your emotions and pique your curiosity rather than offering unbiased facts.
After you click, the link’s host website receives money from ads, but the actual content is typically of dubious veracity and quality. Websites utilize clickbait to generate more cash from advertising by getting as many clicks as they can.
Although flashy headlines and content have been utilized since the 19th century, they are increasingly common in the digital era. Clickbait still has the same goal as its predecessor, which is to grab your attention by whatever means necessary, even though it is based on an ancient concept.
For instance, if you are looking for Centurylink internet deals and come across a clickbait headline that reads, “You may now receive fiber internet in your neighborhood,” you might not be directed to any ISP.
Let’s find out whether clickbait is genuinely harmful and how to prevent it.
Why is Clickbait Such a Problem?
Websites that use clickbait often prioritize garnering clicks over generating high-quality content. This suggests they don’t mind wasting your time with substandard stuff. When clickbait is combined with the fabrication of fake news, it can be dangerous.
Readers are moved by the outrageously false headlines, and subsequently, share the material on social media. You might be curious as to why clickbait and fake news continue to circulate despite their subpar quality and veracity.
On social media, users too frequently post headlines without reading the full content.
Is Clickbait Really That Bad?
I believe it’s safe to say that everyone wants to create content that drives more people to their websites. There are a variety of content marketing strategies that can aid you with this, but keep in mind that not all of them are search engine friendly.
Nobody is more familiar with the content of your website than Google. This is due to its regular upgrades. Google is likely to penalize you if your webpage’s URL, title, and headers are unrelated to its content.
You’ll see a change in your SERPs if it occurs. Here are some other effects of clickbait:
- Bounce Rate: When a visitor clicks through to your website and finds nothing of interest, they will leave, increasing the bounce rate of your website.
- Backlinks: Getting links from websites with a worse reputation might lower your page authority score and page ranking.
- Digital PR: Your brand’s reputation will suffer over time if your site is known for making absurd claims and using false headlines to boost traffic.
Can Titles and Headlines Alone Help Your Website Rank?
Well, the answer, in this case, would be no. Although some clickbait headlines could generate a lot of traffic for your website, Google looks at other things when determining page position and authority.
Even if hundreds of people legitimately land on your page, your rankings will suffer if they leave because your content does not correspond to the headline.
Where Does Clickbait Come From?
It is hard to avoid because you can find it at practically any place online. While many credible websites, like weather reports and news organizations, provide ad space to clickbait content, clickbait headlines are popular in online spaces like social media and blogs. This means that even when you’re on a reliable website, you should take caution before clicking a link.
How to Stay Away From Clickbait?
You should pay close attention to the headlines and titles of your webpage. Google’s algorithms are capable of comprehending the information on your websites, and they will check to see whether it matches the headline and page title.
The title and headlines of your webpage should accurately reflect the content and URL of the page if you don’t want to receive a penalty. In any situation, you should avoid clickbait, and we’ll give you a quick suggestion on how to achieve that. Here’s how to avoid clickbait:
Create SEO-Friendly Headings and Titles
If you want to steer clear of clickbait, try this approach. You must make sure that the title and headlines of your page are both SEO-friendly and closely related to its content. You can conduct in-depth keyword research to find the most popular search terms associated with your content, then only include them in the page title and headings.
Google can use this to check that your webpage is relevant to the keywords you use. Once you have them all, you may incorporate them effectively into your text. Always use these keywords in the title and headings of your website.
In addition to suggesting meta descriptions and other things, SEO tools recommend keywords for your content.
All in All
Clickbait may appear appealing if you want to attract traffic to your website as quickly as feasible. In order to increase clicks and views, clickbait is a popular marketing strategy. However, it will eventually lower your website’s score.
By creating SEO-friendly page titles and headlines, you can avoid using clickbait. Additionally, if your internet connection is fast enough, you can use SEO tools to identify the most popular search terms.
We hope this article has helped you understand clickbait’s negative effects on your website and brand authority as well as how to avoid it. Please share any additional tips you have with us in the comments section.
