Everyone has seen them. They lurk on every website, on every browser, and have the most ridiculous titles. What am I talking about? Clickbait, of course.
Clickbait is a cheap trick — titles that pique interest, evoke fury, or cause sadness without any logic or reason behind them. Web banners may be annoyingly animated, with bright, flashing colors that should come with epilepsy warnings. They say things like “Avoid This Food and Never Exercise Again” or “How to Build a Billion-Dollar Business in Five Minutes.”
Of course most of us can easily recognize these bogus articles, but sometimes they’re tricky and promising. So why use clickbait? Isn’t it unethical, and flat-out lame? Yes and yes. Here’s why you should avoid it at all costs:
- Clickbait titles are unprofessional.
- Your readers or clients will question your credibility.
- Eventually, people ignore clickbait titles altogether — they don’t work with most of us anymore. We scroll past them just like any other obnoxious ad.
Nobody likes clickbait. Professionals of any kind should avoid it. At best, posting a clickbait article will make potential clients roll their eyes. At worst, it could cost you your professional credibility and new clients.
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