Nope.
Well, to be completely accurate, I don’t know if he did or didn’t.
I’m more interested in why you clicked the headline.
"Clickbait" is a term used to describe inflammatory headlines that pique curiosity to get clicks. Since advertisers care about clicks, not readers, the follow up content is often useless and irrelevant. Gawker and Buzzfeed are the best (or worst?) at getting click to an "article" that ends up being a complete waste of time.
Why do we care?
Because if you can use clickbait to share genuine, useful, entertaining content, you will win the hearts and minds of your readers. Since we trust you only put out genuine, useful content, we recommend you use some clickbait tactics to get people to actually read it.
So here you go, the 5 Easiest Clickbait Tactics to make your articles clickable (we urge you to only use these powers for good!)
1. Tie your article to something that’s happening NOW
Did you just have a small heart attack watching Trump at the republican debates? Do you own a fitness company? Here's some free copy:
- “The Trump Workout: Drown your tears in a tub of Ben & Jerry’s and then do these 3 exercises.”
WHATEVER YOU DO, don’t make the subject of your emails “July Newsletter” or the title of your articles “May Marketing Article.” This does not count as being "current" people!
2. Start Your Headline with “Why”
“Why” tickles our curiosity, and when we are curious, we click to relieve that itch. Pair it with something random and you really have a winner:
- Why too few clients is better than too many
- Why you're still single
- Why cookies for breakfast might make you skinny
- Why Tequila is Good for You
3. Be Bold (Ask for Forgiveness, Not Permission)
This is a classic clickbait tactic, but hyperbole and exaggeration do not mean the content has to suck. As long as the article has value other than just the click - it will attract your target market AND you will actually deliver relevant, valuable information to them. This is clearly one of our favorite moves, like in some of these past articles:
4. Turn Any Headline into a Question
“Sugar is poisonous to your health” is less engaging than “Is sugar poisonous to your health?”
When posed as a question, people on both sides of the conversation are curious to see what you’re going to say. State the fact, and you already told me the punchline.
Here's another:
"Trump seems to hate women” does not get as much interest as “Does Trump hate women?”
Basically, do you want to be talked at or asked a question?
Headlines phrased as questions have the potential to entice literally everyone, those who hate, love or are just curious about the subject. You can hear the reactions: "What a dog, I bet he does hate women", or "No way he hates women, he's married at least a few of them!". Regardless of your position, the question makes space for many points of view and opinions.
*(By the way #sorrynotsorry for the Trump bashing. If you find it offensive this is probably not the company for you!)
5. Talk Directly to Them: "You" and "Your"
In the end it’s not about you, it’s about the reader. And using the word "you" subconsciously hammers that home. Talk to your customer, not at them.
- How Would You Spend an Extra $5,000?
- The Best Kept Secret Investment Tip You Won’t Believe
- Your Evening Routine That is Draining All Your Energy
So there they are, the five easiest click bait tricks. If Donald Trump can pull off this kind of lead in the republican presidential campaign using these techniques, imagine what you can do with them!
Note: Sometimes we even help clients write these clickbait headlines... in our BRANDUPS!