Click-baiting
Click-baiting is using misleading or exaggerated content to trick people into clicking your ads. It might get clicks, but it destroys trust and gets you penalized.
Examples of click-bait tactics:
- "You won't BELIEVE what happened next..."
- Fake countdown timers or scarcity
- Misleading thumbnails or images
- Promises your product can't deliver
- Sensationalized claims without proof
Why click-baiting backfires:
- High bounce rates: People click, see the bait-and-switch, and leave immediately
- Low conversions: Tricked visitors don't buy
- Platform penalties: Facebook, Google, and others actively demote clickbait
- Account bans: Repeated violations lead to suspension
- Brand damage: You become known as untrustworthy
How platforms detect it:
They measure what happens after the click. If people immediately bounce, don't engage, or report your content, algorithms learn that your ads are low quality. Your Quality Score drops and your costs go up.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, eventually. Platforms actively penalize clickbait. Facebook will reduce your reach, Google will lower your Quality Score, and repeated violations can lead to account suspension.
Misleading claims ("You won't believe..."), fake urgency ("Only 2 left!"), sensationalized before/after images, or any content that deliberately misrepresents what users will find after clicking.