Is using clickbait ever going to die off?

Summary

Voices of Search Podcast Summary Episode: "Is Using Clickbait Ever Going to Die Off?" Release Date: August 6, 2025 Host: Dena Rickman Guest: [Unnamed Guest]

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Introduction

In this engaging episode of the Voices of Search podcast, host Dena Rickman from GoFundMe delves into the contentious topic of clickbait with a knowledgeable guest. The discussion explores the enduring presence of clickbait in digital content, its implications for both creators and consumers, and the broader dynamics between media providers and audience behavior.

Defining Clickbait: A Shift in Perspective

The conversation begins with the guest challenging the conventional negative perception of clickbait.

Guest [00:49]: "If I ever write a novel, it will be in defense of clickbait, because what does clickbait mean? Writing things that people are interested in and they want to read. So, no, like, it will never stop."

Here, the guest reframes clickbait not as deceitful but as a strategy to capture interest, emphasizing that compelling headlines are a fundamental aspect of engaging content.

The Fine Line Between Clickbait and Quality Content

Dena Rickman probes the guest's defensiveness towards clickbait, acknowledging its often negative connotation.

Dena Rickman [00:43]: "Is using clickbait ever going to die off?"

The guest responds by distinguishing between effective and poor content strategies:

Guest [01:19]: "So, if someone says something is clickbait, then it's not an insult that they were interested and compelled, but it shows that I did something wrong with my content by not fulfilling the promise of that headline."

This highlights the responsibility of content creators to deliver on the promises made by their headlines, ensuring that the initial attraction translates into valuable content.

Historical Context and Consumer Behavior

The discussion progresses to the historical roots of attention-grabbing headlines, with the guest referencing a famous UK headline:

Guest [01:19]: "There's a very famous headline in the UK which is 'Freddie Starr ate my hamster.'"

This example illustrates that sensational headlines have long been a tool for attracting readers.

Dena raises a critical point about the interplay between media practices and consumer demand:

Dena Rickman [02:07]: "Is the blame on the media, or is it the consumer behavior?"

The guest offers a nuanced view, suggesting that while media providers play a role, consumer honesty and self-awareness are equally important:

Guest [02:34]: "People aren't always honest with what they're interested in. Maybe not even honest with themselves with what they're interested in."

Accountability and the Future of Clickbait

Addressing the sustainability of clickbait, the guest posits that as long as content remains compelling, the practice will persist. They argue that improving the quality of content post-click is essential to maintain trust and engagement.

Guest [02:34]: "It's my job to make you click on the link, but it's also my job to make you enjoy after you click on the link."

This reinforces the idea that while attracting clicks is important, fulfilling the audience's expectations ensures long-term success and mitigates the negative aspects associated with clickbait.

The Role of Honesty in Content Consumption

The guest touches upon the concept of honesty in self-assessing one's interests, using the example of romance novel readership:

Guest [03:20]: "You can see that in the Amazon charts. But have you ever met someone who's admitted or when you say, what's your favorite novel, have you ever met someone who said, oh, I love a romance novel? Because I haven't."

This observation suggests that both content providers and consumers may lack transparency about their genuine preferences, contributing to the perpetuation of sensational content.

Conclusion

The episode concludes with a brief acknowledgment of the conversation and a reminder of the podcast's value in providing SEO and content marketing insights. While the discussion on clickbait is succinct, it offers a thought-provoking perspective on the enduring nature of attention-grabbing content and the shared responsibilities of creators and consumers in the digital landscape.

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Notable Quotes:

• Guest [00:49]: "Clickbait will never stop. People will never stop writing things that they're interested in and they want to read."
• Guest [01:19]: "If someone says something is clickbait, then it's not an insult that they were interested and compelled, but it shows that I did something wrong with my content by not fulfilling the promise of that headline."
• Guest [02:34]: "People aren't always honest with what they're interested in. Maybe not even honest with themselves with what they're interested in."
• Guest [03:20]: "Have you ever met someone who's admitted or when you say, what's your favorite novel, have you ever met someone who said, oh, I love a romance novel?"

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Transcript

[Tyson Stockton]

The Voices of Search Podcast is a proud member of the I Hear Everything Podcast Network. Looking to launch or scale your podcast, I Hear Everything delivers podcast production, growth, and monetization solutions that transform your words into profit. Ready to give your brand a voice? Then visit iheareverything.com welcome to the Voices of Search Podcast. A member of the I Hear Everything Podcast network, ready to expedite your company's organic growth efforts. Sit back, relax, and get ready for your daily dose of search engine optimization wisdom. Here's today's host of the Voices of Search podcast, Tyson Stockton.

[Dena Rickman]

Next one's gonna be trend or trash? Okay. Is using clickbait ever going to die off?

[Unnamed Guest]

Okay, well, if I ever write a novel, it will be in defense of clickbait, because what does clickbait mean? Writing things that people are interested in and they want to read. So, no, like, it will never stop. People will never stop writing things that they're interested in and they want to read. And if someone reels you in and they don't fulfill that promise, that's not clickbait. It's bad content.

[Dena Rickman]

Interesting. Okay, so you're kind of flipping it around because I feel like there's so much potentially negative annotation around clickbait.

[Unnamed Guest]

Yeah, but, like, yeah, like, oh, that's clickbait. Like, you made me click on the link. It's like, it's my job to make you click on the link, but it's also my job to make you enjoy after you click on the link. So it's like, so if someone says something that is clickbait, clickbait, then it's not an insult that they were interested and compelled, but it shows that I did something wrong with my content by not fulfilling the promise of that headline or that piece of content. But compelling and interesting headlines have been around since the dawn of the printing press. There's a very famous headline in the UK which is freddie Starr ate my hamster. Which is, I think was from even before I was born, but I remember it because my parents used to talk about it. What I don't remember is whether or not he did eat the hamster.

[Dena Rickman]

No. I feel like people point a lot of blame at the media and the publishing for clickbait, but it's like, is that to blame or is it the consumer behavior? It's like one is chasing the consumer, and if that's what the consumer's wanting and ingesting, it's like, at some point there has to be some, like, ownership or at least, like, accountability of like, I don't know, the consumer, like the public of what they're wanting. Not necessarily like those providing it, maybe.

[Unnamed Guest]

Well, I think the media needs to think about how to help people become interested in everything. Right. So when you're a journalist and you want people to read your expose, not just your weather stories, so it's about making everything as interesting and compelling as the weather. The one thing I'll say about consumer behavior is that a lot of people read romance novels. You can see that. You can see that in the Amazon charts. But have you ever met someone who's admitted or when you say, what's your favorite novel, have you ever met someone who said, oh, I love a romance novel? Because I haven't. So I think people aren't always honest with what they're interested in. Maybe not even honest with themselves with what they're interested in.

[Dena Rickman]

Except for the weather.

[Unnamed Guest]

Oh, except for the weather. Yeah.

[Dena Rickman]

Everyone's honest about being interested in the weather.

[Unnamed Guest]

Yes, we are allowed to admit how much we love talking about and reading about the weather.

[Dena Rickman]

But with that. That's going to wrap up this episode of the Voice of Search podcast. Thanks again to dena Rickman from GoFundMe for joining us. If you'd like to contact Dina, you can find a link to her LinkedIn profile in the show Notes or be sure to check out her company's [e-mail] if you haven't subscribed yet and want a daily stream of SEO and content marketing knowledge in your podcast feed, hit the subscribe button in your podcast app or on YouTube and we'll be back in your feed soon. Thanks for checking out the Voice of Search podcast and we'll see you in the next episode.