How to Write Google Discover Headlines Without Clickbait

In Google Discover, your headline and image are all a reader sees before deciding to tap. That makes the headline enormously important — and tempting to exaggerate. Google's Discover policies explicitly discourage clickbait, and readers punish it too. The goal is a headline that is genuinely interesting and honest.

This guide covers what works, what to avoid, and how to use the free SeoSpidie Discover headline generator.

What Google counts as clickbait

Google's guidance asks publishers to avoid tactics that manipulate interest, such as:

• Withholding the key piece of information to force a click ("This one ingredient changes everything").
• Exaggerating or sensationalising the facts.
• Using alarming or emotional language that the article does not justify.
• Misleading previews where the headline and the article do not match.

Headline formulas that work honestly

• Specific result: "How we cut our grocery bill by ₹4,000 a month without coupons"
• Clear news: "Chennai Metro Phase 2: new stations, opening dates and fares"
• Useful list: "7 monsoon car checks that prevent the most common breakdowns"
• Explainer: "What the new UPI limit means for small shop owners"
• Comparison: "Air fryer vs OTG: which is better for an Indian kitchen?"
• Experience: "I tested five budget earbuds for a month — here's what lasted"

Each one tells the reader what they will get, and the article can fully deliver it.

Step 1: Summarise the article in one sentence

Before writing headlines, write one plain sentence: what is the single most interesting thing a reader will learn? This is your raw material.

Step 2: Generate options

Enter your topic or summary into the headline generator. It suggests several headline styles — specific, list, question, explainer, comparison — so you can see different angles side by side.

Step 3: Edit for honesty and specificity

Pick two or three favourites and edit them:

• Add a specific number, place, product or result that is true for your article.
• Remove vague hype words ("shocking", "insane", "unbelievable").
• Check that the article delivers everything the headline promises, early.

Step 4: Check length and fit

Discover cards show headlines in a few lines on a phone, so very long headlines get cut. Aim for one that reads fully at a glance — often around 60–80 characters. Your page title for search can be the same or slightly different; check the search version in the SERP preview tool.

Step 5: Pair it with the right image

The headline and image work together. Use a large, relevant, high-quality image at least 1200 pixels wide that matches the headline's promise — not a stock photo that could fit any article. For the technical side, read how to get traffic from Google Discover.

Related guides

• How to Check If Your Page Is Ready for Google AI Overviews
• Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) Explained for Beginners
• How to Check If ChatGPT and AI Search Can Cite Your Page

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