I’ve asked some of the best creators on YouTube, “How do you write such great titles?”
And they’ve all said the same thing: “I just model what works.”
So this email will show you 5 videos worth modeling to help you write great titles and save time.
Btw, if you want to save more time and see all of the titles and thumbnails from Creator Hooks in one place, check out Creator Hooks Pro.
Baggy Is Back
Title: Why You Look BAD In Baggy/Wide Fit Pants (10 MISTAKES)
Formula: Why [Pain Point] (10 MISTAKES)
Hook score: +403
Why this works:
Negativity – This title addresses a pain point (looking bad in baggy pants) and mistakes around this pain point.
List – Lists make videos feel more tangible (you know exactly what the video will be about) and they add some curiosity.
How you can use this hook: Explain why your audience is experiencing a problem and the 10 mistakes they’re making.
Examples of this hook in action:
- Why Nobody Subscribes To Your YouTube Channel (10 MISTAKES)
- Why You’re So Poor (10 Money Mistakes)
A Key Feature
Title: every MIDI keyboard should have this feature in 2023
Formula: every (Product) should have this feature in (Current Year)
Hook score: +534
Why this works:
Curiosity – This title opens a loop because it makes you wonder what “this feature” is.
Timeliness – Dropping the current year in there lets the audience know this is about new products.
Desire – Most audiences love hearing about products and tools.
How you can use this hook: Tell your audience about the feature every product needs right now.
Examples of this hook in action:
- every Electric Car should have this feature in 2023
- every Smart Watch should have this feature in 2023
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Mr. Muscle
Title: The Only 10 Exercises Men Need To Build Muscle | 4X Mr Olympia Chris Bumstead
Formula: The Only 10 (Things) (Specific Audience) Need To (Achieve Goal) | (Authority Figure)
Hook score: +1261
Why this works:
Desire – This creator’s audience wants to build muscle.
Specific Audience – Calling out men specifically makes men more likely to watch this video.
Curiosity – The constraint of “only 10” makes you wonder what these exercises are and why they’re so special.
List – Lists make videos feel more tangible (you know exactly what the video will be about) and they add some curiosity.
Authority – Dropping Chris Bumstead’s achievement of “4X Mr Olympia” adds credibility and authority to make him more believable.
How you can use this hook: Tell your audience about the only things they need to achieve a goal, according to an authority figure.
Examples of this hook in action:
- The Only 3 Cities You Need To Visit In Italy (According To A Local)
- The Only 10 Spices Amateur Chefs Need In Their Kitchen | Joël Robuchon 31 Michelin Stars
Crash Is Coming
Title: Housing Market Predictions: The 2023 Housing Crash Has Just Begun (It’s Now Completely Illiquid)
Formula: [Niche] Predictions: The [Negative Event] Has Just Begun ([Problem])
Hook score: +1778
Why this works:
Negativity – This title is all about the fear of a housing market crash and the thumbnail adds to that with a warning.
Timeliness – Everybody seems to be waiting for a housing crash and putting the current year in there also grabs the audience’s attention.
Curiosity – Talking about predictions for the future builds a ton of curiosity.
How you can use this hook: Share your predictions for your niche and spice up the drama and fear.
Examples of this hook in action:
- NFL Predictions: 2023-2024 Will Be The Softest Season Yet
- Job Market Predictions: The 2023 Job Market Is The Most Competitive
Hiking Hints
Title: 20 Thru Hiking Tips in 6 Minutes for Your FIRST Thru Hike
Formula: 20 (Activity) Tips in 6 Minutes for Your FIRST (Activity)
Hook score: +2021
Why this works:
List – Lists make videos feel more tangible (you know exactly what the video will be about) and they add some curiosity.
Time Frame – The time frame of 6 minutes make this video with a lot of tips feel less intimidating.
Beginner – Making videos for beginners (in this case, for people looking for their FIRST thru hike) is a great strategy because it attracts a large, specific subset of the audience that is also willing to learn.
Desire – This creator’s audience loves thru hikes.
How you can use this hook: Give your audience 20 tips in a short amount of time to help with their first time doing something.
Examples of this hook in action:
- 20 Marathon Tips in 6 Minutes for Your FIRST Marathon
- 20 Home Buying Tips in 6 Minutes for Your FIRST House
Flop of the Week
Title: What Does Everyone Misunderstand About Eugenics?
Hook score: -85
Why this flopped: The best titles are written in simple, easy-to-read language.
Is “eugenics” a simple word? No.
Also, bold statements often work better than questions.
If I were to rewrite this title, I’d turn this into a statement with an opinion, instead of just posing a vague question about an intellectual topic.
Alright, that wraps up this week’s Creator Hooks!
Hope you enjoyed this week’s edition and if you know a fellow creator who needs help with writing better titles, please send them to creatorhooks.com.
– Jake
(@jthomas__ on Twitter)
P.S. Read previous editions here.
P.P.S. If you want to see all of the videos from Creator Hooks in one place, check out Creator Hooks Pro.