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 see all of the titles and thumbnails from Creator Hooks in one place, check out Creator Hooks Pro.
Just One Thing…
Title: Galaxy S22 ULTRA Review | The Best Phone EXCEPT… (1 month later)
Formula: (Product) Review | The Best (Product Category) EXCEPT… (1 month later)
Hook score: +514
Why this works:
Curiosity – “EXCEPT” opens a loop and makes you wonder what the exception is.
Negativity – Her face in the thumbnail and the “EXCEPT…” make you feel like there’s something bad about the phone.
Time Frame – Trying the phone for 1 month gives more credibility for this video.
How you can use this hook: Tell your audience about a tool that is the best, except for one little thing.
Examples of this hook in action:
- Slam Shady Review | The Best Paddletail EXCEPT… (5 Trips later)
- Bench Press: The Best Chest Exercise EXCEPT… (3 Month Test)
Scenic Views
Title: 82hrs on Amtrak’s MOST SCENIC TRAIN! – The California Zephyr
Formula: (Time) on (Entity)’s Most (Adjective) (Object) – (Object Name)
Hook score: +909
Why this works:
Extreme – “Most Scenic Train” is much more interesting than “One of Amtrak’s Most Scenic Trains.”
Time Frame – The “82hrs” makes this video feel more tangible and gives it credibility because it’s not just a walkthrough tour — they spent a long time on the train.
How you can use this hook: Tell your audience how you spent a specific amount of time in or at an extreme place.
Examples of this hook in action:
- 24hrs on Reddit Home Page – Our Business Exploded
- 3-Day Shoot In America’s Prettiest National Park – Photographing Zion
That’s One Way To Look At It…
Title: Top 10 Poorest Counties in the US. (Poverty=Cheap Real Estate)
Formula: Top 10 [Negative Trait] in [Area or Category] ([Negative Trait]=[Benefit To Audience])
Hook score: +912
Why this works:
List – Lists make videos feel tangible and add some curiosity.
Negativity – People are drawn to negative lists, like this one. When you look at this channel you see some of their highest-viewed videos are negative lists, like “10 Countries People Hate To Visit” and “Nevada’s Worst Rural Towns”.
Desire – At the very end they slip in a benefit for real estate folks: “Poverty=Cheap Real Estate”
How you can use this hook: Make a list of negative things in your industry, but include a little benefit for the audience at the end.
Examples of this hook in action:
- Top 10 Hardest Jobs in America (Hard Jobs=Tough Employees)
- 10 Most Competitive Ecom Niches (Competitive=Lots Of Potential Income)
Plant Daddy
Title: 7 Things Plant Experts Do That You Probably Don’t
Formula: 7 Things (Niche) Experts Do That You Probably Don’t
Hook score: +3589
Why this works:
List – Lists make videos feel tangible and add some curiosity.
Authority – “Plant Experts” gives this video credibility.
Curiosity – This feels like you’re getting some insider information, which builds curiosity.
Negativity – “That You Probably Don’t” adds some FOMO to this title.
How you can use this hook: Make a list of things experts in your industry do that your audience doesn’t.
Examples of this hook in action:
- 7 Things Professional YouTubers Do That You Probably Don’t
- 7 Things Real Estate Experts Do That You Probably Don’t
So It Begins
Title: Index Fund Investing Could Change Forever
Formula: (Industry) Could Change Forever
Hook score: +3412
Why this works:
Curiosity – “Could Change Forever” builds curiosity two ways. First, it opens a loop and makes you wonder, “What will change? How will it change?” And second, it’s about the future, and people are inherently curious about the future.
Negativity – The thumbnail is full of fear — the word, “worried,” and the creator with a worried expression — both of which help to grab your attention.
How you can use this hook: This is simple: tell your audience that your industry could change forever.
Examples of this hook in action:
- Online Dating Could Change Forever
- Public Schools Could Change Forever
Flop of the Week
Title: Unboxing My New Monitor! | Apple Studio Display First Impressions
Hook score: -89
Why this flopped: Most of the videos from this channel are about new laptops and phones.
New laptops and phones are sexy.
Are new monitors sexy? I don’t think so.
Plus, almost everybody has a laptop and phone. Not everybody has a monitor.
Lesson: if you want your videos to get lots of views, pick a sexy topic that has a big potential audience.
Alright, that wraps up this week’s Creator Hooks!
If you know a fellow creator who needs help with writing better titles, please send them to creatorhooks.com.
– Jake
P.S. You can see past newsletter editions here.
P.P.S. If you want to see all of the thumbnails and titles from Creator Hooks in one place, check out Creator Hooks Pro.