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.
P.S. Last month I ran 103 YouTube Title A/B tests to see how the strategies I’ve shared in this newsletter work.
See what happened here.
Post Workout Mistakes
Title: 7 WORST Things to Do After Your Workout
Formula: 7 WORST Things to Do After (Activity)
Hook score: +326
Why this works:
Negativity – After working hard you don’t want to ruin the potential benefits from your workout, so you have to watch this video.
List – Lists make videos feel more tangible and add curiosity.
How you can use this hook: Tell your audience about the worst things they can do after a common activity.
Examples of this hook in action:
- 7 WORST Things to Do After A Job Interview
- 7 WORST Things to Do After A First Date
Inside Namibia
Title: Namibia: A Side Of Africa The Media Won’t Show You
Formula: (Topic): A Side Of (Entity) The Media Won’t Show You
Hook score: +332
Why this works:
Curiosity – This makes you feel like you’re getting in on a secret.
Negativity – This title has an “anti-establishment” or “sticking it to the man” feel to it.
How you can use this hook: Tell your audience about the side of a topic the establishment won’t show them.
Examples of this hook in action:
- Profit: A Side of Entrepreneurship The Business Gurus Won’t Show You
- Head Injuries: A Side Of Football The Media Won’t Show You
One Liner Magic
Title: Top 10 CSS One Liners That Will Blow Your Mind
Formula: Top 10 (Simple Objects) That Will Blow Your Mind
Hook score: +469
Why this works:
List – Lists make videos feel more tangible and add curiosity.
Curiosity – There’s contrast between “one liners” (sounds simple) and “will blow your mind” (sounds incredible).
Desire – This channel’s audience would love some amazing CSS one liners.
How you can use this hook: Tell your audience about simple things that will blow their mind.
Examples of this hook in action:
- Top 10 Bodyweight Exercises That Will Get You Ripped
- 10-Minute Dinners That Will Blow Your Mind
Credit Card Calamity
Title: The Video Credit Card Companies Don’t Want You to See
Formula: The Video (Big Enemy) Don’t Want You to See
Hook score: +530
Why this works:
Curiosity – This builds curiosity by revealing a secret.
Negativity – Like the Namibia example above, this gives a big “anti-establishment” vibe.
How you can use this hook: Tell your audience about the video the “establishment” doesn’t want you to see.
Examples of this hook in action:
- The Video Guitar Teachers Don’t Want You to See
- The Video Apple Didn’t Want Me To Make
Frumpy & Bumpy
Title: How To Not Look Frumpy & Older Than You Are-Get Out of That Rut!!
Formula: How To Not (Unwanted Outcome)-(Encouraging Words)!!
Hook score: +1750
Why this works:
Negativity – This video is all about avoiding an unwanted outcome.
How you can use this hook: Tell your audience how to avoid an unwanted outcome.
Examples of this hook in action:
- How To Not Have an Outdated & Ugly House – Simple Changes!!
- How To Not Be Broke Forever – Escape the Rat Race!!
Flop of the Week
Title: How a South African Who Came From Poverty Changed His Life
Hook score: -89
Why this flopped: The clearest difference between this video (32K views) and the Namibia video above (674K views) is the thumbnail.
The Namibia thumbnail is bright and you can clearly see their faces.
This thumbnail is dark and the subjects are small.
It’s also a little wordy and complicated. To make it simpler and punchier, I would’ve worded it like this: “How a Poor South African Changed His Life”.
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.
Here’s to the war on boring content.
– 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.