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 300+ titles and thumbnails from Creator Hooks in one place, check out Creator Hooks Pro.
No Debt Free For Me
Title: STOP Paying Off Debt! | Unpopular Money Opinions 2022
Formula: STOP (Positive Action) | Unpopular (Industry) Opinions 2022
Hook score: +320
Why this works:
Negativity – This video about stopping doing something beneficial.
Curiosity – Stopping paying off debt is counterintuitive, so it builds lots of curiosity.
Timeliness – This creator lets you know this video is relevant right now by using the current year at the end of the title.
How you can use this hook: Tell your audience to stop doing something that is commonly considered a best practice, but that you know is actually not an optimal decision for them.
Examples of this hook in action:
- STOP Doing Situps | Unpopular Fitness Opinions 2022
- STOP Using Apple’s Email App | Unpopular Tech Opinions 2022
Beary Long
Title: How Long Are We Going To Be In A Bear Market?
Formula: How Long (Will Bad Thing Last)?
Hook score: +361
Why this works:
Curiosity – This title builds curiosity by asking a question.
Negativity – This title uses negativity because it’s talking about a negative subject — bear markets.
Timeliness – Since we’re currently in a bear market, this title joins the conversation in everyone’s mind.
How you can use this hook: Ask your audience how long something bad that they’re currently going through will last.
Examples of this hook in action:
- How Long Will Gas Be Over $5?
- How Long Do Beginner Guitar Players Suck?
Keep It Simple
Title: 10 Simple Exercises To Improve Your Running
Formula: 10 Simple (Activities) To (Achieve Goal)
Hook score: +388
Why this works:
List – Lists add curiosity and make videos feel more tangible.
Desire – Every runner wants to improve their running, and they’d also love to do it with simple exercises.
Time Frame – The thumbnail includes a short, 10-minute time frame, which makes improving your running feel more achievable.
How you can use this hook: Tell your audience about simple activities they can do to improve what they’re working on.
Examples of this hook in action:
- 10 Simple YouTube Tips To Reach 100,000 Subscribers
- 10 Simple Lunches For Back To School Time
I’m Feeling Seen
Title: 5 THINGS ORGANIZED PEOPLE DO (That You Don’t 😱)
Formula: 5 Things (Desired Trait) People Do (That You Don’t 😱)
Hook score: +410
Why this works:
Authority – Organized people have credibility here and this creator’s audience would love to be more like them.
List – Lists add curiosity and make videos feel more tangible.
Negativity – Finishing this title with “(That You Don’t)” gives you a little fomo.
Curiosity – The thumbnail builds curiosity by opening up a loop.
How you can use this hook: Tell your audience about things that people they want to be like do.
Examples of this hook in action:
- 5 Things Rich House Flippers Do (That You Don’t)
- 5 Things Happy People Do (That You Don’t 😔)
R-E-S-P-E-C-T
Title: How to Instantly Make Anyone Respect You
Formula: How to Instantly (Achieve Goal)
Hook score: +727
Why this works:
Desire – Not only is this video about something this audience wants (respect), but it also promises to help them get it instantly.
How you can use this hook: Tell your audience about how to achieve their goals instantly.
Examples of this hook in action:
- How to Instantly Have A Happier Marriage
- How to Instantly Get Better At Journaling
Flop of the Week
Title: How This Pro Runner Handles Race Anxiety
Hook score: -75
Why this flopped: This title has some good things going for it — authority and a pain point. So why did it flop?
I think it’s because the pain point is only shared by a few people. Or maybe most people experience it so few times that by the time they see this video on their home page, they don’t care or have forgotten about it.
Contrast this title with something like, “How This Pro Runner Handles Getting Tired While Running.”
Everyone experiences this pain point, and they experience it every time they go for a run, so it’d probably get more views.
The next time you make a video about a pain point, make sure that there’s enough demand for the video.
Alright, that wraps up this week’s Creator Hooks!
Have any questions about the hooks in this edition?
Reply to this email and let me know!
And 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
P.S. Follow me on Twitter for more title tips @jthomas__
P.P.S. If you want to see all of the videos from Creator Hooks in one place, check out Creator Hooks Pro.