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.
Yikes
Title: What is the Unforgivable Sin?
Framework: What is the (Intense Negative Entity)?
Hook score: +300
Why this works:
Curiosity – This title builds curiosity by asking a question and making you want to know what the unforgivable sin is.
Negativity – This title and thumbnail are full of fear, which stresses the audience out, which makes them want to click.
Epic – “Unforgivable Sin” just has an epic feel to it, which makes this video more interesting.
How you can use this hook: Ask what an intense, negative thing is in your niche.
Examples of this hook in action:
- What is the Unforgivable Lie?
- What is the Deadliest Drug In America?
Timely Turnips
Title: What Crops to Sow in June for Self-Sufficiency
Framework: What (Entity) to (Activity) in (Specific Time) for (Goal)
Hook score: +380
Why this works:
Desire – This creator’s audience loves crops and self-sufficiency.
Timeliness – This video was published on June 1, when people were thinking about what they could plant in June.
Curiosity – This title is a bit of a cliffhanger because it leaves you wanting to know which crops are in the video.
How you can use this hook: Tell your audience about things they can do this month to achieve a goal.
Examples of this hook in action:
- What Stocks to Buy in August for Passive Income
- What National Parks to Visit in September For Beautiful Hiking
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The New “Ultimate Guide”
Title: Making A Music Video From Start to Finish (Behind the Scenes, VFX, Color Grading & MORE)
Framework: Making A (Entity) From Start to Finish ([Specific Details])
Hook score: +517
Why this works:
Desire – This creator’s audience wants to learn how to make music videos and showing them how to make one from start to finish promises a ton of value. It kinda feels like the new version of “The Ultimate Guide” content that got played out in the early days of content marketing.
Beginner – Talking about making videos from start to finish also feels very beginner-friendly, and beginners are the biggest, hungriest part of any audience.
Length – I’m not saying this is why this video did so well, but it’s interesting to note that this video is ~3 times longer than most of the other videos on this channel. It probably got a ton of watch time and gave the audience time to build a stronger bond with the creator.
How you can use this hook: Show your audience how to do something from start to finish.
Examples of this hook in action:
- Getting Ready For Date Night From Start to Finish (Choosing My Outfit, Perfume & MORE)
- Making A Brisket From Start to Finish (Selecting the Meat, Rub Recipe, Texas Crutch & MORE)
Six Figure Start
Title: $ix Figures My First Year As A YouTuber? True Or False? You Decide…
Framework: (Goal) My First Year As A (Position)? True Or False? You Decide…
Hook score: +788
Why this works:
This title breaks all the best practices, but it’s such a good idea that it still did well. Here’s why the idea is so good:
Desire – Most YouTubers would love to make six figures in their first year.
Beginners – Talking about his “first year” relates to beginners, which is the biggest, hungriest group of any audience.
Controversy – Many people think it’s impossible to earn six figures in their first year and this creator presses on that with “True Or False?” This question also builds curiosity.
Platform Fit – It’s probably worth mentioning that another reason this did so well is that it’s a YouTube video talking about how much he made on YouTube. If this video was about much he made on TikTok, it might not be so powerful.
How you can use this hook: Tell the story of how you accomplished something amazing in your first year (or other time frame or cycle).
Examples of this hook in action:
- Sub 3 Hours My First Marathon? True Or False? You Decide…
- I Beat The S&P By 46% In My First Year As An Investor
I’m Not Crying You’re Crying
Title: I secretly learned my mother’s language
Framework: I secretly (Emotional Activity)
Hook score: +11143
Why this works:
Emotion – Speaking her mother’s native language with her hits you right in the feels because it’s so personal.
Curiosity – Learning her mother’s language “secretly” builds curiosity because people love secret things.
How you can use this hook: Secretly learn or do something powerfully emotional.
Examples of this hook in action:
- I secretly learned sign language to talk with my coworker
- I bought my old dog a doggy wheelchair
Flop of the Week
Title: A Day in the Life of Huw Richards
Hook score: -77
Why this flopped: People watch this channel to learn something that benefits them.
The video featured from this channel earlier in this email titled, “What Crops to Sow in June for Self-Sufficiency,” is a good example of this.
But this video is creator-focused.
This is a good strategy for people like Logan Paul, Emma Chamberlain, or other entertainment creators, but not as much for educational creators.
One thing I would try is to position this video as a day in the life of what the audience’s dream is, like this:
“A Day in the Life of a Full-Time Farmer”
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.