The Wrong Way to Grow Your YouTube Channel

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.

“Hip Hop Is Dead”

hip hop thumbnail

Title: Something weird is happening in hip-hop

Framework: Something weird is happening in (Niche)

Hook score: +335

Why this works:

Curiosity – This title builds curiosity two ways: 1) Talking about “weird” things builds curiosity. 2) This title opens a loop because you want to know what’s happening.

Negativity – “Dying” in the thumbnail grabs the audience’s attention.

How you can use this framework: Tell your audience about something weird happening in your niche.

Examples of this framework in action:

  • Something weird is happening in F1
  • Something weird is happening in Roblox

Poutine Party

canada border thumbnail

Title: The Wrong Way to Cross the Border into Canada (NEW BRUNSWICK)

Framework: The Wrong Way To (Nerve-Wracking Activity)

Hook score: +472

Why this works:

Negativity – This video is about something potentially nerve-wracking, and to make matters worse, they apparently did it the wrong way.

Curiosity – This title opens a loop and makes you wonder what happened.

How you can use this framework: Tell your audience about the wrong way to do something potentially nerve-wracking.

Examples of this framework in action:

  • The Wrong Way To Propose To Your Girlfriend
  • The Wrong Way To Interview For Your Dream Job

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Inside Scoop

rei thumbnail

Title: I Worked at REI for 12 Years – Here’s the REI Gear You Should Buy!

Framework: I Worked at (Place) for (Time Frame) – Here’s the (Products) You Should Buy!

Hook score: +554

Why this works:

Credibility – Sharing that she worked at REI for 12 years makes you trust her more when it comes to REI gear.

Time Frame – If she just said she worked at REI, that would add some credibility, but the time frame of 12 years adds even more.

Desire – This creator’s audience loves buying gear.

How you can use this framework: Share something your audience wants to know and back it up with your credentials.

Examples of this framework in action:

  • I Worked at Best Buy for 5 Years – Here’s The Best Tech You Should Buy!
  • I Worked in Silicon Valley for 10 Years – Here’s My Best Career Advice

It’s Going Down For Real

yield curve thumbnail

Title: This Is WORSE Than the 1929 and 2008 Yield Curve Inversions

Framework: This Is WORSE Than the (Previous Worst Events)

Hook score: +570

Why this works:

Normally titles with big words like “yield curve inversions” land in the flop of the week section, but this one works for a few reasons:

1) The thumbnail does a great job of showing exactly what this video is about.

2) This title makes sense even if you take out the complicated words at the end: “This Is WORSE Than the 1929 and 2008”

Now here’s what actually got people to click:

Negativity – This creator’s audience knows how bad 1929 and 2008 were, so that fear grabs their attention and gets them to click.

Timeliness – This video is about what’s happening right now, so it grabs people’s attention.

How you can use this framework: Tell your audience about how what’s happening now is worse than previous events.

Examples of this framework in action:

  • This Is WORSE Than Hurricane Katrina
  • This Is WORSE Than America’s Big Sugar Problem

Fake Games Real Fun

bootleg games thumbnail

Title: I Bought Bootleg Nintendo Games from Temu

Framework: I Bought Bootleg (Objects) from (Controversial Store)

Hook score: +740

Why this works:

Curiosity – “Bootleg” items build curiosity because you never what you’re gonna get.

Negativity – Temu has a shady reputation which adds controversy and another element of uncertainty to this video, and “bootleg” adds to the controversy, too.

How you can use this framework: Buy bootleg items from a shady place.

Examples of this framework in action:

  • I Bought a Knockoff Rolex from eBay
  • I Bought Bootleg Golf Clubs from Craigslist

Flop of the Week

frank ocean tyler thumbnail

Title: When Frank Ocean and Tyler The Creator Unite

Hook score: -86

Why this flopped: There’s no emotion or intrigue here, it’s just a plain statement.

They could’ve gone with:

  • A positive angle: “The Magic of Frank Ocean and Tyler The Creator”
  • A negative angle: “The Downfall of Frank Ocean and Tyler The Creator”
  • A curiosity angle: “What Really Happened To Frank Ocean & Tyler The Creator”

But instead, they with with no angle and it flopped.

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.

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