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 use a title generator that uses all the titles ever featured in Creator Hooks, check out Creator Hooks Pro.
Depression Defense
Title: The Hidden Weapon Against Depression: Behavioral Activation Explained
Framework: The Hidden Weapon Against (Problem): (Solution) Explained
Hook score: +437
Why this works:
Negativity – This title is about a problem the audience is struggling with.
Curiosity – “Hidden Weapon” builds curiosity because it feels like you’re getting in on a secret.
Desire – This creator’s audience is looking for a solution to beat depression.
How you can use this framework: Tell your audience about the hidden weapon against a big problem they’re struggling with.
Examples of this framework in action:
- The Hidden Weapon Against Boring Marriages: Novelty Factor Explained
- The Hidden Weapon Against Climate Change: Wolf Theory Explained
Kid vs. Adult
Title: Can I Beat The World’s FASTEST 9 Year Old Parkrunner?
Framework: Can I Beat The World’s (Extreme Adjective) (Young) (Person)?
Hook score: +638
Why this works:
Curiosity – This builds curiosity four ways:
- It asks a question
- It’s a challenge and makes you want to know the result
- There’s contrast between this big adult and small kid, which makes the challenge more interesting
- Since this kid is the “FASTEST 9 Year Old Parkrunner,” he’s unique and extreme
How you can use this framework: Ask if you can beat a young kid who’s the world’s greatest in their activity.
Examples of this framework in action:
- Can I Beat The World’s FASTEST 9 Year Old Hot Dog Eater?
- Can I Beat The World’s Best 10 Year Old Gamer?
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Bold Statement
Title: The CORRECT iPhone Camera Settings for Amazing Photos – UPDATED for 2023
Framework: The CORRECT (Tool) Settings for (End Result) – UPDATED for (Current Year)
Hook score: +674
Why this works:
Desire – This creator’s audience wants to take amazing photos.
Bold Statement – I love how this title is about “the CORRECT” camera settings. Bold statements like this work well on for getting people’s attention and getting them to click.
Timeliness – Dropping the current year in here grabs the audience’s attention.
One interesting note is that this video has “2023” in the title. If it were me, I’d have probably waited a few weeks to publish this video and put “2024” in the title since this was published so close to the end of 2023 (it was published October 24, 2023).
How you can use this framework: Tell your audience about the CORRECT way to do something to help them achieve a goal for the current year.
Examples of this framework in action:
- The CORRECT Channel Settings for YouTube Growth – UPDATED for 2024
- The CORRECT Keyboard Settings for Beautiful Music
Speed It Up
Title: 5 ways to animate FASTER
Framework: 5 ways to (Activity) FASTER
Hook score: +1075
Why this works:
List – Lists make videos feel more tangible (you know exactly what the video will be about) and they add some curiosity.
Desire – You might be thinking this hook is too simple, but speed is one of the biggest desires across almost all niches. Everybody wants to reach their goals or do something faster.
How you can use this framework: Tell your audience about 5 ways they can do something faster.
Examples of this framework in action:
- 5 ways to learn Spanish FASTER
- 5 ways to edit videos FASTER
Archimedes’ Wrecking Ball
Title: How Archimedes Almost Broke Math with Circles
Framework: How (Authority Figure) Almost Broke (Entity) with (Unexpected Entity)
Hook score: +192929 (yes, this video did 1,929 times better than this channel’s average!)
Why this works:
Negativity – There’s drama here with “Almost Broke Math”.
Curiosity – This title is counterintuitive — it’s not possible to break math, right? And almost breaking something unbreakable (math) with something so simple (circles) has a bit of contrast.
Authority – Dropping Archimedes’ name gives credibility to this title.
Btw, I asked Ben, the creator of this video, about how he came up with the title and here’s what he said:
“An earlier draft was “How the Area of a Circle Almost Broke Math.”
After showing a draft of the thumbnail to a friend, I realized that the video needed to be not just about circles but also about Archimedes, so I changed the title and built out the script accordingly.
It was my first time really trying to do title and thumbnail first, and in this case, getting clarity on the title/thumbnail combo really gave me a lot of clarity on the direction that the video needed to go. I didn’t realize that would happen, but it’s sold me on the idea of starting with the title and thumbnail!”
How you can use this framework: Tell the story of how somebody almost broke something unbreakable.
Examples of this framework in action:
- How MrBeast Broke YouTube with This Simple Strategy
- How Elon Musk Almost Broke Physics with Plastic
Flop of the Week
Title: The Pink iPhone 15 – Unboxing & First Impressions
Hook score: -81
Why this flopped: Let’s take a look at this creator’s channel:
What sticks out to you? The Pink iPhone, right? Everything else is gray, black, or toned down.
Sticking out in a crowd is often a great strategy to get views, but sticking out amongst your own content is not.
It seems like his audience just isn’t into this aesthetic.
I’m assuming his channel is mostly guys who aren’t into pink iPhones.
To avoid this mistake it pays to know your audience well.
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 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.