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.
Your Average Billionaire
Title: Meet The Billionaire that Works a Normal Job
Framework: Meet The (High Achiever) That (Normal, Unexpected Activity)
Hook score: +383
Why this works:
Curiosity – There’s contrast between “billionaire” and “normal job” and it’s counterintuitive that a billionaire would work a normal job.
Desire – This creator’s audience would love to make a billion dollars working their normal job.
Relatable – This title relates to a broad audience because it’s about becoming a billionaire by working a normal job, not starting an insanely big and difficult company.
Refute Objection – This subtly refutes the objection of “You can’t get rich while working a normal job.”
How you can use this framework: Tell your audience about a high achiever who does something that normal people do.
Examples of this framework in action:
- Meet The Champion Bodybuilder That Eats Dessert Every Night
- Meet The Pro Piano Player Who Can’t Read Music
Liquid Melting Pot
Title: I Mixed Every Sports Drink & Flavor Into One Drink
Framework: I Mixed Every (Entity) Into One (Entity)
Hook score: +390
Why this works:
Curiosity – This builds curiosity two ways:
- The word “Every” makes this video feel extreme and unique.
- This does a good job at starting a story and making you want to know what will happen and what it will taste like.
How you can use this framework: Mix every version of something together and show the audience what happens.
Examples of this framework in action:
- I Put A Character From Every Game Into One Game
- I Mixed Every Social Media Platform Into One App
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Filthy to Fancy
Title: Making A Worn-Down Home Look Fancy (Even if You’re BROKE!)
Framework: Making A [Negative Description] [Entity] Look [Positive Description] (Even if You’re [Constraint]!)
Hook score: +707
Why this works:
Desire – This creator’s audience would love to make their home look fancy.
Curiosity – The contrast between “worn-down” and “fancy” builds curiosity.
“Even if You’re BROKE” – These four words add so much to this title:
- It refutes an objection and gets rid of the excuse that you have to be rich to have a fancy-looking home.
- It’s a constraint, which adds to the curiosity.
- It digs at a pain point many people have.
How you can use this framework: Tell your audience how they can take something from rough shape to looking great, even if they’re broke (or whatever other excuse or constraint they might have).
Examples of this framework in action:
- Making Beat-Up Nikes Look New Again (Using Supplies From Your Kitchen!)
- Editing Terrible Photos To Make Them Look Amazing (Even if They’re Blurry!)
Clearly Delicious
Framework: (Counterintuitive or Impossible Thing)
Hook score: +1238
Why this works:
“Clear Ketchup” was trending on TikTok, so that certainly helped this video do well.
However, clear bacon, clear crisps, and clear tomato soup have all gotten loads of views for this channel without the help of TikTok, so the TikTok wave wasn’t the only reason for this video’s success.
Plus, what made this trend on TikTok in the first place?
The biggest thing is that it builds so much curiosity.
Clear Ketchup seems impossible and challenges our assumptions of what ketchup should be like.
This is also a great example of how if you have a great idea and thumbnail, your title doesn’t need to be fancy, it just needs to be clear (no pun intended).
How you can use this framework: Tell your audience about something impossible, weird, or counterintuitive.
Examples of this framework in action:
- The Million-Dollar YouTube Channel That Doesn’t Edit or Make Thumbnails
- Church Isn’t About Religion
Btw it looks like he A/B tested the thumbnail a lot and this thumbnail:
Beat this thumbnail:
(Thanks CreatorML for letting us see these changes)
Optimal Optimization
Title: When Your Game Is Bad But Your Optimisation Is Genius
Framework: When Your (Attribute) Is Bad But Your (Other Attribute) Is Genius
Hook score: +16666
Why this works:
Curiosity – This title builds curiosity two ways:
- There’s contrast between bad and genius
- It opens a loop because it makes you want to know what happens
How you can use this framework: Show your audience what happens when something is bad, but another thing is good (or genius).
Examples of this framework in action:
- When You Are Ugly But Your Pickup Lines Are Amazing
- When Your Energy Is Low But Your Creativity Is Genius
P.S. This creator got inspiration for this title from Creator Hooks Pro.
Flop of the Week
Title: He Makes $1M/year With 1 AirBnB
Hook score: -96
Why this flopped: Quick disclaimer here: hindsight is 20/20, so it’s easy for me to say “This is why it didn’t work!” while sitting on my couch not actually being the one to make this video.
That being said, there are two reasons why I think it flopped.
The first is that it’s too specific.
Many of the successful titles on this channel talk about making money without specifically saying how.
If you don’t want to make money with Airbnb, putting “Airbnb” in the title automatically gives you a reason to not watch this video.
Here’s another example:
Being less specific (plus a few other factors) made a huge difference in views here.
(Note: this heavily depends on your audience. Some channels are known for sharing specific ways people make money, but it seems like this channel is known for attracting a broader audience and being more general.)
The second reason this flopped is that there’s not much curiosity or twist.
The thumbnail does build some curiosity because it opens a loop and makes you wonder what “This” is (yay), but the title answers that question and removes some of the curiosity (boo).
There’s also no constraint, contrast, twist, or progress like some of the other titles on this channel:
- Meet The Billionaire that Works a Normal Job
- I Was Homeless… Now I’m Worth $250 Million
- Asking A 76 Year Old Shipping Billionaire If It Was Worth It
This is just a straight up title saying that he makes a lot of money with Airbnb.
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.