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 pulls from all the titles ever featured in Creator Hooks, check out Creator Hooks Pro.
Camry Crazy
Title: World’s cheapest Turbo Kit (on a Camry)
Framework: World’s [Extreme Attribute] [Accessory] (on a [Unexpected Entity])
Hook score: +329
Why this works:
Curiosity – This builds curiosity three ways:
1) It’s extreme (“World’s cheapest”), and therefore it’s unique.
2) It’s counterintuitive — why would you put a turbo kit on a Camry?
3) There’s contrast between “turbo kit” and “Camry”.
How you can use this framework: Put something extreme on something unexpected.
Examples of this framework in action:
- World’s most expensive lens (on a budget camera)
- World’s most dangerous hike (wearing flip flops)
Hidden Gem
Title: A 16-Year-Old Guitar Store Owner Sold Me An INCREDIBLE Guitar
Framework: A (Unexpected Person) (Action) Me An INCREDIBLE (Entity)
Hook score: +364
Why this works:
Curiosity – This title builds curiosity two ways:
1) A “16-Year-Old Guitar Store Owner” is unexpected because that’s so young to be a store owner.
2) It opens a loop because you want to know what the guitar is. (The thumbnail adds to this by showing only the back of the guitar).
Desire – This creator’s audience loves incredible guitars.
How you can use this framework: Tell the story of how an unexpected person sold or gave you something incredible.
Examples of this framework in action:
- An Atheist Gave Me INCREDIBLE Advice To Be A Better Christian
- My Grandma Made TikTok’s Funniest Video
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Liar Liar House on Fire
Title: Huge Lies New Home Builders Are Telling You!
Framework: Huge Lies (Authority Figures) Are Telling You!
Hook score: +474
Why this works:
Negativity – “Huge Lies” leverages fear and grabs the audience’s attention.
Curiosity – This title opens a loop because you want to know what lies you’re being told.
Authority – New Home Builders have a lot of power in the home-buying process and the real estate market, so if they’re lying to you it’s a big deal.
How you can use this framework: Tell your audience about the huge lies authority figures in your niche are telling them.
Examples of this framework in action:
- Huge Lies Dating Coaches Are Telling You!
- Huge Lies Car Dealerships Are Telling You!
Huberman Habits
Title: I Made Huberman’s Morning Routine Work For An Average Person (myself)
Framework: I Made [Authority Figure]’s [Recommendation or Routine] Work For An Average Person (myself)
Hook score: +10920
Why this works:
Authority – Dropping Huberman’s name grabs the attention of people wanting to try his routine (AKA the whole internet right now because he’s blowing up).
Desire – This creator’s audience is interested in or wants to try Huberman’s morning routine.
Refute Objection – A lot of people think, “I’d love to try Huberman’s morning routine, but it’s too hard.” But this creator saying she made it work for “An Average Person (myself)” gets rid of that excuse.
How you can use this framework: Make an authority figure or trending person’s routine or recommendation work for an average person.
Examples of this framework in action:
- I Made Warren Buffet’s Investing Strategy Work For An Average Person (myself)
- I Made MrBeast’s Thumbnail Process Work For An Average Person (myself)
Snitches Get Fishes
Title: Someone Called the GAME WARDEN Because I Was Catching Giant Fish!
Framework: Someone Called the (Authorities) Because I Was (Awesome Activity)!
Hook score: +57894
Why this works:
Authority – Calling the game warden increases the magnitude of what’s going on here.
Negativity – This title promises a lot of drama, which people love.
Desire – This creator’s audience would love to catch such big fish that somebody calls the game warden on them.
Curiosity – “Giant Fish” and the thumbnail only showing a splash and an arrow build curiosity because they make you wonder what type of fish was caught.
How you can use this framework: Tell your audience about a time when you did something so awesome somebody called the authorities.
Examples of this framework in action:
- Someone Called the FDA Because My Vegetables Were So Perfect!
- He Called his Lawyer Because He Was Making So Much Money!
Flop of the Week
Title: The 5 Chords Every Guitar Player Should Know
Hook score: -85
Why this flopped: This is a decent title and a proven topic, so why did it flop?
First, this video is more education-focused, whereas videos that have done well on this channel, like “A 16-Year-Old Guitar Store Owner Sold Me An INCREDIBLE Guitar” are more entertainment-focused.
This doesn’t fit the audience’s expectations, which makes it harder for the video to succeed.
Second, the title and thumbnail could be better — they’re a little plain.
A few title options could be:
- The 5 Chords Every Beginner Guitar Player Should Know
- The Only 5 Chords Beginner Guitar Players Need To Know
- The 5 Chords Every Guitar Player Should Know In 2024
- Learn The 5 Chords Every Guitar Player Should Know (In 8 Minutes)
A few thumbnail options could be:
- Swapping out the number 5 in the current thumbnail for text saying “Simple”, “Easy”, or “Takes 10 Minutes”
- Someone playing a common or popular chord with an arrow and text saying “Stop This”
- A two-panel thumbnail showing the wrong and right chords, with a red X and a green check
All this being said, this is an example of how good ideas don’t always pan out, but keep going because you can figure it out and grow your channel by learning from what works and what doesn’t.
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.