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.
P.S. If you want to save more time and use a title generator that uses all the titles from this newsletter, check out Creator Hooks Pro.
Long Lost Losses
Title: Archeologists Uncover How Napoleon Lost At Waterloo
Framework: (Authority Figures) Uncover (Explanation of dramatic event)
Hook score: +303
Why this works:
Authority & Credibility – Since archeologists “uncovered” something, it feels like this video has more authority and credibility than just a random historian’s opinion.
Negativity – This is about drama — a famous person’s big loss — which people love.
Curiosity – This also makes you wonder what they uncovered.
How you can use this framework: Tell your audience how authority figures uncovered or discovered something dramatic.
Examples of this framework in action:
- Psychologists Discover Why People Struggle With Sleeping
- New Study Uncovers The Best Time To Invest In The Stock Market
Better than Blender?
Title: Why do Studios Ignore Blender?
Framework: Why do (Authority figures) Ignore (Popular solution)?
Hook score: +630
Why this works:
Authority – “Studios” are big authority figures in the VFX world.
Negativity – This is about drama and controversy — studios ignoring a popular software.
Curiosity – This builds curiosity by asking a question.
How you can use this framework: Ask why the leaders in your niche are ignoring a solution lots of people like and use.
Examples of this framework in action:
- Why do Hedge Funds Ignore Crypto?
- Why do Doctors Ignore Holistic Medicine?
- Write better YouTube titles
- Grow your channel
- Save time
Check out Creator Hooks Pro here.
P.S. Here’s a big win from a Creator Hooks Pro customer:
“I got this title directly from Creator Hooks Pro’s title generator. It’s a 1 of 10 and it’s brought in 5 clients worth over $25k in less than 3 weeks”
– Jeff Hampton, Hampton Law, 360K Subscribers
Breaking News
Title: Valorant just got the CRAZIEST Update in History!
Framework: (Entity) just got the CRAZIEST Update in History!
Hook score: +684
Why this works:
News – This title is news and people love news.
Epic & Extreme – “CRAZIEST Update in History” feels epic, extreme, and exciting.
Curiosity – This also builds curiosity because it makes you want to know what the update is.
How you can use this framework: Tell your audience about something that just got the “CRAZIEST Update in History.”
Examples of this framework in action:
- TikTok just got the CRAZIEST Update in History!
- Teslas just got the CRAZIEST Update in History!
Midnight Memory
Title: What staying up all night does to your brain – Anna Rothschild
Framework: What (Common, innocent mistake) does to your (Possession)
Hook score: +811
Why this works:
Negativity – This hints that something many people do might be causing a problem.
Tangible – “What staying up all night does to your brain” feels more tangible and specific than just, “What staying up all night does to you.” This builds more curiosity and makes this title more interesting.
How you can use this framework: Tell your audience what a common or innocent mistake they’re making does to something specific of theirs.
Examples of this framework in action:
- What scrolling social media does to your attention span
- What job hopping says to hiring managers
Slowing Time
Title: If You FEEL Time Slips Away, Watch This!
Framework: If You (Experience Problem), Watch This!
Hook score: +9851
Why this works:
Negativity – This is about a problem many people have.
Curiosity – This implies that this video is a solution for people who feel time slips away, but doesn’t say anything about the actual solution, so you’ve gotta click to see what it is.
Being vague like this can backfire, but the thumbnail text mentions a benefit and the problem presented in the tile (feeling time slip away) is such a common and tangible problem that this title gets away with it.
How you can use this framework: Tell your audience if they’re experiencing a certain problem, watch your video.
Examples of this framework in action:
- If You FEEL Like Your Biceps Aren’t Growing, Watch This!
- If You Think Travel is TOO EXPENSIVE, Watch This
Flop of the Week
Title: Why Tutankhamun’s Tomb Is The Biggest Discovery Of All Time
Hook score: -91
Why this flopped: I like this title — “biggest discovery of all time” is an exciting promise.
But apparently the audience didn’t like it.
Now it could’ve been because everyone knows him as “King Tut” and not “Tutankhamun.” If it were me, I would’ve gone with his nickname instead of his full name.
But since they used “King Tut” in the thumbnail, I don’t think that’s the main reason this video flopped.
It was probably because the topic or angle didn’t resonate. And since we’re stuck with the topic, let’s try some different angles.
We could try to zoom in on a specific detail:
“This Tiny Box In King Tut’s Tomb Is The Biggest Discovery Of All Time”
We could zoom out and make it more easily understandable and broadly appealing:
“This Ancient Egyptian Tomb Is The Biggest Discovery Of All Time”
Or we could try to add more curiosity:
“This Ancient Egyptian Tomb Changes Everything We Know About History”
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 write better titles and grow your channel, check out Creator Hooks Pro.