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.
Call 911
Title: I Bought a Wrecked Porsche 911 GT3 & Rebuilt it in 24 Hours
Framework: I Bought a (Ruined Fancy Object) & Rebuilt it in 24 Hours
Hook score: +314
Why this works:
Negativity – Starting with a wrecked Porsche brings some drama and conflict here.
Time Frame – Rebuilding the car in 24 hours makes this video more tangible, challenging, and interesting.
Curiosity – There’s contrast between “wrecked” and “Porsche 911 GT3” because this is a nice, expensive car. This packaging also opens a loop because you see how bad of shape it’s in in the thumbnail, but it leaves you wanting to know what it will look like in the end.
How you can use this framework: Buy something nice that’s been wrecked and repair it in a short time frame.
Examples of this framework in action:
- I Bought a Ruined Rembrandt & Touched It Up In 24 Hours
- I Bought a Broken Macintosh Classic & Rebuilt it in 24 Hours
Trash to Treasure
Title: 11 Money-Saving Household Tricks – Don’t throw these out!
Framework: 11 (Precious Resource)-Saving (Niche) Tricks – (Warning)
Hook score: +712
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 – This creator’s audience wants tricks to save money.
Negativity – This title finishes off with a warning which makes people even more likely to click because they don’t want to accidentally throw something out that they shouldn’t.
Curiosity – “Don’t throw these out!” builds opens a loop because you don’t know what “these” are.
How you can use this framework: Tell your audience about tricks that can help them save a precious resource (money, time, etc) and finish it off with a vague warning that gives them even more of a reason to click.
Examples of this framework in action:
- 11 Money-Saving Cooking Tricks – Never Buy These!
- 11 Time-Saving Travel Tricks – Don’t Book On These Websites!
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Seventh Heaven
Title: Seven Steps To Get In The Best Shape Of Your Life In 2024 | Mind Pump 2227
Framework: Seven Steps To (Achieve Big Goal) In (Upcoming Year)
Hook score: +835
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 – This creator’s audience wants to get in the best shape of their life. Note that this video isn’t just about getting in great shape, but specifically “the best shape of your life”, which sounds so much cooler and tangible than just great shape.
Timeliness – This video was published at the end of 2023 when 2024 was on everybody’s mind. The New Year is a time when people start to think about getting in shape the most, which also helped this video get so many views.
How you can use this framework: Tell your audience about the seven steps to achieve a big goal in the upcoming year. Bonus points if it’s a big goal that many people in your audience are currently thinking about.
Examples of this framework in action:
- Seven Steps To Make The Most Money In Your Life In 2024
- Seven Steps To Have The Strongest Faith Of Your Life In 2024
Tiger’s Tips
Title: My Lesson With Tiger Woods EX-Coach Is Going To BLOW YOUR MIND!
Framework: My Lesson With (Authority Figure’s) EX-Coach Is Going To Blow Your Mind!
Hook score: +862
Why this works:
Authority – You automatically trust and desire the information in this video because it’s from the greatest golfer of all time’s old coach.
Desire – This creator’s audience wants to get their mind blown with helpful golf tips.
Curiosity – The thumbnail text opens a loop because it makes you wonder what he’s teaching him that’s so genius, so you have to click.
How you can use this framework: Share what you learned from one of the best in your industry’s former coach or mentor.
Examples of this framework in action:
- My Lesson With Taylor Swift’s EX-Singing Coach Is Going To Blow Your Mind!
- This Lesson From Warren Buffett’s Original Mentor Can Make You RICH
Mysterious Men
Title: If You Want To Know How a Man Feels About You, Try THIS!
Framework: If You Want To Know (Information), Try THIS!
Hook score: +1177
Why this works:
Desire – This creator’s audience wants to know how men feel about them.
Curiosity – “Try THIS” opens a loop because it makes you want to know what “THIS” is, so you have to click.
How you can use this framework: Tell your audience that if they want to know something, “try this!”
Examples of this framework in action:
- If You Want To Know Your Athletic Genetic Potential, Try THIS!
- If You Want To Know If Seattle Is For You, Try THIS!
Flop of the Week
Title: This Chipping Technique Is So EASY And It Really Works!
Hook score: -76
Why this flopped: This title and thumbnail aren’t that bad, but I think they could be better.
Here are a few things I’d change:
“It Really Works” is too vague and weak. What does it work for? Give me a juicy benefit that I’ll get using this chipping technique. Or show me that it really works, don’t tell me.
Also, I don’t love using the word “And” in titles because it dilutes the focus and power of the title.
Here are a few other options for a title:
- “The Perfect Chipping Technique To Never Land In The Bunker”
- “This Weird Chipping Tip Will Change Your Golf Game Forever”
- “If You’re Sick of Chipping Into The Bunker, Try THIS”
(Note that the original title has a positive angle, but some of the other options I suggested try curiosity or negativity. If one emotion doesn’t work very well, it can often be worth trying other emotions.)
Another issue is that the title and thumbnail text are too similar: “simple” in the thumbnail and “easy” in the title pretty much reaffirm the same point.
If it were me I’d either try a different benefit in the thumbnail text or try to add some curiosity or negativity.
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.