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.
Back Breaker
Title: STOP Doing These Exercises For Low Back Pain!
Framework: STOP Doing These (Solutions) For (Problem)!
Hook score: +367
Why this works:
Curiosity – This is counterintuitive because the thumbnail shows something that many think will help their back pain, but the title and thumbnail text say to stop doing it. You can also think of this as challenging your audience’s assumptions.
Negativity – This leverages fear and is a warning, which grabs people’s attention. It also talks about a major pain point lots of people have: low back pain.
How you can use this framework: Tell your audience to stop doing something they assume will help them with their problems, but is actually bad for them.
Examples of this framework in action:
- STOP Doing This To Get More YouTube Subscribers!
- STOP Using Treats To Train Your Dog!
Surprise Surprise
Title: 90 Year Olds Share Advice for Their Younger Self
Framework: (Experienced People) Share Advice For Their (Past Selves)
Hook score: +410
Why this works:
Curiosity – The thumbnail text builds curiosity because many people assume getting married is good, but this old guy says don’t do it, so it’s counterintuitive. Plus, he’s with a woman who you would assume is his wife, which builds even more curiosity.
Negativity – The thumbnail text is a warning and people love warnings.
Credibility – This has credibility because 90-year-olds have lots of life experience. Plus, sharing advice for their “younger selves”.
Desire – Everybody loves to hear advice from old people to their younger selves.
How you can use this framework: Ask experienced people in your niche for advice they’d give to their past selves, and in the thumbnail text share an unexpected snippet.
Examples of this framework in action:
- NBA Players Share Advice for Their Younger Self
- Moms Share Advice for Their Pre-Children Self
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In A Galaxy Far, Far Away
Title: First 10 Things To Do – Samsung Galaxy ONE UI6 ( tips and tricks )
Framework: First 10 Things To Do – [New Product] ( tips and tricks )
Hook score: +850
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 tips and tricks for their new Galaxy ONE.
Beginners – Calling out the “first” things to do works so well because people who just got a new phone are excited to see all it can do.
How you can use this framework: If you make review videos, this is a fun twist to mix it up — talk about the first things your audience should do, not just the top 10 features.
Examples of this framework in action:
- First 5 Things To Do when you get a New Job ( tips and tricks )
- First 10 things to do after you buy your first house ( tips and tricks )
Lunch Lady Special
Title: I Cooked 100 Years of School Lunch
Framework: I (Activity) 100 Years of (Object)
Hook score: +2500
Why this works:
Curiosity – The contrast of the old and new lunches builds curiosity.
Time Frame – 100 Years of lunches makes this video more tangible, and therefore, more interesting.
Epic – 100 Years makes this video feel big and epic.
How you can use this framework: Take your audience through the last 100 years of stuff in your niche.
Examples of this framework in action:
- I Played 50 Years of Video Games
- I Took 100 Years of Photographs
Uno Reverse
Title: Luxury Fashion Is For Broke People
Framework: (Extreme Thing) Is For (Opposite Extreme)
Hook score: +40740
Why this works:
Curiosity – This title builds curiosity two ways:
- There’s contrast between “luxury fashion” and “broke people”.
- It’s counterintuitive that luxury fashion is for broke people.
Negativity – There’s a bit of drama and controversy here by saying luxury fashion is for broke people.
How you can use this framework: Say that something on one end of the spectrum is actually for people on the other end of the spectrum.
Examples of this framework in action:
- A High Paying Job Will Keep You Poor
- Fat Loss Diets Keep You Fat
Flop of the Week
Title: Why People Struggle to Say ‘I Love You’
Hook score: -84
Why this flopped: When people ask me what makes a good YouTube title, I always say it’s about these 3 emotions:
- Curiosity
- Fear
- Desire
You know what’s not on this list? Sadness.
I’ve broken down almost 1,000 YouTube titles in this newsletter over the years and sadness has probably appeared in less than 5 titles (whereas the other 3 emotions have appeared in 400-600 titles).
If I were to rewrite this packaging, I’d probably leave the title, but try to swap out sadness for drama or fear in the thumbnail text.
Something like, “It’s my biggest regret”.
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.