Surviving The Biggest YouTube Algorithm Change…

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.

Minecraft Monstrosities

scariest minecraft seed

Title: We Survived The Scariest Minecraft Seed…

Framework: We Survived The Scariest (Thing)…

Hook score: +305

Why this works:

Negativity – Surviving something scary brings fear and drama to this title, which people love.

Epic & Extreme – “We Survived The Scariest Minecraft Seed…” is so much more interesting than, “We Survived A Scary Minecraft Seed…”

How you can use this framework: Tell your audience how you survived the scariest thing.

Examples of this framework in action:

  • We Survived The Scariest Cruise…
  • Our Garden Survived The Worst Aphid Outbreak…

R2B2

b2 level french thumbnail

Title: You have a B2 Level in French If You Know These Words – Advanced French Vocabulary

Framework: You Have A (Achievement Level) In (Niche) If You (Accomplishment)

Hook score: +315

Why this works:

Curiosity – This title opens a loop because it makes you want to know what “These Words” are. It also issues a challenge that makes you want to know what level you are.

Desire – People love learning about themselves and this title leverages that well here. It kinda feels like a smarter version of those “Which Hogwarts house would you be in?” quizzes that everybody loved.

How you can use this framework: Tell your audience that they’re at a certain level if they know something.

Examples of this framework in action:

  • You are an Elite Level Athlete if You Can Lift These Weights
  • You are a Master Salesman If You Can Overcome These Objections

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Kitty Upgrade

image upscalers thumbnail

Title: Best 3 Free Image Upscalers in 2024 + Comparison

Framework: Best 3 Free (Tools) In (Current Year)

Hook score: +338

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 loves image upscalers and everybody loves free things. (Plus, free things attract a bigger audience.)

Timeliness – This video was published on December 30th, when everybody was thinking about 2024.

How you can use this framework: Tell your audience about the best free tools in your niche this year.

Examples of this framework in action:

  • Best 3 Free iPhone Games In 2024
  • Best 3 Free First Date Ideas In 2024

Real Vision

apple vision pro thumbnail

Title: Using Apple Vision Pro: What It’s Actually Like!

Framework: Using (New Product): What It’s Actually Like!

Hook score: +550

Why this works:

Curiosity – The contrast of ad vs. reality in the thumbnail is so good here and it makes you wonder what this crazy new product is actually like. Plus, the word “actually” makes you feel like you’re getting in on a secret.

Timeliness – Everybody is currently talking about the Apple Vision Pro and this creator did a great job riding that wave.

Desire – This creator’s audience loves new tech and this is right up their alley.

How you can use this framework: Tell your audience what a trending or heavily advertised product is really like, and use the “Ad vs. Reality” thumbnail.

Examples of this framework in action:

  • Using a Traeger Grill: What It’s Actually Like!
  • I Bought Kneesovertoesguys’s course: What It’s Actually Like!

Dun Dun Dun

car market crash thumbnail

Title: It’s Begun! The Car Market CRASH of 2024

Framework: It’s Begun! The (Negative Event) of (Current Year)

Hook score: +1788

Why this works:

Timeliness – “It’s Begun” makes this feel like something just started, and people love news like this. Also, dropping “2024” in the title with this being published in January of 2024 helps reinforce that feeling.

Negativity – “The Car Market CRASH” brings drama and fear to this title.

How you can use this framework: Tell your audience about a negative event in your niche that’s just begun.

Examples of this framework in action:

  • It’s Begun! The Food Shortage of 2024
  • It’s Begun! The AI Takeover of 2024

Flop of the Week

lady from versailles thumbnail

Title: How to Speak French like a Lady From Versailles ? She’s teaching me!

Hook score: -70

Why this flopped: I don’t speak French and I don’t care to speak like a Lady from Versailles, so maybe I don’t get it… but this title feels way too niche compared to the rest of the videos on this channel about learning French.

If it were me, I’d probably skip this topic and focus on more broadly appealing topics, like tips and mistakes of speaking current-day French.

But since she already made this video, we could try another angle to write the title.

Since the thumbnail is about the right way to cuss, we could follow that angle for the title and write something like:

  • How To Curse Like A Versailles Queen
  • Forbidden Words You Couldn’t Say In 18th Century France

(I don’t particularly love these, I’d need to work them some more, but this is just an example of how you can go from broad and boring to specific and spicy.)

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.

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