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.
Say what?
Title: Listening is *the only* skill you need to become fluent (here’s why)
Framework: [Activity] is *the only* skill you need to [Achieve goal] (here’s why)
Hook score: +327
Why this works:
Curiosity – The constraint that listening is the only skill you need to become fluent builds curiosity because it’s counterintuitive. Shouldn’t speaking and other skills be necessary, too?
Desire – This creator’s audience would love to become fluent. Plus, the fact that listening is the only skill you need to become fluent increases the audience’s desire to learn about it.
How you can use this framework: Tell your audience about the only skill they need to achieve a goal.
Examples of this framework in action:
- Sleep is *the only* habit you need to master to get healthy (here’s why)
- This is *the only* skill you need to blow up on Instagram
Dollar Dwelling
Title: I Renovated This $1 House (Start to Finish)
Framework: I [Activity] This $1 [Entity] (Start to Finish)
Hook score: +589
Why this works:
Desire – This leverages desire two ways:
- This creator’s audience loves renovations.
- Since the house was only $1, some people feel like they could do this, too.
Curiosity – $1 house builds so much curiosity because it makes you ask all sorts of questions, like:
- How in the world did she get a $1 house?
- How bad of shape is a $1 house?
- What does it look like now?
A $1 house is kind of an oxymoron because it just doesn’t seem possible.
How you can use this framework: Do an activity your audience wants to do and start with the absolute bare minimum.
Examples of this framework in action:
- I Turned $1K Into A $1,000,000 Business (Start to Finish)
- I Saved A Dying Marriage (Exactly How I Did It)
- 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
Driver Delusion
Title: This #1 Golf coach PROVES You’re HITTING driver all wrong!!
Framework: This (Authority Figure) PROVES You’re (Activity) all wrong!!
Hook score: +635
Why this works:
Authority – #1 Golf coach brings attention, trust and credibility to this video.
Negativity – This is all about a pain point: hitting your driver all wrong.
Credibility – This might be a little weak, but “PROVES” sounds more credible and believable than just “explains why” or something.
Curiosity – This opens a loop and makes you want to know how this coach proves you’re hitting your driver all wrong.
How you can use this framework: Tell your audience about how an authority figure proves they’re doing something wrong.
Examples of this framework in action:
- This #1 Sales Trainer PROVES You’re CLOSING deals all wrong!!
- This #1 Strength Coach PROVES You’re BENCH PRESSING all wrong
CIA Secrets
Title: Ex-CIA Officer Reveals 5 Signs Your Phone’s Been Hacked
Framework: (Authority Figure) Reveals 5 Signs (Problem has happened)
Hook score: +895
Why this works:
Authority – “Ex-CIA Officer” brings authority and trust to this video.
List – Lists make videos feel more tangible (you know exactly what the video will be about) and they add some curiosity.
Negativity – This leverages the fear of your phone getting hacked to grab your attention.
How you can use this framework: Have an authority figure reveal signs that something bad has happened.
Examples of this framework in action:
- Ex-Navy SEAL Reveals 5 Signs You Lack Mental Toughness
- Ex-Nat Geo Photographer Reveals 5 Reasons Why Your Photos Suck
Cheat Mode On
Title: 3 Sound Design Secrets That Feel Like CHEATING
Framework: 3 (Activity or Niche) Secrets That Feel Like CHEATING
Hook score: +1440
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 improve their sound design.
Curiosity – “Secrets” is a great, simple way to build curiosity.
Negativity – “CHEATING” brings some controversy here that grabs the audience’s attention.
How you can use this framework: Tell your audience about secrets that feel like cheating.
Examples of this framework in action:
- 3 Piano Practice Secrets That Feel Like CHEATING
- 3 Backyard Garden Secrets That Feel Like CHEATING
Flop of the Week
Title: Is a Backup Gun Necessary for Self-Defense?
Hook score: -93
Why this flopped: Here’s a strategy that I’ve heard a lot of people recommend: Take questions your audience has asked and just make videos answering them.
Sometimes that’s a good strategy, but sometimes it leads to very specific videos that don’t resonate with a large part of your audience.
That’s what this video feels like to me.
But even with this very specific idea, I think the title could still be better.
Titles that are bold opinions often do better on YouTube than questions like this.
This video might have done better if the title was more opinionated, like: “Here’s Why You Don’t Need A Backup Gun For Self-Defense”
Or it could’ve taken more of a personal opinion and story angle: “Here’s Why I Never Carry A Backup Gun Anymore”
Or, if the topic of backup guns just isn’t cutting it for the audience, we could make it more broad.
Something like, “This Popular Self-Defense Hack Is A Waste Of Time & Money”.
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.