
Even the best video can fail without a good title.
A good title should:
a. Tell the viewer what the video is about
b. Suggest at the outcome of watching
c. Create instant desire to watch
d. All the above
(the answer is d, of course)
Here are 9 title elements that can accomplish all that.
Mix and match as needed.
1. Be specific.
Viewers want to know what they’re getting. If there’s an opportunity to be specific, take it.
Instead of “Pro tips to become better at soccer” make it “7 tactics pro soccer players use to perfect their dribbling.”
2. Call out the exact audience.
The more you can address your audience, the easier the algorithm can target them.
“How I saved $1,237 a month as a university student” instead of “Money saving tips for school”
3. Deep insight.
Give the viewer an additional layer to discover, specific insight, or information that’s out of their reach.
Make it “9 overlooked thumbnail tactics (even top creators miss)” or “The exact moment Trudeau knew he had to resign”
4. Show trust.
The vast majority of people who see your videos don’t know you. Show why you’re the right person by adding things like past experiences, money earned, time spent, education, follower count, accomplishments, etc.
“How a plumber of 57 years unclogs a sink” will create more desire than “How to unclog a sink”
5. Appeal to self-interest.
The most important thing to a viewer, is themself. Desire to click can come from what the viewer will get out of watching the video. Make it about them. Easiest topics are getting people closer to something they want, or to reduce their pain.
Example “The simple way I email clients to double my pay” or “3 simple habits to immediately reduce stress”
6. Include numbers.
The bigger, the better, and be specific. When people see an even number, they wonder what was added to fluff it up. Exact numbers create trust.
Instead of “How I make $60k a month” make it “I made $57.6k a month after applying these 3 business systems” or “The strategy behind 1.12 billion views”
7. Sell the outcome.
People are more attracted to the outcome than the steps needed to get there.
Instead of “7 ways to get better at math” make it “The 7-part formula math students use to score over 90% on exams”
8. Provoking questions that don’t have obvious answers.
If a viewer can answer the question or see the outcome in the title, they have almost no desire to click. Appeal to curiosity.
Instead of “Understanding Curves! The best way to brighten images in Photoshop” make it “How professional photographers brighten images in Photoshop”
9. Juxtaposition.
Break expectations by pairing two things that don’t go together. Big to small. Complex to simple.
Example “Grandma plays Grand Theft Autio V” or “$4 gourmet meals at home”
The number 1 thing to avoid.
Avoid artificial hype.
It makes the video feel spammy and click-baity.
Instead of “The SIMPLE trick will change your life FOREVER! (MUST WATCH)” make it “5 life-changing money tips I wish I knew 10 years ago”
