Millions of videos compete for viewers’ attention, a compelling title can be a great way of building an edge. It’s no secret that great titles make great videos. While thumbnails might be the visual bait, a well-crafted title is the hook that reels viewers in.
Today, we’ll cover 16 tried and tested ways of crafting YouTube titles that can make your videos go viral:
Curiosity-Driven Titles
1. Contradictory Curiosity
Creating titles with a contrast can spark intense curiosity. Such titles make viewers feel they’re about to uncover hidden information. For instance, the contrast between “best” and “nobody watched” is counterintuitive, making viewers wonder why such a thing is overlooked. This curiosity compels them to click.
Example: The BEST documentaries that NOBODY watched
2. Cliffhanger Question
Posing a question in your title can act as a powerful cliffhanger. The key is to phrase the question in a way that promises a satisfying answer in the video. This method works by creating a narrative cliffhanger, making viewers eager to find out the outcome of this daily challenge.
Example: What Happens If You Jump Rope for 30 Minutes Every Day?
Time-Sensitive Titles
3. Tangible Timeframe
Titles that include specific timeframes can make goals feel more attainable and relatable. Viewers love to see what results they can achieve within a set period. It works because the clear timeframe promises a definitive outcome, making viewers curious about the transformation and results.
Example: We Ran Every Day For 30 Days, Here’s What Happened
4. How to (Task) in (Timeframe)
Offering quick solutions or improvements within a short time frame can be incredibly appealing. This technique works because it suggests that viewers can achieve something valuable in a very short amount of time, which is highly attractive in today’s fast-paced world.
Example: Become a Better Reader in 8 Minutes
Authority and Credibility
5. Insider Authority
Using authoritative voices or insider information in your titles can build trust and credibility. This strategy works because viewers are drawn to credible sources, especially when it involves insider knowledge or warnings about familiar brands.
Example: Ex-Employee Warns Us About Taco Bell’s Meat
6. What No One Tells You About
Revealing secrets or lesser-known information can trigger viewers’ fear of missing out (FOMO). This method works because it makes viewers feel they’re gaining exclusive insights that most people might not know. Example: The Best Relationship Advice No One Ever Told You
Emotional and Psychological Appeal
7. Using Negativity
Titles that focus on negative outcomes or dramatic scenarios can attract a lot of attention. People are naturally drawn to drama and extreme situations. For instance, the word “devastating” taps into viewers’ love for epic narratives and drama, which makes people click on it.
Example: Top 10 Most Devastating Wild Card Losses of All-Time
8. Weight of Regret
Leveraging the fear of regret can be a powerful motivator. Titles that suggest avoiding common mistakes can attract a lot of attention. Viewers are likely to click on such titles because they want to avoid such regret and make better decisions.
Example: I Wished I Knew These BEFORE I Upgraded to Windows 11!
Aspirational and Inspirational Titles
9. Personal Victory
Sharing personal accomplishments and journeys can inspire viewers and make them aspire to similar achievements. It works because it showcases a remarkable achievement and motivates viewers to watch and learn how they can achieve similar success.
Example: I Retired My Mom At 21
10. This Will Change Your Life Forever
Promising life-changing results can create a strong sense of hope and aspiration among viewers. It can make your content more clickable because it suggests that the content will provide invaluable insights or tools that can significantly improve viewers’ lives.
Example: This Plugin Will Change the Way You Mix Forever
Relatability and Accessibility
11. Broad Relatability
Addressing common experiences and pain points can make your content highly relatable and accessible. This strategy works because it speaks directly to dog owners looking for practical solutions for daily life issues.
Example: Five Dog Training Exercises You Should Do Every Day At Home
12. “10 Habits to…”
Providing tips to improve daily habits is always popular. These titles offer practical and actionable advice. This technique works because viewers always look for ways to optimize their time and improve their lives.
Example: 4 One-Minute Habits That Save Me 20+ Hours a Week
Experimentation and Challenges
13. I Tried…and This Happened…
Documenting personal experiments and their outcomes can create excitement and curiosity. This works because it promises real results and transformations while making viewers eager to see the journey and its outcome.
Example: I Tried YouTube Automation For 150 Days (Channel Exploded)
Buzzwords and Sensationalism
14. Using Buzzwords
Certain buzzwords can attract more attention due to their popularity and relevance in the YouTube community. For instance, words like “viral” and “100%” tap into viewers’ desires for effective and popular content.
Example: Testing Viral Minecraft Hacks That 100% Work
15. The Sensational Promise
Making bold, sensational promises and delivering on them can generate a lot of interest and intrigue. This method works because it offers an intriguing and condensed insight from an expert’s long journey which promises valuable takeaways.
Example: 1000 Days of Coding in 10 Minutes (Self-Taught Developer Journey)
https://youtu.be/MNhwS1rS9dw?si=mFD8qiV_n7qmMRCd
Fear and Warnings
16. Stop Doing This
Warning viewers against common mistakes can create urgency and concern. This strategy works because the title’s urgent plea and warning nature make viewers curious about the potential harm they might be causing themselves.
Example: Stop Doing 100 Pushups a Day. I’m requesting You!
17. Things You Should Never Do…
Playing on viewers’ fear and curiosity can drive clicks. When you talk about the things which your audience should refrain from, it makes your viewers eager to watch the content. It works because it plays on the fear of potential dangers.
Example: 20 Halloween Candies You Should Never Eat
In Conclusion, creating click-worthy YouTube titles is both an art and a science. By understanding and implementing these 17 types of titles, you can significantly boost your video’s performance and increase your channel’s growth. Experiment with these techniques, and find what resonates with your audience.