Write Better YouTube Titles In 54 Minutes (Jake Thomas | Creator Hooks)

Summary

In this insightful video, Jake Thomas, writer of the 'Creator Hooks' newsletter, shares his data-driven approach to crafting compelling YouTube titles that evoke curiosity, fear, or desire. He emphasizes the importance of not just mimicking top channels but learning from creators a few steps ahead. Jake discusses his research process, including studying successful title patterns and leveraging human psychology for higher click-through rates. He also addresses the balance between using proven title formulas and maintaining authenticity in content creation.

Takeaways

• 😀 The importance of writing compelling video titles is emphasized, as they can be the primary reason for viewers clicking on content.
• 🔍 Jake Thomas, the writer of 'Creator Hooks', focuses on leveraging human psychology to create YouTube titles that evoke curiosity, fear, and desire.
• 📈 Jake's approach to title creation is data-driven, using a database of 408 titles to identify patterns and successful frameworks.
• 🧐 It's suggested that creators should model their titles after those of successful channels slightly ahead of them in growth, rather than the biggest names in the industry.
• 📝 For beginners, copying the successful elements of others' work is a time-tested method for learning and improving one's own skills, including title writing.
• 🔑 The 'click-worthy' emotions of curiosity, fear, and desire are often combined in successful titles, with curiosity being particularly impactful.
• 💡 The idea of 'opening a loop' in titles, starting a story without finishing it, is a strategy to pique curiosity and encourage clicks.
• 🎯 Targeting specific audiences, like beginners, in titles can increase clicks by making the content feel more relevant and accessible.
• ⏱ Timely and evergreen topics can be repackaged in new ways to maintain viewer interest and capitalize on current trends or long-standing desires.
• 📉 Jake discusses the process of identifying successful title patterns through extensive research and note-taking, highlighting the value of time investment in studying what works.
• 🎨 The 'art' of title writing involves cleverness and an intimate understanding of the audience, while the 'science' involves replicating proven successful structures.

Q & A

What is the primary focus of Jake Thomas's newsletter 'Creator hooks'?

The primary focus of Jake Thomas's newsletter 'Creator hooks' is to help people write better YouTube titles based on human psychology and data-driven insights.

Why are emotional responses important in creating YouTube titles?

Emotional responses are important in creating YouTube titles because they can trigger curiosity, fear, or desire, which are click-worthy emotions that can cause viewers to click on the video.

What does Jake suggest when it comes to researching YouTube titles for your channel?

Jake suggests modeling people a couple of steps ahead of you in terms of success, rather than the biggest names in the business, as they may have influence outside of YouTube that guarantees their success.

How does Jake approach the process of studying YouTube titles?

Jake approaches the process of studying YouTube titles by spending hours every week scanning different channels, noting down titles with high view counts compared to the channel's average, and identifying patterns in successful titles.

What is the significance of using 'curiosity' in YouTube titles according to Jake?

According to Jake, curiosity is the most impactful emotion to tap into when creating YouTube titles because it can be combined with fear or desire to create a compelling reason for viewers to click on the video.

What is Jake's method for identifying successful title patterns?

Jake's method involves using a Google Sheet to document titles, their publish dates, view counts, and the emotional triggers they contain, allowing him to identify patterns and common elements in successful titles.

What advice does Jake give for creators who are just starting out on YouTube?

Jake advises new creators to model successful channels that are a few steps ahead of them in terms of growth, rather than trying to emulate the strategies of already established and influential creators.

How does Jake handle the balance between using effective emotional triggers in titles and maintaining authenticity in his content?

Jake suggests using personal experiences or stories to leverage emotional triggers like fear while reducing the 'ickiness' factor, thus maintaining authenticity in the content presentation.

What is Jake's perspective on the use of the word 'and' in YouTube titles?

Jake believes that using the word 'and' in titles can dilute the message and make it less focused, suggesting that creators should focus on one main subject or idea per title.

What is the role of 'idea' in the process of creating a YouTube title, according to the conversation?

The role of 'idea' in creating a YouTube title is crucial as it forms the foundation of the title. Even the best wordsmithing or graphics cannot compensate for a weak underlying idea.

How does Jake approach A/B testing for YouTube titles?

Jake waits at least five days before conducting A/B testing to ensure the data is accurate and not influenced by the initial high click-through rates from loyal subscribers. He uses tools like TubeBuddy or Thumbnailtest.com to facilitate the testing process.

What is the importance of brevity in YouTube titles as discussed in the script?

Brevity in YouTube titles is important because long titles can confuse viewers, lack focus, and may not be easily understood at a glance, which can lead to lower click-through rates.

How does Jake use his understanding of title creation to improve his email subject lines?

Jake applies the same principles of curiosity, desire, and fear in his email subject lines to increase open rates, using concise and focused language to grab the recipient's attention.

What is Jake's view on the use of chapter markers in YouTube videos?

Jake does not use chapter markers in his videos as he prefers viewers to watch the entire video rather than skip to specific sections, although he acknowledges that others have had success with this approach.

What is the 'Creator hooks' newsletter and how does it benefit its subscribers?

The 'Creator hooks' newsletter is a resource where Jake shares insights and strategies for creating compelling content, particularly focusing on YouTube title creation. It benefits subscribers by providing them with data-driven techniques to improve their video titles and grow their channels.