How to Write YouTube Titles That Get Clicks and Keep Viewers Watching 🚀
When it comes to YouTube, your thumbnail stops the scroll, but it’s your title that makes the decision for viewers to watch your video. Together, these elements create a powerful duo: the thumbnail grabs attention, and the title convinces viewers your video is worth their time.
In this lesson, we’re diving deep into crafting decision-making titles that not only attract your perfect viewer but also set the expectation to watch the entire video, increasing both your watch time and your calls to action (CTAs).
Ready to write titles that captivate and convert? Let’s go!
Why Titles Are the Decision-Maker 🎯
Your video title serves as a promise to your viewers. It tells them what they’ll gain by watching your content and ensures that only the right audience clicks through. The right audience—your perfect viewer—will not only watch the entire video but also be primed to take the action you want, whether it’s subscribing, commenting, or clicking a link.
While this lesson focuses on writing high-converting titles, tomorrow we’ll take a closer look at thumbnails and how they complement your titles to create a scroll-stopping experience. Don’t miss it!
Embed the Video 🎥
Before we dive further, watch the video to see these strategies in action:
How to Write Better YouTube Titles That Get More Views
In this video, I share examples, pro tips, and even AI tools that can help you brainstorm and refine your titles. Watch now to take your YouTube strategy to the next level!
Step 1: Craft Titles for Your Perfect Viewer 🎯
Start with a main key phrase—the core search term you want your video to rank for. Your perfect viewer is already searching for this, so including it in your title helps the YouTube algorithm categorize your content and recommend it to the right people.
How to Choose the Right Key Phrase:
- Use TubeBuddy to research phrases with high search volume but low competition.
- If your channel is new, opt for long-tail keywords to target niche audiences. For example:
- Instead of "bake a cake," try "how to bake a cake from scratch for beginners."
Example Title:
- Key Phrase: “How to Bake a Cake”
- Optimized Title: “How to Bake a Cake From Scratch (No Milk or Butter!)”
This title includes the key phrase at the start and adds intrigue by hinting at something unique—baking without milk or butter.
Step 2: Add Intrigue Without Clickbait 🧐
Once you’ve established your key phrase, it’s time to spark curiosity. Your goal is to entice your perfect viewer to click by promising value or solving a specific problem.
Examples with Key Phrase Integration:
- Question: “How to Bake a Cake (The Secret Every Baker Should Know!)”
- Solution: “How to Bake a Cake Without an Oven (Step-by-Step Guide).”
- Surprise Detail: “How to Bake a Cake With Just 3 Ingredients!”
By combining your key phrase with an intriguing hook, you filter out viewers who aren’t interested while attracting those who are eager to watch the entire video.
Step 3: Use Numbers and Lists 🔢
Lists and specific numbers are powerful tools for increasing both click-through rates (CTR) and watch times. Why? Viewers want to know every item on the list and will stick around to see them all.
Two Ways to Use Numbers:
- List of Tips: “5 Easy Tips to Bake the Perfect Cake Every Time.”
- Why it works: Viewers will stay until the end to hear all five tips.
- Specific Numbers: “3-Ingredient Cake Recipe (Ready in 5 Minutes!).”
- Why it works: Specific numbers feel more realistic and less generic than round numbers like “10” or “100.”
Pro Tip: When using numbers, keep them accurate and relevant to the content. Misleading your audience breaks trust.
Step 4: Test and Refine Your Titles 🛠️
The best way to find out what resonates with your audience is by testing your titles. Tools like TubeBuddy allow you to perform A/B split tests, letting you compare two titles to see which one gets better results.
Here’s how:
- Run your video with Title A for a week.
- Switch to Title B for the next week.
- Analyze the results to see which title achieved higher click-through rates and longer watch times.
Bonus: Emotional Triggers That Drive Action ❤️
Incorporate emotional triggers into your titles to connect with viewers on a deeper level. Whether it’s excitement, curiosity, or urgency, these triggers encourage immediate action.
Power Words to Try:
- Excitement: “Unbelievable!”
- Curiosity: “The Truth About…”
- Urgency: “Don’t Miss This…”
Example:
- “How to Bake a Cake (The Shocking Truth About Flour-Free Recipes!)”
Tools to Spark Ideas 💡
If you’re struggling to brainstorm titles, here are some general tips for generating ideas:
- AI Tools: ChatGPT can help you brainstorm creative titles based on your key phrase.
- Competitor Analysis: Study popular videos in your niche and adapt their titles for your content.
- Keyword Research: Tools like TubeBuddy can reveal trending search terms in your niche.
Conclusion: Titles Are the Decision-Maker 🎯
Your YouTube title is your video’s decision-maker—it convinces your perfect viewer to commit to watching. By combining SEO optimization, engaging hooks, and emotional triggers, you can craft titles that attract clicks, boost watch time, and drive action.
But remember, the title is only one part of the equation. To stop the scroll and give your title the chance to shine, you need an eye-catching thumbnail. That’s exactly what we’ll cover in tomorrow’s lesson, so stay tuned!
In the meantime, don’t forget to watch the video linked above for even more title-writing tips and examples.
What’s Next in the YouTube SEO Full Course?
In the next lesson, we’ll tackle creating irresistible titles and thumbnails that drive clicks and engagement. Here’s a sneak peek of what’s coming up:
- Planning a High-Converting Video Series
- Crafting Irresistible Titles and Thumbnails
- The Perfect Video Script Blueprint
- Recording & Editing Techniques
- SEO Optimization Deep Dive
- Promoting Your Videos for Maximum Reach
- Building Evergreen Backlinks
- Analyzing & Adjusting for Continued Growth
- Creating a Sustainable Weekly Content System
Ready to Go Further?
Sign up to access the full YouTube SEO Full Course and unlock all the secrets to building an evergreen lead generation system: https://cleverdough.com/evergreenleads
If you’re ready to take your strategy even deeper, join my exclusive training session where I’ll share my step-by-step evergreen YouTube marketing system. This training is free and packed with actionable insights to help you succeed.
Share Your Thoughts!
What part of today’s lesson resonated with you the most? Have you tried any of these strategies before? Let me know in the comments below—I’d love to hear from you!
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#BetterYouTubeTitles
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