View this email in your browser

Creator Hooks

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 here are 5 videos worth modeling to help you write great titles and save time:

P.S. This newsletter hit 5,000 subscribers over the weekend!

Thank you so much for reading and sharing this newsletter‚ it means a lot to me.

Chef’s Kiss

(be sure to download images to see the thumbnails)

Title: Why are a restaurant's vegetables so much better than homemade ones?

Formula: Why are a (Authority)’s (Product) so much better than (Local/Homemade Products)?

Hook score*: +549

Why this works:

Curiosity - This title asks a question many of us have asked ourselves and would love to know the answer to. The thumbnail also has contrast between home cook and chef, and the size difference in the Brussel’s sprouts, which builds even more curiosity.

How you can use this hook: What is a question that everyone in your audience has asked themselves about how the pros do something so much better than them? Use that for a simple, yet powerful title.

Examples of this hook in action:

• Why are MrBeast’s videos so much better than mine?

• Why do professional fishing guides catch so many more fish than me?

Beast Mode

Title: 3 Habits That Will Make You A Beast In Matches

Formula: 3 Habits that Will Make You A Beast In (Competition)

Hook score: +734

Why this works:

List - People love clicking on lists.

Desire - This audience would love to become a beast in matches.

How you can use this hook: Tell your audience about 3 habits that will help them reach a big goal of theirs.

Examples of this hook in action:

• 3 Habits That Will Make You A Beast On The Piano

• 3 Habits That Will Make Your Marriage Amazing

P.S. This newsletter will help you write great titles, but if you want to know what topics your videos should be about, check out TubeBuddy for free.

(Affiliate)

Decorating Disaster

Title: 9 DECORATING MISTAKES THAT COULD MAKE YOU DEPRESSED OR ANXIOUS

Formula: 9 (Industry) Mistakes That Could Make You (Unwanted Emotion or Attribute)

Hook score: +909

Why this works:

List - We’ve got another list here.

Negativity - There are several aspects of negativity here. This video is about mistakes, and the result is you being depressed or anxious. The thumbnail reinforces the negativity by calling your home depressing.

How you can use this hook: Tell your audience about the mistakes they could be making that will leave them with negative emotions.

Examples of this hook in action:

• 9 Interviewing Mistakes That Lose You The Job

• 5 Credit Card Mistakes That Will Keep You Poor

Phelps Films

Title: Swim without getting tired

Formula: (Activity) without (Problem)

Hook score: +1074

Why this works:

Benefit - Swimmers (this creator’s audience) would love to swim without getting tired.

Refute an objection - This video refutes the “I can’t swim too long because I get too tired,” objection, so you’ve gotta watch and see how to do it.

Great thumbnail - This thumbnail shows a clear contrast and progression to helping the audience achieve their goal that the title promises.

How you can use this hook: Tell your audience how to achieve a big goal without their big excuse coming true.

Examples of this hook in action:

• Flip Houses Without Paying For Them

• Build an Ecom Brand Without Shipping Products

Green Brick Road

Title: The Intelligent Investor’s Road to $1,000,000

Formula: The (Positive Attribute) (Position)’s Road to (Huge Goal)

Hook score: +1138

Why this works:

Desire - Making $1,000,000 is a huge goal for this channel’s audience.

Beginner tips - The thumbnail text tells you this is for beginners because it says “An investor’s first $1,000,000.”

How you can use this hook: Tell your audience about the road to their big goal.

Examples of this hook in action:

• The Retired Athlete’s Road To An Injury-Free Body

• The Beginner Homesteaders Road To Self-Sufficiency

Flop of the Week

Title: Minimalist Kitchen Essentials | My traveling kitchen setup.

Hook score: -78

Why this flopped: The majority of this creator’s audience probably cooks in their own kitchen. They don’t have or need a traveling kitchen setup, so they won’t watch this video.

To avoid this mistake, really think about who your audience is and how you can serve them best.

Alright, that wraps up this week’s Creator Hooks!

Have any questions about the hooks in this edition?

Reply to this email and let me know!

And if you know a fellow creator who needs help with writing better titles, please forward this email to them and send them to creatorhooks.com.

Here’s to the war on boring content.

- Jake

P.S. Follow me on Twitter for more title tips @jthomas__

P.P.S. See previous editions here

*The hook score is a calculation of how many views the video got more than the average for that channel. The higher the score, the better the video did.