How to Write YouTube Titles That Get Clicks (With Examples)

Your YouTube title competes with millions of other videos. The difference between 100 views and 1 million views often comes down to 8-12 words. Here's how to make yours irresistible.

Why YouTube Titles Make or Break Your Videos

YouTube's algorithm makes decisions about your video before most people even see it. The three signals it looks at first are title, thumbnail, and early click-through rate (CTR).

A great title does two things simultaneously:

1. Communicates exactly what the viewer will get
2. Creates enough curiosity to make clicking feel urgent

The best creators on YouTube obsess over titles. MrBeast reportedly spends hours refining each title. If the biggest YouTuber in the world thinks titles matter that much, you should too.

The 7 Title Formulas That Actually Work

1. The Number + Promise

Numbers provide specificity and implied value. The brain processes them faster than words.

2. The Curiosity Gap

Imply there's knowledge the viewer doesn't have — then don't give it away in the title.

3. The How-To

Search-intent titles that capture viewers actively looking for solutions.

4. The Versus / Comparison

People love comparisons because they simplify complex decisions.

5. The Mistake / Warning

Loss aversion is powerful. People are more motivated to avoid mistakes than to find gains.

6. The Challenge / Experiment

Videos with built-in stakes are inherently more watchable.

7. The Emotional Trigger

Emotion bypasses the rational brain and drives immediate action.

YouTube Title Best Practices

• Keep it under 60 characters — titles get truncated on mobile after ~60 chars
• Front-load keywords — put the most important words at the beginning
• Use power words — "shocking", "ultimate", "secret", "free", "proven"
• Avoid clickbait — curiosity without deception. Always deliver on the promise.
• Test with A/B — YouTube now lets you test multiple titles. Use it.
• Match your thumbnail — title and thumbnail should tell a complementary story, not repeat each other

Common Title Mistakes

1. Too vague — "My Thoughts on AI" → "The AI Tool That Replaced My Entire Team"
2. Too long — if it gets cut off on mobile, you lose half the value
3. No keyword — great for subscribers, invisible to search
4. ALL CAPS EVERYTHING — one or two words in caps work; all caps looks spammy

Key Takeaways

Your YouTube title is a promise to the viewer. Make it specific, make it intriguing, and always deliver on it. The best titles balance SEO (so people can find you) with curiosity (so people click). Master this balance, and your channel will grow.