Your YouTube title is the first thing people see when they’re browsing for videos to watch, so it’s important to make a good impression. A well-written title can grab attention, pique curiosity, and encourage people to click on your video.
Here are 11 tips for writing effective YouTube titles:
1. Use relevant keywords
One of the most important things to keep in mind when writing your YouTube title is to use relevant keywords. These are the words and phrases that people are likely to use when they search for videos on your topic.
You can use YouTube’s own keyword research tool, or you can use a third-party tool like Google Keyword Planner to find relevant keywords.
Once you have a list of keywords, choose the ones that are most relevant to your video and that have a good balance of search volume and competition.
2. Be specific
People are more likely to click on videos with specific titles. Avoid using generic titles like “How to Make a Cake” or “What’s New in Tech.” Instead, try to be more specific, such as “How to Make a Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Frosting” or “The 10 Best New Tech Gadgets of 2023.”
3. Use strong verbs
Strong verbs can help to make your YouTube titles more engaging and actionable. Instead of using weak verbs like “is” or “was,” try using stronger verbs like “makes,” “shows,” or “teaches.”
For example, instead of the title “How to Make a Chocolate Cake,” you could use the title “How to Make a Chocolate Cake in 60 Minutes or Less.”
4. Create a sense of urgency
People are more likely to click on videos that create a sense of urgency. This means using words and phrases like “limited time offer,” “new,” or “exclusive.”
For example, instead of the title “How to Make a Chocolate Cake,” you could use the title “New Chocolate Cake Recipe That’s Sure to Impress Your Friends.”
5. Use numbers
Numbers can help to make your YouTube titles more specific and attention-grabbing. For example, instead of the title “How to Make a Chocolate Cake,” you could use the title “5 Easy Steps to Making a Chocolate Cake.”
6. Use emojis
Emojis can add a touch of personality to your YouTube titles and make them more visually appealing. However, be careful not to overuse emojis, as this can make your titles look spammy.
7. Ask questions
Asking questions in your YouTube titles is a great way to pique curiosity and encourage people to click on your video. For example, instead of the title “How to Make a Chocolate Cake,” you could use the title “Can You Make a Chocolate Cake in 60 Minutes or Less?”
8. Use power words
Power words are words that evoke strong emotions or associations. Using power words in your YouTube titles can help to make them more engaging and persuasive.
Here are some examples of power words:
- Free
- New
- Exclusive
- Limited time offer
- Easy
- Quick
- Simple
- Proven
- Guaranteed
- Amazing
- Incredible
- Best
9. Test different titles
Once you have a few different title ideas, test them out to see which one performs the best. You can use YouTube Analytics to track your video views, click-through rate, and other metrics.
10. Keep your titles short and to the point
YouTube titles can be up to 100 characters long, but it’s best to keep them under 60 characters so that they display fully on most devices.
11. Proofread your titles carefully
Before you hit publish, make sure to proofread your title carefully for any errors in grammar or spelling.
Following these tips can help you to write effective YouTube titles that will grab attention, pique curiosity, and encourage people to click on your videos.