How Should I Title YouTube Videos for More Views?
From grabbing the viewer’s attention to generating traffic to your video from Google Search, here are nine answers to the question, “What are some tips for titling YouTube videos?”
- Make It Short, Sweet, and Interesting
- Place the Important Keyword at the Beginning of the Title
- Put Words in Brackets
- Project Urgency and the Instill the Need to Watch Now
- Leverage AI Tools to Generate Titles
- Add “How-To” to Your Title
- Use Layman’s Terms
- Avoid Clickbait Titles
- Consider Search Intent
Make It Short, Sweet, and Interesting
Create an interesting title that immediately grabs the viewer’s attention. A catchy title will draw the viewer in and make them more likely to watch the video. Use relevant keywords in the title to maximize the reach and visibility of the video—aim for under 55 characters. Don’t forget to include a call-to-action in the title, such as “Watch Now” or “Learn How”!
Brenton Thomas
CEO, Twibi
Place the Important Keyword at the Beginning of the Title
When titling your YouTube video, the main keyword should always appear at the start. This will ensure that it stands out and is easier for viewers to recognize. While it is important to create titles that are catchy and attention-grabbing, make sure they remain concise and descriptive; excessive adjectives can be difficult to digest and cause viewers to overlook your video.
Consider using emojis where appropriate, as this can help differentiate your title from others and add a bit of flair. Ultimately, the primary goal of a title should be to reflect its contents accurately while also captivating potential viewers.
Jim Campbell
Owner, Camp Media
Put Words in Brackets
Put words in brackets to make them stand out on the YouTube search page. For example, if you are creating a video about making brownies, your title could be “How to Make Delicious Brownies (Easy Recipe).”
It will draw people’s attention when they search for brownie recipes and help them find your video quickly. Adding descriptive adjectives can also help your video stand out, such as “Easy and Delicious Brownies (Yummy Recipe).” Always use keywords that people are likely to use when searching for a video like yours. It will increase the chances of getting more views and engagement.
Kate Wojewoda-Celinska
Marketing Manager, Spacelift
Project Urgency and the Instill the Need to Watch Now
Let us not sugarcoat it. YouTube is super-congested, with 720,000 hours of video content uploaded daily.
Your targeted viewers already have their eyeballs clogged with tons of video content and are likely to ignore your video—unless it SCREAMS at them to watch now by demonstrating urgency and possibly emphasizing a candid penalty for delaying action.
When I go to YouTube, there are many videos I procrastinate watching because I feel I could always come around to watch them later—after there is really no direct consequence if I delay watching them.
But when I come across videos whose titles tell me there is much to lose if I don’t watch now, I am likely to interrupt my schedule and peek at the video.
For example, “I lost X dollars because I ignored this…”
Note that this doesn’t mean packing your YouTube titles with illicit clickbait. You definitely want to find a healthy balance.
Lotus Felix
CEO, Lotus Brains Studio
Leverage AI Tools to Generate Titles
Generating a captivating title for your YouTube video can be a challenging task, but AI-powered tools can make the process much easier and more efficient. These tools can quickly analyze the content of your video and generate titles that accurately reflect its key ideas and themes.
This can save you time and effort compared to manually creating a title from scratch. Consider using AI-generated titles as a starting point and then fine-tuning them to get the best results.
Burak Özdemir
Founder, Online Alarm Kur
Add “How-To” to Your Title
With so many YouTube videos out there, you need to do whatever you can to make yours stand out. Their titles need to be catchy and intriguing. The more appealing the title, the greater the chances of attracting viewers. One of the easiest ways to create a click-provoking title is by using “How-To.”
Adding “How-To” to the title of your video can immediately let viewers know what to expect from your video. Also, many people search for “How-To” videos on YouTube, so using this term increases the likelihood that your video will appear in search results. It’s an excellent way to position yourself as an expert on the topic and build trust with the audience. You can boost your online presence by sharing “How-To” videos on social media and other platforms.
Agata Szczepanek
Community Manager, LiveCareer
Use Layman’s Terms
Unless you’re releasing an ultra-specific thesis video, never use vernaculars that the common user won’t understand. Instead, use layperson’s terms when titling your YouTube videos. This way, you create an immediate rapport with your target audience, encouraging them to click on your video.
Also, avoid long-winded sentences for your YouTube video titles. Ask yourself how often you skipped a social media post just because the caption included a million words. If it’s often, think of creating a title for a YouTube video in the same way. Use brief, often action sentences to pique the interest of anybody who comes across your video. You’ll also get better algorithm placements because of this.
Preston Powell
CEO, Webserv
Avoid Clickbait Titles
From my personal experience, one of the best pieces of advice for a YouTube video title is to be descriptive yet succinct. Avoid clickbait titles and focus on creating intrigue that can captivate your audience’s attention and highlight your video’s content.
Though it may tempt you to use something eye-catching, you will benefit more from a title that accurately describes the theme of your video with limited words. Avoid buzzwords or phrases like “amazingly easy,” as this will probably leave visitors disappointed when they find out it was not as amazing or easy as you made them believe.
Taimur Khan
Operations Manager, Liverpool First Aid Course
Consider Search Intent
Align the title (and content) of YouTube videos with search intent to increase views on YouTube and generate traffic to your video from Google Search.
For example, if there’s a high search volume for the keyword “how to make a QR code,” create a YouTube video that explains how to create a QR code in-depth. Consider all aspects of the topic. In this example, there are likely free and paid considerations and benefits to each.
Create a unique title that aligns with the video.
Dalton Luka
SEO Consultant, Dalton Luka SEO
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