🧵 Copying on YouTube won't work. You need to understand the...
Abu (YouTube Strategist)@NotNotAbu2
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Sep 01, 2025
~3 min read
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🧵 Copying on YouTube won't work.
You need to understand the psychology behind what you're copying, otherwise you will just fail.
Here's how to copy successfully: (thread)
You need to understand the psychology behind what you're copying, otherwise you will just fail.
Here's how to copy successfully: (thread)
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When people see a video blows up, the default reaction from most creators is to copy it.
They copy the title structure, thumbnail design, pacing, and hope for the same results.
But copying rarely works, because viewers clicked based on how it made them feel, and your video isn't able to replicate that same feeling.
They copy the title structure, thumbnail design, pacing, and hope for the same results.
But copying rarely works, because viewers clicked based on how it made them feel, and your video isn't able to replicate that same feeling.
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If copying videos blindly worked, every MrBeast clone would have 100 million subs, but they don't. They copy the surface level stuff like the shocked face, the red arrows the bold text, but their video flops anyway.
What they don't realize is that viewers didn’t click because of those decorations, they clicked because something triggered curiosity, fear, novelty, or desire.
You need to find out what those things are before deciding to copy.
What they don't realize is that viewers didn’t click because of those decorations, they clicked because something triggered curiosity, fear, novelty, or desire.
You need to find out what those things are before deciding to copy.
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Every viral video has a psychological trigger. Packaging definitely helps, but it's the psychology behind that packaging is why the viral video went viral.
Here are some examples of psychological triggers:
> Fear
> FOMO
> Status
> Novelty
> Conflict
> Survival
> Curiosity
Here are some examples of psychological triggers:
> Fear
> FOMO
> Status
> Novelty
> Conflict
> Survival
> Curiosity
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The mistake you're making is copying a viral video without the underlying psychology. You might recreate the same thumbnail pose or use the same title format, but if the video doesn’t create the same emotional tension in the viewer, it won’t convert.
This is why endless clones of trending formats like “staying in a box for 24 hours”, “last to leave challenges”, “overnight survival” flop unless they manage to copy the actual psychological trigger that made the original video viral.
This is why endless clones of trending formats like “staying in a box for 24 hours”, “last to leave challenges”, “overnight survival” flop unless they manage to copy the actual psychological trigger that made the original video viral.
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So here's how you should actually be copying videos on YouTube:
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Method 1: Change How You Study Videos
Next time you analyze a viral video, go beyond asking “What did they title it?”:
> What psychological trigger am I feeling?
> What exact question is this title planting in my head?
> What’s the tension that won’t let me scroll away until I click?
> What emotion do I feel in the first few moments of seeing the thumbnail?
Next time you analyze a viral video, go beyond asking “What did they title it?”:
> What psychological trigger am I feeling?
> What exact question is this title planting in my head?
> What’s the tension that won’t let me scroll away until I click?
> What emotion do I feel in the first few moments of seeing the thumbnail?
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Method 2: Build a Psychology Swipe File
build a swipe file categorized by psychological triggers. For each viral video you save, note:
> The emotion it's targeting
> The question it forces you to ask
> The promise it makes to the viewer
Over time, you’ll realize viral videos across completely different niches share the same psychological triggers.
build a swipe file categorized by psychological triggers. For each viral video you save, note:
> The emotion it's targeting
> The question it forces you to ask
> The promise it makes to the viewer
Over time, you’ll realize viral videos across completely different niches share the same psychological triggers.
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Method 3: Translate Psychology Into Your Niche
Practice taking popular formats outside your niche and reimagining them through psychology. For example:
> Viral video: “I Stayed In A Terrorist Camp for 24 Hours”
> Fitness niche: “I Worked Out in a Sauna for 24 Hours”
> Education niche: “I Wrote Essays Nonstop for 24 Hours”
> Finance niche: “Surviving 24 Hours In New York With $0”
Practice taking popular formats outside your niche and reimagining them through psychology. For example:
> Viral video: “I Stayed In A Terrorist Camp for 24 Hours”
> Fitness niche: “I Worked Out in a Sauna for 24 Hours”
> Education niche: “I Wrote Essays Nonstop for 24 Hours”
> Finance niche: “Surviving 24 Hours In New York With $0”
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Method 4: “Why Would a Stranger Click?” Test
Before uploading, ask: "If I had never heard of me, why would I click this?"
The correct answer should tie directly to a psychological trigger. E.g: “because I desperately want to know if it's possible to survive, or I need to know what happens when X meets Y, or I can’t wait to find out how this ends".
Before uploading, ask: "If I had never heard of me, why would I click this?"
The correct answer should tie directly to a psychological trigger. E.g: “because I desperately want to know if it's possible to survive, or I need to know what happens when X meets Y, or I can’t wait to find out how this ends".
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TL;DR: Don’t just copy the videos, copy the psychology. Viral videos succeed because they trigger deep emotions in the viewer’s mind. Study those triggers, categorize them, and translate them into your niche. Upgrade what works instead of cloning it.
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S: I regularly give YouTube sauce exclusively to my newsletter. If you want more secret sauce, click here:
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If you found this helpful:
1. Follow @NotNotAbu2
2. Like/retweet the 1st post
1. Follow @NotNotAbu2
2. Like/retweet the 1st post
