Some of my spiciest YouTube takes: 1/ Never ask a question in your...
Jake Thomas@jthomas__
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Nov 13, 2025
~3 min read
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Some of my spiciest YouTube takes:
1/ Never ask a question in your title
1/ Never ask a question in your title
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I'm not saying questions can't make good YouTube titles, but I've found bold statements typically make for better titles.
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2/ Don’t just describe your video in your title
The job of a title isn’t to explain what your video is about.
It’s to get somebody to click and watch your video.
It can describe your video, but it doesn’t have to.
Some non-description titles:
The job of a title isn’t to explain what your video is about.
It’s to get somebody to click and watch your video.
It can describe your video, but it doesn’t have to.
Some non-description titles:
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3/ You’re overthinking clickbait
No matter what you title your video, somebody will always think it's clickbait.
Come up with an interesting title you know your audience will click on, then make a video that delivers on the promise you made in the title.
No matter what you title your video, somebody will always think it's clickbait.
Come up with an interesting title you know your audience will click on, then make a video that delivers on the promise you made in the title.
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4/ Never make a video before you have a title & thumbnail
Life is a lot easier if you come up with a great title and thumbnail BEFORE making your video.
Making a podcast or vlog? Come up with some interesting titles beforehand and steer the content in the direction.
Life is a lot easier if you come up with a great title and thumbnail BEFORE making your video.
Making a podcast or vlog? Come up with some interesting titles beforehand and steer the content in the direction.
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5/ I don’t A/B test titles to optimize my videos
This might just be cuz I'm a title nerd, but I like to A/B test titles to test theories more than to optimize a certain video.
Then I take these learnings and apply them to my future videos so I can grow even faster and bigger.
This might just be cuz I'm a title nerd, but I like to A/B test titles to test theories more than to optimize a certain video.
Then I take these learnings and apply them to my future videos so I can grow even faster and bigger.
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6/ Don’t get too hung up on CTR
CTR doesn't exist in a vacuum.
Sometimes a video blows up and has a low CTR.
Sometimes a video has a great CTR but very few views.
Just focus on making great content with great packaging.
CTR doesn't exist in a vacuum.
Sometimes a video blows up and has a low CTR.
Sometimes a video has a great CTR but very few views.
Just focus on making great content with great packaging.
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7/ Titles are more important than thumbnails
For educational channels, titles are more important than thumbnails.
A great title and a mediocre thumbnail will outperform a great thumbnail and mediocre title.
For educational channels, titles are more important than thumbnails.
A great title and a mediocre thumbnail will outperform a great thumbnail and mediocre title.
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8/ You don’t need new video ideas
Most channels have 5-10 topics that do well for them.
You don't need to find new topics, you just need to figure out new ways to talk about your proven topics.
Most channels have 5-10 topics that do well for them.
You don't need to find new topics, you just need to figure out new ways to talk about your proven topics.
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9/ Creators care too much about title length
Some rules of thumb:
• Older audience = can get away with longer titles
• Younger audience = shorter titles
• SEO traffic = can get away with longer titles
• Browse & recommended = shorter titles
• Long title? frontload the info
Some rules of thumb:
• Older audience = can get away with longer titles
• Younger audience = shorter titles
• SEO traffic = can get away with longer titles
• Browse & recommended = shorter titles
• Long title? frontload the info
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10/ Don't try to promote your videos
Don't email your videos or share them on other social platforms.
Just make an incredible video about a proven idea with an interesting title and thumbnail and let YouTube bring the viewers to you.
Don't email your videos or share them on other social platforms.
Just make an incredible video about a proven idea with an interesting title and thumbnail and let YouTube bring the viewers to you.
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11/ You don't write titles, you build them
Don't try to sit down and come up with a great title.
Titles are built from:
• Your audience's dreams and fears
• What's worked for your channel
• What's worked for your competitors
• What's worked for adjacent channels
Don't try to sit down and come up with a great title.
Titles are built from:
• Your audience's dreams and fears
• What's worked for your channel
• What's worked for your competitors
• What's worked for adjacent channels
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12/ Always write 10+ titles for a video
Whenever I force myself to write 10+ titles for a video, I almost always discover new angles or phrases I hadn't thought of before.
If you're struggling to do this, write titles from these different angles:
• Curiosity
• Fear
• Desire
Whenever I force myself to write 10+ titles for a video, I almost always discover new angles or phrases I hadn't thought of before.
If you're struggling to do this, write titles from these different angles:
• Curiosity
• Fear
• Desire
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If any of these takes resonated with you, you'll probably like my newsletter where I break down the psychology of viral YouTube titles: creatorhooks.com
