Your YouTube video title is one of the most important factors in getting people to click. A great title can intrigue, inform, and convince someone to watch, while a bad title can leave your video ignored. So, what makes a good YouTube title, and what should you avoid? Let’s break it down.
1. Title Length – Keep It Concise, But Compelling
A good YouTube title is clear and to the point. Ideally, you want to keep your title under 60 characters so it doesn’t get cut off in search results or suggested videos.
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2. Keywords – Help Your Video Get Found
Your title should include keywords that your audience is actually searching for. Think about what someone would type into YouTube to find a video like yours. A great tool for this is YouTube’s auto-suggest feature—start typing a topic and see what pops up.
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3. Know Your Audience – What Will Make Them Click?
Think about your target audience and how they search for content. Are they looking for tutorials? Reviews? Entertainment? Use language that speaks directly to their interests and needs.
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4. Titles & Thumbnails – Make Them Work Together
Your title and thumbnail should tell a story together. If your title promises a shocking moment or a big reveal, your thumbnail should visually support that.
✅ Good Example:
- Title: I Bought the Cheapest Camera on Amazon – Here’s What Happened!
- Thumbnail: A surprised face with the camera and a question mark.
❌ Bad Example:
- Title: Testing a Cheap Camera
- Thumbnail: Just the camera with no visual hook.
5. Hooks & Curiosity – Make People Want to Click
Adding a hook to your title encourages curiosity. A good hook makes viewers feel like they need to click to find out what happens.
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6. Avoid Clickbait – Don’t Trick Your Viewers
Clickbait might get people to click, but it won’t keep them watching. If your title promises something amazing but the video doesn’t deliver, viewers will leave quickly, hurting your watch time and hurting your chances in the algorithm.
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Final Thoughts
A great YouTube title is a mix of clarity, curiosity, and searchability. Keep it short, use relevant keywords, think about what your audience is looking for, and make sure it matches your thumbnail and content. And above all—be honest and deliver on what your title promises!
Ready to optimise your titles? Try these tips on your next video and watch your click-through rate improve!
