How to Write YouTube Titles That Get Clicks

Your title decides whether someone clicks or scrolls past.

You could have the best video ever made, but if your title doesn't stop the scroll, nobody will ever see it. YouTube's own data shows that titles and thumbnails drive 90% of a video's performance.

This guide covers what actually works in 2025, not recycled advice from 2019.

The Two Jobs Your Title Must Do

Every successful YouTube title accomplishes two things:

Tells viewers what they'll get (clarity)
Makes them curious enough to click (intrigue)

Miss either one and your video underperforms. Too vague and people don't know what they're clicking. Too boring and they don't care.

The sweet spot is a title that's clear about the value AND creates an itch to click.

The 60-Character Rule

YouTube truncates titles on mobile after roughly 60 characters. Since over 70% of YouTube views happen on mobile, your key message needs to land in those first 60 characters.

Bad: "In This Video I'm Going to Show You How to Make Amazing Thumbnails for YouTube"

Good: "YouTube Thumbnails: 5 Mistakes Killing Your Views"

The second title delivers the same promise in 44 characters. The important words aren't cut off on any device.

Put Your Keyword First

YouTube's algorithm weighs the beginning of your title more heavily than the end. If you're targeting "beginner guitar lessons," lead with it.

Weak: "My Tips and Tricks for Beginner Guitar Lessons"

Strong: "Beginner Guitar Lessons: 3 Songs You Can Play Today"

This isn't just SEO. It's clarity. Viewers scanning quickly see the topic immediately.

7 Title Formulas That Actually Work

1. The Number + Benefit Formula

[Number] [Thing] to [Benefit]

"7 Habits to Double Your Productivity"
"5 Camera Settings for Cinematic Video"
"3 Exercises to Fix Back Pain Fast"

Why it works: Numbers set expectations. Benefits answer "why should I care?"

2. The "How To" Formula

How to [Achieve Result] (Even If [Objection])

"How to Edit Videos Fast (Even as a Beginner)"
"How to Cook Steak Perfectly Every Time"
"How to Learn Spanish in 30 Days"

Why it works: People search "how to" constantly. The objection-handler removes friction.

3. The Curiosity Gap

[Surprising Statement] - Here's Why

"I Deleted All My Social Media - Here's What Happened"
"This $20 Mic Sounds Better Than My $500 One"
"Pros Are Using This Setting and Nobody Talks About It"

Why it works: Creates an incomplete loop the brain wants to close.

4. The "Mistake" Formula

[Number] [Topic] Mistakes (And How to Fix Them)

"5 Editing Mistakes Beginners Make"
"Why Your Thumbnails Aren't Working (3 Fixes)"
"The #1 Reason Your Videos Don't Get Views"

Why it works: Loss aversion. People click to make sure they're not making these mistakes.

5. The Direct Challenge

Stop [Doing Bad Thing] - Do This Instead

"Stop Using Auto Mode - Use These Settings Instead"
"Stop Wasting Money on Gear You Don't Need"
"Why You Should Never Edit in 1080p"

Why it works: Challenges existing behavior, creates urgency to learn the "right" way.

6. The Time-Bound Promise

[Result] in [Timeframe]

"Learn Photoshop Basics in 20 Minutes"
"Full Body Workout in 15 Minutes (No Equipment)"
"Master Excel Formulas in One Hour"

Why it works: Removes the "this will take forever" objection.

7. The Comparison

[Thing A] vs [Thing B] - Which is Better?

"iPhone vs Android in 2025 - Honest Comparison"
"Premiere Pro vs DaVinci Resolve for Beginners"
"Renting vs Buying: The Math Nobody Shows You"

Why it works: People researching decisions actively search comparisons.

Words That Boost Clicks

Certain words consistently improve click-through rates:

Power words: Ultimate, Complete, Essential, Proven, Secret, Hidden Urgency words: Now, Today, Fast, Quick, Instant, Finally Curiosity words: Why, How, What, Strange, Weird, Shocking Specificity: Exact numbers, specific names, precise timeframes

Use these strategically, not stuffed into every title.

Words That Kill Clicks

Avoid vague, generic language:

"Amazing" (what does amazing mean?)
"Awesome" (says nothing)
"Cool" (lazy)
"My thoughts on..." (nobody cares about your thoughts, they care about value)
"Part 1" (unless you have a proven series)

Also avoid clickbait that doesn't deliver. YouTube's algorithm now detects when viewers click but leave disappointed. Misleading titles get suppressed.

The Bracket Trick

Adding context in brackets or parentheses can boost CTR significantly:

"Beginner Photography Tips [2025 Update]"
"How to Start a Business (Step-by-Step)"
"Best Budget Laptops [Under $500]"

Brackets add specificity without cluttering the main title.

Match Your Title to Your Thumbnail

Your title and thumbnail should work together, not repeat each other.

Bad combination:

Thumbnail text: "5 CAMERA TIPS"
Title: "5 Camera Tips for Beginners"

Good combination:

Thumbnail text: "STOP DOING THIS"
Title: "5 Camera Mistakes Ruining Your Photos"

The thumbnail creates intrigue, the title explains what you'll learn.

Test Multiple Options

Never settle for your first title idea. Write at least 5 variations and pick the best one.

For example, a video about morning routines:

"My 5AM Morning Routine for Productivity"
"5 Habits That Changed My Mornings Forever"
"Why I Wake Up at 5AM (And You Should Too)"
"Morning Routine Mistakes That Waste Your Day"
"The Perfect Morning Routine Doesn't Exist - Do This Instead"

Each targets a different angle. Pick the one that best matches your content AND creates the most curiosity.

What YouTube's Algorithm Actually Reads

In 2025, YouTube's AI doesn't just read your title. It also:

Analyzes your video's transcript
Checks if your spoken content matches your title promise
Detects mismatches between clickbait titles and actual content

This means your title needs to accurately represent what's in your video. Misleading titles might get initial clicks but will hurt long-term performance.

Tools like LaunchLens analyze your transcript to generate titles that actually match what you said in your video. This alignment is what the algorithm rewards.

Quick Title Checklist

Before publishing, run through this:

[ ] Under 60 characters for the main message?
[ ] Keyword near the beginning?
[ ] Clear about what viewers will get?
[ ] Creates curiosity or urgency?
[ ] Works with thumbnail (not duplicating)?
[ ] Accurately represents video content?
[ ] Tested against 4-5 alternative options?

Real Examples: Before and After

Before: "Vlog - Fun Day at the Beach with Friends" After: "We Found a Secret Beach Nobody Knows About"

Before: "How to Take Good Photos" After: "3 Phone Camera Settings Pros Use (Copy These)"

Before: "My Thoughts on the New iPhone" After: "iPhone 16 Review: Worth the Upgrade? (Honest Take)"

Before: "Gaming Video #47" After: "This Build is BROKEN in NBA 2K25 (99 OVR Guide)"

Start With Your Best Hook

The most important thing you say in your video should often become your title.

Watch your video back. Find the moment where you delivered the most valuable insight or the most surprising statement. That's probably your title.

If you script your videos, write your title before filming. It forces you to clarify your main message.

Want AI to generate title options based on what you actually said in your video? Try LaunchLens free and get 5 optimized title suggestions in seconds.

How to Write YouTube Titles That Get Clicks (2025 Guide)