Do NOT ask people to subscribe on YouTube (Here's Why)

[Putnam]

Here's a pretty compelling email from Creator Hooks on how to write video titles that entice people to click
5 videos worth modeling to help you write great titles and save time.

Title: We Ran Every Day for 30 Days, Here's What Happened
Formula: We (Activity) Every Day for (Number) Days, Here’s What Happened
Hook score*: +519

Why this works:

• Curiosity - This builds curiosity by opening a loop with "here's what happened," and not telling you what happened.
• Time Frame - Challenges with a time frame are more interesting and make the video feel more tangible.
• Daily - People love to watch videos about things to do every day.
• How you can use this hook: Do a 30-day daily challenge, then tell your audience what happened.

Examples of this hook in action:
We Did Date Night Every Night for 30 Days, Here’s What Happened
I Sent 100 Cold Emails Every Day for 30 Days, Here’s What Happened

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Title: Do NOT Shut Down Your Computer! (here's why)
Formula: Do NOT [Innocent, Common Action] (here’s why)
Hook score: +916

Why this works:

• Negativity - This title is a warning for you to not shut down your computer.
• Curiosity - Shutting down your computer feels like an innocent thing to do, so this title builds curiosity because it doesn't really make sense. It's counterintuitive.
• How you can use this hook: Tell your audience to not do something that seems innocent, harmless, or is even a best practice.

Examples of this hook in action:
Do NOT Sell Your Bitcoin Right Now (here’s why)
Do NOT Ask People To Subscribe (here’s why)

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Title: German Neighborhoods are ILLEGAL IN AMERICA | Zoning & NIMBY-ism
Formula: (Entity) are ILLEGAL IN (Place) | (Keywords)
Hook score: +993

Why this works:

• Negativity - "Illegal" catches your eye and makes this video more interesting.
• Curiosity - Like the title above, this builds curiosity because it's a drama-filled title about a seemingly innocent thing.
• How you can use this hook: Tell your audience about something seemingly innocent that's actually illegal.

Examples of this hook in action:
Boats are ILLEGAL In This Water | No Boating Zone Lagoon
Airbnbs are ILLEGAL IN THIS STATE | Short-Term Rental Mistakes

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Title: Things I Never Pack Travel 2022
Formula: (Objects) I Never (Action) (Current Year)
Hook score: +1870

Why this works:

• Negativity - This is about things she never packs, not things she packs. We're drawn to warnings like this.
• Timeliness - Slapping the current year on the end of the title is a great way to tell your audience that this video is relevant right now.
• How you can use this hook: Tell your audience about the items you never use.

Examples of this hook in action:
Banks I'd Never Use in 2022
Foods I Never Eat in 2022

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Title: 12 digital products that can make AT LEAST $10k/month
Formula: 12 (Objects) that can (Achieve Goal)
Hook score: +2030

Why this works:

• Desire - Everybody in this creator's audience would love to have a product that earns $10K/month.
• List - Lists build curiosity and make a video feel more tangible.
• How you can use this hook: Tell your audience about a list of things that can help them achieve their goals.

Examples of this hook in action:
10 Cameras that can take BEAUTIFUL Outdoor Photos
12 Job Boards that may have your DREAM JOB

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Flop of the Week
Title: My Studio Tour 2022! Where we film & tools we use
Hook score: -89
Why this flopped: This creator's audience watches her channel for Excel and technology tips that they can use, not for a tour of the studio where she films.

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A quick question for you ... if you remember. When you saw the topic for this post "Do NOT ask people to subscribe on YouTube! (Here's why)" ... did it pique your interest causing you to click? Chances are it did..... the same should ring true for video titles on YouTube. Something to think about.