How to Write YouTube Headlines That Get Read

Is your video content producing the results you would like to see?
Would like your audience to recommend your channel?
It may be time to revisit your YouTube headlines and discover which ones are reaching your readers the most. According to YouTube there are 1 billion hours of video being watched each day. And Om Malik reports that 300 hours are uploaded per minute.
An attention-getting headline will capture the reader’s attention right away and compel them to want to find out more. Clear, concise, and original content is important, but words that appeal to their emotions is the magic ingredient to giving your visitors a reason to want to dive deeper.
Getting to know your market is the first step to creating great titles. Generic titles just don’t get noticed any more. It pays to know exactly what attracts your audience and why. When creating your video content keep these points in mind:
• Let the viewer know right away what the topic is about
• Don’t mislead or trick people into viewing a video that is completely different
• Focus on who your audience is
• Find out what your niche is attracted to the most
• Cut down on the length of your headlines
• Includes numbers and statistics
• Keep in mind to optimize for the search on YouTube and Google
Once your business learns more about your target market through specific research you can create videos that will garner your audience’s attention, and move them from just searching to actually watching until the end.
When your brand offers a personalized approach you will also be much more effective in meeting them on their level. People want to know that you care about their needs and have the answer for their questions. By creating very specific and targeted titles in your uploads you are making your viewers feel that the article is about them, which will improve your subscriber rate for your channel.
In order to capture a larger audience use the following strategies:

1 – Optimize keywords

Use Google’s Keyword Planner in AdWords to perform a search with a relevant word or phrase as it relates to your video. For example, if you have a health food channel you might want to search for “healthy dinners” or “quick healthy meals.” Google provides many different options to choose from and the level of competition for each word and phrase. You can also go to YouTube directly and enter your information there in your search bar, which also includes filters to narrow your results.

2 – Keep it simple

Avoid using too many words, and choose instead a clear, concise, and simple description that your audience will understand. Many of your viewers are using their mobile devices and you will want to keep this in mind. Catchy phrases are very effective in getting their attention, such as these examples:
“This is Why Your Startup Isn’t Growing”
“How to Ask for a Raise Without Losing Your Job”
“I Couldn’t Stop Crying When I Read This Diet Story”

3 – Use uncommon words

Phrases that are used often online blend into the thousands of other videos that never get watched. You’ve seen headlines like these before:
“Start An Online Business Today”
“Work From Home Making $2,000 a Day”
Not only do these appear like spam — they can be a real turn-off for the viewer. Go beyond a sales message and write headlines that present a problem in a unique way:
“These Sales Statistics Will Make You Change Your Mind”
“Your Lead Generation Will Never Be the Same”

4 – Ask questions

People love to share their opinions, which is why polls are now so common — especially on social media. Asking your audience’s opinion will engage them in the video and provide valuable insights you can use in your business. For instance, ask questions at the end like:
“Can You Guess…”
“Are You Afraid…”
“What Would You Do If…”
Prompt your audience to leave a comment, and to share your video with others.

5 – Give them a reason to watch your video

A simple “watch this” or “how to” won’t generate much of a response. Instead, provide a specific number and why such as:
“10 Things You Should…”
“This is Why Your…”
“5 Reasons Why You…”
“This is How to Fail at…”

6 – Provide a deadline or timeline

When people see a specific date they naturally want to find more. This can work for a historical reference as well as something coming in the future.
By providing a deadline they will be more likely to read about why they should take action:
“Get These Video Secrets Before…”
“How Social Media Has Changed From…”
“Do This by ___ And”
As you follow these guidelines you can take your video content to the next level and start experiencing more interactions and shares on your channel. It’s important that your videos get seen above the mundane content that is often produced.
Catchy titles can go a long way in building the right audience for your brand as well as getting seen in YouTube’s search results.