Crafting the perfect title for your video can be the difference between someone watching your content or scrolling past. And when you’re trying to get as many views as possible on YouTube, first impressions matter. That’s why knowing how to title a YouTube video is a game-changer if you want to boost your view count.
The best YouTube titles do several things at once. They grab potential viewers’ attention while also telling YouTube what your video is about. But when you’ve only got so many words to play with, it can be tough knowing what to include.
Worry not because we’re here to guide you through what’s important when writing your YouTube video title. Read on to discover tips on how to write the perfect title and common mistakes to avoid.
- Why YouTube titles matter
- 13 tips for writing effective YouTube titles
- Common YouTube title mistakes to avoid
- YouTube video titles: Your FAQs answered
Why YouTube titles matter
It’s easy to overlook just how important it is to craft a strong, snappy title for your video. Getting this seemingly small detail right can make a big difference to your channel. But why exactly is it so important? Let’s find out:
First impressions count 👋
Your title is the first thing people see, so it needs to grab attention. You’re up against thousands of other creators vying for people’s eyeballs, so if your title doesn’t get them interested, they’ll watch something else.
Titles help your click-through rate (CTR) 🎣
A compelling title will encourage potential viewers to click and watch your video, boosting your click-through rate and your view count too. You want as many people that see your video to click as possible and your title is the main way you’re going to achieve this. If you’re not familiar with this important metric, check out our guide on how improving your YouTube click-through rate can skyrocket your views.
YouTube’s algorithm uses titles to find your perfect audience ❤️
Including relevant keywords in your video title will help YouTube understand what your content’s about and recommend it to the right audience. Learn how to select the right keywords and unlock huge new audiences for your content in our guide to YouTube keywords.
A strong title increases your watch time 📺
When your title sets clear expectations, viewers are more likely to stay and watch longer. That’s because they know what they can expect from your content right away and are invested in what your title promises.
13 tips for writing effective YouTube titles
1. Use keywords to rank higher in search results
Did you know that YouTube is the world’s second-largest search engine? It uses the keywords in your title to match content with the millions of people making searches on the platform each day.
Clearly the right words will make a difference, but you don’t want to stuff needless keywords into your title as this might actually penalise your content. To find out how you can effectively reach new audiences, check out our guide to YouTube keywords.
2. Keep it short and easy to read (50-60 characters max)
Long titles get cut off in search results, so keep them concise and impactful. Aim for under 60 characters so your full title is visible no matter what device your audience is using.
3. Pique viewers’ curiosity without being clickbaity
A great title should spark curiosity but still be honest about what your content’s about. Say you you tried to recreate a Mark Rober video, a strong title would be: "I Made a Mark Rober Video on a $50 Budget – Here’s What Happened." But a bad title would concentrate on the clickbait aspect without actually explaining what the video is about: "YOU WON’T BELIEVE WHAT HAPPENED!!!"
4. Create a numbered list for an easy-to-follow format
Numbered titles work well because they suggest structured, easy-to-digest content. This article’s a prime example, letting you know right away what you can expect from reading our 13 tips. If you follow a list format in your video, make it super clear to potential audiences.
5. Pack titles with power words and emotion
Words can be powerful. Some trigger strong emotions and curiosity, which in turn encourages people to click on your content. Think about a video with the title ‘How to get 1,000 YouTube subscribers’ – it’s a perfectly fine title that explains the content in a succinct way. But the alternative title of 'The secret to getting 1,000 subscribers in 30 days' takes the same idea of fast results and turns it into a tangible promise that's harder to ignore.
6. Personalize your titles to make a connection with your viewers
Words like 'you' or 'your' speak directly to the viewer and can make them feel that your videos are tailored to them. Address your viewer in your title and make a connection before they've even clicked on your content.
You can target your audience’s niche or even zero in on who your ideal viewer is. Like in the example How to start Video Editing from ZERO in 2025 (Beginner's Guide), which immediately shows that this content is ideal for video editing novices – a big part of why it’s racked up tons of views.
7. Write a title people can see on mobile to expand your potential audience
Did you know that most YouTube watch time comes from mobile devices? Make sure your title can be read by people using smaller screens, by placing the most important words at the start. Otherwise, your title could get cut off meaning viewers might not understand what your content is about.
8. Use brackets or parentheses (to add context)
When your character limit is tight, punctuation can help you structure a title and grab people’s attention. Brackets and parentheses are commonly used by creators looking to add extra context, without disrupting the main focus of their title.
For instance, "How to Edit Videos Like a Pro [Beginner Guide]" would still work without ‘Beginner Guide’ at the end, but anyone reading the title now knows exactly who this content is aimed at.
9. Test different titles for better performance
YouTube lets you try out different titles, so make sure you don’t settle for the first one that comes to mind. Instead, try A/B testing with different titles to see which one gets a higher click-through rate (CTR). Regularly checking your YouTube Analytics can help you track what’s working and allow you to identify the most effective title.
10. Match your title to your thumbnail
Your title and thumbnail should work together to tell a compelling story. If your title teases something exciting, your thumbnail should reinforce it visually. But if you're using text in your thumbnail, make sure it's different to your title text. After all, you only have limited space to hook potential viewers.
11. Create a sense of urgency, now!
Add urgency to your titles and you’ll find viewers are more likely to click rather than scroll past. Words and phrases like “Now,” “Before It’s Too Late,” and “Don’t Miss This” can create FOMO (fear of missing out) in your potential audience.
12. Have you tried asking a question to spark curiosity?
Asking a question in your title is a powerful way to hook viewers. It plays on their natural curiosity, making them more likely to click and watch until the end. This makes it a particularly effective tactic for mystery, reaction and educational content where there’s a pay-off towards the end of the video.
13. Use strong verbs in your titles to drive action
Dynamic verbs and doing words like 'boost', 'transform' and ‘unleash’ make a compelling argument for why your audience should watch your content. After all, if they feel like they'll benefit by watching, they’ll be more likely to click. Try adding action words to your titles to make them more engaging.
The most common YouTube title mistakes you’ll want to avoid
You now have a grasp of how to craft a compelling YouTube video title, but there are some pitfalls you’ll want to avoid:
Overusing clickbait – If your video doesn’t deliver on the title, viewers will leave quickly which damages your watch time. If this happens on a regular basis, YouTube’s algorithm will start recommending your content to fewer people.
ALL CAPS overload – While a capitalized word or two can highlight the key point of your video, excessive capitalization can make titles look spammy. After all, who’d want to watch a video they thought was going to be too shouty!
Forgetting keywords – Titles that don't include words people are searching for, won't appear in search results. By missing out keywords, you could be missing out on tons of extra views.
Being too vague – Broad titles like "Watch This!" give no reason for viewers to click. Your title needs to tell people why they should spend time watching your content, otherwise they simply won’t bother.
Titles that are too long – On a practical level, anything over 60 characters may get cut off in search results. But given you only have a couple of seconds to convince someone to click on your video, summarizing it with a short, snappy title is the way to go.
YouTube video titles: Answering your FAQs
Crafting the right YouTube video title can boost your views
Your YouTube video title plays a big part in convincing people to watch your content. A few tweaks to your title can give you a better chance of featuring higher in search results and getting more of those all-important clicks.
If you’re looking to grow your YouTube channel, writing better video titles is one of the easiest ways to get more views. For more tips on how to grow your audience, check out our guide on how to get more subscribers on YouTube.
