There is a lot of content on YouTube, so making great videos and titles that get people’s attention are both important. People see your title first, and if it doesn’t interest them or make them want to click, they might not see your video. If you’re not getting the views you want on your YouTube channel, you might want to rethink how you optimize your titles.
Let’s look at some mistakes you should never make with your titles and give you some tips on how to make them work for you.
1. Keep Your Titles Just Right in Length
When it comes to YouTube titles, size does matter—but finding the right balance is crucial.
The ideal length for a YouTube title is around 60-70 characters. This ensures that your title is not cut off in search results or on mobile screens. Longer titles can get truncated, especially on smaller devices, which can make the meaning unclear or cause you to lose key information.
Why Does Length Matter?
Too short of a title can lack context and fail to grab attention. For instance, “How to Cook” might sound interesting, but it doesn’t give much information about the video. On the flip side, overly long titles can confuse the viewer or look unprofessional. For example, a title like “The Ultimate Guide to Cooking Everything From Breakfast to Dinner with These Easy Recipes You Can Make at Home Every Day in Just 10 Minutes” could overwhelm viewers and will likely be cut off in search results.
Tip: Aim for clarity with enough detail, but make sure your title doesn’t exceed 70 characters. Focus on your core message and avoid overloading with words.
2. Avoid Clickbait (It’s Not a Long-Term Strategy)
Clickbait is tempting because it promises quick views, but it can hurt your channel in the long run. Many creators use misleading titles that don’t align with the content, like “You Won’t Believe What Happens Next!” However, YouTube’s algorithm is smart and users aren’t stupid—misleading titles usually lead to dislikes, negative feedback, and lower audience retention. If people click on your video and leave within seconds, YouTube takes that as a sign that your content isn’t valuable.
The Impact of Clickbait
While clickbait may boost your views initially, it can cause people to unsubscribe from your channel and impact your credibility. This will lower your YouTube ranking and make it harder for your videos to get recommended.
Tip: Be honest in your titles. Craft titles that spark curiosity, but accurately reflect the content. This will attract the right audience who are more likely to stick around and engage with your videos.
3. Not Paying Attention to SEO-Friendly Video Titles
To make your content discoverable, you need to include keywords that your target audience is searching for. Without proper keyword placement, your videos might get lost in the shuffle of millions of uploads every day.
Why SEO Matters
Think of SEO-friendly video titles as your passport to YouTube’s search engine. By using the right keywords, you can ensure that your video appears in search results when viewers look for content related to your niche. Make sure to include the main keyword early in the title—preferably at the beginning—and use variations of your keyword to help YouTube understand the context of your video.
Tip: Do some research on trending keywords within your niche. Tools like Google Keyword Planner or TubeBuddy can help you identify high-traffic keywords. Incorporate them in your title naturally without keyword stuffing.
4. Ignoring Emotional Triggers
One of the best ways to get people to click on your video is to appeal to their emotions. Emotional triggers like “surprising,” “shocking,” or “heartwarming” are powerful tools when used correctly. They make the viewer feel that they’ll experience something compelling if they click on the video.
Emotional Triggers: A Powerful Tool
When you evoke curiosity or urgency, you increase the likelihood of getting clicks. Titles like “You Won’t Believe What Happens Next!” or “This Will Change Your Life!” spark curiosity and make people want to know more. However, it’s important to ensure that the content matches the emotional expectation set by the title.
Tip: Use words that inspire curiosity, urgency, or excitement. Emotional words like “life-changing,” “mind-blowing,” or “epic” can make your title stand out, but don’t overdo it. Too many emotional triggers can feel manipulative.
5. Ignoring Thumbnail-Title Synergy
Your title and thumbnail should work together to create a cohesive story that encourages viewers to click. A misleading thumbnail paired with a misleading title is a recipe for disaster. Both elements need to align to offer a seamless experience and meet the expectations of your viewers.
Why Thumbnail and Title Need to Align
If your thumbnail shows something completely different from the video’s title, viewers will be confused or even frustrated. This can lead to dislikes and low watch time, which in turn will hurt your channel’s performance. You need a title and thumbnail that both catch attention and accurately reflect your video’s content.
Tip: Your thumbnail should be visually appealing, clear, and complement the title. Ensure that the imagery enhances the message of your title and doesn’t confuse the viewer.
6. Ignoring Where to Put Keywords
Keyword placement is critical for YouTube title optimization. Having the right keywords positioned strategically in the title increases the chance that your video will show up in search results.
How to Place Keywords Effectively
You want your main keywords to appear near the beginning of the title for maximum visibility. However, the key is to make sure the title still sounds natural and engaging. Avoid stuffing the title with too many keywords, as this can hurt the viewer experience and make the title look spammy.
Tip: Use your primary keyword at the start of the title, and incorporate secondary keywords towards the end, ensuring the sentence still makes sense.
Need a little help brainstorming catchy YouTube titles? When it comes to keyword placement the TubePilot free title and description generator is the expert, it is a great tool to get your creative juices flowing. Simply input your video topic and keywords, and it will generate a variety of options to inspire you.
7. No Power Words in Titles
Power words are those attention-grabbing, emotionally charged words that spark curiosity or create urgency. Words like “ultimate,” “insider,” “secret,” “must-see,” and “proven” can give your titles a boost by triggering interest or excitement.
Why Power Words Matter
The right power words can elevate your YouTube titles, making them more likely to stand out. Whether you’re trying to teach, entertain, or inspire, using power words can help get your message across more effectively and increase your click-through rate.
Tip: Mix in a few power words that resonate with your audience and match the tone of your video content. Just don’t overdo it!
Wrapping It Up
Making your titles clear, interesting, and search engine-friendly is all you need to do to optimize your YouTube titles. To improve your YouTube presence and increase your chances of getting suggested, stay away from mistakes like clickbait, bad keyword placement, and long titles. You can make titles that get more views and match YouTube’s rating factors to make your videos easier to find if you follow these tips.
Are you ready to grow your YouTube page by making your titles better?