4.8 KiB
YouTube Video Title Design Requirements Document
Purpose
This document defines concrete requirements for generating optimized YouTube video titles that maximize click-through rates by sparking curiosity and complementing video thumbnails.
Core Requirements
1. Curiosity Generation (MANDATORY)
Requirement 1.1: Every title MUST prompt a specific question in the viewer's mind.
- ✅ CORRECT: "Big Mistakes Small YouTube Creators Still Make!" (prompts: "What mistakes am I making?")
- ❌ INCORRECT: "Grow Your YouTube Channel" (no question prompted)
Requirement 1.2: Titles must spark curiosity through implication, not just description.
- ✅ CORRECT: "I Should Have Seen This Coming..." (implies: "What happened?")
- ❌ INCORRECT: "A Giant Root" (merely describes content)
Requirement 1.3: The curiosity gap must be strong enough to compel the viewer to click to find the answer.
2. Thumbnail Complementarity (MANDATORY)
Requirement 2.1: Title text MUST NOT duplicate thumbnail text.
- The title and thumbnail should work together as complementary elements
- Thumbnail text should enhance/support the title, not repeat it
Requirement 2.2: Title must align with the emotional tone or visual elements shown in the thumbnail.
- Example: If thumbnail shows frustration (like "Views 17"), title should acknowledge that pain point
- Example: If thumbnail shows a "Secret Weapon," title should reference the broader context
Requirement 2.3: Together, title + thumbnail must create a cohesive narrative that raises viewer curiosity.
3. Forbidden Patterns
Requirement 3.1: DO NOT create generic descriptive titles that merely state what the video is about.
- ❌ Avoid: "[Topic] Tutorial"
- ❌ Avoid: "How to [Action]" without curiosity element
- ❌ Avoid: Simple declarative statements with no intrigue
Requirement 3.2: DO NOT create titles that answer the question they should be raising.
- The title should make viewers want to know more, not tell them everything upfront
Content Type Applications
4. Educational Content (How-to, DIY, Tutorials)
Requirement 4.1: Frame instructional content to spark curiosity, not just inform.
- ✅ CORRECT: "The Secret Technique Pro Chefs Don't Want You to Know"
- ❌ INCORRECT: "How to Chop Onions Properly"
Requirement 4.2: Imply value or revelation rather than stating process.
5. Entertainment Content (Vlogs, Gaming, Entertainment)
Requirement 5.1: Create intrigue through outcome uncertainty or unexpected situations.
- Example: "Offering People $100,000 To Quit Their Job" (Did they accept?)
Requirement 5.2: Use personal experience framing to create relatability and curiosity.
- Example: "the GRILLED CHEESE I ate every other day for 2 years" (Why would someone do that?)
Title Generation Checklist
Before finalizing any title, verify:
- Curiosity Test: Does this title prompt a specific question in the target audience's mind?
- Complementarity Test: Does this title work WITH the thumbnail (not duplicate it)?
- Click Compulsion Test: Is the curiosity gap strong enough to drive a click?
- Non-Descriptive Test: Does this go beyond merely describing the content?
- Target Audience Test: Will this resonate with the specific viewer demographic?
Quality Standards
Requirement 6.1: PRIORITY ORDER for title optimization:
- Spark curiosity (highest priority)
- Complement thumbnail
- Raise viewer question
- Create click compulsion
Requirement 6.2: If a title fails the Curiosity Test, it must be rejected and regenerated regardless of how accurately it describes the content.
Requirement 6.3: Accuracy is important, but ONLY after curiosity requirements are met. A perfectly accurate but non-curious title is a failed title.
Examples Reference
HIGH-PERFORMING PATTERNS:
- Mistake/Problem framing: "Big Mistakes Small YouTube Creators Still Make!"
- Question implication: "I Should Have Seen This Coming..."
- Extreme behavior: "the GRILLED CHEESE I ate every other day for 2 years"
- High-stakes scenarios: "Offering People $100,000 To Quit Their Job"
- Novel perspective: "The First Guy To Ever Go To Prison"
LOW-PERFORMING PATTERNS TO AVOID:
- Generic promises: "Grow Your YouTube Channel"
- Simple descriptions: "A Giant Root"
- Straightforward how-tos without intrigue: "How to Make Grilled Cheese"
Implementation Notes
When generating titles:
- Start by identifying what question you want in the viewer's mind
- Craft the title to prompt that specific question
- Ensure the title complements (not duplicates) thumbnail elements
- Verify the curiosity gap is compelling enough to drive action
- Reject any title that merely describes without intriguing
CRITICAL: Curiosity is non-negotiable. Description alone is insufficient. Every title must pass the "What question does this raise?" test.