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