Everyone steals ideas.
That shot you saw in the movie, that idea you heard somewhere, that product that solves a problem, even this newsletter.
Most creators draw inspiration from which they create something new.
There is no shame in that.
So, here are some Viral YouTube titles, thumbnails, and Instagram reels from which you can take inspiration.
Title framework: How to [desired result] from [counterintuitive action]
Why this works:
- curiosity — people would be curious to know how the creator does what he promised in the title and thumbnail
- wider audience — a video of just “drawing a Taj Mahal“ would reach only people who are interested in drawing it. But this video might reach a wider audience because people who are not interested in drawing it would also click the video to see the process and the result.
- thumbnail — the thumbnail adds to the curiosity by showing the audience what the video is going to be.
Examples of titles:
- How to grow on YouTube without making videos
- How to bake a cake using only a pressure cooker
- How to play guitar without knowing the chords
- How to build muscle by lifting Textbooks
Title framework: How [activity] changes [entity/outcome]
Why this works:
- curiosity — the creator’s audience (fitness niche) would like to know more about how to improve their body.
- branding — the thumbnails of the creator have a similar style to his other videos, this triggers familiarity in the minds of the audience who are likely to click the videos rather than creating different styles of thumbnails for every video you post.
Examples of titles:
- How reading every day changes your brain
- How plant-based diets change your energy levels
- How playing video games changes your reflexes
- How creating content changes your life
Multi tasks to get more views.
Here is an analysis of an Instagram reel that got my attention a few days ago. The video got over 600k likes and 7 million views when writing this letter. And today we are going to see why it went viral.
Do me a favor and watch the above video and come back to read further (please don’t get lost in scrolling I share some important tips below).
Hook Framework: Multitasking Hook
How to use it?
This kind of hook has a strong visual and verbal hook, the perfect combination for creating the hook that captures attention.
Do something satisfying along with introducing your topic in your video.
Like making an origami shape while explaining how to improve your character, or playing table tennis while explaining the theory of the Big Bang (yah, I’m making things up but hope you got the idea)
It can be as simple as pouring water into a cup while discussing a subject. Keep the task “satisfying” like balls falling into the pocket on a pool table or “on the edge” like cutting down a wood log with a single swing of the axe.
Why does this work?
- Conversation style:
Apart from the hook, the video has a conversation style. A conversation between 2 or more characters is always more engaging than just one person speaking to the camera.
When you are doing the conversational style, it should feel natural. The dialogue should feel natural. Just like how 2 people talk in real life.
- Multiple Story:
The is a healthy amount of visual variety and multiple stories in this reel.
One that of the actual content and the other one is the 2 of the characters playing pool.
This adds an extra element of curiosity and helps in engagement.
- Novel Ideas:
The ideas in the video can be eye-opening and novel to a lot of people. It is not the usual content of tricks and tips instead it dives deep into the issue at hand.
People desire novel ideas. And it is the best way to build a strong personal brand.
Don’t just discuss tips, tricks, and hacks with your videos. Break down the issue from the core and give insights into the problem.
That is it for this week, if you found this helpful, here is the previous letter.
Or check out all my letters from here. See you next Monday, God willing.
– Sayar