Posting videos this way get you more followers

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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.

Tomatoes (1/3)

Title framework: [Action] This Way Gets [Results/Benefits]

Why this works:

  1. desire — if you are into gardening and growing tomatoes you want ways to get better yield and this would be a perfect video to watch.
  2. curious — The title implies that there is a better way to grow potatoes, making the viewer curious to know it. Also when they say it “doesn’t need watering“ it is counter-intuitive and we need to know how.
  3. authority — a thumbnail with a lot of tomatoes in the garden builds authority and people assume that the video is going to be of value.

Examples of titles:

  1. Bench Pressing This Way Gets Incredible Strength
  2. Training Your Dog This Way Makes Them Obedient And Smart
  3. Investing This Way Makes You Among Top 1% of Investors
  4. Posting Videos This Way Get You More Followers

AI (2/3)

Title framework: We Tested The Worst [Product/Service]

Why this works:

  1. negative — words like “worst“ can convey a negative emotion and controversy which people tend to like.
  2. timelessness — AI is a trending topic and this channel makes fun videos around generative AI, which helps get attention. (Pro Tip: see if you can use topics related to AI in your niche)

Examples of titles:

  1. We Tested The Worst Vegan Protein Powder
  2. We Tried The Worst Reviewed Skincare Products
  3. We Tested The Worst Smart Home Devices
  4. We Tested The Worst YouTube Tips

Show, Not Tell.

Here is an analysis of a YouTube short that caught my attention a few days ago. When I wrote this letter, the video had over 59 million views on Instagram. Today, we are going to see why it went viral.

Do me a favor watch the above video and come back to read further (please don’t get lost in scrolling. I share some important tips below).

Hook Used: I have just arrived at the craziest city on earth and you probably have never even heard about it.

Hook Framework:

I [a crazy action/experience with context], and [create mystery with the action/experience]!

How to use it in your videos?

Find something that stands out in your niche, something you think is really crazy to know about. For example, if you are in tech you can find the smallest camera in the world and make a video about it.

Here are some variations of the hook framework that may work. Find similar ideas in your niche.

  1. I Went 30 Days Without Social Media, and It Completely Changed My Brain!
  2. I Bought The Smallest Camera In The World, And It Comes With More Features Than This DSLR Camera
  3. I Talked to 100 Girls in One Day, and Their Response Would Blow You Away!
  4. I Just Started a Shady Business on the Internet And You Probably Have Never Even Heard About It.
    1. I Built a Business in Just 30 Days, and You’ll Be Shocked at How Much Money I Made!

Why does this work?

  1. Strong visual hook

You can see a train going through a building at the start of the video and a lot more crazy clips in the first 3 seconds of the video – a strong visual hook.

This compliments exactly what he says at the start which makes for a good viewing experience.

  1. Montage

In the next section after the hook, the creator explains all the crazy things about that place in a fast-paced montage.

Montage is the technique of selecting, editing, and piecing together separate sections of film to form a continuous whole.

Here is where you can explain the features of your crazy experience/action.

  1. Pattern Breakers / Rhythm

Right after the fast-paced montage the creator changes the pace of the video and slows it down for some time.

If you keep your videos to have a single pace and tone throughout, it can get boring.

So introduce some changes like graphics or cuts or the tone in which you say things to break the rhythm of the video so that is more engaging.

  1. Music

Notice the change of music when the creator gives you a tour of the city and when he explains the history of the city.

This completely changes the emotions of the video. The more you can change the emotions of the viewer throughout the video the better the video would be.

Like how a good movie conveys humor, sentiments, fear, love, and anger combined.

Black Holes(3/3)

Title framework: SCARIEST [Action/Entity] In [Location/Entity]!

Why this works:

  1. curiosity — the title suggests something rare and that builds curiosity. Tell me before this video, were you even bothered about the sounds in space?
  2. extreme — words like “scariest“ can tap into human emotions of fear which is highly engaging.
  3. thumbnail — most people know what a black hole is (even if you don’t know what a Pulsar is) and the thumbnail implies that they are just about to collide and create some sound. That is very intriguing.

Examples of titles:

  1. SCARIEST Predator In The Amazon Rainforest!
  2. SCARIEST Roller Coaster In The Amusement Park!
  3. SCARIEST Villain In The History of Cinema

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

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