Today we break down the title-first approach to YouTube. You’ll learn how to plan titles before filming, use open loops and power words, keep titles short (≈≤55 characters), and match style to browse vs. search intent. We also cover the chocolate-covered carrot framing and a simple post-publish retitling and measurement loop to lift CTR fast.

What You’ll Learn

• Why title + thumbnail = the product viewers buy with a click
• How curiosity, desire, and fear affect clicks (and how to use them ethically)
• Open loop patterns that spark curiosity without clickbait
• Browse vs. search title styles and when to use each
• Practical rules: 5th-grade clarity, ≤55 characters, front-load the hook
• A write-test-retitle workflow using analytics (CTR, impressions)

Chapters

• 00:00 — The stakes
• 00:49 — Title-first mindset
• 01:26 — Open loops 101
• 02:04 — Emotion drivers + ‘chocolate-covered carrot’
• 03:17 — Model what works
• 03:46 — Clarity & brevity
• 04:16 — Front-load & power words
• 04:55 — Browse vs. search
• 05:14 — Iterate to win

Key Takeaways

• Treat title + thumbnail as the product.
• Keep titles short, clear, and front-loaded.
• Use open loops and benefits, not just topics.
• Match browse vs search intent.
• Retitle after publishing based on CTR and impressions.

Resources & Tools Mentioned

• Pop by Tuulie: Create, tweak, model and test YouTube thumbnails (generated by AI) — start a free trial at http://tuulie.com/pop
• YouTube Studio for CTR, impressions, retention

FAQ

What’s the ideal YouTube title length? Aim for ≈≤55 characters so mobile doesn’t cut off your hook.

Are open loops clickbait? They’re fine if you fulfill the promise quickly—tease, don’t deceive.

Should I change a title after publishing? Yes. Watch CTR & impressions over 24–72 hours; retitle if weak.

How many titles should I draft? Write 5–10 variants; shortlist 2; design matching thumbnails.

Browse vs. search—how do I choose? Feed traffic → emotional/curious; Query traffic → clear/keyworded.