youtube-title-creator

Generate YouTube titles and thumbnails with a high degree of complementarity that achieve 6%+ click-through rates using the framework fitting method: extract your concept, match to 119 proven formulas ranked by performance, generate variations, select best.

Core Philosophy: Good titles follow proven frameworks. The skill is in matching your concept to the delivery mechanism that amplifies it best.

Use this skill when you need to:

• Create YouTube titles for podcast episodes or educational videos
• Generate thumbnail text that complements titles
• A/B test title variations for same content

Do NOT use for:

• Blog post headlines (use hook-and-headline-writing instead)
• Social media captions (use social-caption-writer instead)
• Newsletter subject lines (use hook-and-headline-writing instead)

The Framework Fitting Method

Extract your content concept → Review ALL applicable frameworks → Test the fit → Generate volume → Select best.

Critical Rule: Avoid First-Match Bias

Do NOT default to first framework that seems to fit. The best framework might not be the obvious one.

The Complementarity Principle

Title + thumbnail work TOGETHER, not repeat each other.

Example:

• ❌ Title: "Five Dyslexia Myths" + Thumbnail: "Five Dyslexia Myths"
• ✅ Title: "Five Dyslexia Myths" + Thumbnail: "Schools are getting this wrong"

Universalization Strategy (Andrew Muto - July 8)

"Every word after your sexy hook is a filter to lessen the audience."

Examples:

• ❌ "Five Dyslexia Myths Every Parent Believes" (filters to parents only)
• ✅ "Five Dyslexia Myths" (anyone with dyslexia interest)
• ❌ "What to Do When Your Students Don't Respect You" (broader than just teachers)
• ✅ "How to Handle Disrespectful Kids" (universalized)

When to narrow: When targeting specific audience is strategic goal. Otherwise, broaden.

What Makes Hooks Work: 10 Proven Principles

Across all 119 frameworks, these psychological principles drive clicks:

1. Curiosity - Open loops that make viewers need answers ("What happens to...?", "Do X really...?")
2. Desire - Tap into what viewers want (success, beauty, money, health, status, confidence)
3. Negativity - Warnings, fears, and problems grab attention faster than benefits
4. Controversy - Counterintuitive claims and polarizing takes create conflict and engagement
5. Authority - Names, titles, and credentials build trust ("Expert reveals...", "CIA officer explains...")
6. Specificity - Numbers, timeframes, and concrete examples feel more real ("5 habits," "in 3 seconds")
7. Lists - Numbered frameworks feel scannable and tangible (5, 7, 10, 50...)
8. Constraint - Limiting the scope makes ideas feel more valuable ("The ONE choice," "This ONE trick")
9. Contrast - Juxtaposing opposites creates interest ("Not X, but Y," "I'm 52 but feel 32")
10. Speed/Ease - Promises of quick results or easy methods (5-minute, "feel unnatural," "GENIUS mode")

Application: Review your generated title options and check which principles they use. Titles using 2-3 of these principles typically outperform single-principle titles.

---

Phase 1: Extract Content Elements

Goal: Identify the core components of your content

#### Step 1: Summarize Content in 1-2 Sentences

What is this video actually about? What value does it deliver?

Example:

"Katie Kimball explains that helicopter parenting leads to anxiety when kids lack agency. She suggests letting kids experience low-stakes failures early to build confidence."

#### Step 2: Identify Content Elements

Watch for these 6 elements:

1. Problem - What pain/struggle exists?

- Example: "Kids are more anxious than ever"

1. Goal - What result does viewer want?

- Example: "Raise confident, capable kids"

1. Benefit - What will their life look like after?

- Example: "Kids with agency, less anxiety, more resilience"

1. Concept - What idea/principle applies?

- Example: "Helicopter parenting backfires"

1. Example/Data - What story/stat illustrates this?

- Example: "Let 18-month-olds use knives, burn biscuits before car keys"

1. Process - What steps lead to result?

- Example: "Give low-stakes failures early, gradually increase responsibility"

#### Step 3: Determine Video Type

Educational Content:

• How-to, explainer, tutorial, myth-busting, comparison

Storytelling Content:

• Personal journey, transformation, experiment, investigation

Controversial Content:

• Counter-intuitive take, challenge conventional wisdom, polarizing opinion

---

Phase 2: Framework Matching (THE CRITICAL PHASE)

Goal: Match content to best-fit formulas from 119 proven frameworks

#### Step 1: Review Applicable Framework Categories

Don't jump to first match. Browse these categories:

High-Performance Frameworks (Hook Score 8000+):

• Experiment/Test format (#1: "I tested X vs Y")
• Contradiction format (#2: "Getting ADDICTED to X is Easy")
• How-to without objection (#3: "How to X Without Y")
• Warning format (#4: "NEVER Say This...")

Question-Based Frameworks:

• "What Happens to X That Never Y?" (#5)
• "Is there a difference between X and Y?" (#1 variation)

Reality/Timeliness Frameworks:

• "The REALITY of X in 2025" (#6)
• Current year emphasis

List Frameworks:

• "5 X Habits That Y" (#7)
• "I Went to All X (Here Are My Rankings)" (#8)

See full list: references/creator-hooks-frameworks.md (119 frameworks)

#### Step 2: Brainstorm Framework Fits (Generate Volume)

For EACH promising framework, test the fit:

```markdown

Fit Assessment: ✅ STRONG / ⚠️ MODERATE / ❌ WEAK

Why it fits: Directly addresses "raise confident kids without helicopter parenting"

Hook Score: 11,492 (proven high performer)

Psychological Principles:

• Desire (audience wants confident kids)
• Refute Objection (don't have to force them)

Title Option: "How to Raise Confident Kids Without Helicopter Parenting"

Thumbnail Concept: Kid doing something independently + "Let them fail"

```

Minimum: Test 5-10 frameworks before selecting

#### Step 3: Apply Andrew Muto Strategies

Universalization:

• Remove filters that narrow audience
• Test both specific and broad versions

Example:

• Specific: "Five Dyslexia Myths Every Parent Believes"
• Universal: "Five Dyslexia Myths"
• Test: "The Myth That's Destroying Struggling Students"

Dial to 11 (July 11):

"What is the most extreme version of that title?"

• Start: "Kids Are More Anxious"
• Dial up: "Why American Kids Are So Anxious"
• Dial up: "The #1 Reason American Kids Are Anxious"
• Dial up: "This Parenting Mistake Is Destroying Kids"

Keep dialing until absurd, then pull back one notch.

From X to Y Formula (July 1):

• "From Screw-Up to Legend: George Washington's Biggest Failure"
• "From Helicopter Parent to Confident Kids"

#### Step 4: Generate 10+ Title Variations

Use different combinations:

• 3-4 different frameworks
• Universalized vs. specific versions
• "Dial to 11" variations
• Different psychological triggers

Quality Check:

• [ ] Reviewed 5-10 frameworks minimum
• [ ] Tested fit strength for each
• [ ] Generated 10+ title variations
• [ ] Applied universalization where appropriate
• [ ] Created "Dial to 11" options
• [ ] Avoided first-match bias

---

Phase 3: Select Best & Create Thumbnail Strategy

Goal: Choose top 3 titles and pair with complementary thumbnails

#### Step 1: Apply Psychological Principles Filter

For each title variation, check which principles it triggers:

Curiosity:

• Opens loop without answering
• Asks question
• Creates information gap
• Uses "secret," "truth," "reality"

Desire:

• Promises specific outcome audience wants
• "How to," "Get," "Achieve"

Negativity/Fear:

• Warning, avoid mistakes
• "Never," "Don't," "Stop"
• FOMO, loss aversion

Credibility:

• Data, experiments, expertise
• "I tested," "After 10 years," "300 startups"

Contrast/Controversy:

• Contradicts expectations
• "Easy, Actually" vs hard task
• "Without" formula (have cake, eat it too)

Timeliness:

• Current events, trending topics
• Year/date references

Specificity:

• Numbers, stats, precise details
• "99%," "5 Morning Habits," "All 30"

Goal: Each title should trigger 3-4 principles minimum

#### Step 2: Thumbnail Complementarity Design

Rule: Thumbnail should NOT repeat title.

Complementarity Strategies:

Strategy A: Title asks, Thumbnail hints

• Title: "Five Dyslexia Myths"
• Thumbnail: "Schools are getting this wrong"

Strategy B: Title promises, Thumbnail adds urgency

• Title: "How to Raise Confident Kids"
• Thumbnail: "Before it's too late"

Strategy C: Title states problem, Thumbnail shows emotion

• Title: "Why Kids Are So Anxious"
• Thumbnail: Distressed child + "It's not your fault"

Strategy D: Title broad, Thumbnail specific

• Title: "His Kids Missed 100 Days of School"
• Thumbnail: Guest face + "CRAZY"

Visual Rules (Andrew Muto - July 11):

• Shock value > recognition (unless George Clooney-famous)
• Stock photos > illustrations
• Show outcome/situation, not just person's face
• Dial to 11: "Most extreme version of that title?"
• Simplify text: Fewer words, higher contrast, more charged

Thumbnail Text Formulas:

• "Here's how"
• "Number 3 will shock you"
• "This changed everything"
• "Schools are wrong"
• "CRAZY"
• Question: "Is that even allowed?"

#### Step 3: Quality Test All Title Variations

Before finalizing your 5 titles, test each against these criteria:

The McDonald's Test (Andrew Muto - July 8):

"Someone who works at McDonald's should understand your headline instantly."

• [ ] No jargon
• [ ] Accessible language
• [ ] Instant comprehension

The Ultimate Hook Test:

• [ ] Would this make ME stop scrolling?
• [ ] Creates curiosity or emotion in first 2 seconds?
• [ ] Can my grandmother understand instantly?
• [ ] Hints at payoff without giving it away?

Discard any titles that fail these tests. Keep the strongest 5.

#### Step 4: Generate 5 Titles with 3 Thumbnail Options Each

Generate 5 distinct title variations across different frameworks and strategic approaches. For each title, create 3 complementary thumbnail options that vary the visual approach while staying simple (3 elements max).

For each title, structure as:

• Title (single, clear concept)
• Framework reference
• 3 thumbnail options (each with visual description + on-screen text)

Why 3 thumbnails per title? Testing allows you to optimize visual delivery without changing the messaging. Different thumbnail styles appeal to different viewer segments.

Thumbnail variation strategies:

• Option A: Direct visual (show the problem/outcome)
• Option B: Emotional/reaction (show what it feels like)
• Option C: Curiosity/question (hint at the answer without giving it)

This approach gives the video production team multiple ready-to-test options without requiring additional iteration.

---

Simplified Output for Practical Use

Create file: [Video_Topic]_YouTube_Titles_Thumbnails.md

```markdown

# YouTube Titles & Thumbnails - [Topic]

---

Framework: #3 - How To (Achieve goal)! Without (Unwanted action)

Thumbnail Option A:

• Visual: [Description of image/scene]
• Text: [On-screen text]

Thumbnail Option B:

• Visual: [Description of image/scene]
• Text: [On-screen text]

Thumbnail Option C:

• Visual: [Description of image/scene]
• Text: [On-screen text]

---

Framework: #6 - The REALITY of (Polarizing entity) in (Current year)

Thumbnail Option A:

• Visual: [Description of image/scene]
• Text: [On-screen text]

Thumbnail Option B:

• Visual: [Description of image/scene]
• Text: [On-screen text]

Thumbnail Option C:

• Visual: [Description of image/scene]
• Text: [On-screen text]

---

[Repeat for Titles 3, 4, and 5]

```

Key Rules:

• 5 titles total
• 3 thumbnail options per title
• Each thumbnail: 3 elements max (visual + text, keep it simple)
• No detailed explanation of principles or Hook Scores
• Focus on actionable output ready for video production

Framework Libraries

• references/creator-hooks-ranked.md - All 119 frameworks sorted by Hook Score
• references/psychological-principles-guide.md - Deep dive on each trigger
• references/ctr-benchmarks.md - Performance expectations and troubleshooting

Strategy Guides

• references/universalization-examples.md - Before/after comparisons
• references/thumbnail-complementarity.md - Visual pairing strategies
• references/andrew-muto-formulas.md - Additional formulas from sessions

Examples

• examples/katie-kimball-walkthrough.md - Complete framework fitting process
• examples/dyslexia-universalization.md - Narrowing vs. broadening analysis
• examples/george-washington-from-x-to-y.md - Transformation formula

---

Phase 1 Issues

❌ Vague content summary - Can't match frameworks without clarity

❌ Missing elements - Incomplete extraction leads to weak options

❌ Wrong video type - Misclassifying content limits framework options

Phase 2 Issues

❌ First-match bias - Using first framework that fits

❌ Insufficient volume - Testing only 2-3 frameworks

❌ Ignoring Hook Scores - Not prioritizing proven performers

❌ Over-filtering - Adding too many audience limiters

Phase 3 Issues

❌ Thumbnail repetition - Title and thumbnail say same thing

❌ Failing McDonald's Test - Using jargon or complexity

❌ Single variation - Not creating A/B test options

❌ Low principle count - Triggering only 1-2 psychological levers

---

The False Binary

Present two extremes as only options:

"Schools or Prison: Where Kids Learn Better"

The Credibility Bomb

Drop credentials mid-controversy:

"After Teaching 10,000 Kids: This Generation Can't..."

The Mirror Moment

Make viewer see themselves:

"If Your Kid Can't Do This One Thing..."

Time-Based Urgency

Add current year or timeframe:

"The Reality of Homeschooling in 2025"

Reverse Expectations

Flip the expected outcome:

"My Son's First Job Sucked. Perfect."

---

---

• hook-and-headline-writing - Provides foundational hook strategies
• cold-open-creator - Creates opening that delivers on title promise
• social-caption-writer - Adapts titles for social platforms

---

• v1.0 (2025-10-28): Initial skill creation

- Framework fitting method from social-content-creation

- 119 Creator Hooks frameworks integrated

- Andrew Muto strategies (universalization, dial to 11, CTR benchmarks)

- Complementarity principle

- 3-phase workflow

- Quality control systems

---

For complete framework library, psychological principles, and examples, see references folder