Ask an AI Coach: 4 Ways to Spice Up Your YouTube Video Titles

What makes a good video title on YouTube? That's what hundreds of creators asked our AI Coach, and it shared some of the best advice we’ve ever seen.

Do you have writer’s block when it comes to writing juicy, undeniable video titles? It may not seem like it, but you’re not the only one feeling this way. Many creators struggle to find words that both describe their content and encourage people to watch it.

Want some pointers? Instead of writing from scratch, find ways to ignite your creativity.

The AI Coach from vidIQ can fix any video title, so that’s a great place to start. This powerful tool uses artificial intelligence to take your titles from bland to brilliant, or perhaps even mundane to marvelous.

Bottom line? You can learn a lot by watching how it works. So here are four ways to write better YouTube titles, according to our AI Coach.

1. Focus on Achievements

What do viewers want to achieve? That’s one of the first questions to ask when writing YouTube titles. Are they trying to lose weight? Do they want a big promotion that comes with a higher salary?

Whatever the goal is, call it out in your video title. If it’s a specific number, like “lose 30 pounds in 30 days,” say that. If it’s an idea, like “change your perspective to make new friends,” say that!

Advice from the AI Coach

Let’s look at an example from our AI Coach. Someone asked it to fix a simple title: “How to Monetize Your Videos Without Showing Your Face.”

The AI Coach didn’t make many edits. But it spiced things up by replying, “How to Make $1,000 a Month on YouTube Without Showing Your Face.”

Here’s why the AI Coach recommended that title:

  • It has a specific goal (make $1,000).
  • It’s more descriptive, which helps viewers understand the video.
  • It targets a widespread desire (making money on YouTube).

2. Be Mysterious

Previously, we said you should write specific titles instead of vague ones. But is that always the case?

It depends on the video you’re making, so don’t feel like you have to be specific all the time. Sometimes secrets are more enticing. They create a sense of wonder and mystery, drawing people in to receive a rare piece of knowledge they've been craving.

Advice from the AI Coach

So what does this look like in action? Recently, our AI Coach helped someone write a simpler, more mysterious title. It went from “The Only Ingredient That Cures Dandruff! Breaking Down All The Dandruff Shampoos On The Market” to “Discover The Secret Ingredient Used To Cure Dandruff.”

We asked the AI Coach, “Why this title?” It replied:

  • It’s shorter and easier to read.
  • It’s mysterious and intriguing (uses words like “discover” and “secret”).
  • It’s more engaging and click-worthy.

3. Reveal a Shocking Fact

On the flip side, some secrets are too good to keep to yourself. If you know a fact or a statistic (that will make people gasp), you'll get more clicks by adding it to your title. This typically works when the secret is so shocking, people only have one-word follow-up questions. Why? How? Of course, they’ll have to watch the video to find out.

Advice from the AI Coach

Our best example comes from yet another AI coaching student. They asked, “How do I fix this title: ‘Neuroscientist Says People With OCD Usually Get Rich.’ "

The AI Coach changed it to “Neuroscientist Reveals Unusual Insight About People With OCD: They Tend to Get Rich!?”

This title is a bit long, so you could shorten it to something like, “People With OCD Get Rich!? A Neuroscientist Explains How and Why.” But overall, the new title is better than what the creator started with.

Here’s why the AI Coach suggested it:

  • The most critical detail is at the front (people with OCD get rich).
  • It’s more descriptive and engaging (“neuroscientist reveals” versus “neuroscientist says”).

4. Add Some Emotion to Your YouTube Titles

Lastly, spice up your titles with pure, unbridled emotion. Don’t just describe a video and upload it to YouTube; imagine what viewers should feel when they read your title, then use the right words to bring that experience to life.

Advice from the AI Coach

Need an example? One creator asked our AI Coach to enhance a title that was just OK: “5 Tips for Coping With Rejection from a Job Interview.” They got three powerful suggestions:

  1. “How to Bounce Back from Job Interview Rejection: 5 Expert Tips”
  2. “Don't Let Job Interview Rejection Get You Down: 5 Tips for Moving Forward”
  3. “From Rejection to Resilience: 5 Tips for Job Interview Recovery”

These titles don’t just sound better; they address the emotional pain of being rejected. They’re more likely to make someone feel seen and understood, which leads to more engagement.

Beyond that, here’s why the AI Coach picked those titles:

  • The emotional pull makes the titles relatable.
  • They’re motivational and uplifting.
  • They offer solutions.

Want to chat with our AI Coach? Click here to start a conversation. You can ask it to fix your video titles, write a short script, or help you with your content strategy.

Or you can read our complete guide to writing YouTube titles!