How to write video titles that get clicks

Lead with the payoff, not the setup

Viewers scan titles in a fraction of a second. Put the most interesting word or promise first, before it gets truncated. "The mistake that kills most startups" beats "In this video I talk about a common startup mistake."

Respect the character limit

On most surfaces, titles get cut off around 60–70 characters. Write to that limit so the hook never gets clipped. Shorter titles also read faster, which matters when you're competing with a wall of thumbnails.

Proven title angles

When you're stuck, reach for an angle that's reliably clicked:

• How-to: "How to edit clips 10x faster"
• Listicle: "5 hooks that always work"
• Bold claim: "You don't need an editor anymore"
• Question: "Why do your clips flop?"
• Curiosity: "The setting nobody changes"

Generate and A/B test

Write several titles and test the top two. Our free Video Title Generator gives you eight high-CTR options for any topic instantly — and Nova writes an optimized title for every clip it cuts, so you start from a strong draft, not a blank box.