The speaker, a YouTuber, discusses their struggle with creating click-bait content for their videos. They share their experience with a video about a basketball being dropped from a dam, which was popular but not on YouTube due to the thumbnail and title. The video was later re-uploaded with a more enticing title, leading to millions of views on YouTube.
The speaker explains that YouTube has changed its algorithm to prioritize viewer engagement, making it more important to create click-bait content. They argue that while people claim to hate click-bait, it is everywhere because it works. They also discuss the importance of titles and thumbnails in getting views, stating that for any given video, there is no one true title and thumbnail.
The speaker shares their experience with a video about asteroids, which initially performed below average. They changed the title and thumbnail to "These are the asteroids to worry about," which significantly improved the video's performance. They argue that this practice is not about duping the audience but about increasing the number of impressions, which is heavily dependent on the click-through rate.
The speaker emphasizes that they are not compromising on the quality of their videos but are adjusting the packaging to reach a wider audience. They mention that they have hired a team to brainstorm and test titles and thumbnails, and that their titles and thumbnails have improved as a result of this testing.
The speaker concludes by thanking their sponsor, Kiwico, and encouraging viewers to try out their products. They also provide a link for viewers to get a discount on their first month of any Kiwico crate.
1. The speaker admits to being bad at creating clickbait, but acknowledges that it's a necessary part of the YouTube ecosystem.
2. The speaker's most popular video was about a basketball being dropped from a dam with a bit of backspin, which was embedded on hundreds of news websites and received 16.3 million views in its first week.
3. The speaker attributes the lack of views on YouTube to the thumbnail and title of the video, which they believe contributed to its success on other platforms.
4. The speaker discusses the evolution of YouTube's algorithm and its shift towards making the platform a destination in itself, rather than relying on other platforms to drive traffic.
5. The speaker explains that for any given video, there is no one true title and thumbnail, and that each video could have hundreds or thousands of different legit bait titles.
6. The speaker emphasizes the importance of the title and thumbnail in determining the success of a video, stating that they are at least half the job of being a successful YouTuber.
7. The speaker shares a personal example of a video about asteroids that initially performed poorly, but improved significantly after changing the title and thumbnail.
8. The speaker discusses the symbiotic relationship between views and video quality, stating that more views allow for more investment in better video quality.
9. The speaker mentions that the ultimate outcome of being good at titles and thumbnails is better videos, which is something they and their audience both want.
10. The speaker mentions that the video is sponsored by Kiwico, a company that makes hands-on projects for kids.