How to Write a Proper Title for Your YouTube Video - Websmith Lab

How to Write a Proper Title for Your YouTube Video

Introduction

If you want your YouTube video to get seen, you need a title that grabs attention right away. Think about it: people scroll fast. They don’t read much. They glance at the title, and in a split second, they decide if they click or keep scrolling. The right title gives your video a fighting chance to win that click. But finding the right words to make that happen can feel like hitting a moving target. In this post, I’m going to walk you through everything you need to know to craft a title that works. We’ll cover why titles matter, how long they should be, smart ways to use emojis, hashtags, and even the pipe symbol. We’ll also show you how tools like VidIQ can help you come up with great titles fast. I’ll keep things real and practical. Let's discover that How to Write a Proper Title for Your YouTube Video

The importance of title

Your title is the first thing people see. It’s the hook. A weak title is like telling someone to stay away from your video. A strong title is a welcome sign. You want words that draw viewers in. Words that say, “Yes, I need to watch this.” On YouTube, your title works together with your thumbnail and your description to show up in search results, get clicked, and get recommended. YouTube’s algorithm looks at how often your video gets clicked, how long people watch, and other signals. If your title is good, more people click and maybe stick around. More watch time means YouTube shows your video to more people. That’s why the title matters more than you think. It’s not just a label. It’s your chance to start building traction the moment someone sees it.

Length of a title

You might think, the longer the title, the more keywords, the better. Not really. YouTube cuts off titles after about 60 characters on desktop and even sooner on mobile. If people only see part of it, you’ve wasted space and your message can get lost. Keep your title concise and punchy. Make it clear what your video is about in under 60 characters. But don’t worry about hitting an exact number. Just keep it tight. Tell exactly what the video is about. If you need more words for clarity or SEO, you can push up to 70 characters, but anything over that risks getting cut off. Think of your title like a headline in the newspaper. You want it short, strong, and tuned to spark interest.

Using emoji in title

Emoji can make your title stand out. A tiny icon like a smiley face or arrow can break up the text and catch eyes. But you don’t want to go wild. Too many emoji looks spammy. Stick with one or two that fit the message. Maybe a play button icon for a video tutorial, or a light bulb emoji for ideas, or a fire emoji for something exciting. Make sure the emoji doesn’t change your meaning. You still want plain words to tell people what to expect. And think about accessibility. Screen readers should still understand your title. So use emoji sparingly and only when it makes your title pop, not when it hurts clarity.

Using hashtags in Title

Hashtags in your title can make your video easier to find if someone searches a tag or clicks on a trending tag. You can add one or two hashtags, like #DIY or #ProductReview, but don’t overdo it. YouTube only lets you display three hashtags, and if you put too many, it looks spammy and might even distract from the real message. The best practice is to use a hashtag that’s relevant and not silly. Put it at the end of the title so it doesn’t take away from the main message. For example, “How to Paint Furniture in 10 Minutes #DIY”. The hashtag gives a search boost, but the title stays clean and easy to read.

Using | in Title

The vertical bar, that “|” symbol, is a good way to separate key parts of your title. It’s clean and easy to scan. For example, if your video is a tutorial plus a tip, you might write: “Easy Tie-Dye Tutorial | Save Time with This Trick”. That bar signals a break between two messages. It helps people see both ideas fast. The bar also keeps your title tidy and professional without needing to add “dash” or “colon”. You get two ideas in one line. It also helps show up well in search because each part is separated, and keywords stay clear. Use it smartly—don’t over-pack the title with multiple bars. One is enough.

Generate Title with VidIQ

Now, if you’re thinking, "That’s a lot to juggle," I get it. This is where VidIQ comes in. VidIQ is a tool that helps you research keywords, see what titles are trending, and even suggests title ideas based on your topic. It plugs into YouTube and shows you top-performing videos, their tags, words in their titles, and how you can match or beat them. You type your topic, let’s say “how to cook rice,” and VidIQ will show you titles like “The Best Way to Cook Rice Every Time” or “Rice Cooking Tips You Must Know.” You can tweak from there. Use the words that perform well, add your own twist, use emoji or a bar if it fits, and keep an eye on the character count. VidIQ also shows search volume and competition level, helping you pick words that people actually type in. There’s no magic. But you get a smart shortcut to the language your audience uses. If you want a quick step-by-step, go to VidIQ’s website or install the browser plugin. It works with your YouTube dashboard and helps you test ideas before you publish.

Conclusion

Writing a proper YouTube title isn’t rocket science. It just takes thought. Make it short, clear, and interesting. Think about the eye first, then the algorithm. Use emoji only if it makes the title better. Use hashtags when they help search, and keep them fewer in number. Use the vertical bar to separate ideas cleanly. And use tools like VidIQ to do your research quickly. Titles are what call viewers in. If your title does its job, your video gets the click. And that click leads to watch time and growth. Titles are your launch pad. Craft them well and you’re one step closer to more views and more impact. I hope you have learnt How to write Title for your Youtube Video.

Read More: How to Use AI in SEO?

FAQ

Q: How long should my title be?
Keep your title below 60 characters so it’s not cut off on most screens, but you can go up to 70 characters if needed for clarity. Just make every word count.

Q: Should I use emojis in my title?
Yes, if it helps make your title pop. Stick to one or two emoji that fit your content and don’t harm clarity or accessibility.

Q: How many hashtags can I use?
YouTube shows up to three hashtags, but that’s too many. Use one or two relevant ones, and place them at the end of your title so they don’t distract from the message.

Q: What does the vertical bar do in a title?
The bar “|” cleanly separates different ideas or parts of your title. It helps make the title easy to scan and keeps keywords distinct.

Q: How can VidIQ help me write better titles?
VidIQ shows you what titles are doing well for videos like yours. It gives you keyword suggestions, search volume, and performance insights so you can cook up titles that work. It’s a shortcut to what your audience is searching for.