Misleading titles. Yes or no?

[R-Rated]

YouTube recommended a video to me Something along the lines of "X motorcycle company in big trouble and review of Z app."

Well, sure I am interested in this big motovlogger's take on why X motorcycle brand is shutting down a US plant and putting 800 people out of work. To my disappointment it was mostly about the app they were reviewing. Starts with the app review and showing how it works. I had to skip head little by little in the 13 minute video to find the motovlogger start their take on the manufacturing situation. Alright! Finally around 8 minutes into the video they talk about the issue that was the lead in the title.

Yep, they talked all of 2-3 minutes about it before moving on. WHAT THE HECK?

So this motovlogger took a hot topic and lead their title with it so they 35K subs might click and watch. Just about 7.5K fell for it. I left them a comment that they needed to swap the title around a bit and then noted where the hot topic actually started.

Makes me wonder if we should be the same way in titling our videos? What do you all think?

 

[Hippo-Drones]

This goes back to the click bait stuff.... it works so people use it. It doesn't make it right that they do so, but it still works, you proved that by watching the video!
I guess it is a case of the type of person you are. You are an honest, straight talking chap and each of your videos are evidence of that.
I think if everyone succumbed to using clickbait titles then the internet will break, search engines will not be able to differentiate between videos that contain good or bad info. It is in Google's interest to stamp down on this, but how it can do so with so much "information" being shared, it is a job I'd notwant lol
If we try to avoid doing so ourselves, then all we are doing is delaying the inevitable but at least it wouldn't be us that broke it..... we'd just never have an audience as our content isn't purposefully misrepresented to drag people in that won't discover our content otherwise.
Doing things the right way, is def not the route to fast success... But, I honestly think that over the long burn, not succumbing has far greater advantages.

 

[R-Rated]

This goes back to the click bait stuff.... it works so people use it. It doesn't make it right that they do so, but it still works, you proved that by watching the video!
I guess it is a case of the type of person you are. You are an honest, straight talking chap and each of your videos are evidence of that.
I think if everyone succumbed to using clickbait titles then the internet will break, search engines will not be able to differentiate between videos that contain good or bad info. It is in Google's interest to stamp down on this, but how it can do so with so much "information" being shared, it is a job I'd notwant lol
If we try to avoid doing so ourselves, then all we are doing is delaying the inevitable but at least it wouldn't be us that broke it..... we'd just never have an audience as our content isn't purposefully misrepresented to drag people in that won't discover our content otherwise.
Doing things the right way, is def not the route to fast success... But, I honestly think that over the long burn, not succumbing has far greater advantages.

Very well stated sir.

 

[F4celess]

I noticed this with C2W's recent vids. "Did I break my bike?" was the title. and sure, after the 5 minutes of advertising shaving equipment because sponsors. he eventually partially ruined some threads on his Triumph, so it's not really clickbait. It just annoys me that the title said absolutely nothing about what the video was about, which was putting on new accessories.
By just the title one could assume that he was doing just about anything. Which is pretty misleading.
A better title would have been "New parts - Did I just break my bike?" which would make it so much more clear what the video was about. Afaik Youtube likes longer titles anyway.

 

[Theodor]

I have consciously started avoiding links with vague questions in them. But in your case, the title

"X motorcycle company in big trouble and review of Z app."

seems to be less obvious. However, when you think whether a motorcycle companies trouble could come from this Z app, it seems unlikely and strange to put these topics together in to one video.

edit: to actually answer your question - no. I don't think we should.

 

[lupin]

Have you never watched a Casey Niestat video?

This is exactly what he does on many of his vlogs. Title reflects a very small part of the video.

 

[LoneWolfer]

I enjoy how Shadetree Surgeon does this in a sarcastic way, his most recent is a great example - Quit my job, Going YouTube FULL TIME

But yes, I often stop videos that don't mention what is in the title within a minute of starting. Bad form in short form video.

 

[SighBored]

I hate click-baits. But you are free to do as you wish with your own content, if you feel you want to be that kind of poster, I guess it's your choice.

 

[MotoCafe]

Yes, Casey Niestat is now the poster child for clickbait. I love his style but can't stand the abuse, so I hardly ever watch him now.

 

[Undead MV]

Tittling is an art, you can find a "scandalous" word and add it in your title, and this works as a click bait, I have nothing against using this resource, but without excess

 

[WingManGT]

Not a fan of misleading click bait titles, but it works and people don't seem to care that much.

 

[lupin]

 

[R-Rated]

View attachment 3029

Who wore it better?

 

[Baconbit]

YouTube recommended a video to me Something along the lines of "X motorcycle company in big trouble and review of Z app."

Well, sure I am interested in this big motovlogger's take on why X motorcycle brand is shutting down a US plant and putting 800 people out of work. To my disappointment it was mostly about the app they were reviewing. Starts with the app review and showing how it works. I had to skip head little by little in the 13 minute video to find the motovlogger start their take on the manufacturing situation. Alright! Finally around 8 minutes into the video they talk about the issue that was the lead in the title.

Yep, they talked all of 2-3 minutes about it before moving on. WHAT THE HECK?

So this motovlogger took a hot topic and lead their title with it so they 35K subs might click and watch. Just about 7.5K fell for it. I left them a comment that they needed to swap the title around a bit and then noted where the hot topic actually started.

Makes me wonder if we should be the same way in titling our videos? What do you all think?

It's called clickbait.. And it's a horrible tactic

 

[TWWaffle]

I agree with clickbaiting being a horrible tactic. It's tempting because it would bring in more views though, haha. It's difficult getting a name out there and getting exposure when starting with near zero followers across all social media platforms.

 

[GIZZ]

Clickbate, I don't see it converting clicks to subscribers, unless the rest of the vid is fantastic. I just un-subbed a channel I've been following for a year, every thumbnail is clickbate and too much bs on his channel now.

 

[xaviervax]

View attachment 3029

Double that ! haha

 

[ulijonroth]

Clickbait may seem as a good solution for getting views, but is surely a reputation destroyer.