If you do YouTube long enough, you begin to understand what makes viewers…well, view. A bold thumbnail with lots of shock value is bound to make people curious. A mysterious title with a hint of emotion does the trick too.

On YouTube, the worst thing you can do is be 

Writing video titles that are all "topic" and no emotion

Creating thumbnails with no glitz or glamour

You see, there has to be a little magic — a stretching of the truth. When viewers see your title and thumbnail, they should feel like a kid at Disney World: unable to look away.

And how do you do that? With clickbait, of course.

This strategy gets a bad rap on YouTube, but it's actually quite helpful when done tastefully. Most would agree that you need a little clickbait to pique viewers' interest, make them click, and have a real shot at satisfying their needs.

So here's why thoughtful clickbait is enjoyable for everyone (and boosts your views).

MrBeast's Bank Robbery Video: An Example of Good Clickbait

When you read this video title from MrBeast, you understand two things:

A group of people will try to rob a bank.

 stage a robbery? Probably not, but that's beside the point. What's appealing to viewers is the 

 it could happen. And if that chance is low already (because robbing a bank means real jail time), the next question is, what will the video actually show?

We see a bright pile of money, a bank vault, and MrBeast hanging from a stealth rope. This image, combined with the video title, creates a shock value that makes people click.

. MrBeast has designed a video set that 

 like a bank, and contestants are trying to win an organized competition. 

Does that mean the title and thumbnail are "bad" clickbait? Not quite. 

As a quick test, watch the video below and ask yourself, 

If this were bad clickbait, you would feel those effects.

The video is close to the original topic in the title and thumbnail. There's a robbery of some kind, even if it's technically fake.

No one feels misled. In fact, viewers are leaving positive comments.

The video has 7 million views and counting; the clickbait is working.

So, yes, the bank is fictional, but millions of viewers are satisfied nonetheless. That's a sign of good clickbait.

If good clickbait matches viewers' expectations, bad clickbait does the opposite. It makes a video seem wildly inaccurate or deeply unsatisfying for what was promised.

The video doesn't match its title at all.

The title and thumbnail allude to something that happens for mere seconds in the video.

The title has sensational phrases like, "you won't believe this" or "will make you cry," as if ALL viewers have similar emotions/reactions.

Dozens of comments calling the video what it is: clickbait.

Think of all the YouTube couples filming "we broke up" videos. If that's what's promised in the title and thumbnail, there should be a breakup of some kind in the video — even if it's just a prank. But if the couple spends two minutes joking about breaking up (and the video is 20 minutes long), that's a bit misleading.

Good or Bad Clickbait? That's for Your Audience to Decide

We can share what we think is good or lousy clickbait, but it's not our opinion that matters. It's truly up to your audience.

If viewers feel like you've click-baited them too often, they'll speak out. It's nothing to worry about if a few people say something. But if dozens or even hundreds of people feel the same way, you have to wonder if they're 

Remember, you're making content for others to watch and enjoy, not yourself. So some of those opinions do matter in the long run.

How Do You Know When You've Made Good Clickbait?

Bad clickbait is easy to make, but good clickbait is a carefully crafted art form. How do you know when you've crossed over to the good side?

First, you'll get more views in general because the title and thumbnail tell a compelling story. Next, 

 because no one's been misled. And finally, you'll get more likes and positive comments thanking you for your work instead of complaining about clickbait.

Want more examples of good clickbait? The video below has more success stories.

Regardless of how you feel about clickbait, you need good titles and thumbnails to grow your channel. So here are two resources to help you out:

YouTube thumbnail guide for boosting clicks

YouTube title guide for grabbing viewers' attention

YouTube logo with text "Clickbait is good!" and a clicking hand cursor icon.

Not all clickbait is terrible on YouTube. If you're meeting viewers' expectations and satisfying their needs, what some call clickbait is just good marketing.

Why Clickbait Is Actually Good for Your YouTube Channel

Did you hear the news? YouTube released a 

 to help you make better videos. It's located in the YouTube Studio – as most tools are – and tries to improve your content in three ways:

Reveal what viewers are searching for on YouTube

Display what your specific audience is searching for

Suggest content you should make in the future

 keywords for your channel? After all, keyword research should help you target the right audience and 

 show words and phrases your viewers are searching for. And that's worth knowing.

How to Find YouTube's Keyword Research Tool

Here, you can "research some of the top searches from viewers on your channel and across YouTube in the last 28 days."

How to Use YouTube's Keyword Research Tool

The tool itself is divided into three tabs:

Want to see the search volume for any YouTube keyword? Here's how to do that:

, then type any word or phrase into the search bar. We'll use "dogs" as an example.

Here, you'll see variations of the original word or phrase you typed in. For example, our query for "dogs" returned phrases like "who let the dogs out" and "cute dogs." Each term is labeled as having low, medium, or high search volume.

You can display all keywords at once or just your "content gaps" – video topics  that currently have 

 results on YouTube. A geography setting also shows keywords people use in specific locations.

Finally, click the three dots on the far right

 to save a keyword, remove it, report it, or analyze it on Google Trends.

On this tab, YouTube shows the topics your audience is searching for. The terms should look familiar, as they're all related to your YouTube niche – which is extremely helpful.

 to see your viewers' searches on YouTube, plus search volume.

This tab is similar to the "Searches Across YouTube" one. You can access the same options as before: filtering for content gaps, browsing keywords from specific locations, saving or removing terms, etc.

Check the previous section (Searches Across YouTube) for all filtering/saving instructions.

The last tab shows the keywords you saved from previous searches. Here's how to use it:

click the three dots on the far right or click the bookmark icon.

Does YouTube's Research Tool Help You Get Views?

? Will the recommended keywords produce 

 do, but it has a long way to go in terms of providing 

Here's an example of what we mean: While using the tool, YouTube tells us that the phrase "how to change YouTube channel name" is a content gap for vidIQ.

We made a video on that topic two years ago, and it has more than 600,000 views. Since then, we've posted two updated videos, and each one got significantly fewer views – 138,000, then 34,000.

 video, but is it worth our time if we're getting fewer views already? Probably not.

And it's not just us. We made a video reviewing the new research tool, and 

"Yes, that happened to me. My old video continues to be preferred over my new video that's nearly identical for the title and description."

To be fair, this may happen for a couple of reasons:

Competitors are making better videos on the same topic (fair enough).

Search-based videos take a while to get views, but once they do, they rank highly for a long time – which is rough for those looking to add new videos to the pile.

Despite that, we expected the tool to give us 

But if you want to know the search volume for different keywords and which ones your viewers use, the research tool from YouTube does just that – in a basic way.

Watch this video to see a full review of the tool.

A Better Option for YouTube Keyword Research

Overall, the research tool from YouTube shows related keywords, search volume, and content gaps.

But if you need a more detailed view, try 

The exact number of searches per month for any keyword (not just low, medium, or high)

A keyword score that measures competition and search volume

Check out the example below. We typed "copyright claim" into vidIQ's keyword explorer, and the 

That's a medium score, as 100 is considered "perfect" for lowest competition and highest search volume. Also, "copyright claim" is searched 36,000 times per month. We'd pull in some decent traffic from that keyword.

Suggestions like "remove copyright claim" or "how to remove copyright claims on YouTube" give us more options for brainstorming video titles.

These questions are great for building video ideas that solve specific problems. The tool shows us questions like "how to use NCS music without copyright claim" and "how to give a copyright claim."

OK – that's a lot of information. But truthfully, you need as many details as possible to find suitable keywords for your content.

For even more advanced keyword suggestions tailored to your niche, explore our 

 and take your SEO strategy to the next level.

Want to use all of the features above? Here's how:

 to access keyword scores, related keywords, monthly search volume, and more.

And if you really want to grow your views, here's a guide for finding the best YouTube keywords for your channel.

Man pointing at screen showing "Content Gap" and YouTube logo about viewer searches.

YouTube has a new keyword research tool, but will it help you get more views? Here’s how to use the feature, plus an honest review of its usefulness.

YouTube's New Keyword Research Tool: Will It Boost Your Views?

Before anyone watches your videos, they see a visual representation of what your channel is about. Viewers glance at your YouTube banner and video thumbnails and make a snap decision: Do I want to engage with this channel or not?

. They want to quickly understand who you are by looking at the words and photos on your channel homepage.

For example, a tennis fan knows they’ve come to the right channel when they see rackets and a green court on your banner. And using thumbnail text like “serve,” “lob,” or “volley” might encourage them to watch your videos.

how to build your personal brand on YouTube

, director of social media at Corel, shares valuable tips for creating your online persona, such as:

How to present your channel across social media

Listen to the episode below, or keep reading for an in-depth overview.

Eliminating confusion is the main benefit of building a personal brand. By keeping things consistent, viewers know what to expect from your content.

Your personal branding strategy may include:

Creating a visual aesthetic for your channel

Using the same text font in all of your graphics

Showcasing your personality the same way in every video

Using the same profile icon across social media

“Everything has to match up because if your brand isn’t consistent, people are going to start noticing that, and they’re not going to be able to connect with you on that same level,” Carls says. “Because they’re kind of like, ‘They keep changing. Who are they?’”

Want to help those viewers connect with you and eventually 

? Here’s a complete guide to building your personal brand.

1. Choose Your YouTube Channel Name Wisely

Most creators do one of three things when naming their YouTube channel:

Choose a “middling” name that sits between broad and specific.

According to Carls, you should avoid channel names that are too specific. For example, you wouldn’t name your channel “Pixel Point of View” if you’re generally reviewing Android phones. The Google Pixel is just one phone that uses the Android operating system.

“Sometimes a broad name may be better because then you can make some adjustments,” Carls says. “But if you come right out of the gate to say that, ‘Oh, I’m the Pixel Princess,’ you have now narrowed your ideas and content. Everyone is going to assume that’s what you’re focusing on.”

, start with a broad channel name. You can always change it to something more accurate as your content evolves.

How do you create a brand that resonates with YouTube viewers? Some say you have to be funny or entertaining to grab people’s attention, and that’s somewhat true. But people connect with different things, so you should match your viewers’ energy on YouTube – whether that’s quiet introversion or chaotic adventure.

Every niche has a vibe. The gardeners of YouTube are peaceful and calm, the entertainers are hilarious, and the business creators look like they're heading to the office. Where do you fit in, and how can you connect with like-minded viewers?

“If you use the example of a real estate professional, 

,” Carls says. “Make sure it’s very clear that you’re in the real estate industry…. You want to have professional branding to match the type of clients you’re trying to attract.”

Ask yourself what viewers gain from watching your content. Then do your best to 

3. YouTube Profile Icons: Headshot or Channel Logo?

Here’s a debate for the ages: Is it better to create a logo for your channel or upload a nice headshot of yourself?

Logos are attractive, but consider the way profile icons function on YouTube. They show up when you’re responding to comments, and that’s one place you want your personality to shine.

“Do you connect with a logo, or do you connect with a person?” Carls asks of creators. “That’s what you have to start realizing. What kind of look and feel and relationship do I want to put out for these individuals?”

4. Create a YouTube Banner That Explains Your Content

Don’t forget about banners when building your online presence. Channel headers take up a lot of space on YouTube, so you may as well use them to communicate the value of your content.

Easy to read on any device – desktop or mobile

Visually consistent with everything else on your channel

Has your channel’s value proposition (what viewers gain from watching)

How to Make a YouTube Banner That Attracts New Viewers

Check out this banner from the vidIQ channel.

Our value proposition (creator-obsessed YouTube education) is front and center, so you know our brand is about helping creators grow their channels. There’s also a gold YouTube plaque to signify our 1 million subscribers. It proves that creators trust our advice!

5. Keep Your YouTube Thumbnails Consistent

Your thumbnails shouldn't look identical, but they must complement one another if you want your channel to have the “branded” look. You can do this by keeping your design elements consistent rather than repeating one design.

YouTube Thumbnail Guide - 9 Ways to Boost Click-Through Rate

Successful creators use the same collection of fonts, colors, and niche-related imagery on their channels. That way, viewers can always spot their content in a group of recommended videos.

 does this well. When the stock market goes down, you’ll see Stephan’s sad face, a raging fire, and red numbers in his YouTube thumbnails. 

The design changes sometimes, but those trademark elements are 

6. Don’t Leave Your Channel’s ‘About’ Section Blank

 is the main benefit of personal branding. Well, not writing anything in your channel bio 

 to that confusion. It’s the only place where you can explain in detailed text why someone should watch your content.

Plus, if you know anything about SEO (search engine optimization), then you know the power of words on YouTube. Using 

 in your bio helps your channel appear on search pages within the app. And who doesn’t want that?

So even if your YouTube banner has no text, make sure 

“We’re all here for an SEO gain, right? [And] what is SEO going to pick up? It’s going to pick up the information you have written on your channel versus the text inside of a graphic,” Carls says.

: Make sure everything you do – the videos you upload, the ideas you share, the comments you post – puts you on the right side of history.

Carls works with many influencers at Corel. Before anyone gets featured in a campaign, the company researches creators to make sure they have a good reputation.

If it seems like the creator won’t represent the brand well, Corel protects its reputation by not working with them.

“You start realizing, ‘OK, this might not be the best type of person we want to work with because they are connected to these types of individuals,” Carls says. “So you have to pay attention to the way you’re portraying yourself online."

Now that you know how to brand your channel, here's a guide for making the exact videos your audience wants to see.

Smiling woman next to Tube Talk logo with play button icon on dark background

No matter how many subscribers you have, branding your YouTube channel will help you gain more. Here’s how to create your best online presence.

7 Ways to Build a Strong Personal Brand on YouTube

Two weeks ago, we discovered some shocking news. It appears that small YouTube channels prefer to collaborate with other small channels – and not the big, prominent ones that get millions of views.

We discovered this insight after posting a question on the YouTube Community tab. We asked, “

Would you rather seek a collab with a bigger creator or accept one from a smaller creator?”

Out of 14,000 respondents, roughly 10,000 said they would accept a “small collab” before reaching out to a prominent creator.

 shares a different perspective. He believes one of the biggest YouTube myths is people thinking small creators can’t work with larger ones. As a customer success manager at vidIQ, McPherson has coached enough creators to know that's a huge misconception.

“I never really let that stop me,” McPherson says. “My first year [on YouTube], I was collaborating with channels with millions of subscribers. So it’s not true.”

But no matter what, you need a solid plan to attract video partners. Here’s how to approach popular creators with a collaboration idea.

1. Offer Your Expertise to Large YouTube Creators

Sometimes the best way to secure a video collab is by taking things slowly. Instead of contacting dozens of people, build a genuine relationship with one creator. Find out what they like, dislike, and struggle with on YouTube.

Once you know all of that, McPherson says you should 

Large YouTubers are busy people, so they might need help with:

The key is to give without asking for anything in return. That’s the easiest way to befriend large creators who are open to collaborating.

2. Make Sure the Creator Is in Your YouTube Niche

Partnering with successful creators is wise, but don’t forget to consider your audience. Every week, they come to your channel to 

 – a topic so exciting they’ve decided to become regular viewers. The last thing they want to watch is a wildly off-topic video.

Let’s say you have a cooking channel, and you want to collaborate with a music creator because they have 100,000 subscribers. That might 

 tempting, but it wouldn’t benefit you or the other creator. So few of those "music" viewers are interested in cooking content.

“Is your niche completely left of center from theirs? If so, what’s the point?” McPherson says.

﻿To create the best collaboration, work with a creator in your niche who understands your content and whose audience overlaps yours.  This guarantees you'll stay on topic and continue to satisfy your subscribers.

The only exception to this rule is when you find someone 

. If you both cover the same broad niche but different aspects of it, that makes for a great collab, too.

Some people think you need thousands of subscribers to engage with famous creators, but that’s not true. All you need is a solid YouTube resume to put you in the running.

Think of it like this: It’s better to have 200 videos uploaded than have 1,000 subscribers and only 10 videos.

"I’ve jumped on channels and done interviews and collabs with channels with 100 subscribers,” McPherson says. “It’s nothing to me because I saw the work ethic. I saw that they’re really trying to do something, and I liked the content.”

Collabs on YouTube work best when they’re beneficial for both creators. So if you haven’t uploaded in six months, don’t expect a well-known creator to help launch your comeback video. Work on 

4. Brainstorm Collab Ideas Before You Start Pitching

, you know how important good video ideas are. They’re even 

 critical when reaching out to prominent creators who’ve reached some level of success.

7 Tips to Craft Irresistible Video Ideas on YouTube

Your initial pitch email should do three things:

Describe your video collab idea in great detail.

“When you give someone an idea of what they’re getting into, what they need to do for you, and why it makes sense, people are more likely to say yes than you might think,” McPherson says.

. If all you need is a one-minute clip from the creator, let them know so they don’t expect more work than the collab requires. Overall, just make it easy for the person to say 

It’s easy to assume that popular YouTubers avoid lesser-known creators, but that’s not true. A lot is happening behind the scenes that people don’t see. Large creators are working on sponsored content, producing their own videos, getting interviewed, and brainstorming future content. They're just busy.

It’s easy to lose track of emails when you’re working hard

. If you haven’t heard from a creator in a long time, it's time to send a follow-up message.

“The thing I’ve seen people do is, they’ll ask [for a collab], and then they’ll get shy later on if they haven’t heard back in three or four days,” McPherson says. “Or five days. Or six days. And the longer the time is from the last time you talked to them, the more likely it is they’ve forgotten.”

So don’t be discouraged. Sometimes it takes an extra email (or two) to reach the best creators.

But when you do start working on a collab, these six tips will help you produce a successful video project for YouTube.

Two men wearing vidIQ shirts at TubeTalk event with logo on dark background

Despite what most people think, small YouTube channels can collaborate with big ones. Here’s how to approach someone with more subscribers than you.

YouTube Tips for Creators

Why Clickbait Is Actually Good for Your YouTube Channel

YouTube's New Keyword Research Tool: Will It Boost Your Views?

7 Ways to Build a Strong Personal Brand on YouTube

How to Collab with Big Creators as a Small YouTube Channel

8 YouTube Podcasts to Help Grow Your Channel

Matt Koval Shares More Creator Advice After Nearly a Decade at YouTube

How to Report a YouTube Channel In 5 Easy Steps

Create More YouTube Videos in Less Time With These 4 Productivity Tips

How to Make a YouTube Banner That Attracts New Viewers

30 YouTube Keyboard Shortcuts to Save Yourself Some Time

How to Choose the Best Niche for Your YouTube Channel

5 Things to Remember When Your YouTube Channel Isn’t Growing