---
name: youtube-strategy
description: "Plans YouTube channel strategy with content pillars, upload schedule, thumbnail guidelines, and growth milestones. Use when launching or restructuring a YouTube channel for business growth."
allowed-tools: Read Write Glob
metadata:
  author: matthewhitcham
  version: "1.0"
---

# YouTube Strategy

## When to Use This Skill

Use this skill when you need to:
- Plan a YouTube channel strategy from scratch
- Define content pillars, upload schedule, and growth milestones
- Create thumbnail and title guidelines for consistent branding
- Build a YouTube growth plan for the first 6 months

**DO NOT** use this skill for writing individual video scripts (use tiktok-script for short-form) or editing videos. This is for channel-level strategy.

---

## Core Principle

YOUTUBE REWARDS CONSISTENCY AND CLICK-THROUGH RATE — A CLEAR NICHE, COMPELLING THUMBNAILS, AND A RELIABLE UPLOAD SCHEDULE BEAT VIRAL LUCK EVERY TIME.

---

## Phase 1: Brief

### Required Inputs

| Input | What to Ask | Default |
|-------|------------|---------|
| **Channel topic / niche** | "What will your channel be about?" | No default — must be provided |
| **Target viewer** | "Who is watching your videos?" | No default — must be provided |
| **Business goal** | "What should YouTube drive? Leads, sales, authority, ad revenue?" | Leads and authority |
| **Video capability** | "What can you produce? Talking head, screen share, animations, b-roll?" | Talking head + screen share |
| **Upload capacity** | "How many videos per week can you realistically produce?" | 1 video per week |
| **Existing audience** | "Do you have an audience on other platforms?" | Small email list or social following |

**GATE: Confirm brief before building strategy.**

---

## Phase 2: Outline

```
1. Channel Positioning — niche, value prop, ideal viewer
2. Content Pillars — 3-4 video categories
3. Upload Schedule — cadence and best publish times
4. Title & Thumbnail System — templates for consistency
5. Video Structure — standard format for retention
6. Growth Milestones — 6-month roadmap
7. Monetization Path — how YouTube supports revenue
```

**GATE: Approve outline before full strategy.**

---

## Phase 3: Write

### 1. Channel Positioning

```
## Channel Identity

**Niche:** [Specific topic — "productivity for solopreneurs" not "business"]
**Value prop:** "This channel helps [audience] [achieve result] through [content type]."
**Ideal viewer:** [Specific description — role, goals, pain points]
**Channel name:** [Name]
**Channel description:** [2-3 sentences with keywords for YouTube search]
**Channel keywords:** [10-15 relevant keywords]
```

### 2. Content Pillars

```
## Content Pillars (3-4 categories)

**Pillar 1: [Name]** — [X]% of uploads
- Format: [How-to / tutorial / review / etc.]
- Example titles: "[3 specific video title ideas]"
- Search intent: [What viewers are searching for]

**Pillar 2: [Name]** — [X]% of uploads
- Format: [Type]
- Example titles: "[3 video title ideas]"

**Pillar 3: [Name]** — [X]% of uploads
...
```

### 3. Title & Thumbnail System

```
## Title Formulas

1. "How to [Achieve Result] in [Timeframe] ([Qualifier])"
2. "[Number] [Things] I [Did] to [Get Result]"
3. "Why [Common Practice] Is Wrong (Do This Instead)"
4. "[Result] in [Timeframe] — Here's Exactly How"
5. "I Tried [Thing] for [Time]. Here's What Happened."

### Title Rules
- Under 60 characters (visible without truncation)
- Front-load the keyword or hook
- Include a number or specific result when possible
- Create a curiosity gap

## Thumbnail Guidelines

**Template elements:**
- Face with emotion (surprise, curiosity, excitement) — if on camera
- 3-5 words of bold text (different from the title)
- High contrast colors (bright on dark or dark on bright)
- Clean, uncluttered composition
- Consistent brand colors and font across all thumbnails

**Thumbnail dimensions:** 1280x720px (16:9 ratio)

**Test:** If the thumbnail is unreadable at phone size (small), redesign it.
```

### 4. Video Structure

```
## Standard Video Format

**Hook (0-30 seconds)**
- State the value proposition in the first 10 seconds
- "In this video, you'll learn [specific outcome]"
- NO long intros, channel promos, or "hey guys" — get to the point

**Body (main content)**
- Follow the structure promised in the hook
- Pattern interrupt every 2-3 minutes (cut, b-roll, visual change)
- Use chapters (timestamps) for videos over 8 minutes

**CTA (final 30 seconds)**
- Single CTA: subscribe, watch next video, or visit link in description
- Suggest a specific next video ("If you liked this, watch [title] next")
- End screen: subscribe button + suggested video

**Target length by type:**
- Tutorials: 8-15 minutes
- Listicles: 10-20 minutes
- Vlogs/BTS: 5-10 minutes
- Shorts: under 60 seconds
```

### 5. Growth Milestones

```
## 6-Month Roadmap

| Month | Focus | Upload Pace | Target |
|-------|-------|-------------|--------|
| 1 | Find your rhythm, test topics | 1/week | 100 subscribers |
| 2 | Double down on what works | 1/week | 300 subscribers |
| 3 | Optimize thumbnails and titles | 1/week | 600 subscribers |
| 4 | Add Shorts strategy | 1 long + 2 Shorts/week | 1,000 subscribers |
| 5 | Collaborate with similar channels | 1 long + 2 Shorts/week | 1,500 subscribers |
| 6 | Monetization eligibility push | 1 long + 2 Shorts/week | 2,000+ subscribers |
```

### 6. Monetization Path

```
## How YouTube Supports Your Business

**Direct monetization (requires 1K subs + 4K watch hours):**
- Ad revenue
- Channel memberships
- Super Chats

**Business monetization (from day 1):**
- Link to your product/service in every video description
- Mention your offer naturally in videos
- Use YouTube as a trust-building funnel — viewers → email list → customers
- Create "pillar" videos that answer your customers' top questions
```

---

## Phase 4: Polish

### 1. Strategy Checklist

```
## YouTube Strategy Checklist

- [ ] Niche is specific (not just "business" or "marketing")
- [ ] 3-4 content pillars defined with example titles
- [ ] Upload schedule matches production capacity
- [ ] Thumbnail templates designed for consistency
- [ ] Title formulas documented
- [ ] Standard video structure defined (hook, body, CTA)
- [ ] 6-month growth milestones set
- [ ] First 10 video topics planned
- [ ] Channel description and keywords optimized
- [ ] Monetization path connects YouTube to business revenue
```

### 2. First 10 Video Topics

List the first 10 videos to produce, prioritized by search demand and audience interest.

---

## Example: YouTube Strategy for a Business Coach

```
Niche: Freelance business growth for designers and developers
Pillars: Client Getting (40%), Pricing (30%), Tools & Systems (20%), Vlogs (10%)
Upload: 1 video/week (Tuesdays at 9 AM)
Thumbnail style: Blue background, face with surprise expression, 3 words of white text
First 5 videos:
1. "How I Landed My First $10K Client (Exact Steps)"
2. "5 Pricing Mistakes That Cost Freelancers Thousands"
3. "The Tool Stack I Use to Run a 6-Figure Freelance Business"
4. "Why I Stopped Using Hourly Rates (And What I Do Instead)"
5. "How to Write Proposals That Win (Template Included)"
```

---

## Anti-Patterns

- **Broad niche** — "Business tips" attracts nobody. "Freelance pricing for designers" attracts the right viewer.
- **Ignoring thumbnails** — bad thumbnails kill great content. A video nobody clicks on is a video nobody watches.
- **Long intros** — "Hey guys, welcome back to my channel, don't forget to like and subscribe..." loses viewers in seconds.
- **Inconsistent uploads** — sporadic posting tells the algorithm (and viewers) you are not serious.
- **Only chasing trends** — trending videos get views; niche content builds an audience. Balance both.
- **No CTA** — ending without telling viewers what to do next wastes the attention you earned.

---

## Recovery

- **Camera shy:** Start with screen-share tutorials or voiceover content. Add face later when comfortable.
- **No views after 20 videos:** Audit thumbnails and titles first — these determine click-through rate. If CTR is under 4%, redesign.
- **Cannot commit to weekly uploads:** Batch-record 4 videos in one day per month. Edit and schedule throughout the month.
- **Running out of topic ideas:** Search your niche on YouTube. Look at competitor channels' most popular videos. Check Google Trends and "People Also Ask."
- **Subscriber growth is stalling:** Add YouTube Shorts to your strategy. Shorts drive subscriber growth faster than long-form.
