---
name: youtube-seo
description: "Optimizes YouTube videos for search with titles, descriptions, tags, chapters, and thumbnail recommendations. Use when maximizing video discoverability on YouTube."
allowed-tools: Read Write Glob
metadata:
  author: matthewhitcham
  version: "1.0"
---

# YouTube SEO

## When to Use This Skill

Use this skill when you need to:
- Optimize a YouTube video for maximum search visibility and click-through rate
- Write SEO-optimized titles, descriptions, and tags
- Create chapter timestamps and end screen strategies
- Plan thumbnail concepts that drive clicks

**DO NOT** use this skill for YouTube ad campaigns, channel strategy, or video scripting. This is specifically for optimizing individual videos for YouTube and Google search.

---

## Core Principle

YOUTUBE IS THE SECOND-LARGEST SEARCH ENGINE — EVERY VIDEO NEEDS A TARGET KEYWORD, A CLICK-WORTHY TITLE AND THUMBNAIL, AND A DESCRIPTION THAT TELLS BOTH YOUTUBE AND VIEWERS EXACTLY WHAT TO EXPECT.

---

## Phase 1: Brief

### Required Inputs

| Input | What to Ask | Default |
|-------|------------|---------|
| **Video topic** | "What is the video about?" | No default — must be provided |
| **Target keyword** | "What search term should this video rank for?" | Derived from topic |
| **Video length** | "How long is the video?" | 8-15 minutes |
| **Channel niche** | "What is your channel about?" | Business/entrepreneurship |
| **Subscriber count** | "How many subscribers do you have?" | Under 10,000 |
| **Call to action** | "What should viewers do after watching?" | Subscribe and check link in description |

**GATE: Confirm before optimizing.**

---

## Phase 2: Keyword and Competitor Analysis

### YouTube Search Analysis

```
## Search Landscape

**Target keyword:** [keyword]
**YouTube autocomplete suggestions:**
- [suggestion 1]
- [suggestion 2]
- [suggestion 3]

**Top 5 current results:**
| Position | Title | Channel | Views | Published | Length |
|----------|-------|---------|-------|-----------|--------|
| 1 | [Title] | [Channel] | [X] | [Date] | [X min] |

**Opportunities:**
- [What current results miss]
- [Better angle or depth you can offer]
- [Underserved subtopics]
```

**GATE: Review the landscape before writing optimizations.**

---

## Phase 3: Optimize Video Elements

### Title Optimization

Write 5 title options following these rules:
- Target keyword as close to the beginning as possible
- 60 characters max (avoid truncation)
- Include a hook: number, benefit, curiosity, or emotion
- Avoid clickbait that the video doesn't deliver on

```
## Title Options

1. "[Keyword]: [Benefit or hook]" (XX chars)
2. "How to [Keyword] in [Timeframe]" (XX chars)
3. "[Number] [Keyword] Tips That [Result]" (XX chars)
4. "[Keyword] — [Surprising angle or contrarian take]" (XX chars)
5. "The [Keyword] Strategy Nobody Talks About" (XX chars)
```

### Description Optimization

```
## Video Description (5,000 char max)

**First 2 lines (visible before "Show more"):**
[Hook sentence with target keyword] + [What they'll learn]
[CTA: Subscribe link, resource link, or relevant offer]

**Paragraph 1 (100-150 words):**
[Expanded description of what the video covers]
[Include target keyword and 2-3 secondary keywords naturally]

**Timestamps/Chapters:**
0:00 Introduction
[X:XX] [Chapter title with keyword variant]
[X:XX] [Chapter title]
[X:XX] [Chapter title]
[X:XX] Summary and next steps

**Links Section:**
[Product/resource link]
[Related video links]
[Social media links]

**Keywords paragraph (natural, not spammy):**
[2-3 sentences using secondary keywords naturally]
```

### Tags

```
## Tags (500 char limit total)

Primary: [target keyword]
Variations: [keyword variation 1], [variation 2], [variation 3]
Broader: [broader topic 1], [broader topic 2]
Channel: [your channel name], [your brand keywords]

Total tags: 8-15 (don't over-tag)
```

### Thumbnail Concept

```
## Thumbnail Brief

**Concept:** [Visual description]
**Text overlay:** [3-5 words max, large readable font]
**Color scheme:** [High contrast, bright colors that stand out]
**Face/emotion:** [If featuring a face, what expression?]
**Dimensions:** 1280x720px (16:9 ratio)

**Rules:**
- Text must be readable on mobile (small screen)
- Avoid clutter — one focal point
- Use contrasting colors that pop against YouTube's white background
- Maintain visual consistency with your other thumbnails
```

---

## Phase 4: Polish

### 1. End Screen Strategy

- Last 20 seconds: suggest next video (related content)
- Include subscribe button element
- Link to a playlist for binge-watching

### 2. Card Placements

Recommend 2-3 card placements:
- When mentioning a related topic → link to relevant video
- At the midpoint → link to a playlist
- Before CTA → link to landing page (if applicable)

### 3. First 48 Hours Checklist

- [ ] Publish at optimal time (test: weekday morning for business content)
- [ ] Share to email list with direct link
- [ ] Post on social media with native teaser clip
- [ ] Reply to every comment in the first 24 hours (boosts engagement signals)
- [ ] Pin a comment with CTA or discussion question

### 4. Performance Metrics

Track after 7 and 30 days:
- Click-through rate (target: 5-10%)
- Average view duration (target: 50%+ of video length)
- Impressions and search traffic
- Subscriber growth from the video

---

## Anti-Patterns

- **Keyword-stuffed titles** — "Email Marketing Email Tips Email Strategy for Email" is unreadable. Use the keyword once, naturally.
- **Empty descriptions** — YouTube cannot watch your video. The description is how it understands your content. Write 200+ words.
- **No timestamps** — chapters improve user experience and help YouTube understand video structure. Always add them.
- **Clickbait thumbnail with no delivery** — high CTR but low watch time tells YouTube your content disappoints. This kills recommendations.
- **Ignoring the first 30 seconds** — if viewers drop off in the intro, nothing else matters. Hook immediately.
- **No CTA** — every video should tell viewers what to do next: subscribe, watch another video, or visit a link.

---

## Recovery

- **Low CTR (under 3%):** The title or thumbnail is the problem. Test a new thumbnail first — it has the biggest impact on CTR.
- **Low watch time:** The video content needs work, but also check that the title accurately sets expectations. Mismatched expectations cause early drop-offs.
- **Not ranking for target keyword:** Check if bigger channels dominate. Target longer-tail video keywords where competition is lower.
- **No search traffic:** Ensure the description includes the target keyword, add chapters, and check that the video is set to public with proper category and tags.
