YouTube Description

Instructions

Write a YouTube video description that serves two audiences: the algorithm and the human viewer. The description must feel like it was written by the creator, not assembled by a tool.

Step 0: Gather Context

Ask the user for:

1. What is the video about? (topic, angle, key takeaway)
2. Who is it for? (audience)
3. What is the one thing you want viewers to do after watching? (primary CTA: visit a site, subscribe, download something, watch another video)

If the user provides a script, voiceover text, or video file, use that as the source material instead of asking.

Read Voice.md from the vault if it exists. Match the creator's tone.

Step 1: Write the Hook (First 150 Characters)

This is the most important part. These characters appear in YouTube search results, Google search results, and above the "Show more" fold.

Rules:

• Include the primary keyword in the first 25 words
• Answer: "What is this video about?" and "Why should I watch?"
• Write like a hook, not a summary
• Never start with "Hey everyone", "Welcome back", "In this video I..."
• Never start with the channel name
• Be specific about the outcome or value

Present the hook to the user for approval before continuing.

Step 2: Write the Full Description

Structure (in this order):

[HOOK: 2-3 lines] — above the fold
  Primary keyword in first 25 words
  Specific outcome or value promise

[VALUE: 3-5 lines] — what the viewer gets
  Key points covered in the video
  Natural keyword variations (not stuffing)

[PRIMARY CTA + LINK] — one main action
  One line explaining why to click
  The link

[WATCH NEXT] — internal link
  Link to a related video on the channel

[TIMESTAMPS] — if video is over 5 minutes
  0:00 Introduction
  X:XX Keyword-rich section labels

[RESOURCES] — tools, links, references mentioned
  Each link gets a one-line reason to click
  No bare URLs without context

[HASHTAGS] — 3-5 at the end
  1 broad, 2 mid-tier, 1-2 niche

Rules:

• Total length: 150-300 words (800-1,500 characters)
• Use line breaks between every section
• Format for mobile first
• Include the primary keyword 3-4 times naturally, never more
• Every link needs a one-line reason to click
• One primary CTA per description, placed after the value section
• Match the description to actual video content. If the video doesn't cover it, don't mention it

Step 3: Apply Humanizer Rules

Before presenting the final description, check for and remove:

• AI vocabulary (delve, landscape, crucial, leverage, robust, innovative, tapestry, multifaceted, holistic, comprehensive, pivotal, groundbreaking, paradigm, foster, encompasses)
• Significance inflation ("stands as a testament to", "reflects broader themes of")
• Filler phrases ("It's worth noting that", "Interestingly", "In today's X")
• Em dash overuse. Use commas, colons, or periods
• Sycophantic language
• Promotional/brochure tone
• Generic positive conclusions

The description should sound like the creator talking, not a marketing department.

Step 4: Present and Revise

Show the full description to the user formatted exactly as it would appear on YouTube. Ask if anything needs adjusting.

If the user provides a video URL, offer to write timestamps based on the content.

What NOT to Do

• Never keyword stuff (repeating the same phrase 5+ times)
• Never use more than 5 hashtags (YouTube ignores ALL hashtags if you exceed 15, and more than 5 looks spammy)
• Never write a wall of text with no line breaks
• Never copy-paste identical descriptions across videos
• Never include irrelevant hashtags for reach
• Never bury the primary link at the bottom
• Never use clickbait that doesn't match the video content
• Never write "Like and subscribe!" as filler
• Never use the rule of three ("informative, engaging, and transformative")
• Never use negative parallelisms ("It's not just X; it's Y")