| name | youtube-copy |
| description | Use when the user wants YouTube metadata for a video — a click-worthy title, an SEO/above-the-fold description, tags, and timestamped chapters. Accepts a transcript (ideally timestamped SRT), a topic, a PR, or a freeform description. Used standalone and by /produce-video. Triggers on "youtube title", "youtube description", "youtube chapters", "youtube tags", "youtube metadata", "youtube-copy". |
YouTube Copy
Write the four pieces of YouTube metadata that drive clicks and rank: title, description, tags, chapters. Ground everything in the provided source (transcript / topic) — never invent claims the source doesn't support. For chapters you need a timestamped source (SRT or words.json); without timestamps, ask for them or skip chapters.
Output format
Write youtube.md (or print the same structure) exactly like this:
# YouTube
**Title**
<title>
**Description**
<description>
**Tags**
#tag1 #tag2 #tag3 ...
**Chapters**
00:00 - <chapter>
01:15 - <chapter>
...
(When /produce-video calls this skill, write youtube.md into the output folder.)
Writing rule (non-negotiable)
Never use em-dashes (— or –). Use a hyphen - instead. This applies to the title, description, chapter separators, everything.
Title (the single highest-leverage element)
- 60-70 characters (hard max 100; anything past ~70 truncates on most surfaces).
- Primary keyword near the front so YouTube and viewers see the topic immediately.
- Do all three: spark curiosity/emotion (surprise, urgency, FOMO, benefit), include the keyword, and set honest expectations (a title that oversells tanks watch-time and is clickbait — avoid it).
- Use a number when natural (numbers attract the eye) and emotive/power words ("actually", "finally", "stop", "the right way", "type-safe", "without").
- Use the audience's real lingo, not generic phrasing.
- Optional: 1-2 relevant hashtags only if they add discovery; usually skip in the title.
- Avoid: misleading bait, ALL CAPS spam, profanity, >70 chars.
- Useful formula starters (pick what fits, don't force): "How to X (without Y)", "The X that Y", "Stop doing X - do this instead", "X explained in N minutes", "I tried X so you don't have to", "N ways to X".
Description
Structure, front-loaded (the first ~100-160 chars show above the fold / in search):
- Hook (first 1-2 sentences) containing the primary keyword — answer "what is this and why watch it?". Promise the outcome.
- A short paragraph (2-4 sentences) expanding what the viewer learns.
- Chapters/timestamps (see below) for videos > ~10 min (or whenever there are clear sections).
- Optional links/CTA (main link, "watch next", subscribe) - only if the user provided them; don't fabricate URLs.
- 2-3 relevant hashtags at the very end.
- Length: tight and useful, roughly 150-300 words / under ~1000 characters. Write for humans; weave related keywords naturally, never keyword-stuff.
Tags
- 5-15 tags, comma/space free per tag (no spaces inside a multi-word tag is not required, but keep them clean).
- Primary keyword/phrase first, then a mix of broad (e.g.
react, webdev) and specific (e.g. react router loader data, unstable_useRouteLoaderData).
- Quality over quantity; all tags must genuinely describe the content. No unrelated/spam tags, no competitor names.
- Output them prefixed with
# in youtube.md for readability (they're entered without # in YouTube's tag box).
Chapters (need a timestamped source)
YouTube's hard rules: first chapter must be 00:00, at least 3 chapters in ascending order, each chapter >= 10 seconds long.
- First chapter (
00:00) answers "why did they click?" - name it the payoff/topic (e.g. "Type-safe loader data", "The final result"), NOT "Intro".
- Titles: 3-8 words, one clear noun phrase (mobile crops long ones). Replace useless labels ("Intro", "Demo", "Conclusion", "Q&A") with the actual topic of that section.
- Frequency: roughly every 2-4 minutes for tutorials, 5-10 minutes for long-form; aim for 5-15 chapters total, never > ~20.
- Derive each
MM:SS start from the timestamped source (the moment that section actually begins). Use MM:SS (or H:MM:SS past an hour). Separator is - (a hyphen), never an em-dash.
Process
- Read the source. If it's an SRT/
words.json, use the timestamps for chapters; if it's plain text or a topic, write title/description/tags and note that chapters need a timestamped source.
- Identify the primary keyword/topic (what someone would search) and the payoff (why they'd click).
- Draft 2-3 title options, pick the strongest against the rules above, then write description, tags, chapters.
- Self-check: title <= 70 chars and keyword-forward; description hook has the keyword in the first sentence; tags 5-15 and relevant; chapters start at 00:00, ascending, >=3, descriptive; no em-dashes anywhere.
References
