youtube

name	youtube
description	Search YouTube intelligently for the best video on any topic. Use this skill whenever the user wants to find YouTube videos, search for tutorials, watch something, or discover content on a topic — even if they just say "find me a video about X" or "look up X on YouTube." Runs multiple searches, interprets the user's intent, and returns one clear recommendation plus a few alternatives.
compatibility	{"required_tools":["Zapier:youtube_find_video"]}

YouTube Search Skill

Find the single best YouTube video for what the user needs, plus 3–4 solid alternatives. No filters, no menus — just good judgment.

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Workflow

Step 1 — Interpret the intent

Before searching, think about what the user actually wants:

• Are they a beginner or do they seem technical?
• Do they want a quick overview or a deep dive?
• Is this a how-to, an explainer, a review, or something else?
• What would the ideal video look like for this person?

Use this to guide your search strategy and final pick.

Step 2 — Run multiple searches

Generate 3–4 distinct search angles and run them via Zapier:youtube_find_video. Each search should approach the topic differently — vary the framing, vocabulary, and specificity. Don't just repeat the same query with minor tweaks.

Example for "what is MCP":

• "Model Context Protocol explained" — direct explainer angle
• "MCP AI agents tutorial beginner" — hands-on/beginner angle
• "why MCP matters AI tools 2025" — strategic/why-it-matters angle

For each search call use:

max_results: 10
order: relevance
published_after: <12 months ago in ISO 8601>
output_hint: title, video URL, duration, published date, channel name

Step 3 — Pool and evaluate candidates

Combine all results across searches (deduplicating by video ID). For each candidate assess:

• Relevance: Does it directly address what the user needs?
• Quality signals: Channel credibility, title clarity, not clickbait
• Duration fit: Does the length match the likely intent? (Quick explainer vs. deep dive)
• Recency: More recent is generally better
• Avoid: Shorts under 2 min, tangentially related content, duplicate channels (max 1 per channel in final output)

Step 4 — Pick the best and select alternatives

Choose the single video you'd genuinely recommend if a friend asked. Then pick 3–4 alternatives that offer something meaningfully different — different depth, angle, channel style, or length. Don't just list the next highest-ranked; make sure each alternative has a distinct reason to exist.

Step 5 — Present results

Use this format exactly:

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Recommended Title · Channel · Duration One sentence on why this is the best pick for what they asked.

Also worth watching

1. Title · Channel · Duration — one phrase on what makes this different
2. Title · Channel · Duration — one phrase on what makes this different
3. Title · Channel · Duration — one phrase on what makes this different
4. Title · Channel · Duration — one phrase on what makes this different (optional)

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Keep the "also worth watching" descriptions short — a phrase, not a sentence. The recommendation gets the full sentence; the alternatives just need a differentiating hook.

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Tone

• Confident. You picked one. Don't hedge with "this might be good" — say why it's the best fit.
• Don't narrate the search process.
• If the topic is ambiguous, interpret and go — don't ask for clarification first.