Search and SEO
How to write YouTube descriptions
A good YouTube description tells viewers and YouTube what the video covers in the first two lines, then adds chapters, links and a few hashtags. Write it for people first. Using your main search phrase naturally once or twice is enough.
Cuetta team3 min read
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What a description does
YouTube says it checks how well "the title, tags, description, and video content" match a search. The description is your chance to explain the video in more words than the title allows.
For viewers, it's where they look for links, products, timestamps and context.
A simple template
- 1
First two lines
Say what the video covers and who it's for, with your main search phrase. This is what people see before "more".
- 2
A short summary
Two or three sentences on what they'll learn or see.
- 3
Chapters
Timestamps starting at 0:00, with clear names for each part.
- 4
Links
Videos and playlists to watch next, and anything you mentioned.
- 5
About the channel
One line on what the channel is about and how often you post.
- 6
Hashtags
Two or three relevant hashtags at the end.
Write the first two lines first
Most people only see the start. Skip greetings and links here. Lead with what the video does for them.
| Weak | Strong |
|---|---|
| Hey everyone! Check out my new video! | How to clean a rusty cast iron pan in 10 minutes, with only salt, oil and a scrubber. |
| Links below 👇 | I tested five budget mics under $50 to find the one that sounds most like a studio mic. |
Hey everyone! Check out my new video!
- Strong
- How to clean a rusty cast iron pan in 10 minutes, with only salt, oil and a scrubber.
Links below 👇
- Strong
- I tested five budget mics under $50 to find the one that sounds most like a studio mic.
Add chapters
To add chapters, list timestamps in the description. The first must be 0:00, you need at least three, and each chapter should be at least 10 seconds long. Name each chapter like a mini title that says what's in it.
Mistakes to avoid
- Lists of keywords or tags pasted into the description. YouTube's spam policy covers this.
- Copying the same long description onto every video.
- Burying the important line under links.
- Misleading descriptions that don't match the video.
The description can hold up to 5,000 characters, but useful matters more than long. See the YouTube SEO guide.