---
name: youtube-video-strategy
description: |
  Produces a YouTube video strategy document with title formulas, thumbnail
  concept specification, description template with timestamps, and tag list
  for a specific video topic. Use when the user asks to optimize a YouTube
  video for discovery, plan a YouTube upload, create a thumbnail concept,
  or write a video description.
  Do NOT use for writing the actual video script (use video-script-writing),
  creating a shot list (use video-storyboard), or planning short-form
  vertical video (use short-form-video-planning).
license: Apache-2.0
metadata:
  author: foundry-skills
  version: "1.0.0"
  tags: "video-production planning template"
  category: "design-creative"
  subcategory: "video-audio"
  depends: ""
  disclaimer: "none"
  difficulty: "intermediate"
---
# YouTube Video Strategy

## When to Use

Use this skill when the user needs a complete upload-ready strategy package for a specific YouTube video. Trigger scenarios include:

- The user asks to "plan," "optimize," or "set up" a YouTube video for discovery and reach
- The user wants title options, a thumbnail concept brief, or a video description with timestamps
- The user asks how to tag a video or structure metadata for YouTube search
- The user wants to understand why their videos are not getting suggested or ranked, and needs a corrected metadata strategy
- The user is planning a new upload and wants all strategy elements in one document: titles, thumbnail, description, tags, end screens, and cards
- The user wants to optimize an existing underperforming video by updating its metadata
- The user asks which content angle or title framing will be most competitive for a given topic

Do NOT use this skill when:

- The user needs the actual spoken script written out -- use `video-script-writing` instead
- The user needs a shot-by-shot visual plan or storyboard -- use `video-storyboard` instead
- The user is planning a TikTok, Instagram Reel, or YouTube Short (vertical, under 60 seconds) -- use `short-form-video-planning` instead
- The user is building a full channel content calendar across multiple videos -- use `channel-content-strategy` instead
- The user only wants to write a blog post or article version of the content -- use `blog-post-writing` instead
- The user needs a paid ad strategy for YouTube pre-roll or bumper ads -- use `paid-video-advertising` instead

---

## Process

### Step 1: Gather Required Inputs Before Writing Anything

Before producing any strategy document, collect the following. If any are missing, ask the user directly -- guessing on these details produces weak output.

- **Topic and angle:** The specific subject of the video AND the particular perspective being taken (not just "coffee" but "why cheap coffee is better than expensive coffee for most people")
- **Target audience:** Demographics (age range, occupation, lifestyle), knowledge level (complete beginner, hobbyist, practitioner, expert), and the emotional state they are in when they search for this topic (frustrated, curious, aspirational, skeptical)
- **Channel context:** Channel age (new, established, large), niche/category, average view count range, and whether the channel has prior performance data to reference
- **Content type:** Tutorial, educational explainer, product review, comparison, documentary-style, commentary/opinion, challenge, vlog, or list video -- each has different title and thumbnail conventions
- **Target video length:** Short (5-10 min), standard (10-20 min), or long-form (20+ min) -- affects timestamp density and chapter structure
- **Monetization or business goal:** Views for ad revenue, affiliate conversions, lead generation, brand awareness, or audience retention -- this affects which call-to-action goes in the description and end screen

### Step 2: Analyze the Competitive Landscape for the Topic

Before writing titles, assess the search environment the video will compete in. This informs every subsequent decision.

- Mentally classify the topic's competition level:
  - **High competition (10M+ results):** Broad terms like "home workout" or "how to invest." These require a differentiated angle, long-tail title phrasing, and a thumbnail that visually breaks from the established visual conventions of the top results.
  - **Medium competition (1M-10M results):** Specific but popular topics. Standard formulas work but must be executed precisely. Thumbnail must be distinctly styled compared to existing top performers.
  - **Low competition (under 1M results):** Niche or emerging topics. Search-first title strategy is critical. Suggested video traffic will be low, so ranking in search is the primary discovery path.
- Identify what the top-performing videos on this topic are doing with their titles -- and then deliberately differentiate. If all top videos use the listicle format ("7 ways to..."), a how-to or curiosity gap title will visually stand out in the suggested feed.
- Identify visual conventions in thumbnails for this niche: if every thumbnail shows a face with text, consider a clean product/result-focused thumbnail to break pattern. Pattern interruption drives higher click-through rates (CTR) in saturated niches.
- For new channels: weight search discovery 80%, suggested video discovery 20%. For established channels with a loyal audience: the inverse may be more effective.

### Step 3: Generate Five Title Options Using Distinct Formulas

Produce exactly five title variations, each using a different structural formula. Each title must serve a different discovery pathway.

- **Search-intent formula:** Match exactly how a first-time viewer would type this question into YouTube search. Use the most natural, unabbreviated phrasing. Example structure: "[Exact search phrase] (For [Specific Audience Qualifier])." Prioritizes ranking over emotional engagement.
- **Listicle formula:** "[Number] [Specific Things] That [Concrete Outcome]." The number must be specific and non-round (7, 11, 23 perform better than 5, 10, 20 because they feel researched rather than arbitrary). Works for educational and list-based content.
- **Curiosity gap formula:** "Why [Widely Believed Thing] Is [Surprising Opposite]" or "The [Topic] Mistake That [Negative Outcome]." Creates a knowledge gap the viewer must watch to close. Requires the video to fully answer the question raised -- do not use if the video is a general overview.
- **Personal experiment or story formula:** "I [Did Specific Thing] for [Specific Duration]. [Honest Outcome]." Works for vlogs, challenges, and first-person educational content. The outcome stated must be real and specific, not vague ("Here's What Happened" is weaker than "I Lost 12 lbs").
- **Comparison or versus formula:** "[Option A] vs [Option B]: The Honest Comparison." Works for reviews and decision-making content. Front-load the higher-searched term as Option A.

Rules for all five titles:
- Hard limit: 60 characters. YouTube truncates titles at approximately 60 characters on mobile search results and 70 characters on desktop. Front-load all critical information.
- Place the primary keyword within the first three words whenever grammatically possible.
- Never include the channel name in the title -- YouTube adds this separately.
- Avoid superlatives that cannot be verified ("The BEST workout ever") in favor of specific claims ("The Workout That Replaced My Gym Membership").
- After generating five, flag the recommended title with a specific rationale tied to the channel's current growth stage (new channels should prioritize the search-intent title; established channels have more flexibility to use curiosity gap).

### Step 4: Design the Thumbnail Concept Brief

The thumbnail is the single highest-leverage element for click-through rate (CTR). A 1% difference in CTR compounds dramatically over thousands of impressions. Specify every visual element in enough detail that a designer or the user themselves can produce it.

- **Composition structure (choose one that fits the content type):**
  - Face + emotion + text: Best for opinion, commentary, vlog, and personal brand content. The face should occupy 40-60% of the frame. The expression must be specific and readable at small sizes: raised eyebrows and open mouth for shock/surprise; squinted eyes and slight smile for skepticism; wide eyes for excitement.
  - Result/before-after split: Best for transformation content (fitness, cooking, finance, DIY). Split the frame 50/50 vertically. Label each side with minimal text ("Before" / "After" or the two states).
  - Product or object close-up: Best for reviews and tutorials. Place the product at a 3/4 angle. High contrast background (white, black, or saturated color).
  - Data visualization or chart: Best for educational and finance content. One clear, bold metric in large type. Avoid complex graphs that are unreadable at thumbnail size.

- **Text overlay rules:**
  - Maximum 4 words. Three words is ideal. The text must ADD information the title does not already convey -- it should not duplicate the title.
  - Font: Bold, condensed sans-serif (Bebas Neue, Impact, or equivalent). Never use script or serif fonts at thumbnail size.
  - Text must have either a drop shadow, outline, or background box to remain readable against any background color.
  - Minimum text size: 80pt equivalent when the image is rendered at 1280x720px.

- **Color strategy:**
  - Choose a dominant background color that contrasts with YouTube's interface (white in light mode, dark gray in dark mode). Bright yellow, orange, and red backgrounds have historically high contrast. Avoid pure gray or navy, which blend into the interface.
  - Use a single accent color for text or highlights. Two-color thumbnails (background + text color) are more readable than multi-color designs at small sizes.
  - Specify the exact emotion the color palette should convey: urgency (red/orange), trust (blue), energy (yellow/green), premium (black/gold).

- **Readability test:** Explicitly describe what the thumbnail looks like at 120x68 pixels -- the approximate size of a mobile suggested video thumbnail. If the main subject and text are not identifiable at this size, the design will underperform.

### Step 5: Write the Full Description Template

YouTube's algorithm uses the description text as a significant ranking signal. Write descriptions with both the algorithm and the human reader in mind.

- **Above-the-fold (first 2 lines, approximately 150 characters total):**
  - Line 1: The most compelling hook -- a specific promise, a provocative question, or a concrete result the viewer will get. Include the primary keyword naturally.
  - Line 2: A secondary benefit or clarification that reinforces why this video is worth watching. Include a secondary keyword.
  - These two lines appear in YouTube search results and in the description preview before the viewer clicks "Show more." They are the description's equivalent of the title and thumbnail.

- **Timestamp chapters:**
  - First timestamp must always be 0:00 with a chapter name (YouTube requires this to enable chapter navigation).
  - Timestamps must use MM:SS format (or H:MM:SS for videos over 60 minutes).
  - Space chapters at natural content breaks, not arbitrarily. For a 12-minute video, 6-9 chapters is appropriate. For a 20-minute video, 8-12 chapters.
  - Chapter names should be keyword-rich but also readable as a table of contents. Avoid internal shorthand -- write chapter names as a viewer unfamiliar with the content would understand them.
  - YouTube uses chapters to create mini-thumbnails in the seek bar, which increases engagement and rewatch behavior.

- **Body description (after timestamps):**
  - 2-4 sentences summarizing the video's content. Include 3-5 secondary keywords and long-tail phrases woven naturally into the prose. Do not keyword-stuff -- write for the reader first.
  - If the video covers a process, briefly list the steps covered. This reinforces keyword relevance for search.

- **Resources and links section:**
  - List any tools, products, books, or websites mentioned in the video with placeholder labels.
  - Include affiliate disclosure language if applicable: "Some links above are affiliate links. I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you."
  - Include links to related videos on the same channel -- this increases session watch time, a strong ranking signal.

- **About section:**
  - 1-2 sentences describing the channel's focus and value proposition. This text is indexed by YouTube and helps the algorithm understand channel identity.
  - State the upload schedule specifically ("New videos every Tuesday and Thursday") to set viewer expectations.

- **Hashtags:**
  - Use exactly 3-5 hashtags. YouTube ignores hashtags beyond 15 and may penalize descriptions with excessive hashtags.
  - The first three hashtags display above the video title on desktop -- choose these three to be the most descriptive and discoverable.
  - Format: #wordwithoutspaces. For multi-word hashtags, use camelCase or concatenation (#HomeWorkout, not #Home Workout).

### Step 6: Build the Tag List

Tags are a secondary ranking signal -- less powerful than title, description, and thumbnail CTR, but still meaningful for suggested video placement. Organize tags in three tiers.

- **Primary tags (3-5):** Exact-match phrases for the specific topic. These should be the phrases a viewer would type to find exactly this video. Include both the full phrase and the core keyword as separate tags (e.g., "home workout for beginners" AND "home workout" AND "beginner workout").
- **Secondary tags (5-8):** Broader category terms that situate the video in its niche. Include the channel's consistent content themes here -- YouTube uses tag overlap across a channel's videos to understand channel identity, which affects suggested video placement.
- **Long-tail tags (5-7):** Specific questions or phrases with lower search volume but higher intent. These often take the form of natural questions ("how to work out at home without equipment") or highly specific variations ("bodyweight workout for apartment").
- Total tag count: 15-25 tags. YouTube's tag field accepts up to 500 characters. Prioritize quality over quantity.
- Do NOT use tags that are irrelevant to the video content -- YouTube has confirmed this can harm ranking.
- Include common misspellings only if the topic keyword is genuinely and frequently misspelled (e.g., "kettlebell" vs "kettlebell").

### Step 7: Define End Screen and Card Strategy

End screens and cards drive session time, which is a top-tier YouTube ranking signal. Every upload should have a deliberate plan for both.

- **End screens (appear in the final 5-20 seconds of the video):**
  - YouTube allows up to 4 end screen elements. Standard configuration: 1 subscribe button, 1 "best video for this viewer" (YouTube auto-selects), 1 specific recommended video, 1 playlist.
  - The recommended video should be thematically adjacent -- something a viewer who just finished this video would logically want to watch next.
  - End screen duration sweet spot: 15-18 seconds. Long enough for viewers to make a choice, short enough not to feel padded.
  - The video's audio or on-screen content during end screens should verbally direct the viewer: "If you want to go deeper on this, click here" while gesturing toward the specific recommended video element.

- **Cards (appear at any point in the video):**
  - Use 2-4 cards per video maximum. More than 4 creates visual clutter.
  - Place the first card no earlier than 20% into the video -- placing cards too early causes viewer dropout.
  - Position cards at natural transition points: after a section summary, before starting a new chapter, or when a reference to another video is made verbally.
  - Card types: Video card (links to a specific video), Playlist card (links to a playlist), Poll card (viewer engagement).
  - Match card placement to verbal cues: if the presenter says "I covered this in detail in another video," place a video card at that exact moment.

---

## Output Format

```
## YouTube Strategy: [Specific Video Topic and Angle]

**Target Audience:** [Age range, lifestyle descriptor, knowledge level, emotional state when searching]
**Content Type:** [tutorial | educational | review | comparison | commentary | vlog | challenge | list]
**Target Length:** [duration range, e.g., 12-16 minutes]
**Channel Stage:** [new (0-1K subs) | growing (1K-50K) | established (50K+)]
**Primary Goal:** [search discovery | suggested video traffic | affiliate conversions | lead generation]

---

### Title Options (pick one)

1. [Search-intent title] ([X chars])
2. [Listicle title with specific number] ([X chars])
3. [Curiosity gap title] ([X chars])
4. [Personal story/experiment title] ([X chars])
5. [Comparison/versus title] ([X chars])

**Recommended:** #[number] -- [specific rationale tied to channel stage and topic competition level]
**Alternative for established channels:** #[number] -- [reason]

---

### Thumbnail Concept

**Composition style:** [face+emotion+text | result split | product close-up | data visualization]
**Foreground subject:** [Exact description: who/what, position in frame, size relative to frame, clothing/styling notes]
**Background:** [Specific color or scene, complexity level, lighting direction]
**Text overlay:** "[3-4 words maximum]" -- [font style, color, size relative to frame, contrast treatment (outline/shadow/box)]
**Color palette:** [Dominant color] + [Accent color] -- [emotion this palette conveys]
**Expression/Emotion:** [If face: specific expression with physical descriptor, e.g., "eyebrows raised, mouth slightly open, looking directly at camera"]
**Pattern interrupt:** [What makes this thumbnail visually different from the top-ranking videos on this topic]
**Readability check at 120x68px:** [Describe what is clearly visible at mobile suggested size]

---

### Description Template

[Line 1: Hook with primary keyword -- specific promise or provocative statement]
[Line 2: Secondary benefit or clarification with secondary keyword]

CHAPTERS:
0:00 - [Chapter name -- keyword-rich, viewer-readable]
[M:SS] - [Chapter name]
[M:SS] - [Chapter name]
[M:SS] - [Chapter name]
[M:SS] - [Chapter name]
[M:SS] - [Chapter name]
[M:SS] - [Chapter name]

[Body paragraph 1: 2-3 sentences summarizing the video with 3-5 secondary keywords naturally integrated]

[Body paragraph 2: Process summary or key takeaway list -- reinforces keyword relevance]

RESOURCES MENTIONED:
- [Tool/product/book name]: [link placeholder]
- [Tool/product/book name]: [link placeholder]

RELATED VIDEOS:
- [Related video title]: [link placeholder]
- [Related video title]: [link placeholder]

ABOUT THIS CHANNEL:
[1-2 sentences: channel niche, value proposition, tone]
New videos every [specific days].

[Optional affiliate disclosure if applicable]

#[hashtag1] #[hashtag2] #[hashtag3] #[hashtag4]

---

### Tag List

**Primary (exact-match):** [tag1], [tag2], [tag3], [tag4]
**Secondary (category/niche):** [tag5], [tag6], [tag7], [tag8], [tag9], [tag10]
**Long-tail (question/specific phrases):** [tag11], [tag12], [tag13], [tag14], [tag15]

**Total character count:** [X / 500 characters used]

---

### End Screen & Cards

**End screen configuration (last 15-18 seconds):**
- Element 1: Subscribe button -- [position: bottom-left]
- Element 2: Recommended video -- "[Specific related video title]" [position: right-center]
- Element 3: Playlist -- "[Playlist name]" [position: bottom-right]
- Element 4: YouTube auto-select -- [position: left-center]
**Verbal CTA during end screen:** "[Exact suggested script for presenter to say while pointing at the recommended video]"

**Cards:**
- [M:SS] -- [Card type]: "[Target video or playlist title]" -- trigger: [what verbal or content cue justifies this card]
- [M:SS] -- [Card type]: "[Target]" -- trigger: [cue]
- [M:SS] -- [Poll card]: "[Poll question]" with options [Option 1] / [Option 2] -- trigger: [cue]

---

### Production Notes

**SEO priority:** [Primary keyword to use consistently in title, description, spoken audio, and file name]
**File name before upload:** [suggested-filename-with-hyphens.mp4] -- YouTube indexes the file name
**Publish timing:** [Best day and time window based on audience type, e.g., Tuesday 2-4pm local time for professional audiences]
**Thumbnail A/B test plan:** [If the channel has YouTube Studio A/B testing access, describe a second thumbnail variant to test against]
**Description update schedule:** [Note if this is evergreen content that should have the year removed from timestamps or trending content that will need refreshing]
```

---

## Rules

1. **Never exceed 60 characters in any title.** YouTube truncates titles at approximately 60 characters in mobile search results and suggested feeds. Count every character including spaces. When in doubt, go shorter.

2. **Front-load the primary keyword within the first three words.** YouTube's search algorithm weighs the beginning of the title more heavily. "Home Workout for Beginners (No Equipment)" will rank higher for "home workout for beginners" than "No Equipment Needed: Home Workout for Beginners."

3. **Thumbnail text must be 4 words or fewer.** Thumbnails are viewed at approximately 120x68px on mobile suggested feeds. More than 4 words at this size becomes unreadable, reducing CTR. The text must add information -- not repeat the title.

4. **The first two lines of the description are the most important.** These are the only lines visible in YouTube search results and the description preview. They must contain the primary keyword AND a clear reason to watch. Write these two lines last, after the full description is drafted, so the best language surfaces.

5. **Timestamps must start at 0:00 or YouTube will not enable chapter navigation.** If the first timestamp is anything other than 0:00, YouTube ignores all timestamps. The 0:00 chapter name should describe the introduction or hook, not just say "Intro."

6. **Use exactly 3-5 hashtags, positioned at the very end of the description.** YouTube displays only the first 3 hashtags above the video title on desktop. More than 15 hashtags causes YouTube to ignore all of them. Place hashtags as the final element of the description, after all other content.

7. **Generate exactly 5 title options using five different structural formulas.** Never generate five variations of the same formula. A channel that tests different title structures learns what resonates with their specific audience over time.

8. **Never use tags that do not appear in the video's title, description, or spoken content.** YouTube's 2022 creator guidance explicitly states that irrelevant tags are ignored and may negatively affect distribution. Every tag must be defensibly relevant to the video's actual content.

9. **The recommended video title and the thumbnail concept must work as a pair.** Evaluate whether a viewer who sees the thumbnail in a suggested feed and then reads the title gets a coherent, compounding message. If the thumbnail says "NO GYM" and the title says "Home Workout for Beginners," they reinforce each other. If the thumbnail shows a face with shock and the title is a calm informational statement, they create dissonance that reduces CTR.

10. **Adapt the strategy to the channel's growth stage.** A channel with under 1,000 subscribers has no suggested video traffic -- 100% of organic discovery comes from search. Their titles must prioritize exact-match search phrases. A channel with 100,000+ subscribers has an established suggested video audience -- curiosity gap and story titles can outperform search-optimized titles because they are surfaced to existing audience segments, not cold searchers.

11. **Never promise a specific result in a title or thumbnail that the video cannot fully deliver.** Clickbait that under-delivers trains viewers to distrust the channel, increases skip rates, and signals to YouTube's algorithm that the content is low quality. The viewer retention graph for clickbait videos shows a sharp early dropoff that permanently suppresses distribution.

12. **Specify the video file name before upload.** YouTube indexes the original video file name as a metadata signal. The file should be named with hyphens and the primary keyword before upload (e.g., `home-workout-beginners-no-equipment.mp4`). This is a minor but zero-cost SEO action.

---

## Edge Cases

### High-Competition Topic (10M+ Existing Videos)

When the topic has massive competition (e.g., "how to lose weight," "beginner guitar," "passive income"), generic title formulas will not rank. Handle this as follows:

- Do not recommend a broad search-intent title as the primary option. Instead, recommend the most differentiated angle (curiosity gap or personal experiment) as the recommended title, with a search-intent long-tail as the backup.
- The tag list should lean 70% long-tail, 30% primary and secondary. Competing for "home workout" as a primary tag is futile for most channels -- "beginner home workout for people over 50" is winnable.
- The thumbnail concept must include a specific pattern-interrupt element relative to what the existing top videos show. Describe the existing visual convention and then specify how this thumbnail breaks it.
- In Production Notes, flag this explicitly: "This topic is highly competitive. Expected time to rank: 3-6 months if watch time metrics are strong. Consider re-optimizing the title and thumbnail after 30 days if CTR is below 4%."

### New Channel With Zero or Minimal Subscribers

A new channel cannot rely on suggested video traffic, subscriber notifications, or browse features. The only realistic organic discovery pathway is YouTube search.

- The recommended title MUST be the search-intent formula. Do not recommend curiosity gap or story-format titles as the primary choice for channels under 1,000 subscribers.
- Thumbnail strategy for new channels: prioritize clarity and immediate relevance over style or personality. A new viewer cannot recognize the creator's face. Lead with the result or topic, not the person.
- Tag list should be 80% long-tail, highly specific phrases. Avoid any tags where the competition volume would bury the video in search results.
- Description should include a call to subscribe with a clear value proposition ("Subscribe for weekly home workouts you can do in under 25 minutes, no equipment needed") rather than a vague "hit subscribe."
- In Production Notes, add: "With a new channel, watch time percentage and absolute watch time are the most critical early signals. Keep this video focused and tight. A 10-minute video with 65% average view duration outperforms a 20-minute video with 35% retention."

### Evergreen vs. Trending Content

These two content types require fundamentally different strategies:

- **Evergreen content** (how-to tutorials, beginner guides, product reviews of stable products): Remove all date references from titles and descriptions. Do not include the current year in the title unless specifically justified (e.g., "Best Budget Laptop 2024" is only valid if the video is updated annually). Add a production note: "Re-evaluate title and thumbnail at the 12-month mark. If CTR has dropped below 3%, the thumbnail may need refreshing."
- **Trending content** (news reactions, responding to a current event, reviewing a just-released product): Include the year or the specific event reference in the title. Publish within 24-48 hours of the trend peak. Add a production note: "This video has a 2-6 week relevance window. Do not invest heavily in evergreen optimization -- prioritize rapid publish speed over perfect metadata."

### Series or Multi-Part Video

When the video is part of a multi-part series, the strategy must build series coherence:

- Title format: "[Series Name] Part [N]: [Specific Episode Topic]." Place the episode topic at the end so the common series prefix does not eat into the keyword-rich portion of the title.
- Thumbnail must include a consistent visual brand element across all episodes: a recurring background color, a series logo badge in the corner, or a consistent typographic treatment. Specify this element explicitly in the thumbnail concept.
- Description must link to all previous parts in the series under a "RELATED VIDEOS" section. This creates an internal link network that extends session watch time.
- Tags should include both the series name as a tag and the episode-specific topic tags.
- End screen should always include the previous episode as one of the two recommended video slots, and the series playlist as the playlist element.

### Video Optimized for a Non-English Audience

YouTube's search and suggested algorithm operates differently across language markets. Handle language-specific strategies as follows:

- Write all title options in the target language. Do not translate English formulas literally -- adapt them to how speakers of that language naturally phrase questions in YouTube search (which may differ significantly from formal search engine query language).
- Note that YouTube auto-generates translated titles in some markets, which may conflict with the intended keyword strategy. Recommend the user manually verify auto-translated titles in YouTube Studio.
- If the audience is bilingual (e.g., a Spanish-language channel targeting Spanish speakers in the US), include the primary keyword in both Spanish and English in the description body -- not the title -- to capture both search behaviors.
- Hashtag conventions vary by market. Some language communities use hashtags more actively than others. In Production Notes, recommend testing 3 hashtags vs. 5 to see which format performs better in the specific market.

### Reoptimizing an Underperforming Existing Video

When the user wants to fix an existing video rather than plan a new one, the strategy framework changes:

- Ask for current performance data: CTR (industry benchmark is 4-8% for average channels; below 3% suggests thumbnail or title is underperforming), average view duration percentage (below 40% for a standard video suggests content or hook issues), and impressions source (search vs. suggested vs. browse features).
- If CTR is the problem: The issue is almost certainly the thumbnail or title. Prioritize generating a new thumbnail concept and title set. The description and tags are secondary.
- If average view duration is the problem: This is a content issue, not a metadata issue. Note this clearly and redirect to `video-script-writing` or `video-storyboard` for structural help. Metadata improvements will not fix low retention.
- If impressions are very low: The issue is algorithmic suppression or topic size. Revisit the tag strategy and description keyword density.
- Produce the full strategy document but add a "Reoptimization Priority Order" section at the top specifying which element to change first and what metric to watch to evaluate impact.

### Tutorial Video With Complex, Non-Linear Content

Some tutorials cover content that is difficult to timestamp neatly because viewers may jump in at different points:

- Design the chapter structure to be self-contained where possible. Each chapter title should make sense as a standalone entry point, not just as a sequence element.
- In the description, add a "SKIP TO" section that directs different audience segments to their most relevant chapter ("Already know the basics? Skip to 6:30"). This improves retention for viewers who would otherwise abandon the video when they hit content they already know.
- Consider specifying two distinct card placements: one for beginners (linking to a prerequisite video) and one for advanced viewers (linking to a more advanced follow-up).

---

## Example

**Input:** "I want to create a YouTube strategy for a video about how to negotiate your salary when you have a competing job offer. My channel is in the personal finance and career space, I have about 8,000 subscribers, and this is an educational tutorial-style video aimed at mid-career professionals, probably 15-20 minutes long."

**Output:**

## YouTube Strategy: Salary Negotiation With a Competing Job Offer

**Target Audience:** Professionals aged 28-42 who have received a competing offer and want to maximize their current or new compensation without losing either opportunity; moderate knowledge of negotiation basics; emotional state: excited but anxious about making a wrong move
**Content Type:** Educational tutorial
**Target Length:** 15-18 minutes
**Channel Stage:** Growing (8K subscribers)
**Primary Goal:** Search discovery (primary) + suggested video traffic from career/finance adjacent content (secondary)

---

### Title Options (pick one)

1. How to Use a Job Offer to Negotiate a Higher Salary (52 chars)
2. 7 Salary Negotiation Scripts That Actually Work (48 chars)
3. Why Most People Waste Their Competing Job Offer (48 chars)
4. I Negotiated a 40% Raise Using One Email (41 chars)
5. Competing Job Offer vs. Staying: How to Win Both (50 chars)

**Recommended:** #1 -- This is a clean search-intent formula that exactly matches how mid-career professionals type this query into YouTube search. At 8K subscribers, the channel is still primarily search-dependent. The phrase "use a job offer to negotiate" captures the specific action viewers want to take, not just the general topic.

**Alternative for when channel reaches 50K+:** #3 -- The curiosity gap formula ("Why Most People Waste") will perform better in suggested feeds with a larger audience base because it creates an immediate knowledge gap. At 8K subscribers, it won't rank in search effectively enough to justify leading with it.

---

### Thumbnail Concept

**Composition style:** Face + emotion + text
**Foreground subject:** Presenter or stock-authentic person in business casual attire (blazer, no tie -- signals professional but not corporate). Positioned slightly left of center, occupying 55% of the frame. Body angled at 3/4 turn toward camera, arms crossed loosely, expression of calm confidence.
**Background:** Deep navy blue (#1a2744) with a subtle gradient to dark blue-gray on the right side. Clean and solid -- no texture or scene. Navy reads as authority and trust, which is critical for financial advice content.
**Text overlay:** "LEVERAGE THAT OFFER" in bold condensed white sans-serif (Bebas Neue or Impact equivalent), positioned right-center, 3 lines stacked. Each word on its own line. Black outline 3px. Capital letters only. The word "LEVERAGE" in yellow-gold (#FFD700) as accent; "THAT OFFER" in white.
**Color palette:** Navy blue (dominant background) + yellow-gold (accent on key text word) + white (secondary text). This palette conveys: financial authority, premium positioning, urgency.
**Expression/Emotion:** Slight upward chin angle, direct camera eye contact, closed-mouth confident smirk. Not aggressive -- quietly assured. This reads as "I know something you don't" which reinforces the curiosity gap.
**Pattern interrupt:** The majority of salary negotiation thumbnails on YouTube use: red text on white, panicked facial expressions, or stock photos of handshakes. This thumbnail breaks from all three conventions by using a calm, premium palette and a controlled expression -- visually signaling insider knowledge rather than anxiety.
**Readability check at 120x68px:** Navy blue background clearly visible and distinct from YouTube's interface. Person's silhouette and confident posture readable. The word "LEVERAGE" in gold is the first text element the eye finds. "THAT OFFER" visible as supporting text. Full thumbnail reads as authoritative career content.

---

### Description Template

Use a competing job offer to negotiate your salary the right way -- and keep both opportunities open.
This step-by-step negotiation tutorial gives you the exact scripts and email templates to maximize your compensation without burning bridges.

CHAPTERS:
0:00 - Why a competing offer is your strongest negotiation tool
1:45 - The biggest mistake people make with a competing offer
4:10 - Step 1: Quantify the gap (total comp, not just base salary)
6:30 - Step 2: Request a counter-offer conversation (exact script)
9:00 - Step 3: The counter-offer email template word for word
11:20 - Step 4: Evaluating the counter vs. the new offer
13:45 - What to do if your employer says no
15:30 - How to decline one offer professionally

This video walks through the full salary negotiation process when you have a competing job offer in hand -- from quantifying your total compensation gap to delivering the counter-offer conversation and written follow-up email. Whether you're hoping to stay with your current employer or take the new role, these negotiation techniques give you leverage either way.

Covered in this video: how to frame the competing offer conversation, what to say (and what never to say), the counter-offer email template, how to evaluate equity and benefits alongside base salary, and how to decline the offer you don't accept without damaging the relationship.

RESOURCES MENTIONED:
- Total compensation calculator: [link placeholder]
- Counter-offer email template (free download): [link placeholder]
- Book: "Never Split the Difference" by Chris Voss: [link placeholder]

RELATED VIDEOS ON THIS CHANNEL:
- How to Negotiate Your Starting Salary (New Job Offer): [link placeholder]
- What to Do When You Hate Your Job But Can't Afford to Leave: [link placeholder]

ABOUT THIS CHANNEL:
Personal finance and career strategy for professionals who want to earn more, spend smarter, and build wealth on a real salary -- no side hustle required.
New videos every Tuesday and Friday.

#salarynegotiation #joboffernegotiation #careertips

---

### Tag List

**Primary (exact-match):** how to negotiate salary with competing offer, competing job offer negotiation, salary negotiation competing offer, use job offer to negotiate salary

**Secondary (category/niche):** salary negotiation, job offer negotiation, how to negotiate salary, counter offer negotiation, career advice, personal finance, salary increase tips, negotiation scripts

**Long-tail (question/specific phrases):** how to tell your employer you have another offer, what to say when negotiating salary with another offer, should i tell my boss i got another job offer, how to negotiate a raise using a competing offer, counter offer email template salary negotiation, what to do when employer matches competing offer

**Total character count:** approximately 420 / 500 characters used

---

### End Screen & Cards

**End screen configuration (last 16 seconds):**
- Element 1: Subscribe button -- bottom-left corner, standard YouTube subscribe button
- Element 2: Recommended specific video -- "How to Negotiate Your Starting Salary" -- right-center (the logical next video for someone building negotiation skills)
- Element 3: Playlist -- "Salary and Career Growth" playlist -- bottom-right
- Element 4: YouTube auto-select best-for-viewer -- left-center

**Verbal CTA during end screen:** "If this helped, subscribe -- I post career and finance strategy every Tuesday and Friday. And if you're still navigating a new job offer, my video on starting salary negotiation is right here [gesture toward recommended video]. Watch that one next."

**Cards:**
- 6:30 -- Video card: "How to Negotiate Your Starting Salary" -- trigger: at the moment when viewer begins Step 2 and might realize they need the basics first; presented as "if you haven't seen this yet, I covered the fundamentals here"
- 9:00 -- Video card: "Counter Offer Email Template (Full Walkthrough)" -- trigger: if this supporting video exists on the channel; placed at the moment the presenter introduces the email template concept
- 12:00 -- Poll card: "Have you ever negotiated a salary using a competing offer?" with options Yes, it worked / Yes, it backfired / No, I've never tried -- trigger: natural pause after the evaluation section; builds engagement and gives the presenter comment-section data to reference in future content

---

### Production Notes

**SEO priority keyword:** "negotiate salary with competing offer" -- use this phrase verbally in the video within the first 30 seconds, in the title (done), in the first line of the description (done), and in the file name before upload.

**File name before upload:** `negotiate-salary-competing-job-offer.mp4`

**Publish timing:** Tuesday between 8am-10am Eastern -- professional audience is most active on YouTube during work commute and early lunch hours Tuesday through Thursday. Avoid Friday and weekend publishing for career content.

**Thumbnail A/B test plan:** If YouTube Studio A/B testing is available, test the navy/gold face thumbnail (described above) against a result-focused thumbnail showing a salary negotiation email on a laptop screen with the text "THAT EMAIL" in bold overlay. The face version will likely outperform for subscriber suggested traffic; the laptop version may outperform in cold search results.

**Description update schedule:** This is evergreen content. Remove any year references. Revisit the description at the 6-month mark to add any new related videos to the "RELATED VIDEOS" section. If average CTR drops below 3% after month 4, refresh the thumbnail before touching the title -- thumbnail is more likely the variable driving CTR decline.
