Prompt Library

YouTube SEO Prompts That Rank Your Videos

20 copy-paste prompts

20 ChatGPT prompts for keyword research, descriptions, tags, chapters, end screens, and the algorithm optimization that drives discovery.

Keyword Research

4 prompts

YouTube Keyword Ideas

1/20

Generate 20 YouTube keyword ideas for niche: [describe]. Include: main broad terms, long-tail variations, question-based keywords, comparison keywords, "how to" keywords. Group by intent: educational, commercial, entertainment.

Generates 20 YouTube keywords grouped by search intent.

💡

Pro tip: YouTube keywords differ from Google. Intent: "how to" + tutorial + review. Tools: TubeBuddy, VidIQ for volume data. Free: YouTube autocomplete + "Searches related to."

Competitor Keyword Analysis

2/20

Analyze competitor channel keywords. Channel: [describe]. Include: top 10 video topics by views, common keyword patterns, gaps they're not covering, titles that worked (+their formulas), underperforming videos (learn what to avoid).

Analyzes competitor keyword strategies and gaps.

💡

Pro tip: Competitor analysis reveals proven demand. Their top 10 videos = validated topics. Cover their topics differently + better to rank. Don't copy; improve.

Long-Tail Keyword Mining

3/20

Find long-tail keywords under 10K searches. Main topic: [describe]. Include: specific variations (beginner, advanced, for X audience), problem-based long-tails, specific tool/product mentions, time-specific ("in 2026"). Low competition + exact intent.

Mines long-tail YouTube keywords with low competition.

💡

Pro tip: Long-tail = volume 500-10K. Low competition, high-intent, easy to rank. New channels dominate long-tail before broad terms. 10 long-tail wins = $100K views.

Search Intent Mapping

4/20

Map keywords to search intent. Keywords: [list 10]. For each: intent type (learn, compare, buy, entertain), best video format (tutorial, review, vlog, explainer), ideal length, hook style. Match video to intent precisely.

Maps keywords to intents and matching video formats.

💡

Pro tip: Wrong format = high CTR + bad retention = buried. "Best X" query = comparison video, not personal opinion. Match intent precisely. Intent-format mismatch kills rankings.

Prompts get you started. Tutorials level you up.

A growing library of 300+ hands-on AI tutorials. New tutorials added every week.

Start 7-Day Free Trial

Descriptions + Metadata

4 prompts

YouTube Description Template

5/20

Write SEO-optimized YouTube description. Video topic: [describe]. Keywords: [list 3-5]. Include: hook first 150 chars (shown in search), full video summary with keywords, timestamps/chapters, useful links, subscribe CTA, hashtags. 200-500 words.

Writes YouTube descriptions optimized for SEO and engagement.

💡

Pro tip: First 150 chars shown in search results + pre-click. Pack with keyword + curiosity. After fold, descriptions rarely read by users but crawled by algo. Both audiences matter.

Chapters / Timestamps

6/20

Write chapter timestamps for video. Content: [describe sections]. Include: 00:00 Intro, specific chapter titles with keyword inclusion, logical flow, under 60 chars per chapter, SEO-rich chapter titles.

Writes SEO-rich chapter timestamps for YouTube videos.

💡

Pro tip: Chapters improve user retention + boost SEO. YouTube uses chapter titles as ranking signal. Keyword-rich chapter titles = mini SEO within video. Required for long videos.

Tag Strategy

7/20

Generate YouTube tags for video. Topic: [describe]. Include: main keyword (exact match), related keywords (synonyms, variations), broader category tags, niche-specific tags, channel brand tag. 10-15 tags total.

Generates strategic YouTube tag sets combining exact and related terms.

💡

Pro tip: Tags less impactful post-2020 but still matter. First tag = main keyword. Next 5 = close variations. Last few = broader category. Don't spam tags; relevance matters.

Description Links + CTAs

8/20

Write description CTA section. Include: related video links (boost session time), playlist links, relevant blog/website, social media, affiliate disclosures, lead magnet link, subscribe request with reason.

Writes strategic description CTAs with cross-promotion and compliance.

💡

Pro tip: Description links drive session time (YouTube ranking signal). Playlist > single video > external links for YouTube health. External links hurt session; use sparingly.

Algorithm + Retention

4 prompts

Retention-Optimized Script Review

9/20

Review script for YouTube retention. [Paste script]. Include: hook strength (first 15 sec), retention bridges every 60-90 seconds, pacing variation, "re-hook" moments for re-engagement, weak sections to cut, endings that keep watching.

Reviews scripts for retention optimization at key moments.

💡

Pro tip: YouTube retention = most important ranking factor. 50% retention at 10 min > 80% retention at 3 min. Retention signals value; algo promotes.

Session Time Strategy

10/20

Design session time strategy. Channel niche: [describe]. Include: playlist flow (binge-watch paths), end screens pointing to next video, cards mid-video, topic clustering by playlist, encouraging multi-video sessions.

Builds session-time strategies through playlists and end screens.

💡

Pro tip: Session time = how long viewer stays on YouTube after your video. Playlists binge > single videos. YouTube promotes channels that keep people on platform.

Click-Through Optimization

11/20

Optimize video for CTR. Current performance: [CTR %]. Target: 6-10%. Include: title audit, thumbnail audit, thumbnail-title alignment, A/B tests running, competitor CTR analysis, tag + description SEO pulling search traffic.

Optimizes videos for YouTube CTR through multiple levers.

💡

Pro tip: CTR 4% = average. 6%+ = algo boost. 10%+ = viral potential. Title + thumbnail drive 80% of CTR. Test relentlessly. 1% CTR improvement compounds over time.

End Screen Strategy

12/20

Design end screen strategy. Current video topic: [describe]. Include: subscribe element, 1-2 recommended videos (why each), timing (last 20-40 sec), visual positioning, voiceover script matching screen.

Designs strategic end screens with recommended next videos.

💡

Pro tip: End screens direct which video algorithm recommends next. 40%+ click-through on your suggested video = algo pushes both videos. End screens = channel growth lever.

Like these prompts? There are full tutorials behind them.

Learn the workflows, not just the prompts. 300+ easy-to-follow tutorials inside AI Academy — and growing every week.

Try AI Academy Free

Ranking + Growth

4 prompts

Title + Thumbnail Scoring

13/20

Score title + thumbnail for expected CTR. Title: [describe]. Thumbnail: [describe]. Include: predicted CTR range, specific weaknesses, comparison to top niche performers, A/B recommendations, improvement priorities.

Scores title+thumbnail pairs with CTR predictions and improvements.

💡

Pro tip: Predict CTR before publishing. If predicted under 4%, iterate. Better 2 hours title/thumbnail work than publishing and hoping. First 24-hour CTR predicts long-term performance.

Playlist SEO Strategy

14/20

Build SEO-optimized playlists. Channel topics: [list]. Include: playlist titles with keywords, playlist descriptions (ranks in search), logical video ordering, playlist URL structure, embed on website for backlinks.

Builds SEO-optimized playlists with keyword-rich titles and descriptions.

💡

Pro tip: Playlists rank as own results in YouTube search. Keyword-rich playlist titles = free traffic. Well-built playlists outrank individual videos for competitive terms.

YouTube Shorts Strategy

15/20

Integrate Shorts into main channel SEO. Main content: [describe]. Include: Shorts topics matching main long-form, linking Shorts → long-form, different algorithm considerations (retention = everything for Shorts), posting frequency (daily for Shorts).

Integrates YouTube Shorts with main channel SEO strategy.

💡

Pro tip: Shorts drive subscriber acquisition; long-form drives revenue. Strategy: daily Shorts for discovery, weekly long-form for monetization. Works especially for new channels building audience.

Analytics Deep Dive

16/20

Audit YouTube analytics. Share key metrics: [CTR, retention, session time, subscriber growth]. Include: what's working (replicate), what's failing (stop), optimization priorities, content direction recommendations, 3-month growth plan.

Audits analytics for patterns and 3-month growth direction.

💡

Pro tip: Monthly analytics review = compounding growth. "What's working" replicate 10×; "what failed" stop doing. Most creators publish on instinct, not data. Data-driven creators win.

Frequently Asked Questions

Less than 2018 but still marginal. Focus 80% on title, description, thumbnail. Tags: add main keyword + 5-10 related. Don't obsess; it's tertiary ranking factor.

200-500 words optimal. First 150 chars shown in search — most important. Full description rarely read but crawled by algo. Keyword density: natural, 2-3 mentions of main keyword.

Yes significantly. Chapters improve retention (ranking signal) + chapter titles ranked as keywords. Required for videos 8+ minutes. Keyword-rich chapter titles = mini SEO wins.

Critical. YouTube impressions → clicks. Low CTR (under 4%) = buried in algo. High CTR (6%+) = promoted. Title + thumbnail drive 80% of CTR. Test relentlessly.

Usually 48 hours to 7 days. Strong first-day CTR + retention = algo picks up + impressions scale. Weak first week = rarely rescued. Quality + marketing both matter.

Prompts are the starting line. Tutorials are the finish.

A growing library of 300+ hands-on tutorials on ChatGPT, Claude, Midjourney, and 50+ AI tools. New tutorials added every week.

Start 7-Day Free Trial Explore AI for YouTube courses

7-day free trial. Cancel anytime.

Browse All Prompt Collections