Mastering YouTube Descriptions: Tips For Every Content Creator
Writing a good video description is really important. It’s not just a place to summarize your video, but a tool that helps people find it. Over 90% of people around the world say they discover new brands or products on YouTube. Well-written descriptions can improve your video’s visibility, attract more viewers, and even increase engagement on your channel.
This guide walks you through why YouTube descriptions matter for social media marketers and how to write descriptions that help your videos perform better.
What Is A YouTube Description?
YouTube descriptions are the text box located below the video player, where creators provide details about the content of their video. It’s not just a summary; it’s an essential component of YouTube’s search and recommendation system.
Descriptions help YouTube’s algorithm understand the content of your video, enabling it to suggest your video to the right audience. It also gives viewers context about the video, such as what to expect, key takeaways, or other helpful information.
Why Do YouTube Descriptions Matter?
YouTube descriptions help your videos appear in search results and so much more. Here are a few ways YouTube Descriptions impact your video’s performance:
Give Viewers Context Of Your Video Content: The description appears directly beneath the video itself. This is where viewers can read more about the content, click links, and find calls-to-action.
Serve Your Video In Search Results: YouTube pulls from video descriptions when it generates search results. Keywords used in your description help your video appear in relevant searches. This is why it’s important to include keywords that align with what your potential viewers might be searching for.
Appear In YouTube’s Related Videos: When your video appears in the “Up Next” or “Related Videos” section on YouTube, your description (along with other metadata like titles and tags) helps determine if your video will be shown to a viewer.
Video Thumbnails: In some cases, depending on the interface, YouTube may show part of your description alongside your video thumbnail in suggested videos, further enticing potential viewers to click.
If your description is incomplete or lacks the right keywords, your video might miss out on potential views because YouTube won’t fully understand what your content is about or who should see it.
Why Does The Copy In My YouTube Descriptions Matter?
Your video description is an influential component in getting your video clicked on and watched by your ideal audience.
It gives potential viewers information that can convince them to watch. Without a strong hook and helpful information, your video could get overlooked for another video in the search results.
For tips on increasing your views, check out this guide on how to get more views on YouTube and learn strategies to grow your subscriber base with this guide on how to get more YouTube subscribers.
Key Elements To Include In Your YouTube Video Descriptions
A well-crafted YouTube description improves visibility, increases engagement, and optimizes your video for both viewers and search engines.
There are several key elements to consider when writing descriptions that not only help your video perform better but also create a more engaging experience for your audience.
1. Crafting A Compelling Opening Line
The first few lines of your description are crucial because they show up in search results and need to grab the viewer’s attention quickly. These lines should summarize the value of the video while also incorporating relevant keywords. Think of it as your “hook”—you want it to make viewers want to click and watch.
2. Leverage Keywords For SEO Success
One of the most important aspects of a YouTube description is the use of keywords that help improve your video’s searchability. Keywords are terms or phrases that people are likely to search for when looking for content like yours. For additional tips on optimizing your YouTube videos, you can refer to this guide on YouTube tags, which provides further insights on improving video visibility through proper tagging.
Best Practices:
- Use relevant keywords in the first 2-3 sentences of your description, as these are most likely to be picked up by the algorithm.
- Avoid keyword stuffing, as this can negatively impact your ranking. Keep the description natural and readable.
- Consider using long-tail keywords (phrases that are more specific) to attract a more targeted audience.
3. Add Strategic CTAs (Calls To Action) And Helpful Links
A YouTube description is a great place to include links to related videos, your website, or social media accounts. It’s also the perfect place for calls to action (CTAs)—encouraging viewers to take the next step after watching the video. Effective CTAs can increase engagement, direct traffic, and even convert casual viewers into subscribers.
4. Write Engaging And Concise Content
YouTube descriptions should be clear and concise. Start by clearly explaining what your video is about, focusing on the value viewers will gain.
For example, a tutorial description should briefly outline what skills or knowledge viewers will learn, such as, “In this video, I’ll show you how to quickly edit photos in Photoshop using essential tools.” This helps potential viewers understand what to expect and whether the content aligns with their interests, encouraging them to click and watch the video.
Providing context in the description not only attracts more viewers but also leads to better-quality engagement. When viewers know exactly what they’re getting, they’re more likely to stay engaged throughout the video. This results in higher watch time and better ranking on YouTube. Clear descriptions also make your content easier to discover through search, as they align with audience intent and relevant keywords, helping your video show up in more recommendations.
Best Practices:
- Use bullet points or short paragraphs to make your description easier to read.
- Focus on providing value—what will the viewer gain by watching your video? Be clear about the benefits.
- Avoid long-winded explanations. Focus on the most important points and save the details for later in the description if necessary.
5. Use Timestamps To Enhance User Experience
If your video is long or contains multiple segments, timestamps can significantly improve the user experience. Timestamps allow viewers to skip ahead to the sections that interest them most, making it easier for them to navigate the content. This is especially useful for tutorials, interviews, or any video with distinct segments.
Best Practices:
- Break down the video into key sections and include timestamps in the description.
- Make sure to format the timestamps correctly, so YouTube recognizes them as clickable links.
- Ensure your timestamps are accurate to avoid frustrating your viewers.
Best Practices For Writing YouTube Descriptions
Research Keywords
Conduct keyword research to identify terms and phrases your target audience is searching for. Use tools like Google Trends, TubeBuddy, or YouTube’s search suggestions to discover popular keywords that align with your video content. Incorporating these keywords naturally into your description will help improve your video’s visibility in search results and increase the likelihood of being recommended.
Consider Your Target Audience
Always keep your audience in mind when writing descriptions. Speak directly to their interests, needs, and expectations. If you’re targeting beginners, use simple language and clear instructions. For an advanced audience, focus on providing more detailed, in-depth content. Tailoring your description to your viewers helps foster a connection and encourages engagement.
Balance Brevity and Information
While it’s important to provide enough detail to explain your video, viewers typically skim descriptions. Keep your content to the point. Highlight the most important information in the first few lines (as these appear in search results), and include links, calls-to-action, and additional details in the rest of the description. Avoid overwhelming the viewer with excessive text.
Techniques to Boost Viewer Engagement
Encourage viewers to interact with your video by including clear calls-to-action. Phrases like “Subscribe for more,” “Let me know your thoughts in the comments,” or “Check out our related videos” motivate viewers to engage further with your content. Engagement signals to YouTube that your video is popular, which can help it rank higher and be recommended to others.
Showcase Unique Content and Promotions
Use your description to highlight what makes your video special. Mention exclusive insights, unique offers, or special promotions that may interest your viewers. If you have collaborations or product discounts, be sure to include those details. Offering incentives or exclusive content can also drive more clicks and increase subscriber growth.
Maintain Honesty and Clarity in Summaries
Be transparent and truthful about your video’s content. Clear and honest summaries build trust with your audience and set the right expectations. Misleading or vague descriptions may lead to disappointment, causing viewers to click away early, which hurts your video’s performance in the long run.
Examples Of Great YouTube Video Descriptions
Ready to be inspired? Check out this collection of great YouTube video descriptions to discover how you can optimize your own videos.
Case Study 1: Tech Product Review – Unbox Therapy
Unbox Therapy’s YouTube descriptions are clear, concise, and optimized for both viewers and search engines. They start with a logical user search question, like “Is this the best budget phone?” or “Apple AirPods 4 vs. Apple AirPods 4 with Noise Canceling” which immediately sparks curiosity and demonstrates what you can expect to learn in the video.
- What they do well:
- Strong Hook: They immediately grab attention with engaging questions.
- Keyword Use: The description uses relevant tech-related keywords like “budget phone,” “review,” and “best phone” to help the video rank in search results.
- Call to Action: They always encourage users to subscribe or visit their website for more information.
- Linking: They link to product pages and other videos, helping both engagement and SEO.
Case Study 2: Health & Wellness – Dr. Mike
Dr. Mike’s video descriptions are well-structured and informative, offering valuable context and promoting audience engagement. His descriptions frequently include additional resources, such as links to studies, articles, or his own social media.
What they do well:
- Informative and Authoritative: Descriptions reflect Dr. Mike’s expertise, establishing trust with viewers.
- Educational Keywords: Using keywords like “health advice,” “medical myths,” and “wellness tips” helps videos rank well for health-related queries.
- External Links: He links to studies or additional resources, driving traffic to relevant websites.
Case Study 3: Gaming – PewDiePie
PewDiePie’s video descriptions are often casual and fun, which matches the tone of his content. His descriptions contain clear, straightforward language, often with links to his social media accounts and merchandise.
- What they do well:
- Personality: The tone of the descriptions matches the fun and informal nature of his videos, creating a strong connection with his audience.
- Consistent Branding: Every video features links to his social media, encouraging viewers to follow him across platforms.
- SEO Friendly: They incorporate keywords related to the game being played and popular gaming trends.
Case Study 4: Travel & Adventure – Kara and Nate
Kara and Nate’s travel vlogs have descriptions that provide a brief overview of the video, along with travel tips, recommendations, and links to products they use or places they visit.
- What they do well:
- Location-Based Keywords: They use keywords like “travel vlogs,” “travel tips,” and specific city names to help the videos show up in local searches.
- Engagement: Descriptions include calls to action like “Leave a comment on your favorite destination!”
- Useful Resources: Links to travel gear, Airbnb affiliate links, and travel blogs provide additional value for viewers and increase monetization.
Case Study 5: Education – CrashCourse
CrashCourse’s educational videos are accompanied by well-organized descriptions that include episode summaries, learning resources, and references. They focus on giving viewers useful context and additional materials for deepening their understanding of the subject matter.
- What they do well:
- Detailed and Educational: The description includes a summary of key points from the video, helping to reinforce learning.
- Links to Learning Resources: They include links to textbooks, articles, and related educational content.
- Clear Structure: Descriptions are easy to scan with bullet points, making it easier for viewers to find key information.
How To Use AI To Write Great YouTube Video Descriptions
Writing thoughtful, optimized descriptions for each video you post is essential—whether you’re managing a brand, promoting a product, or growing a personal channel. But crafting the perfect description can be time-consuming. That’s where AI-powered tools come in! Using tools like CoSchedule’s YouTube Description Generator, you can quickly create descriptions that are tailored to your video content and optimized for SEO. By leveraging AI, you can ensure your descriptions are both engaging for viewers and optimized for higher visibility. Take the time to refine your video descriptions today, and watch your YouTube engagement grow.
