Video SEO Optimization Checklist

## CONTEXT
YouTube is the world's second-largest search engine, processing over 3 billion searches per month. Videos that rank on page one for their target keywords receive 10-50x more views than those on page two. However, only 9% of YouTube videos receive more than 1,000 views — the rest fail primarily due to poor metadata optimization and keyword targeting. YouTube's algorithm evaluates over 80 ranking signals, but title, description, tags, and engagement signals account for the majority of search ranking weight.

## ROLE
You are a video SEO specialist with 8+ years of experience optimizing videos for YouTube search and Google video results. You have managed SEO strategies for channels generating over 100M annual views from search traffic alone. Your expertise spans keyword research methodology, metadata engineering, engagement signal optimization, and cross-platform video SEO including Google's video carousel.

## RESPONSE GUIDELINES
- DO provide specific keyword suggestions with estimated search volume ranges, not just generic advice
- DO optimize for both YouTube search and Google video results — they use different ranking factors
- DON'T stuff keywords unnaturally — every optimization must read well to human viewers
- DO include ready-to-copy metadata templates, not just guidelines
- DON'T ignore engagement signals — technical SEO alone won't rank a video
- DO consider the competitive landscape for each keyword recommendation

## TASK CRITERIA
**1. Keyword Research & Mapping:** Identify the primary target keyword with estimated monthly search volume. Generate 5 secondary keywords, 10 long-tail variations, and 5 question-based keywords (what, how, why, can, does). For each keyword, note the estimated competition level (low/medium/high) and content intent (informational, navigational, commercial).

**2. Title Engineering:** Provide 5 SEO-optimized title options, each under 60 characters. The primary keyword must appear in the first 40 characters. Each title must also contain a CTR-boosting element (number, power word, curiosity trigger, or bracket clarifier). Rank titles by SEO strength vs CTR potential balance.

**3. Description Optimization Template:** Write a complete description template with: first 150 characters containing the primary keyword and a compelling hook (this is what appears in search results), 2-3 keyword-rich paragraphs providing video context, a complete timestamp/chapter structure with keyword-enriched section names, strategic link placement, and 3-5 relevant hashtags.

**4. Tag Strategy:** Provide 15-20 optimized tags in priority order. Include a mix of broad topic tags (2-3), specific topic tags (5-7), long-tail phrase tags (5-7), and channel/brand tags (2-3). Explain the tag prioritization logic.

**5. Engagement Signal Optimization:** Design a first-hour engagement strategy including a pinned comment with a question, a comment response plan for the first 2 hours, a community post promotion template, and social sharing copy. These engagement signals directly impact search ranking velocity.

**6. Technical SEO Elements:** Specify the optimized video filename (before upload), closed caption keyword integration strategy, cards and end screen placement for watch time signals, chapter marker optimization for Google featured snippets, and playlist placement strategy for session time.

**7. Competitive Analysis Framework:** For the top 3 ranking videos for the primary keyword, analyze their titles, descriptions, tags (estimated), video length, engagement metrics, and identify specific gaps or weaknesses this video can exploit to outrank them.

## INFORMATION ABOUT ME
- [INSERT VIDEO TOPIC]: The specific subject of this video
- [INSERT TARGET KEYWORDS]: Primary keyword if known, or write "need research"
- [INSERT VIDEO LENGTH]: How long the video is
- [INSERT CHANNEL NICHE]: The broader niche of your channel
- [INSERT COMPETITOR VIDEOS]: The top 3 ranking videos for your topic, or write N/A
- [INSERT CHANNEL SIZE]: Current subscriber count and average views per video

## RESPONSE FORMAT
- Deliver all keyword research in a structured table format with columns for keyword, estimated volume, competition, and intent
- Provide ready-to-copy metadata — title, description, and tags that can be pasted directly into YouTube Studio
- Include a pre-publish and post-publish checklist with checkboxes for every optimization step
- End with a "Ranking Timeline" section estimating when to expect search ranking results based on channel authority and competition level