youtube-seo — Claude Code skill: YouTube video optimization
A skill for optimizing YouTube videos and channels: titles, descriptions, tags, thumbnails. Useful when a video needs to rank in search and get cited by AI.
npx skills add kostja94/marketing-skills --skill youtube-seo -a claude-code
npx skills add kostja94/marketing-skills --skill youtube -a claude-codeWhat youtube-seo does
The skill breaks a video down into parts: title, description, tags, thumbnail. Titles stay under 60 characters, the main keyword goes into the first 5–55, and all caps is discouraged. The opening two or three sentences of a description carry the primary and secondary keywords, with the meta description capped at 160 characters. Tags help YouTube read the topic, though titles and descriptions carry more weight.
Thumbnails get their own rules: high contrast, readable fonts, rule of thirds, nothing cluttered. Title, description and thumbnail should push the same core message while hitting different parts of the algorithm. Output covers title options, the full description plus its first 160 characters, a tag set, and thumbnail guidance.
One thing to know: this skill targets organic search and AI citation. Paid YouTube ads live in a separate skill, youtube-ads, and video embedded on a website goes to video-optimization. If the job is ad campaigns, this is the wrong skill.
What it helps with
- pick a title around a search query
- write a description with keywords up front
- build a tag set without over-optimizing
- plan thumbnail composition and text
- align title, description and thumbnail around one message
Example prompts for the agent
- optimize the title and description for this video around the query "kitchen remodel"
- give me five title options under 60 characters plus a tag set
- review the thumbnail: what should change in composition and text
How to install youtube-seo
1Skills CLI (Vercel)
npx skills add kostja94/marketing-skills --skill youtube-seo -a claude-codenpx skills add kostja94/marketing-skills --skill youtube -a claude-code2Manually: put the files in place
~/.claude/skills/youtube/SKILL.mdCopy the whole skill folder; for one project use .claude/skills/youtube/
1Skills CLI (Vercel)
npx skills add kostja94/marketing-skills --skill youtube -a codex2Manually: put the files in place
.agents/skills/youtube/SKILL.mdFor all projects use ~/.agents/skills/
1Skills CLI (Vercel)
npx skills add kostja94/marketing-skills --skill youtube -a cursor2Manually: put the files in place
.cursor/skills/youtube/SKILL.mdCursor also reads .agents/skills/ and .claude/skills/
1GitHub CLI
gh skill install kostja94/marketing-skills youtube2Manually: put the files in place
.github/skills/youtube/SKILL.md1Skills CLI (Vercel)
npx skills add kostja94/marketing-skills --skill youtube -a gemini-cli2Platform CLI
gemini skills install https://github.com/kostja94/marketing-skills --path skills/platforms/youtubeManually: put the files in place
.devin/skills/youtube/SKILL.mdThe legacy .windsurf/skills/ path still works
Skills CLI (Vercel)
npx skills add kostja94/marketing-skills --skill youtube -a opencodeClaude.ai
Zip the folder and upload it in Settings → Capabilities → Skills
Step by step, with commands for each platform: How to install skills in Claude Code: five ways
Questions about youtube-seo
How do I install youtube-seo in Claude?
Run npx skills add kostja94/marketing-skills --skill youtube-seo -a claude-code. The skill file lands at ~/.claude/skills/youtube/SKILL.md.
What does youtube-seo do?
It helps optimize videos and a channel for YouTube and Google search: titles, descriptions, tags, thumbnails. It also covers how videos get cited in AI answers.
How is youtube-seo different from youtube-ads?
youtube-seo handles organic search and channel visibility. Paid YouTube ads are covered by the youtube-ads skill in the same repository.
Source text
SKILL.md · MIT
--- name: youtube-seo description: When the user wants to optimize YouTube videos for search, create video descriptions, or improve channel visibility. Also use when the user mentions "YouTube SEO," "YouTube description," "YouTube tags," "YouTube thumbnail," "YouTube title," "YouTube channel," or "video SEO." For YouTube ads, use youtube-ads. metadata: version: 1.1.1 --- # Platforms: YouTube SEO Guides YouTube video and channel optimization for search and discovery. **Google now prioritizes YouTube video results** in search; YouTube + Reddit comprise ~78% of social media citations in AI Overviews. Title, description, and thumbnail form an interconnected system; channels using systematic keyword strategies see 156% longer view durations, 89% better CTR, and 312% higher search discovery. Use this skill when optimizing videos for YouTube search, Google search, and AI citation. For website-embedded video SEO, see **video-optimization**. **When invoking**: On **first use**, if helpful, open with 1–2 sentences on what this skill covers and why it matters, then provide the main output. On **subsequent use** or when the user asks to skip, go directly to the main output. ## Initial Assessment **Project context:** Read root `contextus.md` when present and load only the modules relevant to this task. Without Contextus, use available project material or user-provided facts and ask for missing information; do not create a parallel context system. Identify: 1. **Video type**: Tutorial, review, vlog, Shorts 2. **Target keyword**: Primary and secondary 3. **Audience**: Subscribers vs casual viewers ## Video Titles | Rule | Guideline | |------|-----------| | **Length** | Under 60 characters; mobile may show partial | | **Keyword** | Primary keyword in first 5–55 characters | | **Structure** | Social proof/authority + emotional trigger + primary keyword | | **Style** | Conversational; avoid keyword stuffing | | **Avoid** | ALL CAPS except emphasis | ## Video Descriptions | Rule | Guideline | |------|-----------| | **First 2–3 sentences** | Primary and secondary keywords naturally; meta description under 160 chars | | **Links** | Website, store, relevant resources | | **Readability** | Natural flow; help search understand topic | ## Tags - Help YouTube understand content; titles and descriptions matter more - Use relevant tags; avoid over-optimization ## Thumbnails 90% of best-performing videos use custom thumbnails. | Rule | Guideline | |------|-----------| | **Contrast** | High contrast; readable fonts; bold colors | | **Composition** | Rule of thirds; simple, uncluttered | | **Audience** | Consider subscribers vs casual viewers | | **Test** | What works evolves; test styles | ## Title + Description + Thumbnail Reinforce the same core message across all three; target different algorithm aspects. ## Output Format - **Title** options (under 60 chars) - **Description** (first 160 chars + full) - **Tags** (relevant set) - **Thumbnail** guidance (elements, text, composition) ## YouTube in Google Search & GEO | Context | Implication | |---------|-------------| | **Google prioritization** | YouTube is core search infrastructure; 48.6B monthly visits; video results favored in main SERP, video mode, Discover | | **AI Overviews** | YouTube citations surged 25.21% since Jan 2025; instructional (+35.6%), visual demos (+32.5%); long-form (94%) dominates | | **GEO** | YouTube + Reddit = ~78% of social media citations; optimize for AI citation. See **generative-engine-optimization** | [Search Engine Land](https://searchengineland.com/youtube-seo-ai-overviews-467253), [OtterlyAI](https://otterly.ai/blog/the-youtube-citation-study-2026/) ## Related Skills - **video-marketing**: Video script, hook, structure - **video-optimization**: Website video SEO; VideoObject; video sitemap; embed optimization - **youtube-ads**: YouTube paid ads (TrueView, Bumper) - **content-marketing**: Video as content format - **parasite-seo**: YouTube as high-authority platform - **generative-engine-optimization**: GEO strategy; YouTube as distribution for AI citation
© kostja94 · MIT · kostja94/marketing-skills
