youtube-seo▌
kostja94/marketing-skills · updated Jun 3, 2026
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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-embe
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
Check for project context first: If .claude/project-context.md or .cursor/project-context.md exists, read Sections 6 (Keywords), 11 (Content Strategy).
Identify:
- Video type: Tutorial, review, vlog, Shorts
- Target keyword: Primary and secondary
- 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 |
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
How to use youtube-seo on Cursor
AI-first code editor with Composer
Prerequisites
Before installing skills in Cursor, ensure your development environment meets these requirements:
- ›Cursor installed and configured on your development machine
- ›Node.js version 16.0+ with npm package manager (verify with
node --version) - ›Active project directory or workspace where you want to add youtube-seo
Execute installation command
Execute the skills CLI command in your project's root directory to begin installation:
The skills CLI fetches youtube-seo from GitHub repository kostja94/marketing-skills and configures it for Cursor.
Select Cursor when prompted
The CLI will show a list of available agents. Use arrow keys to navigate and space to select Cursor:
Verify installation
Confirm successful installation by checking the skill directory location:
Reload or restart Cursor to activate youtube-seo. Access the skill through slash commands (e.g., /youtube-seo) or your agent's skill management interface.
Security & Verification Notice
We perform automated surface-level scans (Gen AI Scanner, Socket, Snyk) during installation. These checks detect common vulnerabilities but do not guarantee complete security. Always review skill source code and verify the publisher's reputation before production use.
Skills execute code in your development environment. Always verify the publisher's identity, review recent commits, and test in isolated environments before production deployment.
List & Monetize Your Skill
Submit your Claude Code skill and start earning
Use Cases▌
Task Automation & Efficiency
Automate repetitive workflows and reduce manual effort
Example
Generate reports, summarize documents, draft communications
Save 3-5 hours per week on routine tasks
Knowledge Enhancement
Learn new skills, understand complex topics, get expert guidance
Example
Explain concepts, provide examples, suggest learning resources
Accelerate learning and skill development by 2x
Quality Improvement
Enhance output quality through reviews, suggestions, and refinements
Example
Review drafts, suggest improvements, catch errors
Improve work quality by 30-40% with less effort
Implementation Guide▌
Prerequisites
- ›Claude Desktop or compatible AI client with skill support
- ›Clear understanding of task or problem to solve
- ›Willingness to iterate and refine outputs
Time Estimate
15-45 minutes depending on use case complexity
Installation Steps
- 1.Install skill using provided installation command
- 2.Test with simple use case relevant to your work
- 3.Evaluate output quality and relevance
- 4.Iterate on prompts to improve results
- 5.Integrate into regular workflow if valuable
Common Pitfalls
- ⚠Expecting perfect results without iteration
- ⚠Not providing enough context in prompts
- ⚠Using skill for tasks outside its intended scope
- ⚠Accepting outputs without review and validation
Best Practices▌
✓ Do
- +Start with clear, specific prompts
- +Provide relevant context and constraints
- +Review and refine all outputs before using
- +Iterate to improve output quality
- +Document successful prompt patterns
✗ Don't
- −Don't use without understanding skill limitations
- −Don't skip validation of outputs
- −Don't share sensitive information in prompts
- −Don't expect skill to replace human judgment
💡 Pro Tips
- ★Be specific about desired format and style
- ★Ask for multiple options to choose from
- ★Request explanations to understand reasoning
- ★Combine AI efficiency with human expertise
When to Use This▌
✓ Use When
Use when skill capabilities match your task, clear ROI on time saved, and you can validate outputs. Best for repetitive tasks, learning, and quality improvement.
✗ Avoid When
Avoid when task requires deep expertise you can't validate, involves sensitive decisions, or when learning process is more valuable than speed of completion.
Learning Path▌
- 1Familiarize yourself with skill capabilities and limitations
- 2Start with low-risk, non-critical tasks
- 3Progress to more complex and valuable use cases
- 4Build expertise through regular use and experimentation
Discussion
Product Hunt–style comments (not star reviews)- No comments yet — start the thread.
Ratings
4.5★★★★★50 reviews- ★★★★★Chinedu Menon· Dec 24, 2024
youtube-seo is among the better-maintained entries we tried; worth keeping pinned for repeat workflows.
- ★★★★★Chinedu Mehta· Dec 24, 2024
Registry listing for youtube-seo matched our evaluation — installs cleanly and behaves as described in the markdown.
- ★★★★★Camila Garcia· Dec 12, 2024
Useful defaults in youtube-seo — fewer surprises than typical one-off scripts, and it plays nicely with `npx skills` flows.
- ★★★★★Naina Farah· Dec 4, 2024
Keeps context tight: youtube-seo is the kind of skill you can hand to a new teammate without a long onboarding doc.
- ★★★★★Kaira Patel· Dec 4, 2024
youtube-seo has been reliable in day-to-day use. Documentation quality is above average for community skills.
- ★★★★★Aisha Torres· Nov 27, 2024
youtube-seo fits our agent workflows well — practical, well scoped, and easy to wire into existing repos.
- ★★★★★Neel Ramirez· Nov 23, 2024
We added youtube-seo from the explainx registry; install was straightforward and the SKILL.md answered most questions upfront.
- ★★★★★Li Kapoor· Nov 23, 2024
Solid pick for teams standardizing on skills: youtube-seo is focused, and the summary matches what you get after install.
- ★★★★★Kaira Thomas· Nov 15, 2024
youtube-seo reduced setup friction for our internal harness; good balance of opinion and flexibility.
- ★★★★★Camila Haddad· Nov 3, 2024
I recommend youtube-seo for anyone iterating fast on agent tooling; clear intent and a small, reviewable surface area.
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