My First YouTube Video: SEO Checklist Before You Hit Publish

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Your First YouTube Video: SEO Checklist Before You Hit Publish

Hitting publish on your first YouTube video is a huge step! You’ve put in the effort to plan, film, and edit, and now you’re ready to share your creation with the world. But before you click that final button, there’s a critical step many new creators overlook: optimizing your video for discovery.

It’s easy to feel uncertain about how to make your video stand out among the millions already on the platform. You might be confused about what to write in your title and description to actually get clicks and views. The good news is, you don’t need to guess. By following a simple pre-publish checklist, you can significantly improve your video’s chances of being found by the right audience from day one.

This guide will walk you through the essential steps to optimize your first YouTube video, focusing on strategies that work in 2025. We’ll cover everything from thinking about what your audience is searching for to crafting compelling titles and descriptions, designing click-worthy thumbnails, and using features like chapters.

Let’s make sure your first video isn't a shot in the dark, but a strategic move towards building your channel.

Understanding Modern YouTube Discovery (It's Not Just Keywords Anymore)

Forget the old advice about stuffing your video with keywords. The YouTube algorithm has gotten much smarter. While relevant terms are still helpful, YouTube's primary goal is to keep viewers watching and engaged. They want to recommend videos that people will click on, watch for a significant amount of time, and react positively to (likes, comments, shares).

For your first video, the goal of optimization is twofold:

1. Help YouTube understand what your video is about: This allows the algorithm to show it to potentially interested viewers.
2. Entice viewers to click: Your title and thumbnail are your video’s first impression. They need to be compelling enough to earn that click when YouTube presents your video.

Think of it less like stuffing keywords into a search engine and more like clearly communicating the value and topic of your video to both the algorithm and potential viewers.

Phase 1: Pre-Video Planning & Audience Understanding

Before you even upload, a little planning goes a long way. This isn't about finding a "viral keyword," but about understanding the people you want to reach and what they might be looking for.

What is Your Video Really About?

Be crystal clear on your video's main topic and the specific problem it solves or the value it provides. For example, is it a tutorial on drawing a specific character, a guide to setting up a basic programming environment, or a step-by-step sewing project? Knowing the core topic helps you accurately describe it later.

Thinking Like Your Audience

Put yourself in the shoes of someone who needs your video. What would they type into the YouTube search bar?

• Would they search for "how to draw anime eyes"?
• Maybe "beginner python setup"?
• Or "easy tote bag sewing tutorial"?

Pay attention to YouTube's search suggestions as you type. These suggestions are based on actual user queries and can give you ideas for phrases to include in your title and description.

• Subscribr Tip: Tools like Subscribr's Research Assistant can help you validate your video ideas by exploring related topics and understanding what kind of content performs well, giving you confidence that your topic has an audience on YouTube.

Phase 2: Your Pre-Publish Optimization Checklist

You've uploaded your video file – now it's time to fill in the details that will help it get discovered. Go through this checklist carefully before hitting that public button.

1. Craft a Compelling Title

Your title is arguably the most important piece of text associated with your video. It needs to be a balance of searchable and clickable.

• Include relevant terms: Use the phrases you identified in the planning phase that people might search for.
• Make it enticing: Spark curiosity or clearly state the benefit of watching. Use strong words.
• Keep it concise: Aim for clarity within the first 60-70 characters, as that’s often where titles get cut off in search results.
• Match the content: Your title should accurately reflect what's actually in the video. Don't use clickbait that isn't delivered.

Example: Instead of just "Drawing Tutorial," a better title might be "How to Draw Realistic Anime Eyes (Beginner Friendly)" or "Python Setup for Beginners: Install & Write Your First Code."

2. Design a Click-Worthy Thumbnail

Your thumbnail is your video's advertisement. It's the visual element that grabs attention in a crowded search result or suggestion feed.

• Make it high-resolution and clear: It should look good even when small on a mobile screen.
• Use contrasting colors: Make sure it stands out from the background of YouTube.
• Include a compelling image: Often, a close-up of your face showing emotion, a clear visual of the video's result (like a finished drawing or project), or a key moment from the video works well.
• Add minimal, readable text: If you use text, make it large, easy to read, and complementary to the title. Don't just repeat the title.
• Maintain consistency: As you make more videos, develop a consistent thumbnail style (colors, fonts, layout) so viewers can recognize your channel.

Look at channels like @learnbyleo (121K subscribers) or @HowtoDrawwithLela (122K subscribers) in the tutorial space. They often use clear visuals showing the end result or a key technique, paired with concise, readable text on their thumbnails to attract viewers. Similarly, @CodingIsFun (110K subscribers) uses consistent branding with clear text overlays and often includes software logos to signal the video's topic.

3. Write an Informative Description

Your description helps YouTube understand your video's context and gives viewers more information.

• Start strong: The first sentence is crucial as it's often visible in search results. Make it engaging and include key terms naturally.
• Expand on the topic: Provide a brief summary of the video's content.
• Include relevant keywords naturally: Weave in terms and phrases related to your video’s topic where they make sense within sentences. Don't force them in.
• Add helpful links: Link to relevant resources, your social media, or other videos on your channel.
• Use Timestamps/Chapters: Break down longer videos using timestamps (e.g., 0:00 Intro, 1:30 Step 1). This helps viewers navigate and can improve your visibility in Google Search results for specific moments.

The youtube_strategy tool insights confirm that the first sentence of your description is important and that including relevant keywords naturally is key. Chapters are highlighted as powerful for both viewer experience and potential discoverability on Google.

4. Add Relevant Tags (But Don't Obsess)

Tags provide additional information to YouTube about your video's content, but their importance has decreased significantly.

• Use a few relevant tags: Include a mix of broad and specific terms related to your video.
• Don't use too many: Focus on accuracy over quantity.
• Include longtail keywords: Phrases like "easy watercolor painting tutorial for beginners" are more effective than just "painting."

According to insights from the youtube_strategy tool, tags primarily help with spelling variations and carry minimal influence on performance compared to titles and descriptions. Don't spend more than a couple of minutes on tags.

5. Add Chapters / Timestamps

For videos longer than a few minutes, adding chapters makes them much more user-friendly.

• Start with 0:00: Your first timestamp must be at 0:00 to enable the chapter feature.
• Break down key sections: Add timestamps at logical points where the topic changes or a new step begins.
• Include a brief description: After the timestamp, add a short phrase describing the section (e.g., 2:45 Mixing Colors).
• Add them to the description: Simply type the timestamps and descriptions on separate lines in your video description.

This simple step improves viewer retention by allowing them to skip to sections they're most interested in and can also help your video appear with "Key Moments" in Google Search results.

6. Select the Right Category

Choose the category that best fits your video's content (e.g., Education, Howto & Style, Science & Technology). While this has minimal impact on performance, it's part of completing your video's metadata and helps YouTube classify your content correctly.

Putting It All Together: Examples from Real Channels

Look at channels that have grown successfully by focusing on clear, valuable content and smart optimization:

• @jeenuchcrafts (120K subscribers) creates sewing tutorials. Their titles and thumbnails clearly show the finished product, immediately telling a potential viewer what they will learn to make.
• @ZonxScratch (43.7K subscribers) makes tutorials for the Scratch programming platform. Their optimization likely focuses on terms related to specific game mechanics or projects within Scratch, making their videos discoverable to young coders.
• @artworkbyvishal (140K subscribers) offers painting tutorials. Their titles and descriptions likely include terms about the specific techniques or subjects they teach, while their thumbnails showcase the beautiful artwork viewers can create.

These channels, ranging from tens to hundreds of thousands of subscribers, demonstrate that focusing on clear communication through optimized titles, descriptions, and thumbnails is a fundamental part of attracting an audience, especially when you're just starting out.

Beyond the Checklist: The Long Game

Optimizing your first video is a fantastic start, but your YouTube journey doesn't end after you hit publish.

• Promote your video: Share it on social media, with friends and family, or any relevant communities (where allowed).

• Engage with comments: Respond to viewers, answer questions, and build a community. This signals to YouTube that your video is generating engagement.

• Analyze performance: Use YouTube Analytics to see how viewers found your video, how long they watched, and where they dropped off. This data is invaluable for improving your future videos.

• Iterate and improve: Based on your analytics and viewer feedback, refine your content ideas, titles, thumbnails, and video structure for your next upload.

• Subscribr Tip: Subscribr's Channel and Video Intel features can help you analyze your video's performance, understand your audience better, and identify what content resonates most, informing your strategy for subsequent uploads. The platform provides a comprehensive suite of tools to support your growth beyond just the first video.

Conclusion

Your first YouTube video is an exciting milestone! By taking the time to optimize it before you publish, you're giving it the best possible chance to be discovered by viewers who will love your content. Focus on creating a compelling title and thumbnail, writing an informative description, and using features like chapters.

Don’t get bogged down in chasing fleeting keyword trends. Instead, concentrate on clearly communicating the value of your video to your target audience. This actionable checklist provides the essential steps to ensure your first upload is optimized for success from the start.

Ready to take your YouTube journey seriously? A platform like Subscribr can provide the tools and insights you need to research ideas, write optimized scripts, analyze performance, and manage your channel effectively as you grow.

Now go on, hit publish with confidence, and start building your audience!