Writing Better Video Descriptions | Outlier Docs

The quality of generated titles depends on your input. Better descriptions lead to more relevant, click-worthy titles.

The Description Field#

You have up to 500 characters to describe your video. The AI uses this to:

Understand your topic
Identify your angle
Select relevant formulas
Create contextual titles

What to Include#

The Core Topic#

What is your video about?

❌ "Productivity"
✅ "Time-blocking method for managing multiple projects"

Be specific. "Productivity" could mean anything. "Time-blocking for multiple projects" gives clear direction.

Your Unique Angle#

What's different about YOUR take?

❌ "How to edit videos"
✅ "How I cut my editing time in half using keyboard shortcuts most creators ignore"

The angle creates differentiation and interest.

Your Target Audience#

Who is this for?

❌ "Camera review"
✅ "Budget camera review for YouTube beginners who can't spend over $500"

Audience context helps the AI write more targeted titles.

Key Details#

Include specifics that could appear in titles:

Numbers: "5 methods," "30-day challenge"
Results: "doubled views," "saved 10 hours"
Constraints: "without experience," "in under a week"

Example: Weak vs. Strong#

Weak Input#

"Video about Notion"

Problem: Too vague. Could be anything about Notion.

Resulting titles: Generic, broad, less compelling.

Strong Input#

"Complete Notion tutorial for freelancers who want to organize client projects, track invoices, and manage their entire business in one workspace"

Why it's better:

Specific use case (freelancers)
Clear outcomes (organize, track, manage)
Defined scope (entire business)

Resulting titles: Targeted, specific, more compelling.

Description Templates#

Use these as starting points:

Tutorial Template#

"[Specific method/tool] for [audience] who want to [outcome] without [common obstacle]"

Example:

"Notion dashboard setup for content creators who want to plan a month of videos without feeling overwhelmed"

Review Template#

"Honest review of [product] after [time period], comparing it to [alternatives] for [use case]"

Example:

"Honest review of the Sony ZV-E10 after 6 months, comparing it to iPhone 15 Pro for YouTube vlogging"

Story Template#

"How I [achieved result] by [method] despite [obstacle], and what I learned"

Example:

"How I grew to 100K subscribers by posting once a week despite having a full-time job, and what I learned"

Comparison Template#

"[Option A] vs [Option B] for [specific use case]—which one is actually worth it for [audience]"

Example:

"Premiere Pro vs DaVinci Resolve for YouTube editing—which one is actually worth it for beginners"

Iteration Tips#

First Generation Not Perfect?#

Review what's missing from your description
Add the specific angle or context
Regenerate

Trying Different Angles#

Generate multiple times with different descriptions:

Version 1: Focus on the problem
Version 2: Focus on the outcome
Version 3: Focus on the method

This gives you diverse title options.

Combine Best Elements#

Take elements from different generated titles:

Opening from Title 3
Topic framing from Title 7
Create your hybrid title

Common Mistakes#

Too Short#

❌ "Notion tips"

The AI has almost nothing to work with.

Too Broad#

❌ "Everything you need to know about starting a YouTube channel"

"Everything" leads to generic titles. Focus on a specific aspect.

Missing Audience#

❌ "Best cameras for video"

For whom? Beginners? Professionals? Vloggers? Filmmakers?

No Differentiation#

❌ "How to use Canva"

What makes your tutorial different from the hundreds that exist?

Character Count Strategy#

You have 500 characters. Use them wisely:

100-200 chars: Minimum viable context
200-350 chars: Good balance of detail
350-500 chars: Maximum context (best for complex topics)

More context generally helps, but quality matters more than length.

Related Articles