Plan a YouTube Video
Turn a rough video idea into a publish-ready plan.
Most YouTube videos fail before anyone presses record: the idea is vague, the hook is borrowed, and the outline is a list of things to say instead of reasons to keep watching. This Cookbook moves fast through ten small outputs, so you leave with research, a hook, a retention map, B-roll shots, titles, thumbnail direction, and a publish checklist. Enter your topic and channel context once; every step builds on the last. Beginner-friendly — no pretending you need a studio.
- Made for
- New YouTube creators planning their next upload
- You leave with
- Research brief, hook options, outline, retention beats, shot list, titles, thumbnail notes, and a publish checklist
- Time
- about 45 minutes
- Steps
- 10 guided steps
- Requires
- any AI you already use (a free chat account is usually enough); sample answers included where available
- Completed runs
- 591 (demo metric)
- Average rating
- 4.5 / 5 (demo metric)
Also in Start Here Selected by SousMeow Recently Added Deep Workflows
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Stages
3 stages in sequence-
13 steps
Research and Angle
Ground the idea in search intent, audience, and what competitors already cover.
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24 steps
Structure and Hook
Shape the opening, the middle, and the shots that keep people watching.
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33 steps
Package and Publish
Name it, frame it, and ship it without forgetting the small steps.
Workflow steps
10 steps · completed in orderStage 1: Research and Angle
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1
Research Brief
Capture search intent, viewer expectations, and the angle that makes this video yours.
Recording without research is how you remake a video five bigger channels already nailed. Ten minutes here tells you what to promise, what to skip, and what would make a stranger click.
- Search intent is specific You can name what someone typed into YouTube before they found a video like this.
- Risks are honest At least one real downside or competitor overlap is named, not hand-waved.
- Angle is ownable The recommended angle could not belong to any channel in any niche.
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2
Audience Angle
Define who this video is for and the one promise that earns their click.
"Everyone who likes cooking" is not an audience. This Recipe turns your target viewer into a single sentence you can read before every outline decision.
- One clear viewer You can picture one person and what they need tonight, not a demographic list.
- Promise matches length What you promise fits the target length you set in the Pantry.
- Fits your niche A subscriber of your channel would recognize this as yours, not a trend chase.
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3
Competitor Video Notes
Study three similar videos and note what to match, skip, or beat.
Competitors already paid for the click test. This Recipe extracts their hooks, gaps, and comment complaints so you do not learn those lessons on your own upload.
- Three real references Each note ties to a specific video, not a vague genre.
- Gaps are actionable At least one competitor weakness becomes something your video will do differently.
- No copying hooks What you borrow is structure or proof, not their opening line word for word.
Stage 2: Structure and Hook
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4
Hook Options
Write three opening hooks that earn the first 30 seconds.
Most drop-off happens before the intro animation finishes. Three hooks give you options to read aloud and pick the one that sounds like you, not like a template.
- First line earns attention Each hook opens with tension, a result, or a relatable problem, not "hey guys".
- Distinct from competitors None of the three repeat an opening you flagged in competitor notes.
- Readable aloud You would say at least one hook on camera without sounding like you are reading ad copy.
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5
Video Outline
Map the full video beat by beat from hook to outro.
An outline is not a script. It is the spine that stops you from rambling mid-recipe or forgetting the payoff. This Recipe gives you sections you can film out of order if you need to.
- Payoff is explicit The viewer knows what they will have or know by the final frame.
- Beats match target length Section count and depth fit the length you chose in the Pantry.
- Hook leads the outline The approved hook is reflected in the first two beats, not bolted on after.
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6
Retention Beats
Mark the moments that re-hook attention before viewers drift away.
YouTube rewards watch time, not good intentions. This Recipe flags three to five spots where a pattern break, preview, or mini-payoff keeps casual viewers from clicking away.
- Drop-off points named Each beat names where attention usually fades in this type of video.
- Fixes are concrete Every retention beat suggests a specific visual or line, not "make it engaging".
- Spread across the runtime Beats appear in the middle and late sections, not only the opening.
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7
B-Roll Shot List
List the shots to capture so editing has options beyond your talking head.
B-roll is what makes a cooking video feel professional on a phone budget. This Recipe gives you a checklist sized to your filming setup, not a cinema shot list you will never finish.
- Matches your setup Every shot is achievable with the filming setup you listed in the Pantry.
- Covers retention beats At least one shot is tied to each retention beat from the prior Recipe.
- Enough for editing You have wide, close, and action shots, not ten identical angles.
Stage 3: Package and Publish
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8
Title Concepts
Draft five title options that are clear, clickable, and honest.
Titles do the click test in search and suggested feeds. Five options let you pick the one that promises what the video actually delivers, which protects retention after the click.
- Promise matches content No title claims a result the outline does not deliver.
- Readable on mobile Each title is short enough to scan in a suggested feed without truncating the hook.
- Five distinct angles Options explore different hooks (speed, ease, outcome), not the same words rearranged.
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9
Thumbnail Directions
Describe three thumbnail concepts that match your title and stand out at small size.
Thumbnails are half the click. This Recipe gives you composition notes, text limits, and expression cues you can hand to Canva or Photoshop without guessing.
- Readable at small size Each concept uses at most three words of overlay text, or none.
- Aligned with title The thumbnail and title promise the same outcome, not two different videos.
- Distinct from competitors Color or composition deliberately differs from the competitor thumbnails you noted.
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10
Publishing Checklist
A final pass for description, tags, cards, and upload-day timing.
Publish day errors are silent: wrong end screen, empty description, forgot to schedule. This Recipe is the boring list that prevents the embarrassing fix-it upload an hour later.
- Timed to publish day Prep steps reference the day you set in the Pantry, with realistic lead time.
- Description is useful The description draft includes timestamps, links, and one sentence a searcher would care about.
- Nothing critical missing End screens, cards, playlist, and visibility setting each have a checkbox item.
Your information
6 details, answered once- Video topic The working title or idea in plain language. Recipes sharpen it; they do not replace it.
- Channel niche What your channel is about in one sentence. Helps every Recipe stay on-brand.
- Target viewer Who is watching and what problem does this video solve for them today?
- Target length Sets pacing expectations for the outline and retention beats.
- Filming setup What you actually have available. The shot list Recipe respects this, not an ideal studio.
- Planned publish day When you plan to upload. The checklist Recipe uses this for prep timing.
Finished files
What you export when every step is approved
One Markdown file per approved step, plus kit.html (opens in any browser, offline)
and a README of what you approved.
kit.htmlOffline HTML reader for every approved step01-research-brief.mdResearch Brief02-audience-angle.mdAudience Angle03-competitor-video-notes.mdCompetitor Video Notes04-hook-options.mdHook Options05-video-outline.mdVideo Outline06-retention-beats.mdRetention Beats07-broll-shot-list.mdB-Roll Shot List08-title-concepts.mdTitle Concepts09-thumbnail-directions.mdThumbnail Directions10-publishing-checklist.mdPublishing ChecklistREADME.mdManifest of what you approved