How to Write a YouTube Description That AI Systems Can Index

Most YouTube descriptions are written for humans. This guide shows you how to write descriptions that AI systems can parse, understand, and cite.

?Why it matters

YouTube video descriptions are one of the primary text sources AI systems use to understand what your video is about and whether you are an authoritative voice on the topic. A well-structured description that defines entities, includes your business information, and uses natural keyword language significantly increases AI citation likelihood.

✓What you'll need

  • •A YouTube video ready to publish or update
  • •Your business NAP (Name, Address, Phone)
  • •The main topics covered in your video

Step-by-step walkthrough

1

Write the hook (first 2–3 sentences)

The first 125 characters appear in search results. Lead with the direct benefit: "In this video, [Your Name] from [Business] explains exactly how to [topic] — the #1 thing [audience] needs to know about [subject]."

2

Add a detailed topic summary (100–300 words)

Summarize what the video covers in plain language. Write in full sentences. Include the topic keywords naturally — not stuffed, but as you would explain the video to a colleague.

3

Define key entities

If your video uses technical terms, define them briefly in the description. "In this video we cover GEO (Generative Engine Optimization) — the practice of optimizing your business for AI citation." This gives AI systems extractable definitions.

4

Add your chapter timestamps

Include your chapter timestamps (see "How to Add Chapters to a YouTube Video"). These reinforce the topical structure of your description.

5

Add your business entity information

At the end of the description, add: your full business name, your website URL, your location (city/service area), and your primary service. This ties the video to your business entity and strengthens AI attribution.

6

Add a website link

Include a direct link to your website or a relevant page. This creates the YouTube → website authority loop that AI systems follow when building entity graphs.

★Pro tips

  • TIP:Write at least 200 words in your description — short descriptions give AI systems very little to work with.
  • TIP:Mention your city or service area naturally in the description. "...for homeowners in Calgary and the surrounding area" is a local authority signal.
  • TIP:Update descriptions on older videos — even a small description improvement on a high-performing video can improve its AI indexability significantly.

!Common mistakes

  • ✕Leaving the description blank or writing only "Check out this video!" — this is invisible to AI systems.
  • ✕Keyword stuffing — a list of disconnected keywords reads as spam. Write naturally.
  • ✕Omitting your business name and website — this means AI systems cannot attribute the video to your entity.

Built for local performance.

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