YouTube Description Generator

Aim for 200-500 words (roughly 1,500-3,000 characters) for most videos. YouTube allows up to 5,000 characters, but quality matters more than quantity. The first 150 characters are most critical since they appear in search results. For longer videos (15+ minutes), you can use more of the space with detailed summaries and timestamps. Short videos (under 5 minutes) can work with 150-300 characters.

No, each video needs a unique, optimized description. While you can use a template for your channel's standard sections (about, links, CTA), the main content must be unique and relevant to each video. Duplicate descriptions across videos provide no SEO value and make your channel look lazy. YouTube's algorithm rewards fresh, relevant content.

There's no strict limit, but 5-15 links is a good range. Focus on quality over quantity. Prioritize links that provide value to viewers: your website, related videos, playlists, social media, and resources mentioned in the video. Too many links can look spammy. Organize them in a clear links section toward the end of your description.

Yes, timestamps have multiple SEO benefits. They improve user experience by letting viewers jump to relevant sections, which increases watch time—a key ranking factor. Timestamps also create video chapters that appear in search results, potentially showing your video for multiple related queries. They provide additional keyword opportunities and signal to YouTube that your video is well-organized and valuable.

Yes, and you should optimize it regularly. YouTube allows you to edit descriptions anytime without penalty. In fact, updating descriptions on older videos with new keywords, timestamps, and links can give them a rankings boost. This is especially effective for videos that are already getting some traffic—optimization can help them rank even higher.

Use 3-5 relevant hashtags maximum. The first three hashtags appear above your video title and are clickable, making your video discoverable in hashtag searches. Using more than 15 hashtags causes YouTube to ignore all of them. Choose hashtags that are: (1) relevant to your content, (2) have decent search volume, and (3) aren't overly competitive. Place hashtags at the end of your description.

Descriptions are visible to viewers; tags are hidden metadata. Your description is public, appears on your video page, and directly impacts SEO through keyword relevance and user engagement. Tags are backend metadata that help YouTube understand your content but have minimal direct SEO impact. Focus 80% of your effort on optimizing your description and title, as they're far more important than tags for rankings and discovery.

No, write naturally and include keywords strategically. Keyword stuffing hurts readability and can be penalized by YouTube. Instead, use your primary keyword 2-3 times naturally throughout the description, and include 3-5 related keywords and synonyms. Focus on providing value to viewers first—if your description is genuinely helpful and informative, it will naturally include relevant keywords.