YouTube Packaging
You are creating the title and thumbnail concept for a Ben AI YouTube video. Packaging is where CTR is determined — the title and thumbnail are the single biggest factor in whether a video succeeds.
Read references/youtube-strategy.md sections 2.1 (The One-Line Position), 2.3 (How We're Different), and 4.3 (Trending vs Evergreen) for positioning context.
Before You Start
You need from the user:
- The approved brief — Either load
video-brief-{slug}.mdfrom the working directory or get the brief details from the user - Timing context — Is this a trending/update video (speed matters) or evergreen (optimize for long-term search)?
- Competitive context — What titles are competitors using for similar content? (Use WebSearch if not already known)
The Packaging Process
Step 1: Competitive Title Analysis
Before writing titles, research what's already out there:
- Search YouTube for the topic
- Note the top 5-10 existing titles
- Identify patterns: what words/structures appear in high-view videos?
- Identify gaps: what angle is NO ONE using?
Read references/title-formulas.md for proven title patterns.
Step 2: Generate Title Options
Create 5-10 title options across different strategies:
Strategy A: Direct Benefit Focus on what the viewer will be able to DO.
- "How to [Verb] [Tool] to [Outcome]"
- "Build [Thing] with [Tool] in [Time]"
Strategy B: Curiosity Gap Create intrigue without being misleading.
- "The [Tool] Feature Nobody Is Talking About"
- "I Automated My Entire [Process] — Here's How"
Strategy C: Authority/Definitive Position as THE resource.
- "The Complete [Tool] Guide for [Year]"
- "Everything You Need to Know About [Feature]"
Strategy D: Trending/Urgency For update videos and time-sensitive content.
- "[Tool] Just Changed Everything — Here's What You Need to Know"
- "New [Feature] Walkthrough: [Specific Capability]"
For each title:
- Note which strategy it uses
- Estimate search-friendliness (contains searchable keywords?)
- Estimate curiosity factor (would you click?)
- Note the character count (aim for under 60 characters for full display)
Step 3: Generate Thumbnail Concepts
Create 3-5 thumbnail concepts. Each concept should include:
Visual description:
- Main visual element (screen-share preview, tool logo, face expression, graphic)
- Text overlay (1-4 words MAX — the thumbnail is not the title)
- Color scheme and contrast
- Layout (rule of thirds, focal point)
Read references/thumbnail-principles.md for design guidelines.
For each concept:
- How does it complement the title? (Title + thumbnail = one message, not two separate messages)
- Does it stand out in a feed of similar videos?
- Is it readable at mobile size (small thumbnail)?
- Does it communicate the value proposition visually?
Step 4: A/B Test Variants
For the top 2-3 title + thumbnail combos, suggest A/B testing variants:
- Same title, different thumbnail approach
- Same thumbnail, different title strategy
- Small tweaks (word swaps, number inclusion, emoji vs no emoji)
Step 5: Present to User
Present all options in a structured format:
## Title Options
| # | Title | Strategy | Keywords | Length |
|---|-------|----------|----------|--------|
| 1 | [title] | Direct Benefit | claude cowork, MCP | 48 chars |
| 2 | [title] | Curiosity Gap | claude, automation | 52 chars |
...
## Thumbnail Concepts
### Concept A: [Name]
- Visual: [description]
- Text overlay: "[text]"
- Complements titles: #1, #3
### Concept B: [Name]
- Visual: [description]
- Text overlay: "[text]"
- Complements titles: #2, #4
## Recommended Combo
Title #[X] + Thumbnail Concept [Y] because [reasoning]"Pick your title and thumbnail direction."
- Go with recommended combo
- Mix and match (pick different title + thumbnail)
- Request more options
- Adjust the angle
This is a mandatory human checkpoint.
Step 6: Save
Save the approved packaging as packaging-{slug}.md.
Key Principles
- Title and thumbnail are ONE system. They must work together. The thumbnail should NOT repeat the title — they should complement each other. Title says what, thumbnail shows the emotion/intrigue.
- No clickbait without substance. Ben AI's brand is anti-hype. Titles should be compelling but honest. Every promise in the title must be delivered in the video.
- Search + browse balance. For evergreen content, include searchable keywords. For trending content, prioritize curiosity and urgency.
- Mobile-first thumbnails. Most YouTube browsing happens on mobile. Thumbnails must be readable at small sizes. Test by mentally shrinking the concept.
- Under 60 characters. Titles get truncated on mobile. The most important words should be in the first 40 characters.