# Youtube Publishing And Metadata > The YouTube publish-metadata skill. Use when someone wants to "write a YouTube title/description," "set tags/category/privacy," "optimize YouTube SEO/metadata," set made-for-kids, or publish a YouTube video via WoopSocial. Writes the metadata (title, description+chapters, tags) and sets category/privacy/madeForKids — YouTube is a search engine, so metadata is the launchpad, and madeForKids is a COPPA/FTC legal flag set truthfully. Uses the INDEX framework. Reads brand-profile + goals-and-kpis + the script/video first. The video file + script are inputs (not WoopSocial); the thumbnail and A/B title testing are native YouTube Studio; WoopSocial publishes via the YouTube fields; metrics never fabricated. Distinct from youtube-long-form/youtube-shorts (the script) and thumbnail-design (the thumbnail). - Skill: `social-media-skills/youtube-publishing-and-metadata` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 6 files) - Install (CLI): `npx skillmds add social-media-skills/youtube-publishing-and-metadata` - Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/social-media-skills/youtube-publishing-and-metadata/raw - Safety review: pending - Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex - Category: Marketing & Growth - Author: social-media-skills (https://skillmd.com/u/social-media-skills) - Updated: 2026-09-09 - Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/social-media-skills/youtube-publishing-and-metadata --- # youtube-publishing-and-metadata A **format-execution skill** — write the YouTube publish metadata (title, description+chapters, tags) and set category/privacy/madeForKids. The agent **writes the metadata + config**; the **video FILE + script are inputs**; **WoopSocial publishes via the YouTube fields**; the **thumbnail + A/B testing are native Studio**. ## The POV: YouTube is a search engine; metadata is the launchpad YouTube is the **2nd-largest search engine** (~27% of traffic from search, ~70% from recommendations — both metadata-fed), and metadata is what it reads **before user behavior kicks in**: the **launchpad** that lets a good video **compound for years**. But be honest — **retention keeps it ranking**; metadata gets you discovered, it doesn't guarantee a rank. The **title does two jobs at once** (rank via the keyword + earn the click), the **description's above-the-fold lines** carry the most weight, **tags are a minor signal now** (get the first one right), and **`madeForKids` is a legal flag**, not a reach lever. ## Read these first 1. **brand-profile** — niche/voice + how the audience searches. 2. **goals-and-kpis** — the goal (search reach / subscribers / watch time). 3. the **script/video** (often from **youtube-long-form**/**youtube-shorts**). ## The framework: INDEX (Depth: `references/the-index-framework.md`.) - **I — Intent-match the title:** primary keyword in the first ~40 chars, ~50–60 total; rank + click; power word; clarity over cleverness. - **N — Nail the description above-the-fold:** line 1 value → keyword in lines 2–3 → 300–500 words natural; keyword-named chapters; 3–7 links + affiliate disclosure. (Description = `content.text`.) - **D — Direct the tags:** first tag = exact primary keyword; then secondary + niche; relevant-only. - **E — Elect category + privacy:** accurate `category`; `privacy` (public/unlisted/private) per goal. - **X — eXamine the kids-flag + validate:** set `madeForKids` **truthfully** (COPPA/FTC — it disables comments/personalized ads/etc.); never mislabel; **validate** before publish. ## The reality (verify-quarterly) YouTube = search engine / metadata = launchpad (but retention ranks); title (keyword first ~40 chars, 50–60, two jobs, power words, A/B native); description (above-the-fold, 300–500 natural, chapters, links + disclosure); tags (minor now, first = primary keyword, relevant-only); category + privacy; **madeForKids (COPPA/FTC legal flag, truthful)**; the WoopSocial gaps (no thumbnail field/no A/B → native Studio): `references/youtube-metadata-2026-reality.md`. Title/description templates, tag order, the full publish-config block + worked examples: `references/metadata-and-publish.md`. ## Honest scope (never violate) - **The agent writes the metadata + config.** The **video FILE + script are inputs** (`youtube-long-form`/ `youtube-shorts` + filming/editing) — **WoopSocial doesn't film/edit/generate video.** The **THUMBNAIL is native Studio** (no API field; it's a major CTR lever — brief it via `thumbnail-design`), and so is **A/B title testing.** - **WoopSocial publishes via the YouTube fields** (`title`/`privacy`/`category`/`tags`/`madeForKids`; description = `content.text`; raw-bytes upload). **No update** → delete+recreate before publish; metadata edits in Studio after. - **`madeForKids` truthful** (COPPA/FTC; mislabeling is illegal, not a lever). **Affiliate/AI disclosure** where relevant; **no keyword-stuffing**; **never promise a ranking; never fabricate metrics** (native analytics only). (Scope, distinctions + connections: `references/scope-and-connections.md`.) ## Distinct from its siblings (route correctly) **youtube-publishing-and-metadata (this)** = the publish METADATA + config (title/description/tags/category/ privacy/madeForKids) · **youtube-long-form**/**youtube-shorts** = the SCRIPT/content · **thumbnail-design** = the thumbnail (uploaded natively — no API field) · **caption-writer**/**hook-writer** = generic copy. ## Where this connects Reads first: **brand-profile**, **goals-and-kpis**, the **script/video** (**youtube-long-form**/ **youtube-shorts**). Content inputs (external to WoopSocial): those script skills, the **video** cluster (**veo**/**runway**/**kling**) + editing, **thumbnail-design** (native upload), **hook-writer**/ **caption-writer**. Publish: **scheduling-and-queue → WoopSocial** (YouTube fields), **platform-specs-and-validation** (validate + field rules), **content-calendar**. Reuse/measure: **content-recycling** (→ Shorts/clips), **analytics-and-reporting** (search/watch-time/CTR), **experimentation** (title/thumbnail A/B — run natively in Studio). Video/thumbnail/A/B stay external/native. ## Definition of done A keyword-led title (primary keyword in the first ~40 chars, ~50–60 total, rank + click, clarity); an above-the-fold description (value line → keyword → 300–500 words natural, keyword-named chapters, 3–7 links + disclosure) in `content.text`; tags led by the exact primary keyword, relevant-only; an accurate category and a goal-fit privacy; `madeForKids` set truthfully per COPPA; the full WoopSocial YouTube config validated before publish; the video file produced externally and the thumbnail + A/B testing left to native Studio; edits via delete+recreate (or Studio post-publish), nothing fabricated and no promised ranking; correctly distinguished from youtube-long-form/youtube-shorts and thumbnail-design.