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:

1. The approved brief — Either load video-brief-{slug}.md from the working directory or get the brief details from the user
2. Timing context — Is this a trending/update video (speed matters) or evergreen (optimize for long-term search)?
3. 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.