Content Creation For YouTube | How to write a script for a youtube video [made easy]

Content creation for YouTube is a unique and challenging process. It cannot be easy to know where to start when writing a script for a video, but by following some steps, you can create engaging and on-brand content that will help to grow your channel.

I've been creating content for years and have tried many different methods. In this blog post, I want to share with you what's working the best for me as a Content Creator right now by walking you through the basics of scripting for YouTube videos. Including tips on deciding topics, titles, and thumbnails, as well as how to structure your written content to keep your viewers engaged and repurpose your works effortlessly.

In the past, I'd use a short script template and then go straight to filming, naively thinking that producing a video was enough.

I’ve since learned that writing the script, filming, editing, and uploading a video is only part of the YouTube success equation.

You must have a promotional plan in place with each publication to give your video the best chance of gaining viewers and growing your channel.

As a busy mama who homeschools out of necessity, I've created a business workflow that allows me to work less than part-time hours and produce 1- 2 videos a week by batch, creating my video script, blog post, and promotional written works, all at once.

By the end of this, you'll know how to script a youtube video and how to have all of your cross-promotional written works done and ready for publication.

And the best part is that by using the tools I'm about to share with you, you won’t have to write a word of it on your own.

So whether you're a YouTube beginner looking to get started creating consistent video content or an experienced content creator looking to improve your technique, read on for some helpful advice!

STEP 1: RESEARCH

The most successful know that you must begin with the end in mind to succeed at anything.

Youtube video content creation is no different.

Before we can begin to talk about how to script a youtube video, we must first know who we're trying to reach and what we're trying to help them with.

Will our youtube video educate, inspire, or entertain?

Once we're clear on the outcome, we can begin narrowing down on topic ideas.

I usually get my inspiration from outside of YouTube to get the creative wheels turning.

Sometimes it comes from a client or prospective client, a book I've read, a conference I've attended, or a tv show I watched.

Topic Idea Validation

Once I have my central idea, I head to YouTube and begin to search for validation that my topic idea has an interested audience.

I will try a different critical keyword that might best sum up the main idea.

Then I search for videos with the best results, ideally less than one year old, and if their views are more extensive than their current subscribership, I jot down their title ideas on a notepad.

Careful not to copy their works, I chose not to watch their video as I didn't want their creative interpretation to interfere with my own.

Title

Then I begin to play with the title.

I typically write out 10-20 title ideas, sometimes up to 50.

Once I have my list, I begin to punch them into two leading YouTube Content Creator-friendly tools, VidIQ and Tubebuddy.

I'm looking for a variation of my title idea with high search volume and low to medium competition.

Thumbnails

Once I've decided on my title. I'll search that in the youtube search bar and take note of the various thumbnail designs.

I strive to create as honest and eye-catching thumbnails as I can. When looking at what's already been published, I try to think of ways mine can be different.

I jot down a few thumbnail image ideas at this point.

Tags

Next, I go to VidIQ and search for similar keywords to my top title choice.

Sometimes a new keyword will pop up and have me follow up to revise and test my title idea.

But typically, this is where I'm looking for a subheader title for my blog, main bullet points for my youtube script, and the final tags I'll add to the YouTube video when it's time to upload.

I strive to select keywords that are, first and foremost, relevant to my video idea. And secondly, search for high search volume and low competition keywords.

STEP 2: OUTLINE THE VIDEO SCRIPT

If I'm super familiar with the topic I'm about to script; I quickly jot down my main 3-7 bullet points first.

If I'm less familiar with the topic at hand and know that I'll need to do some research before I finalize my youtube script, then I'll start by writing the introduction of the video.

Keeping a viewer's attention in the first 30s is vital because if you can hold their attention for the first 30s, you're more likely to be able to keep it for the following 30s and so on.

To write an engaging youtube video script intro. Note I did not create this; I originally learned this from Sunny Lendarduzzi. I've found that using The H.O.T. Method works best for me.

H.O.T. stands for Hook. Outcome. Testimonial.

H - hook the viewer by calling them out, asking them questions, testing their boundaries by sharing a controversial point, or hitting them with hard facts.

O - outcome tells them why they need to keep watching; what will they get out of this video if they stick around until the end?

T - provide a testimonial, some proof that what you're about to share works.

Once the intro is crafted, the next thing I do might surprise you. Instead of focusing on the body of the script, I go to the outro and think through where I want to send the viewer after watching this video.

A Youtube pro tip to help grow your channel faster is to keep the viewer on your track, watching your videos for as long as possible. And to do this, you create playlists that keep the conversation going.

Note: my playlist for this topic, right? Now you're tuning into part one of a multi-part series.

Finally, you can focus your attention on the main body of the script, the "meat," if you will.

For a youtube video, I strive to publish an 8-12 minute video of roughly 1500 words.

Having a thoroughly flushed out 1500 words script isn't necessary to start recording; you can film with just the main bullet points; it's really up to you.

When using bullet point form, I strive to hit 3-7 main points and outline my script body as follows:

POINT #1

STORY

POINT #1

POINT #2

STORY

POINT #2

POINT #3

STORY

POINT #3

I learned this method from Brian Tracy; it helps drive home the main points and keep the viewer engaged.

STEP 3: WRITE THE WRITTEN WORKS

As I mentioned, you could outline your script, press record, and keep it moving. But best practices have proven that I show up better on camera when I've entirely written out all of my post-publication works.

To include the following:

+YouTube description

+blog post

+newsletter

+social media promotional posts

Doing this helps clarify what I want to say in my videos + helps set me up for repurposed content success.

My secret go-to script-writing power tool is Jasper. Ia.

With Jasper, you can write anything by writing nothing more than a YouTube title and knowing a few search-optimized keywords.

You'll have to watch the video {ADD VIDEO LINK} for the full inside scoop of what I'm talking about.

The steps outlined are a great starting point, but there's no one-size-fits-all solution for video marketing. Experiment with what works for you and keep track of your results so you can improve over time. How have you found success with video marketing? What tools or techniques do you find helpful? Share your insights in the comments below.

Once you have a well-researched, outlined, and written video script, it's time to record, edit and upload your work. Depending on the equipment you have and the editing software you use, this process will look different for everyone.

If you’d like to see my YouTube video content creation and discover how I film my Youtube video so that you can get an idea about how to film your first or next Youtube video, then be sure to tune into the next episode.

Topic idea, Title, Thumbnail idea, Keyword research *tools I use VidIQ and TubeBuddy

STEP 2: OUTLINE THE VIDEO *3-7 bullet points

STEP 3: WRITE THE SCRIPT *use jasper.ia and Grammarly

Outro: once your script is written, it’s time to record, edit and upload your work. Discover how I do it in the next episode.