Definition
Metadata is all text information associated with a YouTube video: title, description, tags, captions, chapters, and category. Critical for SEO and discoverability.
Metadata Elements
- Title: Most important—include primary keyword
- Description: First 150 chars show in search; include keywords naturally
- Tags: Help categorize (less impactful than title/description)
- Captions: Searchable text; auto-generated or custom
- Chapters: Timestamps for navigation and Key Moments
- Category: Broad content classification
Metadata Priority
- Title (highest impact)
- Description (high impact)
- Captions/transcript (medium impact)
- Tags (low impact)
Best Practices
- Front-load keywords in title and description
- Write for humans first, algorithms second
- Include call-to-action in description
- Add links and timestamps
- Update underperforming video metadata