A YouTube Description Template That Ranks (With Chapters)

A good YouTube description template has five parts: two plain opening lines that say what the video is (with your main keyword), a short summary, chapters starting at 0:00, useful links, and up to three hashtags at the end. Below are four copy-paste templates for tutorials, vlogs, gaming streams and podcasts, plus the rules that make chapters and hashtags work.

YouTube gives you 5,000 characters for a description. You do not need to use them all. Clear beats long.

The first two lines rule

Most viewers only see the first couple of lines of your description before "more". Those lines also show in some search results and give YouTube its first read of your topic. So:

• Line 1: say what the video is, using your main keyword naturally.
• Line 2: say what the viewer gets, or who it is for.
• No links, hashtags or "subscribe" requests in the first two lines. Save those for later.

Weak opening:

LIKE SHARE SUBSCRIBE!! Follow me on Instagram for more

Better opening:

BGMI best sensitivity settings for 2026, tested on a low-end, mid-range and flagship phone.
Copy the codes below and fix recoil in under 5 minutes.

Template 1: Tutorial or how-to

[Main keyword in a natural sentence: what this video teaches.]
[Who it is for and what they will be able to do after watching.]

In this video:
- [Point 1]
- [Point 2]
- [Point 3]

CHAPTERS
0:00 [What you will learn]
0:45 [Step 1 name]
2:30 [Step 2 name]
4:10 [Step 3 name]
6:00 [Common mistakes]
7:20 [Summary]

RESOURCES MENTIONED
[Tool or link 1]: [link]
[Tool or link 2]: [link]

WATCH NEXT
[Related video title]: [link]
[Playlist name]: [playlist link]

CONNECT
Instagram: [link]
Business enquiries: [email]

#[MainTopic] #[SubTopic] #[Language or niche]

Example opening for a finance channel: "SIP vs FD explained with a real 5-year example in simple Hindi. If you are starting with a small monthly amount, this shows which one fits your goal."

Template 2: Vlog

[Where you are and what happens, in one sentence with the place or topic people search.]
[The one thing that makes this vlog worth watching.]

[2-3 lines of story summary, no spoilers for the ending.]

CHAPTERS
0:00 [Opening moment]
1:10 [Place or event 1]
4:30 [Place or event 2]
8:15 [Highlight]
11:40 [Final thoughts]

PLACES / PRODUCTS IN THIS VLOG
[Place or product]: [link or address]

GEAR
Camera: [model]
Mic: [model]

MORE VLOGS
[Playlist name]: [playlist link]

#[Place] #[TravelVlog] #[HindiVlog]

Example opening: "Amritsar food tour in one day: Golden Temple langar, kulcha and lassi under a small budget. Every place is listed below with the area name."

Template 3: Gaming stream (VOD or highlights)

[Game name] [what happened or the goal of the stream], [mode or event].
[One line on the best moment or the reason to watch.]

CHAPTERS
0:00 [Stream start / intro]
3:20 [Match 1]
21:45 [Best moment or clutch]
38:10 [Match 2]
1:02:30 [Viewer questions]
1:15:00 [End]

SETTINGS
Sensitivity code: [code]
Device: [phone or PC]

JOIN THE STREAM
Live schedule: [days and time]
Discord: [link]
Support the stream: [link]

RULES IN CHAT
[1-2 short lines]

#[GameName] #[GameName]Live #[Language]Gaming

If you upload stream VODs and edited videos, our post on VOD vs edited uploads for streamers is worth a read.

Template 4: Podcast episode

[Guest name] on [main topic in searchable words] | [Podcast name] Ep [number].
[One line on the biggest idea or question answered.]

About the guest:
[1-2 lines on who they are and why they matter for this topic.]

CHAPTERS
0:00 [Cold open / best line]
1:30 [Intro]
4:00 [Topic 1]
18:20 [Topic 2]
35:10 [Topic 3]
52:00 [Rapid fire]
58:30 [Where to find the guest]

GUEST LINKS
[Guest Instagram / site]: [link]

LISTEN ON AUDIO
[Spotify or other]: [link]

CLIPS FROM THIS EPISODE
[Shorts or clips playlist]: [link]

#[PodcastName] #[MainTopic] #[HindiPodcast]

Chapter (timestamp) rules

For YouTube to turn your timestamps into chapters, follow these rules:

1. The first timestamp must be 0:00.
2. You need at least 3 timestamps.
3. Each chapter must be at least 10 seconds long.
4. List them in order, each on its own line, timestamp first.

Tips from our editing work:

• Name chapters like mini titles. "2:30 Settings for low-end phones" helps viewers and gives YouTube useful text. "2:30 Part 2" does neither.
• Use the sub-topics viewers search for. Your keyword research will show you these.
• Check the timestamps on the final export, not the draft. One trim in the edit can shift every chapter.

YouTube can also create automatic chapters, but writing your own gives you control over the names.

Links: what to include

• One related video or playlist to keep viewers watching your channel.
• Resources you mentioned, so viewers do not have to ask in comments.
• Business email, if you take brand deals.
• Social links, near the end.

Keep links below the first two lines. Only link to sites you trust, and follow YouTube's rules on external links.

Hashtags

• Add hashtags at the end of the description.
• The first 3 hashtags can show above your title on the watch page, so put your three most relevant first.
• Use specific, relevant hashtags. #BGMI is better than #Viral.
• Do not add a long list. YouTube ignores all hashtags on a video that has more than 60, and long lists look like spam to viewers.

What not to do

• Keyword stuffing. Repeating "bgmi sensitivity bgmi sensitivity code bgmi best sensitivity" breaks YouTube's spam policies and reads badly. Use the keyword once or twice naturally.
• Pasting a list of tags into the description. That is what the tags field is for, and its effect is small anyway. See do YouTube tags still matter.
• Copying the same description on every video. A shared footer (links, social) is fine. The top must be unique to each video.
• Misleading text. Do not mention topics, people or games that are not in the video.
• Forgetting to update. If a link breaks or a product changes, fix it.

Free tool: Our free YouTube SEO tool writes a title, description and tags for your video from a short topic. The full pack comes by email.

A quick checklist before you hit publish

• First line says what the video is, with the main keyword
• Second line says what the viewer gets
• Short summary or bullet points
• Chapters: 0:00 first, at least 3, each 10+ seconds, named clearly
• One related video or playlist link
• Resources and business email
• Up to 3 strong hashtags at the end
• No keyword stuffing, nothing misleading

For titles, try the YouTube Title Generator, and for a starting tag list, the YouTube Tag Generator. Our YouTube SEO guide for 2026 shows how the description fits with everything else.

Want it done for you? Our YouTube SEO service writes titles, descriptions, chapters and tags for every upload. Or book a free call.

Related guides

• YouTube SEO in 2026: the complete guide
• How to find YouTube keywords for free
• Hindi and Hinglish YouTube SEO
• Do YouTube tags still matter in 2026?

Frequently asked questions

How long should a YouTube description be?

YouTube allows up to 5,000 characters, but length is not the goal. Two clear opening lines, a short summary, chapters and a few useful links are enough for most videos.

Do YouTube descriptions help with SEO?

Yes. The description, especially the first lines and chapter names, helps YouTube understand your topic, and chapters help viewers find the part they want.

Why are my YouTube chapters not showing?

Usually one of the rules is broken. The first timestamp must be 0:00, there must be at least 3 timestamps, and each chapter must be at least 10 seconds long.

How many hashtags should I put in a YouTube description?

Use a few relevant ones, and put your best three first because the first three can show above the title. YouTube ignores all hashtags on a video that has more than 60.