Want to make it big on YouTube? You should not settle for scripts that make your viewers look somewhere else! In 7 easy steps and with ChatGPT by your side, a bulletproof, well-written script for YouTube is finally within reach.
Step 1. Determine the Type of Video You’ll Produce the Script For
The first step to creating a script is knowing what kind of video you are making. Why? Each video type has a unique style and tone.
For instance, if you produce a cooking video, you’d want your script to be concise so your viewers can follow. But for product reviews, you’d want a longer script detailing your personal experience.
So, what are your options?
- Product Launch and Demo: These videos usually focus on the unique selling points (UPS) of the product.
- Explainer Videos: As the name suggests, the video breaks down a topic through narration and explanation backed up with facts.
- Product Reviews: These videos go beyond a product’s marketed features and specifications and focus on real-life performance.
- Tutorial Videos: These videos take the viewer through a step-by-step process to learn something new.
- Listicles: If you have ever watched videos from WatchMojo, those are listicles. They have a countdown or use ranking to discuss a topic.
If you want to get an idea of what type of video content and pain point works best for your topic, you can use this prompt:
I am producing a YouTube video about [insert your topic]. Can you suggest video types that works for my topic, as well as pain points? Step 2. Start With the Hook and Intro
Have you ever clicked a YouTube video, and in just seconds, you stopped watching it? Of course you have!
So, what’s wrong with those videos? A bad hook.
Viewers lose concentration in just 8 seconds. So, don’t take your opening line for granted.
To give you an idea of what makes a good hook, let’s look at Jordan Matter’s video, “My Daughter Survives WORLD’S TINIEST BEDROOM.” He leads the video with this hook:
“This is the world’s tiniest bedroom, and today, my daughter Salish will attempt to live in it for 24 hours.”
After the hook, he gives a quick explanation of how his daughter will receive a random challenge every hour.
The question now is, how do you write a compelling hook?
1. Go to the YouTube channel that you always watch, preferably with the same niche as yours.
2. Choose a video (preferably with the highest number of views)
3. Get the YouTube transcript or use an online YouTube transcript tool and copy the hook. The hook and intro are usually the first opening line of the video.
4. Open ChatGPT and enter this prompt:
Below are the hook and introduction of a YouTube video about [insert topic]. Analyze what makes it compelling.
Hook and introduction: [insert hook and introduction from the analyzed YouTube transcript]5. After ChatGPT gives you its analysis, input this prompt:
Use your analysis to improve my hook and introduction for a YouTube video about [insert topic].
[Insert your draft hook and introduction]Step 3. Move On to the Main Content
We’ve said it before, and we will say it again —providing the right context unlocks ChatGPT’s writing capabilities.
Let’s say your video’s topic is taking better photos with a smartphone. Main points about lighting, composition, perspectives, aperture, and post-production editing should be included in the prompt.
Aside from this information, your video script prompt should also include this:
- Video type
- Length/watch time
- Target audience
- Topic and key points to cover
Tip: If you are unsure what you should talk about in your video, you can get ChatGPT’s suggestion by entering this prompt:
I am producing a YouTube video about [insert your topic]. Can you suggest what I should talk about?Step 4. Create an Outline Scene Breakdown and Narrative Flow
The hook, intro, and even the main content do not matter if your video doesn’t have the right scene breakdown and narrative flow.
Narrative flow is what makes content (video or written) go through a logical progression. It’s also what makes your audience watch the entire video.
What about the scene breakdown?
Let’s think back to our video on how to take better photos with your phone example again.
Maybe you start with an eye-catching outdoor scene that shows a lot of potential for photos. The following frames might be someone who is about to take the photos and then scrolling through their camera roll.
You can use ChatGPT to increase viewer retention by mapping both the narrative flow and scene breakdown:
I'm producing a YouTube content about [insert topic]. Create an outline scene breakdown and ensure there is a logical narrative flow. Use bullet points and timestamps for each scene and align them with my script below:
[insert script]Step 5. Add the Perfect Call to Action
You’ve likely heard YouTube influencers ask their viewers to like, comment, or subscribe at the end. These are call-to-actions (CTAs), and they are just as important as the hook.
Remember, hooks get the viewers to watch the content, but CTAs are what bring in new followers to watch future content.
And yes, most of the time, CTAs sound cheesy and repetitive, but you’ll need them, especially when you want to increase your subscribers, clicks, number of likes, or viewer engagement.
To have the perfect CTA, use this ChatGPT prompt:
I'm producing a YouTube content about [insert topic]. Please create a CTA that compels viewers to [leave a comment/like the video/subscribe to my channel]. Use my script below to understand the context of my video.
[insert script] Step 6. Review and Edit the AI-generated YouTube Video Script
AI-generated scripts are not perfect, and you should never use them word-for-word. Why? AI overuses certain words and phrases. Most importantly, they are not always factually correct. The good news is that ChatGPT can help with basic revisions like maintaining a consistent tone and brand voice.
I'm producing a YouTube content about [insert topic]. Please review my script below and suggest improvements in terms of flow and phrasing. Step 7. Generate Title Ideas
You’ve probably watched videos with titles like: “WATCH THIS NOW! YOU WON’T BELIEVE WHAT HAPPENS NEXT!” but the content is unrelated.
Most people have had their fair share of run-ins with bad YouTube titles. You don’t want your video’s title to make that list because bounce rates (the percentage of viewers who immediately leave a video after watching a few seconds or minutes) affect YouTube ranking and visibility.
If you’re struggling with coming up with the perfect title, ChatGPT can help with creating these, too.
I'm producing a YouTube content about [insert topic]. Please generate a title idea that is 70 characters long and aligns with the script below
[insert script]Bonus: Create a YouTube Description
Although it is technically not part of the script, ChatGPT can also be great for coming up with video descriptions.
Video descriptions are also important because it:
- Tells your viewers and YouTube’s algorithm what your video is about.
- Allows you to include channel info and important links (like your website and social media profiles)
- Provide credit and mention other YouTube channels
- Opportunity to add relevant keywords for visibility and ranking
- Allows you to add a timestamp
Tip: You can write a YouTube description as long as 5,000 characters (roughly 800 words). However, only 150-160 characters are visible on Google Search and 138 characters on YouTube Search. Aim to have one to two primary keywords in the first three lines.
I'm producing a YouTube content about [insert topic]. Please generate a YouTube description following the requirements below:
Use keywords [insert keyword#1] and [insert keyword#2] within the first 150 characters of the video description
Add my social media and website links: [insert website link/social media link]
Use [insert your preferred style] style and [insert your preferred tone] tone to write the description
Add a call to action at the end of the video descriptionWrapping Your Perfect YouTube Script
A lot goes into script writing for YouTube, and it can be challenging to tackle alone. Luckily, you don’t have to because ChatGPT can step in and become the best free YouTube scriptwriter. You can even use it to turn videos into an article!
If you have any questions or concerns about using ChatGPT for YouTube scriptwriting, please drop a comment below!