In the sprawling universe of digital content, YouTube videos hold a unique dominion.

Yet, amid the platform's 500+ hours of content uploaded every minute, standing out requires more than just a good idea…

It demands meticulous craftsmanship at every stage.

This includes preproduction, scripting, thumbnails, headlines, post-production, description, and distribution.

Creating a successful YouTube video isn't just the singular act of making a video.

It's a symphony of orchestrated steps that work together to produce a finished product that cuts through the noise for maximum reach and impact.

Below is a prompt I use to help me come up with a checklist for high-performing YouTube videos.

Prompt template:

Create a checklist for getting a YouTube video to 500 million views that covers preproduction, scripting, thumbnails, headlines, post-production, description, and distribution. Create the guidelines based on advice from top experts like MrBeast, Hillier Smith and Paddy Galloway.

Example: