Video Scripts & YouTube Automation

Video is the most powerful content format on the internet. YouTube is the second-largest search engine in the world. TikTok has over a billion active users. Instagram prioritizes Reels over every other format. If you're not creating video, you're leaving the biggest opportunity on the table.

The good news? The hardest part of video creation — writing the script — is exactly what AI does best. With the right prompts and structure, you can go from blank page to camera-ready script in minutes.

The Video Script Structure

Every great video follows the same fundamental structure, whether it's a 60-second TikTok or a 20-minute YouTube deep dive. The proportions change, but the elements are always the same.

1. The Hook (First 5–10 Seconds)

The hook is the most important part of any video. On YouTube, you have about 10 seconds before viewers decide to click away. On TikTok and Reels, you have about 2 seconds. If you lose them here, nothing else matters.

Effective hook types for video:

• The Bold Claim: "This one tool replaced my entire content team."
• The Question: "What if you could write a week of content in one hour?"
• The Preview: "By the end of this video, you'll know exactly how to [RESULT]."
• The Pattern Interrupt: Start with something unexpected — a sound effect, a surprising visual, or a statement that contradicts common wisdom.
• The Story: "Last month, I almost gave up on YouTube. Then I discovered something that changed everything."

2. The Intro (15–30 Seconds)

After the hook grabs attention, the intro establishes context and gives the viewer a reason to keep watching. This is where you tell them what they'll learn, why it matters, and why you're the right person to teach it.

Keep intros short. New creators make the mistake of spending two minutes on introductions before delivering any value. Get to the point fast — the viewer already clicked because your title and thumbnail promised something specific.

3. The Body (The Main Content)

The body delivers on the promise of your hook and intro. Structure it in clear segments — numbered steps, distinct sections, or a narrative arc. Each segment should have its own mini-hook to maintain attention throughout.

For tutorial-style videos, use this structure per segment:

1. State the point — what is this step or concept?
2. Explain why it matters — why should the viewer care?
3. Show how to do it — practical demonstration or example
4. Transition — bridge to the next segment

4. The Call to Action (Last 15–30 Seconds)

Every video should end with a clear CTA. Tell the viewer exactly what to do next. Common video CTAs include subscribing, watching the next video, clicking a link in the description, or leaving a comment. Pick one primary CTA — don't overwhelm viewers with five different requests.

Writing Video Scripts with AI

Now let's put this structure into practice. Here's the master prompt for generating a complete YouTube video script:

"Write a YouTube video script about [TOPIC]. The target audience is [AUDIENCE]. The video should be [LENGTH] minutes long.

Structure:

1. Hook (first 10 seconds): Start with a bold, attention-grabbing statement or question. Do NOT start with 'Hey guys' or any generic greeting.

2. Intro (15–30 seconds): Briefly explain what the viewer will learn and why it matters.

3. Body: Break the main content into [NUMBER] clear segments. Each segment should have a mini-hook, explanation, and practical example.

4. CTA: End with a specific call to action to [DESIRED ACTION].

Write it in a conversational, spoken-word style. Use short sentences. Include [STAGE DIRECTIONS] for visual cues or screen recordings. Avoid filler phrases and get to the point quickly."

The key detail is specifying "spoken-word style." AI defaults to written style, which sounds stiff when read aloud. Adding this instruction produces scripts that sound natural on camera.

Optimizing Titles and Thumbnails

Your title and thumbnail are your video's sales pitch. They determine whether anyone clicks, regardless of how good the content inside is. AI can help you generate and test both.

Video Titles

Great YouTube titles share common characteristics: they promise a specific outcome, create curiosity, and include searchable keywords. Use this prompt to generate title options:

"Generate 10 YouTube video title options for a video about [TOPIC]. Each title should be under 60 characters, include a relevant keyword, and create curiosity or promise a specific benefit. Mix these formats: how-to, listicle, question, bold claim, and 'mistake to avoid.' "

Pick your top 3 and test them. You can even ask AI to evaluate which title is strongest and why: "Of these 3 titles, which would get the highest click-through rate on YouTube? Explain your reasoning."

Thumbnail Concepts

AI can't create thumbnails directly (that's what Canva is for), but it can generate concepts that you then execute visually:

"Suggest 5 YouTube thumbnail concepts for a video titled '[TITLE]'. For each concept, describe: the facial expression or pose, the text overlay (max 4 words), the background or setting, and the color scheme. Focus on concepts that create curiosity and contrast."

Effective thumbnails typically feature: a close-up face showing strong emotion, large bold text (3–4 words maximum), high contrast colors, and a visual element that creates curiosity. Create these in Canva using their YouTube thumbnail templates as a starting point.

Video Descriptions and Tags

YouTube descriptions and tags are critical for SEO — they help YouTube understand what your video is about and show it to the right audience. AI makes optimizing these effortless.

"Write a YouTube video description for a video titled '[TITLE]' about [TOPIC]. Include: a compelling first 2 lines (this shows in search results before the viewer clicks 'show more'), a summary of what the video covers, timestamps for each major section, relevant links (I'll add these), and a brief bio. Also generate 15 relevant tags for YouTube SEO."

The first two lines of your description are crucial because they appear in search results. Treat them like ad copy — they should make someone want to click and watch.

Repurposing Written Content into Video

If you followed Lesson 2 and you're already producing blog posts, you have a goldmine of video content waiting to be extracted. Not every blog post makes a good video, but many do — especially how-to guides, listicles, and opinion pieces.

Use this prompt to convert a blog post into a video script:

"Convert this blog post into a [LENGTH]-minute YouTube video script. Keep the key points but rewrite everything for spoken delivery. Add a strong hook at the beginning that doesn't exist in the blog post. Remove any points that work in text but not in video. Add [STAGE DIRECTIONS] where I should show something on screen. Make it conversational and engaging. Here's the blog post: [PASTE BLOG POST]"

This workflow is incredibly efficient because the research, outline, and core content already exist. You're just reformatting for a different medium. A 1,500-word blog post typically converts into a solid 8–12 minute video script.

The Video Production Workflow

Here's a complete workflow that takes you from idea to published video:

1. Generate the script with AI using the master prompt above
2. Edit and personalize — add your stories, remove anything that doesn't feel natural, practice reading it aloud
3. Generate title options and pick the strongest one
4. Create the thumbnail in Canva based on AI-generated concepts
5. Record the video — use the script as a guide, not a teleprompter (natural delivery beats word-perfect reading)
6. Edit in Descript — cut mistakes, remove filler words, add b-roll or screen recordings
7. Generate the description and tags with AI
8. Upload, optimize, and publish

Total time for a 10-minute video: approximately 2–3 hours from script to upload. Without AI handling the script, titles, descriptions, and tags, this same process typically takes 6–8 hours.