# YouTube Packaging Brief

Use this brief before you write titles or design thumbnails. Keep each answer concrete enough that another person could judge the final package against it.

## 1. Video source

- Working video title:
- Video format (tutorial, review, interview, commentary, other):
- One-sentence summary:
- Intended viewer:
- What does the viewer already know?
- What will be different for them after watching?

## 2. Source evidence

- Most specific outcome:
- Strongest tension or obstacle:
- Best proof point, demonstration, or result:
- Useful number, deadline, contrast, or constraint:
- Visual assets you own and can use:
- Claims the package must not imply:

## 3. Direction A: Outcome first

- Viewer promise:
- Draft title:
- Thumbnail subject:
- Thumbnail text, if needed (1 to 4 words):
- What the title says that the thumbnail should not repeat:

## 4. Direction B: Tension first

- Unresolved problem:
- Draft title:
- Thumbnail subject:
- Thumbnail text, if needed (1 to 4 words):
- What question should remain open until the click?

## 5. Direction C: Proof first

- Evidence or transformation:
- Draft title:
- Thumbnail subject:
- Thumbnail text, if needed (1 to 4 words):
- Why should the viewer believe this result?

## 6. Pre-publish check

- Can the title be understood without seeing the thumbnail?
- Does the thumbnail add information instead of repeating the title?
- Is the main visual readable at phone-feed size?
- Does every claim appear in the video?
- Is the package specific to this video and this audience?
- Which single direction has the clearest reason to care?

Created by ThumbCue: https://thumbcue.com/resources/youtube-packaging-brief