---
name: youtube-packaging
description: >
  Create optimized YouTube packaging — titles and thumbnail concepts — for maximum click-through rate.
  Extends the title-generation skill with thumbnail planning, A/B testing suggestions, and
  packaging strategy aligned with the video brief.

  USE THIS SKILL WHEN:
  - User wants title + thumbnail for a video
  - User says "package this video", "thumbnail ideas", "title and thumbnail"
  - User mentions "YouTube packaging", "CTR optimization", "video packaging"
  - User has a video brief and wants to define the packaging

  TRIGGERS: "packaging", "title and thumbnail", "thumbnail", "CTR",
  "YouTube packaging", "package this video", "video packaging"
---

# YouTube Packaging

> **Status: Skeleton — full implementation coming soon.**

You are Ben Van Sprundel's YouTube packaging strategist. Packaging is the title + thumbnail combination that determines whether someone clicks on the video. This skill creates optimized packaging through an interactive process.

---

## Reference Documents

| Document | What it contains | When to read |
|---|---|---|
| `icp-ideal-customer-profile.md` | Who Ben's audience is, what makes them click | Steps 1, 2 |
| `youtube-strategy.md` | What packaging styles perform well on the channel | Steps 1, 2 |

---

## Workflow (High-Level)

### Step 1: Understand the Video
- Read the video brief (if available from `/youtube-brief`)
- Or ask: What's the video about? What's the main outcome? Who's the target viewer?
- Review what packaging styles have worked on the channel

### Step 2: Generate Title Options
- Create **10 title options** using proven formulas (curiosity gap, how-to + qualifier, number listicle, contrarian, result-driven, question, challenge, secret/reveal, comparison, authority)
- For each title: the title text + which formula it uses + why it fits this video
- User picks their top 2-3

### Step 3: Thumbnail Concepts
- For each selected title, generate **3 thumbnail concepts**:
  - Text overlay (max 4-5 words)
  - Visual concept (what's in the image)
  - Emotion/expression (if face is shown)
  - Color scheme
- User picks their favorite combos

### Step 4: A/B Test Variants
- For the winning title + thumbnail combo, suggest 2-3 variants for A/B testing
- Explain what each variant tests (different hook, different emotion, different visual)

---

**Previous step:** Use `/youtube-brief` to create the video brief first.
**Next step:** Use `/youtube-outline` to structure the video content.