Your YouTube description isn’t just filler text—it’s a critical piece of your music video strategy. A well-crafted description can drive more clicks, boost SEO, and convert casual viewers into fans. Here’s how to write one that actually works.
Table of Contents
1. Nail the First Two Lines (They Matter Most)
The first line or two of your description shows before the fold—meaning it’s what people see without clicking “Show More.” That makes it prime real estate. Use it to capture attention and get the click.
You have options:
- Drop a killer lyric from the track
- Mention a well-known collaborator
- Add key hashtags with real search volume
- Link directly to streaming platforms
Whatever you choose, make sure it’s intentional. These lines are your hook.
2. Think Like YouTube: Feed the Algorithm
Your description helps YouTube understand what your video is about so it can recommend it to the right people. That means:
- Use your song title, artist name, and genre in full
- Add descriptive keywords naturally
- Avoid vague or generic language
The more context you give, the better YouTube can match your video to interested viewers.
3. Include Smart Links for Fans
Make it easy for people to go deeper. Good links to include:
- Your artist website or link-in-bio
- Spotify, Apple Music, etc.
- Socials
- Merch or tour dates
Keep the formatting clean, and consider using shortlinks if you need to tidy it up.
4. Be Careful with Lyrics
Some artists like to post full song lyrics, but be warned: if you’re running ads, explicit lyrics can get your video flagged or disapproved. If your lyrics have any potentially objectionable language, it’s better to leave them out of the description.
5. Credit Everyone Involved
Directors, editors, producers, choreographers—if someone helped make the video or the track, tag them properly. Use their full names and official YouTube handles whenever possible.
This isn’t just good etiquette—it also strengthens your video’s SEO and collaborative reach.
6. Use Hashtags the Right Way
Hashtags can boost discovery, but don’t overdo it. Stick to 2–3 highly relevant ones. YouTube will even show you the search volume as you type, so choose wisely. Avoid long strings of generic tags—it looks amateur and won’t help you rank.
7. Avoid These Common Mistakes
Some easy-to-miss errors that can mess with your description:
- Don’t date your description. Avoid phrases like “Out now” or “2023 release”—you’ll forget to update them later.
- Don’t keyword stuff. Use natural language that real humans would type into a search bar.
- Don’t flood it with links. Prioritize the most important ones.
8. Format Titles for Studio-Friendly Sorting
Use this title format:
Artist Name – Song Title (feat. Collaborator) [Official Video or Visualizer]
It’s clean, SEO-friendly, and easy to filter in YouTube Studio when managing your uploads at scale.
9. Don’t Forget Your End Screen and Cards
Descriptions are just one piece of the YouTube strategy. Your end screens and cards matter, too.
For your end screen, we recommend:
- 1 video
- 1 playlist
- 1 “Best for viewer” video
- 1 subscribe button
For info cards (the little “i” button in the top right), link to a top-performing playlist.
Checklist: Perfect YouTube Description Formula
- [ ] First 2 lines: attention-grabbing & clickable
- [ ] Natural keywords for SEO
- [ ] Smart links to music & socials
- [ ] No lyrics if you’re running ads
- [ ] Credits and tags for collaborators
- [ ] 2–3 high-volume hashtags
- [ ] Avoid dates and fluff
- [ ] Properly formatted title
- [ ] End screen + info cards set up
If you’re ready to take action on this kind of strategy, check out our campaigns and services that address exactly this issue:
– YouTube Channel Management
360 Promo is a full-service music marketing, promotion, distribution and admin company. Learn more about us and what we do at 360 Promo, follow us on Instagram and contact us to tailor a plan that works for you.