YouTube Editing Brief Template

Give your video editor clear, structured instructions so you get back what you actually wanted.

What it includes

When to use it

Example output structure

Video Title

Why most B2B content strategies fail in the first 90 days

Target Platform

YouTube (16:9, 8-12 minutes)

Pacing and Tone

Conversational, medium-paced. Not overly polished. Keep pauses where I'm thinking, but cut filler words and tangents.

Hook (First 10 Seconds)

Start at 02:14 where I say: "Most content strategies don't fail because the ideas are bad. They fail because no one built the system to actually execute them." Cut everything before that.

Key Clips to Keep

- 05:30 to 06:45: Story about the Series B company that published twice, then stopped.
- 12:20 to 13:10: The three mistakes most teams make in the first quarter.
- 18:00 to 18:45: The "content calendar isn't a strategy" rant.

Clips to Cut

- 00:00 to 02:13: Intro ramble, not needed.
- 09:30 to 10:15: Off-topic tangent about email marketing.
- 16:00 to 17:00: Repetitive explanation, already covered earlier.

B-Roll and Graphics

- At 05:30: Pull up a simple "Before/After" text overlay showing "12 posts planned" vs. "2 posts published."
- At 12:20: Add bullet points on screen for the three mistakes as I list them.
- At 18:00: Text overlay: "A content calendar ≠ a content strategy."

End Screen CTA

End at 19:30. Add end screen with: "Want help building a content system that doesn't fall apart? Link in description." Fade to black, no outro music.

Platform Notes

Export at 1080p, YouTube-optimized. Add captions (auto-generate, I'll review). Thumbnail: Pull frame from 05:35 where I'm gesturing.

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