Running out of YouTube video ideas kills more channels than the algorithm ever will. These 35 ChatGPT prompts for YouTube video ideas cover the full pipeline: finding your niche angle, generating endless topics, writing click-worthy titles, scripting, and building series that bring viewers back.
And once you have the idea, turn it into a title with our free YouTube Title Generator — it drafts clickable options from your topic in seconds.
Use them in order: niche clarity first, then ideas, then titles and packaging. And remember — the prompt does the thinking, but your experience does the talking. For short-form video ideas, our ChatGPT prompts for content creators complement these nicely.
Niche & positioning prompts (1-6)
- 1. `I want to start a YouTube channel about [topic]. Give me 5 specific sub-niches within it, ranked by competition vs opportunity.`
- 2. `What underserved angles exist in the [niche] YouTube space? List 7 gaps I could own.`
- 3. `Describe my ideal viewer: someone interested in [topic]. Give me their age, problems, and what they watch.`
- 4. `Give me 5 channel name ideas for a [niche] YouTube channel. Memorable and searchable.`
- 5. `What 3 content pillars should a [niche] channel focus on? Define each with example videos.`
- 6. `Analyze this channel concept and poke holes in it: [describe concept]. Be brutally honest.`
Video idea generation (7-16)
- 7. `Give me 30 YouTube video ideas for a [niche] channel. Mix tutorials, entertainment, and opinion.`
- 8. `What are 10 questions beginners in [niche] ask that no YouTuber answers well?`
- 9. `Give me 10 “I tried X for 30 days” video ideas for [niche].`
- 10. `List 10 comparison video ideas: [thing A] vs [thing B] in [niche].`
- 11. `Give me 10 myth-busting video ideas for [niche].`
- 12. `What 10 “mistakes beginners make” videos could I make about [niche]?`
- 13. `Give me 10 budget-focused video ideas: doing [niche] cheaply.`
- 14. `List 10 “behind the scenes of [profession]” video ideas.`
- 15. `Give me 10 reaction/commentary video ideas on trends in [niche].`
- 16. `What evergreen video ideas in [niche] will still get views in 2 years? List 10.`
Title & packaging prompts (17-24)
- 17. `Write 10 YouTube titles for a video about [topic]. Under 60 characters, curiosity-driven, no clickbait lies.`
- 18. `Give me 5 title options for this video, from safe to bold: [describe video].`
- 19. `Write a YouTube description for a video about [topic]. First 2 lines hook, then timestamps outline, then keywords.`
- 20. `Give me 15 tags for a YouTube video about [topic]. Mix broad and specific.`
- 21. `Describe 3 thumbnail concepts for a video titled “[title]”. Bold text, expressive, high contrast.`
- 22. `Write 10 “number + benefit” style titles for [topic] videos.`
- 23. `Turn this boring title into 5 clickable versions: “[title]”. Keep it honest.`
- 24. `Write the first 15 seconds (hook) for a video about [topic]. Pattern interrupt opening.`
Scripting prompts (25-30)
- 25. `Outline a 10-minute YouTube video about [topic]. Hook, 3 main sections, CTA. Include retention tips.` Study Instagram Reels strategy too — short-form retention tricks transfer to long-form hooks.
- 26. `Write a full script for an 8-minute video: [topic]. Conversational, with pattern interrupts every 2 minutes.`
- 27. `Turn these notes into a talking-points script (not word-for-word): [paste notes].`
- 28. `Write a script for a “storytime” video about [experience]. 6 minutes, emotional arc.`
- 29. `Script the intro for my channel trailer: [niche], [who I help], [why subscribe]. 45 seconds.`
- 30. `Write a CTA script that doesn’t sound desperate: ask for subscribe at [timestamp] of a [topic] video.`
Series & growth prompts (31-35)
- 31. `Design a 10-episode series for a [niche] channel. Name the series, outline each episode.`
- 32. `Give me a 90-day upload plan: [X] videos per week about [niche]. Sequence them for binge-watching.`
- 33. `What playlists should a [niche] channel have? Name 5 and describe what goes in each.`
- 34. `Give me 5 collaboration video ideas with creators in [adjacent niche].`
- 35. `My videos about [topic] get views but no subscribers. Diagnose 5 likely causes and fixes.`
New to video entirely? Our beginner guide to YouTube marketing covers channel setup and strategy fundamentals.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if a YouTube video idea is good?
Three tests: would your ideal viewer click it (title/thumbnail promise), can you deliver genuine value in the video, and has something similar already worked (search the topic — proven formats are your friend). Ideas passing all three are worth filming.
Should I use AI for my actual video scripts?
Use it for outlines and first drafts, then rewrite in your voice. Viewers subscribe to personalities, not scripts. The prompts above for scripting work best when you feed in your own stories and opinions as raw material.
How many video ideas should I bank before starting?
Bank 20-30 before filming #1. Channels die when creators film weekly with no backlog — one busy week and the schedule collapses. A deep idea bank (built with prompts 7-16) is the real consistency hack.
Can ChatGPT help with YouTube SEO?
Yes — titles, descriptions, tags, and chapters all benefit. But YouTube SEO is mostly watch time and click-through rate. Great packaging gets the click; great content keeps the watch. AI helps the first; only you control the second.
What if my niche is too competitive?
Narrow it. “Fitness” is saturated; “strength training for busy dads over 40” is a kingdom. Use prompts 1-2 to find your specific angle, then own it completely before expanding.