AI prompts for YouTube and short‑form video in 2026 help you move from vague ideas to clear scripts, hooks, and series that actually keep people watching. Instead of telling AI “write me a YouTube script,” you can use focused prompts that think about audience, video length, hook, retention, and call to action.
This guide gives you practical AI prompts for video ideas, long‑form scripts, Shorts and Reels, thumbnails, and growth strategy. You can paste them into tools like ChatGPT or Gemini, tweak the placeholders, and then edit the output so it still sounds like you.
Prompts for YouTube video ideas
Good video ideas are specific, audience‑focused, and repeatable as a series. AI can help you brainstorm topics that match your niche, difficulty level, and content style instead of chasing random trends.
Example prompts:
- “You are a YouTube strategist. Generate 20 video ideas for a channel about [niche] targeting [audience], mixing tutorials, breakdowns, and opinion pieces.”
- “Based on these 5 top‑performing videos [paste titles or topics], suggest 15 new video ideas that build on similar themes but from fresh angles.”
- “Create 10 YouTube video ideas for [niche] that could work as a series, with each idea building on the last.”
You can link this section back to your main Best AI Prompts 2026 for Creators, Marketers, and Entrepreneurs pillar so readers see how video ideas connect with your blogging and social content planning.
Prompts for YouTube video outlines and scripts
Once you have solid ideas, AI can help you outline or even draft scripts while you keep control of structure and pacing. In 2026, the best AI prompts for YouTube scripts specify video length, audience, tone, and key segments like hook, value, and CTA.
Example prompts:
- “Write a detailed outline for an 8‑minute YouTube video about [topic] for [audience]. Include hook, intro, 3–5 main sections, examples, and a closing CTA.”
- “Create a 7‑minute conversational tutorial script for beginners: ‘How to [topic]’. Include a 10‑second hook, step‑by‑step instructions, 3 quick tips, and a recap with a subscribe CTA.”
- “Take this rough script [paste text] and improve it for clarity, pacing, and engagement. Suggest where to add B‑roll, on‑screen text, and pattern interrupts.”
Later, you can connect this section to a deeper guide such as AI Prompts for YouTube Scripts in 2026, where you group prompts by tutorials, reviews, interviews, and story‑based videos.
Prompts for YouTube Shorts and vertical video
Short‑form vertical video (Shorts, Reels, TikTok) rewards tight scripts with strong hooks and one clear idea. AI prompts should ask for very short runtimes, punchy intros, and simple visual cues so you can record fast.
Example prompts:
- “Write a 30‑second YouTube Short script about [topic] with a strong hook in the first 3 seconds, one main idea, and a clear CTA.”
- “Turn this long‑form video or blog post [paste notes or key points] into 5 YouTube Shorts ideas, each with a title, 3‑second hook, and one key takeaway.”
- “Generate 10 quick‑tip Shorts ideas for [niche], each structured as: hook, 1 tip in 1–2 sentences, and a one‑line CTA.”
You can later create a standalone article like AI Prompts for YouTube Shorts & Vertical Video in 2026, and link it from this section for creators who focus mostly on short‑form.
Prompts for thumbnails and titles
Titles and thumbnails are critical for click‑through rate, and AI can help you generate variations to test. In 2026, strong prompts for titles and thumbnails specify keyword, emotion, and whether you want more SEO‑friendly or more curiosity‑driven options.
Example prompts:
- “Generate 15 YouTube title ideas for a video about [topic], each under 60 characters and including the keyword [keyword]. Mix SEO‑friendly and curiosity‑driven angles.”
- “Based on this video idea [describe], suggest 10 thumbnail concepts: short text for the image plus a simple visual description.”
- “Rewrite this title [paste title] into 10 variations, some safer and some more bold, while keeping the core promise.”
This section is a good place to internally link to your SEO and blogging prompts satellite so readers see how titles work across both search and YouTube.
Prompts for repurposing videos into other content
One strong YouTube video can become a week of content if you repurpose it well. AI prompts can help you turn scripts or transcripts into blog posts, social content, emails, and more.
Example prompts:
- “Turn this YouTube script or transcript [paste text] into a 1,500‑word blog post with clear headings and an introduction tailored to [audience].”
- “Create 10 social media posts (mix of short posts and carousel ideas) based on this YouTube video [paste key points] for [platforms].”
- “Summarize this video [paste transcript or notes] into a newsletter section with a short intro, bullet point lessons, and a link prompt to watch the full video.”
Here you can cross‑link to your AI Prompts for Social Media Content in 2026 and AI Prompts for Blogging & SEO in 2026, showing creators how to connect video, social, and blog in one workflow.
Prompts for YouTube growth strategy and optimization
Beyond single videos, AI can help you think through channel strategy: series, playlists, posting cadence, and audience growth. Prompts that position AI as a “YouTube strategist” can give you clear plans you can adapt.
Example prompts:
- “You are a YouTube growth strategist. Create a 3‑month content plan for a [niche] channel posting 2 videos per week, including series ideas and video themes.”
- “Analyze this list of my recent videos [paste titles and basic stats if available] and suggest what type of videos I should double down on next.”
- “Outline a simple YouTube funnel where viewers go from discovering my videos to joining my email list and eventually buying [offer]. Suggest video types for each step.”
If you later publish a detailed guide like YouTube Automations & AI Workflows in 2026, this section can link to it and show readers how prompts plug into automation tools and schedulers.
How these video prompts fit into your AI ecosystem
These AI prompts for YouTube and short‑form video in 2026 are designed to sit alongside your prompts for blogging, social media, email, and productivity. Used together, they help you plan topics once and then execute them across multiple channels with less friction.
From here, you can direct readers back to your main Best AI Prompts 2026 for Creators, Marketers, and Entrepreneurs article, and across to related guides like AI Prompts for Social Media Content in 2026, AI Prompts for Blogging & SEO in 2026, and AI Email & Funnel Prompts in 2026. Over time, this interconnected prompt library can support creators who want to use AI seriously without losing their unique voice.