How do you write a YouTube description that AI will cite?
Updated August 2026
Write the description answer-first: directly answer the video's question in the first one or two sentences, then expand to 150 to 300 words that name real entities like programs, people, places, and outcomes. Description depth is the single strongest measured factor in whether a video gets cited by AI.
A two-line description barely registers. A substantial, specific one gives the engine the text it needs to understand and quote the video. Put the direct answer and the keywords early, and choose named specifics over adjectives.
In an analysis of over 100 million AI citations, description depth was the strongest positive correlate of citation of any variable tested. It is correlational, not proof of cause, but it is the clearest single signal in the data.