YouTube Upload Checklist: How to Post Videos Correctly
- Erin MeHarg
- Mar 12
- 5 min read
One of the most common things I hear from people who want to start a YouTube channel is: "I don't know where to start." Most people think the hard part is filming the video. In reality, a lot of the impact of a YouTube video happens after you upload it.
YouTube gives creators a lot of fields to fill out when posting a video. Title, description, tags, thumbnails, cards, playlists, chapters, and more. It can feel overwhelming, but each of those small pieces helps YouTube understand what your video is about and who it should show it to.
Think of it like this. Your video is the house. All of the information you add when uploading is the road signs that help people find it. When those details are skipped, YouTube has a harder time knowing where your video belongs. That is why understanding the anatomy of a YouTube upload can make a big difference.
The Anatomy of a YouTube Upload
Here are the core pieces every creator should pay attention to when uploading a video.
You do not need to be perfect. You just need to be intentional.
1. The Title
Your title is one of the most important elements. A good YouTube title usually does three things:
Clearly explains what the video is about
Includes a keyword people might search
Creates curiosity
Example format:
Hook + Context
Example:
Setting Up a Golf Practice Space at Home (Garage Edition)
Not clickbait.Just clear and searchable.
2. The Thumbnail
The thumbnail is the first impression. A strong thumbnail should:
• Be easy to read on a phone
• Include a clear subject
• Avoid too much text
• Create curiosity
On YouTube, thumbnails and titles work together. The title explains.The thumbnail attracts.
3. The Description
The description helps YouTube understand your video topic. Your first two lines are the most important because they appear in search results. A good description should include:
• A clear summary of the video
• Natural keywords related to the topic
• Links to anything mentioned in the video
• Your social links or website
Think of the description as context for the algorithm.
4. Tags
Tags help YouTube understand the broader category of your video.
Examples might include:
• topic keywords
• niche keywords
• audience keywords
For example, a golf channel might use tags like: golf vlog, beginner golf, weekend golfer, golf practice tips
Tags are not the most powerful ranking factor anymore, but they still help categorize content.
5. Chapters
Chapters improve viewer experience and help YouTube understand the structure of your video.
They also show up in search results.
Example:
00:00 Intro, 00:45 Setting up the hitting net, 02:10 Practicing inside the garage
Chapters make longer videos easier to navigate.
6. Playlists
Playlists are one of the most overlooked tools on YouTube. Grouping related videos into playlists helps YouTube understand:
• what your channel is about
• how your videos connect
It also increases watch time because viewers are more likely to keep watching the next video
in the playlist.
7. Cards and End Screens
These are the navigation tools inside your video.
Cards appear during the video and can point viewers to related content. End screens appear at the end and usually promote:
• another video
• a playlist
• subscribing to the channel
Think of them as signposts for your audience.
The YouTube Upload Checklist (Free Resource)
If you want a simple reference guide for posting videos correctly, I created a YouTube Upload Checklist you can use every time you post. It walks through each field you should fill out before clicking publish.
Real Example: Fringe Shots After One Month on YouTube
Instead of only talking about theory, I want to share a real example. My husband recently started a golf YouTube channel called Fringe Shots. Of course he "hired" me to oversee all things marketing and social media.
He is not a professional golfer. We are not professional YouTubers. We are simply documenting the process and learning as we go. Prior to working with his brand I did several videos for Summit Cove Realty a few years ago, so I had a little experience with posting to YouTube. I had also taken a video class at Wade College a spart of my degree plan and knew the basic of Premier Pro, which has been helpful. I am currently diggin into learning more about video editing using Premier Pro.
Channel Growth:
After our first month, here is what the numbers looked like as of February 28, 2026.
Subscribers: 22
For a brand new channel with only a few uploads, this is actually a healthy start. One video alone generated 11 subscribers, which shows that the topic connected with viewers.
Views and Reach
Total Views: 5.8K
Most of these came from YouTube Shorts, which is very common for new channels. Shorts are one of the fastest ways for small channels to get initial exposure.
Traffic Sources
Shorts Feed: 85%
This tells us that the Shorts algorithm is currently driving most of the discovery. Suggested Videos and Search are still small, which is normal for new channels. Those sources usually grow as a channel builds more content over time.
Engagement
Likes: 47 | Comments: 3 | Shares: 23
The number that stands out here is shares. When people share a video, it signals that the content resonated enough for them to pass it along.
Watch Time
Total Watch Time: 30.5 hours
Watch time is one of the most important signals on YouTube because it tells the platform that viewers are interested enough to stay. As we improve filming, pacing, and editing, this is one of the metrics we expect to grow.
What We're Learning So Far
The biggest lesson from the first month is simple:
Just start.
It is very easy to delay launching a channel because you feel like everything needs to be perfect.
Perfect lighting. Perfect editing. Perfect script.
In reality, YouTube is a platform where improvement happens through doing. We are already seeing areas where we want to improve:
• filming techniques
• editing pace
• storytelling in the videos
And the only way to get better at those things is by continuing to create.
Do Your Homework
One of the best things you can do when starting a YouTube channel is study other creators in your niche. Pay attention to things like:
• video structure
• thumbnails
• pacing
• titles that perform well
You are not copying them. You are learning what works. Over time, you start developing
your own style.
The Most Important Rule: Have Fun
If creating content feels stressful, it becomes hard to stay consistent. The best channels are built by people who genuinely enjoy what they are doing. That energy shows up in the videos, and viewers can feel it. Focus on learning. Focus on improving. But most importantly: Have fun with it. Because the channels that last are the ones that enjoy the process.
Check out the Fringe Shot Short "Golf Club Handoff Trick Shot", that is sitting at 18, 760 views as of March 11, 2026 at 10:51pm.
Check out the Fringe Shot Video "Fringe Shots is a golf channel for the rest of us.", it is the first of 4 videos we have uploaded as of today March 11, 2026. This video currently has 457 views.
As you can see, this video is far from perfect. Dale had been procrastinating for a while, and I finally told him that if we didn’t do it now, it might never get done. Looking back, there are plenty of things we could have done better. But the most important thing we did right was simply starting.
Everyone has to begin somewhere.
So if you’ve been thinking about starting a YouTube channel, consider this your sign to rip off the bandaid and jump in. It might feel a little cringey. It might be rough around the edges. Do it anyway.
Because the only way to improve is by actually creating.
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