How To Write Descriptions That Rank On Google

Why Your Description Matters More Than You Think

If you create Shorts, TikToks, or Reels, you probably obsess over hooks, cuts, and captions. Then you slap a quick sentence in the description and hit publish.

That lazy description is costing you:

Search traffic from Google
Suggested traffic on YouTube
Higher intent viewers who actually care about your topic
Brand deals that check your search visibility

Google uses your description to decide what your content is about, who should see it, and when it should appear. It reads text. It cannot fully understand your video yet.

So if you want your short form content to rank on Google, you need to treat the description like part of the script, not an afterthought.

ShortsFire can help you generate hooks and ideas, but the description is where you translate that idea into search language. Let’s walk through how to do that step by step.

Step 1: Start With Search Intent, Not Keywords

Most creators open a keyword tool, grab a phrase, and stuff it in the description. Then they wonder why nothing ranks.

You need to start one level higher: intent.

Ask a simple question:

“What exact problem is someone trying to solve when they find this video?”

Examples:

Video: “3 tricks to grow on YouTube Shorts”
- Intent: “I want to get more views and subs using Shorts”
Video: “CapCut velocity edit tutorial”
- Intent: “I want to learn how to make that smooth velocity effect in CapCut”
Video: “What to say in UGC product reviews”
- Intent: “I want a script or formula for paid UGC videos”

Once you know the intent, you can naturally find phrases your viewer would type into Google.

Take that intent and write it down in a simple sentence:

“Someone searching this wants to: __________”

You’ll use that as a filter for your whole description. If a line doesn’t help that person, cut it.

Step 2: Craft a Clear, Search-Friendly First Sentence

Your first 1-2 lines do the heavy lifting for both Google and humans.

They should:

Include your main keyword or phrase naturally
Explain what the viewer will get
Hook curiosity without being clickbait

Think of it as a tiny landing page.

Weak opening

In this video I talk about YouTube growth and stuff like that.

No clear benefit. No real keyword. No intent.

Strong opening

Learn how to write YouTube Shorts descriptions that rank on Google and get you more views, even if you have a small channel.

Why this works:

Main keyword: “YouTube Shorts descriptions that rank on Google”
Clear benefit: “get you more views”
Speaks directly to the right viewer: “small channel”

Aim for 1 sentence, maybe 2. Don’t start with fluff like:

“Hey guys welcome back to my channel”
“I’m so excited to share”
“In this video I’ll be showing you”

Google does not care, and your viewer already knows it is a video.

Step 3: Use Natural Language Keywords, Not Keyword Soup

Google is very good at detecting spam. You don’t need to repeat the same keyword five times.

Instead, use natural variations of the phrase your viewer would search.

For example, if your topic is “TikTok description SEO”:

You might include variations like:

how to write TikTok descriptions
make TikTok videos rank in Google
SEO tips for TikTok creators
get more views from search with your TikTok bio and description

Notice how each one could fit in a normal sentence. That is the standard.

A simple structure you can follow:

1 main phrase in the first sentence
2-3 related phrases in the next 2-3 sentences
After that, write for the human first

You are not writing for a keyword tool. You are writing for a person who did not find the answer on the last page they clicked.

Step 4: Add a Mini “Article” Section Below The Fold

For short form platforms, viewers often only see the first line or two of your description. Google, on the other hand, can read it all.

So you can write in layers:

Top line: Hook + main keyword + benefit
Next 2-3 lines: Who it’s for + what you cover
“More detail” section: Short, skimmable breakdown

Think of this section as a tiny blog post under your video.

Example for a Shorts tutorial:

In this short tutorial, you’ll learn how to write YouTube Shorts descriptions that show up on Google search. I’ll walk you through keywords, structure, and how to avoid sounding spammy.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

How to find the right keywords from your idea

How to write a strong first sentence that Google understands

How to format your description so people actually read it

Simple SEO mistakes that kill your reach

This works for YouTube Shorts, TikTok videos, and Instagram Reels, and it’s perfect if you’re creating viral ideas in ShortsFire and want them to rank long term.

Why this works:

Natural keyword variations
Clear bullets that match real questions
Still sounds human

Step 5: Write for Skimmers, Not Just Search

Most people will not read your whole description word-for-word. They skim.

You want your description to pass the “scroll test”:

If someone scrolls quickly, can they still catch the main value points?

Use:

Short paragraphs
Bullet points
Simple subheadings like “What you’ll learn” or “Resources”
Line breaks between sections

Avoid:

Walls of text
Long sentences stacked together
Giant blocks of hashtags with no context

Skimmable content is also easier for Google to parse. Clean structure helps both robots and humans.

Step 6: Place Links and CTAs Without Killing SEO

You still need to drive people to your offers, socials, or lead magnets. You can do that without making your description look like a link farm.

A good rule:

First 3-4 lines: pure value and context
Middle section: body + bullets
Bottom section: links and CTAs

Example structure:

Want more help growing with Shorts and Reels?

Free resources:

Growth checklist: [link]

Content idea prompts created with ShortsFire: [link]

Work with me:

1:1 coaching: [link]

Brand deals and UGC: [link]

Your links are still visible, but they don’t interrupt the part Google cares about most.

Step 7: Use Hashtags and Keywords Together, Not Instead Of Each Other

Hashtags help on-platform discovery. They do almost nothing for Google.

So you shouldn’t rely on hashtags to explain your content.

Use this simple approach:

2-3 targeted hashtags that match your keyword
1-2 broader, niche-level hashtags

Example for this topic:

#youtubeshorts
#contentcreator
#seo
#shortsfire

Place them at the very end of your description, not in the middle of your explanation. Treat them like labels, not sentences.

Step 8: Steal From Search Results (Ethically)

If you’re stuck on phrasing, go to Google and search the topic you’re covering. Look closely at:

Page titles
Meta descriptions
“People also ask” questions
Related searches at the bottom of the page

These tell you the language real people use. You can:

Copy the structure, not the words
Answer a “People also ask” question directly in your description
Use related searches as variations in your bullets

For example, if you see:

“How do I write a good description for YouTube?”
“Do descriptions help YouTube SEO?”

You might add a line like:

I’ll also answer common questions like whether descriptions help YouTube SEO and how long your YouTube Shorts description should be.

That hits actual search queries in a natural way.

Step 9: Create a Repeatable Description Framework

You should not be writing from scratch every single time. Build a flexible template you can customize in 2-3 minutes.

Here is a simple framework you can adapt:

Hook sentence with main keyword
- “Learn how to [result] with [platform/topic] so you can [benefit].”
Context sentence
- “This short video is perfect for [who] that wants to [goal].”
What’s inside (bullets)
- “You’ll learn:”
  - Bullet 1: specific tactic
  - Bullet 2: specific mistake
  - Bullet 3: specific outcome
Platform list (optional)
- “You can use this for YouTube Shorts, TikTok, and Instagram Reels.”
Resources + CTA
- Links, offers, or lead magnet
Hashtags at the bottom

You can keep this as a note, or inside ShortsFire alongside your idea prompts. When you generate video ideas, pair each one with a description draft using this structure.

Common Mistakes That Keep You From Ranking

Avoid these traps that quietly kill your chances with Google:

Copy-pasting the same description on every video
Google wants unique context, not a template with only one word changed.
Keyword stuffing
“TikTok SEO tips TikTok SEO tips TikTok algorithm TikTok SEO tricks”
This reads like spam. Write real sentences.
No real topic
Vague descriptions like “funny video” or “motivational content” give search engines almost nothing to work with.
Zero viewer benefit
If your description doesn’t answer “what’s in it for me,” people bounce fast. Google watches that behavior.
Hiding the main point below the fold
The first line matters. Don’t waste it on channel intros.

Turn Your Next Short Into A Search Magnet

You don’t need a 2,000 word essay to rank. You just need:

A clear main intent
A sharp first sentence with your core keyword
Natural variations that match real searches
Skimmable structure
A clean layout with CTAs and hashtags at the bottom

If you are already using ShortsFire to generate viral ideas and hooks, this pairs perfectly with that workflow. Use ShortsFire for the concept and script, then run your description through the framework above.

Do this consistently for your next 20 videos and watch where you start appearing:

In Google search
In YouTube search
In suggested videos around your niche

Your video is the engine.
Your description is the map that tells Google where to send it.