YouTube Content Planning — Content Projections Template
Fill this one-year content, revenue, and cost model before greenlighting production. Includes examples and worksheets.
Sign up for our upcoming workshops - space is limited
Advanced AI YouTube Production (Oct 4, Closed Beta): https://brokenduck.studio/workshops/apply-2025-10-04-advanced-ai-youtube-production/
Launching a Faceless YouTube Channel with AI (Sep 27): https://brokenduck.studio/workshops/signup-2025-09-27-faceless-channel-ai/
YouTube AI Content Workflow: Asset Libraries (Sep 20): https://brokenduck.studio/workshops/workshop-2025-09-20-ai-content-workflow/
Goal: Complete this one-year projection before you greenlight production.
What this is & how to use it
This template lets you model a YouTube channel for a one-year horizon before committing resources. Fill out Content, Revenue, and Costs first (exactly as shown below). Then complete Competition Analysis (3 similar channels) and Video Competition Content Analysis (3 individual videos—these do not have to be the exact niche; they’re for extracting hooks, structures, and editing patterns that work). Finish with Production Cost Projections. The goal is to have this fully completed before greenlighting production.
Quick Example (how to fill it)
Example project: Personal Finance Explainers (U.S.)
Content shelf life: 8 (evergreen how‑tos)
Niche density: 7 (crowded but winnable sub‑topics)
Video capacity: 52 (1/week)
Video frequency: 1/week
Average video length: 8 min
Estimated average views: 35,000 / video
Estimated RPM: $8.50
Estimated channel revenue (ads only): ≈ $15,470 (52 × 35,000 ÷ 1,000 × $8.50)
Estimated revenue per minute: ≈ $37.30 / minute published ($15,470 ÷ (52 × 8))
Use these as orientation only—replace with your own niche numbers.
Content
Content shelf life:
Niche density:
Video capacity:
Video frequency:
Average video length:
Estimated average views:
Tip: Derive Estimated average views from competitor medians and your expected CTR/retention, not from your best outlier.
Revenue
Estimated revenue per mille (RPM):
Estimated channel revenue:
Estimated revenue per minute:
Note: If modeling sponsors/affiliates, either add them to Estimated channel revenue (and note the assumptions) or track separately in a “Non‑Ads Revenue” line.
Costs (summary)
Annual fixed costs (tools, software, music, stock, cloud):
Variable cost per video (editing, script/VO, thumbnail):
Team costs (contractors/salary allocation):
Contingency (10–15%):
Estimated annual cost (fixed + variable × planned videos + team + contingency):
Example (finance explainers): Fixed $1,200/yr (tools) + Variable $180/video × 52 + Team $6,000 + 10% contingency → ≈ $17,732
Entry Guide: Field Explanations & Numbering (one-year projections)
Scales (enter whole numbers 1–10)
- Content shelf life (1–10): 1 = very short-lived (news-cycle); 10 = evergreen (continues earning for 12+ months).
- Niche density (1–10): 1 = sparse competition; 10 = highly saturated sub-niche.
Counts & cadence
- Video capacity: Total number of videos you can produce in one year. Enter an exact number (e.g., 52) or write Unlimited if you intend to scale without a hard cap.
- Video frequency: Target cadence (e.g., 2/week, 8/month). Use the rate you believe is optimal for growth and sustainable with your capacity.
Durations & views
- Average video length: Typical runtime in minutes (e.g., 10).
- Estimated average views: Per-video estimate based on competitor medians and your expected CTR/retention. Annual projections will derive from this × planned output.
Revenue (annualized)
- Estimated RPM: Expected $ per 1,000 views for your topic/geos.
- Estimated channel revenue: One-year projection based on planned views (include only what you’re modeling here—e.g., Ad revenue; add sponsors/affiliates only if you’re explicitly modeling them).
- Estimated revenue per minute: Annual channel revenue ÷ total minutes published in the year.
Research
- Key sources to consult:
- Notes on seasonal trends:
- Audience segments & geos:
Leave this blank for now; fill it after the first pass of Competition & Video Analysis.
Competition Analysis (3 Channels)
Competitor 1
- Channel link:
- Channel description:
- Total Videos: 0
- Total Views: 0
- Average views per video: 0
- Average video length: 0
- Estimated RPM: $0
- Estimated channel revenue (annualized): $0
Competitor 2
- Channel link:
- Channel description:
- Total Videos: 0
- Total Views: 0
- Average views per video: 0
- Average video length: 0
- Estimated RPM: $0
- Estimated channel revenue (annualized): $0
Competitor 3
- Channel link:
- Channel description:
- Total Videos: 0
- Total Views: 0
- Average views per video: 0
- Average video length: 0
- Estimated RPM: $0
- Estimated channel revenue (annualized): $0
How to estimate RPM: Use topic/geo benchmarks or back-calc from creators’ public revenue disclosures where available. Keep a conservative range (e.g., $4–$9).
Video Competition Content Analysis (3 Videos)
Video Case Study Instructions
Download three competitor videos for analysis. For each video, review: Introduction, Video Editing Effects, Script Style, and Branding. Compile the three introductions into a single internal reference cut if helpful, highlighting standout hooks or editing tactics worth adopting. These reference videos do not have to be the exact niche; prioritize clips that clearly demonstrate hooks, pacing, retention structure, and branding you want to emulate. Include the filename at the top of each entry.
Video 1
- Video Filename: [Insert filename here]
- Video Link: [Insert]
Introduction
Describe how the video starts—pacing, hook, visuals. Include timecodes if useful.
Video Editing Effects
Zooms, transitions, subtitles, overlays, motion templates. What stands out? What’s reusable?
Script Style
Originality, VO vs on-camera, any reused/rephrased content. How could we streamline script creation?
Branding
Fonts, colors, logos, catchphrases, consistent on-screen elements. How should we incorporate comparable branding?
Video 2
- Video Filename: [Insert filename here]
- Video Link: [Insert]
Introduction
Describe how the video starts—pacing, hook, visuals. Include timecodes if useful.
Video Editing Effects
Zooms, transitions, subtitles, overlays, motion templates. What stands out? What’s reusable?
Script Style
Originality, VO vs on-camera, any reused/rephrased content. How could we streamline script creation?
Branding
Fonts, colors, logos, catchphrases, consistent on-screen elements. How should we incorporate comparable branding?
Video 3
- Video Filename: [Insert filename here]
- Video Link: [Insert]
Introduction
Describe how the video starts—pacing, hook, visuals. Include timecodes if useful.
Video Editing Effects
Zooms, transitions, subtitles, overlays, motion templates. What stands out? What’s reusable?
Script Style
Originality, VO vs on-camera, any reused/rephrased content. How could we streamline script creation?
Branding
Fonts, colors, logos, catchphrases, consistent on-screen elements. How should we incorporate comparable branding?
Production Cost Projections (detail)
Build this once, then reuse the structure per project/season.
Assumptions
- Planned videos this year:
- Avg. runtime (min):
- Variable cost/video (editing, VO, thumbnail):
- Fixed annual tools (DAW/NLE, stock/music, storage):
- Team allocation (hrs or retainer):
- Contingency (10–15%):
Projection Table
| Cost Bucket | Unit | Quantity | Rate | Subtotal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Editing | video | $ | $ | |
| Script & VO | video | $ | $ | |
| Thumbnail | video | $ | $ | |
| Music/Stock | video | $ | $ | |
| Tools (NLE, TTS, storage) | year | 1 | $ | $ |
| Team (producer/editor) | month | $ | $ | |
| Contingency | percent | 10–15% | $ | |
| Total | **$ ** |
Example inputs: Editing $120/video; Script/VO $40/video; Thumbnail $20/video; Tools $1,200/yr; Team $500/mo for 6 months; Contingency 12%.
What Velio is (quick definition)
Velio is a YouTube research assistant (Chrome extension + web app) that helps you:
- Save promising videos to an Idea Board and tag them by format (e.g., myths, mistakes, timeline, before/after).
- Break down hooks and get title variations you can test later.
- Track competitor channels so you spot repeatable formats and upload cadence.
- Use AI SEO helpers (for titles/descriptions/keywords) and A/B analysis prompts to improve what you publish next.
The point isn’t fancy dashboards—it’s a repeatable way to turn browsing into decisions that fill your planning template.
Install & first-run checklist (Chrome)
- Add to Chrome → Pin the extension (so it’s one click).
- Sign in or create an account so your saves persist.
- Go to YouTube; open a few channels/videos in your niche—you should see Velio UI elements active on pages.
- Create an Idea Board called:
2025—Channel Research. Add tags you’ll reuse:myth,mistake,how-to,list,timeline,case-study,reaction,explainer,finance,history, etc.
How we’ll use Velio with your template
We’ll follow six steps. Each step tells you what to do inside Velio, what to capture, and which field in your YouTube Content Planning template it fills.
Step 1 — Build your signal pool (20–50 examples)
In Velio: search your niche (e.g., “budgeting mistakes”, “side hustle ideas”).
For each promising video:
- Click Save to Idea Board
- Add tags (format + topic)
- Add a note about why it worked (hook pattern, POV, visual beats).
What to capture: 20–50 videos across 6–12 channels. Focus on recency and views relative to channel size (great signals).
Template impact: informs Estimated average views and provides candidates for Competition Analysis and Video Competition Content Analysis.
Step 2 — Track your top competitor channels
In Velio: open their channel pages → Track. Collect for each:
- Totals: total videos, total views, median views on the last 20 uploads.
- Runtime: average length.
- Formats: recurring structures (e.g., “7 mistakes”, “3 rules”, “timeline stories”).
- Branding staples: palettes, lower thirds, recurring overlays.
Template → Competition Analysis (3 Channels): fill link, description, Totals, Average views per video (use median last 20), Average video length, Estimated RPM (pick one conservative RPM for your model), Estimated channel revenue (model).
Tip: Prioritize channels that publish consistently and show repeatable spikes—that’s what you can emulate.
Step 3 — Deconstruct three winning videos (format study)
Pick 3 videos (not necessarily your exact niche) that perfectly demonstrate the structure you want: hooks, retention loops, editing rhythm, branding.
For each video, record:
- Introduction: how fast to the promise? cold open? title card? timecodes.
- Video Editing Effects: zooms, kinetic subtitles, overlays, motion templates.
- Script Style: VO vs on-cam, beat density, sentence length, humor vs straight facts.
- Branding: fonts, colors, lower-thirds, end-screen patterns.
Template → Video Competition Content Analysis (3 Videos): paste notes under the four headings. Include Video Filename (if you keep an internal reference cut) and the link.
Hook work: Use Velio’s hook tools to generate 10–20 variations of the original title. Save your favorites for testing later.
Step 4 — Title & thumbnail drafts (optional but powerful)
Use Velio’s AI SEO helpers to spin up:
- Title lists (10–20 lines per concept) from the hook structures you liked.
- Description starters (with nouns that match your audience’s search intent).
If you already publish, shortlist two title options for YouTube’s Test & Compare (A/B). Keep a log of what wins—this will nudge your Estimated average views upward over time.
Step 5 — Convert research → numbers for the template
Now we translate qualitative findings into defensible projections.
1) Estimated average views (per video)
- For each tracked channel, compute median views on the last 20 uploads.
- Take a weighted average across your 3 closest competitors.
- Adjust slightly for your expected cadence and production quality (be conservative).
2) Capacity, cadence, length
- Video capacity: how many you can truly ship in one year (e.g., 52).
- Video frequency: your cadence (e.g., 1/week).
- Average video length: minutes (e.g., 10).
3) Revenue modeling (annual)
- Estimated RPM ($/1,000): pick a conservative value for your niche/geos (e.g., $5).
- Total projected views =
Estimated average views × Planned output. - Estimated channel revenue =
Total projected views × RPM / 1,000. - Estimated revenue per minute =
Channel revenue ÷ (Total minutes published).
Example math
- Estimated average views: 28,000
- Planned output: 52 videos → 1,456,000 total views
- RPM: $5 → $7,280 channel revenue
- Minutes published: 52 × 10 = 520 → $7,280 ÷ 520 = $14.00 per minute
Template → Content & Revenue: fill the numbers exactly in those fields.
Step 6 — “Research” placeholder (to fill later)
In your final docs, add a Research section with this note:
This section will be populated with screenshots (Idea Board, competitor stats, hook variants) and any external source links. We capture proof late in the process to avoid churn—attach only once selections are final.
This keeps your planning model complete now but gives you space to append proof later (screens + links).
Example entries (ready to paste)
Content
- Content shelf life: 8 (evergreen “how-to” and “mistakes” formats)
- Niche density: 7 (crowded but lots of angles)
- Video capacity: 52
- Video frequency: 1/week
- Average video length: 10
- Estimated average views: 28,000 (median-based)
Revenue
- Estimated RPM: $5.00
- Estimated channel revenue: $7,280
- Estimated revenue per minute: $14.00
Competition Analysis (sample)
Competitor 1
- Channel link: [paste URL]
- Description: Beginner-friendly money tips & myth-busting
- Total Videos: 210
- Total Views: 14.8M
- Average views/video: ≈70k (median last 20 ≈52k)
- Average video length: 9–11 min
- Estimated RPM: $5 (assumption)
- Estimated channel revenue: $74k/yr (modeled)
Competitor 2
- Channel link: [paste URL]
- Description: Daily personal finance explainers
- Total Videos: 120 · Total Views: 6.9M
- Average views/video: ≈38k (median last 20 ≈31k)
- Average video length: 8–10 min
- Estimated RPM: $5
- Estimated channel revenue: $34k/yr (modeled)
Competitor 3
- Channel link: [paste URL]
- Description: Case-study driven budgeting stories
- Total Videos: 85 · Total Views: 3.1M
- Average views/video: ≈36k (median last 20 ≈27k)
- Average video length: 11–13 min
- Estimated RPM: $5
- Estimated channel revenue: $28k/yr (modeled)
Video Competition Content Analysis (samples)
Video 1
- Video Filename:
mistakes_keep_you_broke_ref.mp4 - Video Link: [paste]
Introduction — Cold open lists 3 “ouch” lines in 8 seconds; promise by 0:12; title card by 0:15.
Video Editing Effects — Kinetic captions, 1.08× punch-ins on emphasis, cash-register SFX, subtle swooshes for list transitions.
Script Style — VO-first; 2–3 beats/min; each beat ends with a “do-this-instead”.
Branding — Green/off-white palette; rounded sans; logo sting at 0:15 and on end screen.
Video 2
- Video Filename:
budget_under_10min_ref.mp4 - Video Link: [paste]
Introduction — Before/after contrast frame 0:00; promise line + timer overlay; first tip by 0:20.
Video Editing Effects — Split-screen comparisons; checkmark overlays; light grain; LUT warms skin tones.
Script Style — Short sentences; second-person POV; one example per tip.
Branding — Thin-line icons; slate/cream palette; consistent lower thirds.
Video 3
- Video Filename:
grocery_savings_ref.mp4 - Video Link: [paste]
Introduction — Relatable cold-open (“receipt shock”); hook at 0:07; pattern break with receipt zoom.
Video Editing Effects — Receipt pop-ins; price stickers; AR-style callouts; rapid B‑roll cuts every 2–3s.
Script Style — Stat → tactic → one‑line action; upbeat VO.
Branding — Bold numerals for tips; end screen with two clear next‑watch recs.
Quality signals & habits (so Velio keeps paying off)
- Tag by format in the Idea Board (not just topic). Formats—mistakes, myths, timelines, how‑to—drive retention.
- Steal structures, not scripts. Borrow hook shapes and beat orders, then use your own examples.
- Keep an Angle Ledger. One line per idea: what the hook promises, why it likely worked.
- Close the loop. When you publish, revisit the inspo source and annotate: did that hook/angle perform for you, too?
- Document assumptions. Write your RPM and view estimate assumptions at the top of your template so future you knows the basis.
Where each Velio feature maps in your template
| Velio feature | Template section it powers | What to paste |
|---|---|---|
| Idea Board (tagged saves) | Content + inputs to Video Analysis | Links, titles, tags, notes |
| Track competitors | Competition Analysis (3 Channels) | Channel link, medians, runtime, patterns |
| Hook breakdowns & suggestions | Video Analysis → Introduction & Script Style | Hook timing, variations list |
| AI SEO helpers | Content (views) + title tests | 10–20 refined titles per idea |
| A/B analysis prompts | Future improvements to Estimated average views | Keep a running title/CTR log |
Quick copy blocks (drop-in)
Research placeholder (to be filled later):
[To be completed once selections are final. Attach screenshots of Velio Idea Board, competitor medians, hook variants, and any external sources.]
Content (example):
- Content shelf life: 8
- Niche density: 7
- Video capacity: 52
- Video frequency: 1/week
- Average video length: 10
- Estimated average views: 28,000
Revenue (example):
- Estimated RPM: $5.00
- Estimated channel revenue: $7,280
- Estimated revenue per minute: $14.00
Recap
- Build signals (Idea Board with 20–50 videos, tagged by format).
- Track 3 channels and collect medians + repeatable patterns.
- Deconstruct 3 videos for hooks/edits/branding you’ll reuse.
- Draft titles and keep A/B shortlists for publishing.
- Turn it into numbers and fill your planning template.
- Attach proof later—screens + links—to lock the model.
