Creator pre-publish checklist — 25 points worth catching

✅ 3-minute summary — five must-do checks

- [ ] Core message in the first 10s

- [ ] Thumbnail and title match

- [ ] Caption typos and proper nouns verified

- [ ] Copyright and AI disclosure

- [ ] Description, hashtags, playlists

All 25 checks

① Content (5)

• Core message inside 10s
• Facts cross-checked with 2+ sources
• Sources organized in the description
• Distinguish claim vs opinion
• Run the sensitive-topic check

② Title + description (4)

• Search-friendly conversational language
• Consistent with thumbnail copy
• First 3 lines of the description summarize the video
• ≤ 5 hashtags

③ Thumbnail (3)

• Distinct at thumbnail-of-thumb size
• 2 A/B candidates prepared
• Matches the title

④ Editing + captions (5)

• Intro ≤ 5s
• Caption typos and proper nouns clean (common subtitle mistakes)
• Captions readable on mobile
• BGM ≤ -6dB below speech
• One full-video playback review

⑤ Copyright (3)

• Licenses for every external asset
• Cite sources for quotations
• Personality rights cleared

⑥ Platform (3)

• Disclose AI-synthesized factual content
• Children-content settings
• Monetization and ad placements

⑦ Publishing (2)

• Public mode (start private for team review)
• Cards, end screens, playlists

Systematize

• Store a team checklist in Notion / Docs
• Role split: editor / reviewer / publisher
• A 15-minute final pass right before publishing

Common mistakes

• Perfectionism delays publish → small errors can be fixed post-publish
• Logging off right after publish → the first 30 minutes of response matter
• Just copying an old checklist
• Solo review → another pair of eyes always helps

FAQ

Too long — can I trim?

Cover the areas you actually slip on. Consistency matters more than length.

Automation?

Caption typos and licensing checks can be automated. Fact-checking and sensitive topics stay human.

Found a problem after publish?

Set to private → fix → re-publish. Minor issues can be corrected in the description. For copyright, private it immediately.

Read next: Common subtitle mistakes · Weekly production system

💡 Pair this with Editorial policy + Content principles.

Note: Items vary by field, country, and platform. Update regularly.