Order viewers care about versus production order
Logical watch order should match the list order in the app—even if you film out of sequence. When you publish episodes non-sequentially, still maintain planner order so scripts reference the correct prior context (“last time we covered X”).
Use part numbers only if you commit to them publicly—renumbering confuses subscribers.
If you skip a part, leave a short note in the series bible so future you remembers why.
Naming conventions that scale
Pick a pattern and keep it: “Part 03 — Specific topic” or “Ep 3 · Topic · keyword.” Include a unique keyword per episode for search. Avoid identical openers (“In this video…”) across titles—they blur in analytics.
Internal versus public titles
It is fine to have a working title in the app that differs slightly from the published YouTube title. When they diverge, store the final platform title in notes so reporting matches.
Statuses and ownership
Draft: idea, outline, or blocked—note the blocker.
In progress: scripting or production active—assign owner if team.
Review: needs editor or legal—set deadline in notes.
Ready: approved for record or upload.
Shipped: link to URL if your workflow tracks it; log learnings.
Handoff blocks for teams
For each episode, maintain a short handoff: hook line, main beats, must-include CTA, and assets status (thumbnail, B-roll list). Editors should not hunt the script for obligations.
If your series has recurring segments, template them in a preset or rule so every episode hits the same structural beats without re-explaining.
When to split or merge
Split when one video tries to cover two viewer jobs (“tutorial + news”) and retention drops at the pivot. Merge when two shorts are really one chapter—publishers often over-split early on.