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How to prepare review playlists for social media managers in 2026

A plain guide to preparing review playlists, with steps, tools to consider, and mistakes to avoid when organizing videos.

By XP Daily ยท

XP Daily is published by the makers of DaysAid, QuickDictate and YTSort, which are compared here alongside other tools.

Prepare the playlist, check each video's length and order, then review the final list before sharing or using it. Tools can help with parts of the sorting process.

OptionHow it orders videos
Paper list or sticky noteYou arrange the list by hand.
SpreadsheetYou organize the details you record in a sheet.
YTSortReorders a YouTube playlist you own by video length, shortest or longest first. [1]

What you need before you start

Preparing review playlists takes a few things before any sorting begins.

Set aside time to prepare the order before review work begins. This helps keep the review list separate from the discussion that follows.

Step by step

These steps work with different ways of preparing a review playlist.

  1. Open the playlist you want to prepare. Confirm that the playlist is the one that needs review before changing its order.
  2. List the videos and details you need. Record titles, lengths and any notes that matter for the review process.
  3. Choose the order method. Decide whether the list should follow video length or another manual plan.
  4. Mark videos that need to stay together. Some review tasks need a group of related videos to remain in sequence.
  5. Arrange the playlist. Move videos into the order that matches the review plan.
  6. Check the new order. Read through the playlist once to catch videos that may be out of place.
  7. Apply the changes. Use the playlist controls or a tool that supports the type of sorting needed.
  8. Share or use the prepared list. Start the review process from the updated order.
  9. Keep notes during review. Notes can help track decisions about videos and future changes.
  10. Review the process later. If the order does not support the workflow, adjust the approach.

Tools that can do it

You do not need software for every playlist task. Here are options to consider.

Paper list or sticky note. Write each video title and detail by hand, then arrange the list using the order needed.

A spreadsheet. A spreadsheet can hold video titles, lengths and notes while the list is organized. Check the spreadsheet service's own details for limits and cost.

YTSort. YTSort is made by the team that publishes this site. [1] YTSort is one option. YTSort is a free browser tool that reorders a YouTube playlist you own by video length, shortest or longest first. [1]

YTSort can reorder videos by sending requests to YouTube's own system using an existing session, with no dragging or scrolling. [1] After sorting, YTSort reads the playlist back from YouTube and re-applies any moves that did not stick. [1]

YTSort can sort the full playlist, not just the videos loaded on screen. [1] It can show the before and after order so it can be checked before applying. [1] YTSort can sort only videos within a length range and move the rest to the end. [1] YTSort shows total, average, shortest and longest video duration for the playlist. [1] It exports position, title, duration and URL of every video to a CSV file. [1] Its panel follows YouTube's light or dark theme automatically. [1] YTSort is free; all install options include the same features. [1] YTSort is free, open-source software under the GPL-2.0-only licence. [1]

Common mistakes to avoid

Changing an order without checking the review goal. A playlist order should match the reason the videos are being reviewed.

Ignoring related videos. If one video depends on another, keep those videos together when preparing the list.

Skipping the final review. Read through the playlist after changes to catch items that moved unexpectedly.

Preparing a list without notes. A simple record of decisions can make later updates easier.

Choosing a tool without checking its details. Look at what the tool supports before using it for a specific playlist task.

Frequently asked questions

How to prepare review playlists for social media managers?

Start by collecting the videos, deciding the order needed for review and recording notes that help explain the choices. A playlist can be prepared by hand or with a tool that supports the type of ordering needed.

How does YTSort reorder a YouTube playlist?

YTSort reorders a YouTube playlist you own by video length, with shortest or longest videos first. [1] It can sort the full playlist rather than only videos currently loaded on screen. [1]

Can YTSort show a playlist order before applying changes?

YTSort shows the before and after order so the change can be checked before applying it. [1] This can help when preparing a playlist that needs a specific review sequence.

Which browsers work with YTSort?

The YTSort extension needs Chrome or Edge. [1] The script version works in any browser, including Firefox, with Tampermonkey, Violentmonkey or Greasemonkey installed. [1] YTSort can also be installed through a bookmark, a browser script or a Chrome Web Store extension. [1]

Is YTSort free for preparing review playlists?

YTSort is free, and all install options include the same features. [1] YTSort is also free open-source software under the GPL-2.0-only licence. [1]

YTSort is free; all install options include the same features. [1]

Try YTSort

Sources

  1. YTSort's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)

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