Thumbnails... Are they killing your videos?

[Hippo-Drones]

I have mentioned recently that my channel is kind of in a flux at the moment and is almost losing as many subs as it is gaining. I am not sure on what is going on, but I can only work on the things I have control of.

My tags and descriptions, I feel have not changed much, so I don't think it is them causing a fall off in views (which would be a possible reason for the lack of new subscribers vs the natural fall off of old subs).... meaning that the only thing else that could be a cause of the loss in views is the thumbnail, unless it is a YouTube thing which is out of my control.

I have to admit, some of my recent thumbnails have not been great... but others are not terrible.

My aim is to try improve them from now on in, I do hope it works, or at least shows an improvement in views as I am at a loss...

If any of you have thoughts on my previous thumbnails, I'd be grateful for a (kind ish) critique of ones that you think were good, bad, rubbish, etc. Feel free to snip/screen grab any of my previous thumbnails and share them in this thread and review them!

Many thanks, Pete.

 

[tomstc]

Hi Pete, as an avid viewer of your's I feel like I am in a good posistion to give you feedback.
Dump the intro, as cool as it is regular viewers will skip away from it (i do), since I dropped mine retention went up
YouTube will tend to be less likely to recommend vids if people click away/ skip in the first minute or so
I think your thumbnails are OK but take out any red text, there is actually a thing about the human concious that does not like red symbols on photo's.
Otherwise all good love what you do

 

[R-Rated]

At first when I read Tomstc's comment about the red I was skeptical but then when I looked at your video list on my smartphone I did notice the red text is hard to read. But only slightly though.

So I took sample screenshots from different timeframes of your video list to see what may have changed and how they appear:

Recent

A few years ago

Way back before schools had large screens for computer presentations a professor was teaching a class I was in. He placed a presentation a teaching assistant printed out for the overhead projector and it looked too small and too busy.

He laughed and explained it looked great on its own in his hand but when dropped on the floor and seen at a distance it did not work.

Point being a thumbnail is there to speak the interest of the potential viewer.

Here is how a typical algorithmic shoved together feed looks for me based on what the powers at YouTube think I might like

[

I notice that there a only a few thumbnails with words. Of the ones with words there is one that is hard to read due to color of the letters and a couple due to size of the letters.

Most appear uncluttered. Only a couple feature someone's mug jamming up screen space.

So that is what our thumbnails compete with.

Now back to you problem with losing as many as gaining - the bot farms are doing the best they can. You just have not let hack your bank accounts yet

 

[Slorida]

I'm no expert on the subject, infact I barely give it a second thought, but it occurs to me that a wall of text might grab my initial attention, but it is less likely to get me to watch the video. I think I would gravitate towards a simpler, less "busy" image, but as I say, I know nothing on the subject beyond what I think I like. Not sure if this helps or not.

 

[Hippo-Drones]

Hi Pete, as an avid viewer of your's I feel like I am in a good posistion to give you feedback.
Dump the intro, as cool as it is regular viewers will skip away from it (i do), since I dropped mine retention went up
YouTube will tend to be less likely to recommend vids if people click away/ skip in the first minute or so
I think your thumbnails are OK but take out any red text, there is actually a thing about the human concious that does not like red symbols on photo's.
Otherwise all good love what you do

Cheers Tom, I kind of agree about the intro regarding retention, is one of the reasons mine is only 5 seconds long and I often place it beyond the first 30 seconds of my videos now. The intro doesn't affect views though, and my videos just aren't getting the views they were. I shall definitely contemplate losing the intro clip, it'll have to go if/when I sell my V7 anyway!
Ty for the feedback mate

 

[Hippo-Drones]

At first when I read Tomstc's comment about the red I was skeptical but then when I looked at your video list on my smartphone I did notice the red text is hard to read. But only slightly though.

So I took sample screenshots from different timeframes of your video list to see what may have changed and how they appear:


Way back before schools had large screens for computer presentations a professor was teaching a class I was in. He placed a presentation a teaching assistant printed out for the overhead projector and it looked too small and too busy.

He laughed and explained it looked great on its own in his hand but when dropped on the floor and seen at a distance it did not work.

Point being a thumbnail is there to speak the interest of the potential viewer.

Here is how a typical algorithmic shoved together feed looks for me based on what the powers at YouTube think I might like


I notice that there a only a few thumbnails with words. Of the ones with words there is one that is hard to read due to color of the letters and a couple due to size of the letters.

Most appear uncluttered. Only a couple feature someone's mug jamming up screen space.

So that is what our thumbnails compete with.

Now back to you problem with losing as many as gaining - the bot farms are doing the best they can. You just have not let hack your bank accounts yet

I really do need to start taking an intentional photo to use as a thumbnail, I am rubbish at getting my camera out, and really should more often as my Instagram-foo is pretty weak too.
I will absolutely try to unclutter future thumbnails too and will try @tomstc 's suggestion of losing the red writing... My reasoning behind the colours I use on videos was to match the bike, so red and black for Aprilia vids, red and white for Beta vids etc... but if that is an easy fix, I'll def try it!
Ty Anthony

 

[Hippo-Drones]

I'm no expert on the subject, infact I barely give it a second thought, but it occurs to me that a wall of text might grab my initial attention, but it is less likely to get me to watch the video. I think I would gravitate towards a simpler, less "busy" image, but as I say, I know nothing on the subject beyond what I think I like. Not sure if this helps or not.

I think you are bang on point mate, keep it simple... I think if combined with a more purposeful image, and simple short text, that is easily readable it could very much help things.
Ty mate

 

[R-Rated]

Cheers Tom, I kind of agree about the intro regarding retention, is one of the reasons mine is only 5 seconds long and I often place it beyond the first 30 seconds of my videos now. The intro doesn't affect views though, and my videos just aren't getting the views they were. I shall definitely contemplate losing the intro clip, it'll have to go if/when I sell my V7 anyway!
Ty for the feedback mate

Hey, as far as intro - since the customer is in the door at that point you can try mixing it up. I like the idea if placing the brief intro after a teaser bit of video or you can try other things. I recently found a motovlogger with a different style of intro. I will share it here just for some examples:

First thing he is doing is basking in reflected glory. The old Mustang, the naval flags, the American flag - all proud things he has done but do they really have anything to do with the video? Not really but great use of staging and I did a video about using that technique. These will appeal to veterans, car guys, and even those envious of having a clean garage.

Next is the banner with the brag in the intro. At 11.1K subs, he is doing ok and I would not say it is a small channel. The banner takes the place of the normal begging for subs which allows Cue to introduce himself and then introduce his topic. Very well done.

Finally are the thumbnails. They are a little busy already so not having much text is good as it would look even busier.

Oh, the red - well that silver beast is an exception from what I can tell because his other two bikes are red. I think he must like red. I know he explained in one video he wished he had gotten the silver bike in the other color scheme for that model - amber and black.

So his whole intro is about 5 seconds tops with 3 before he gets to the topic.

This is just an example I found interesting due to him using the above techniques. So at 4 seconds, I wanted to hear a little more.

If you watch his stuff you can see he is pretty polished in his presentation in the garage. I have not seen any of his actual riding videos yet so who knows - he could be just like the rest of us.

 

[R-Rated]

I really do need to start taking an intentional photo to use as a thumbnail, I am rubbish at getting my camera out, and really should more often as my Instagram-foo is pretty weak too.
I will absolutely try to unclutter future thumbnails too and will try @tomstc 's suggestion of losing the red writing... My reasoning behind the colours I use on videos was to match the bike, so red and black for Aprilia vids, red and white for Beta vids etc... but if that is an easy fix, I'll def try it!
Ty Anthony

How about when you use red, then maybe lay it over a background to make it pop better and thin out or outline the letters so they are easier to read when small? Just an idea. You could look at magazine ads dropped on the floor for ideas on what looks good as a small thumbnail compared to up close like on a monitor when designing it.

 

[tomstc]

If you have not done so already check out vidiq on YouTube, beyond all the gimmick sales stuff they kind of make sense.
It's the reason why I'm not publishing alot, I'm trying to work out how to work their ideas into my vids.
Also check out Matt Armstrong nothing to do with motorcycles but his style is where we all need to be, not sure how we can fit that into motorcycles Vlogging though

 

[Hippo-Drones]

If you have not done so already check out vidiq on YouTube, beyond all the gimmick sales stuff they kind of make sense.
It's the reason why I'm not publishing alot, I'm trying to work out how to work their ideas into my vids.
Also check out Matt Armstrong nothing to do with motorcycles but his style is where we all need to be, not sure how we can fit that into motorcycles Vlogging though

I'm kind of happy with my video content, I make the videos I want to make. It is really just people's thoughts on my thumbnails I am looking for here

 

[R-Rated]

Also check out Matt Armstrong nothing to do with motorcycles but his style is where we all need to be, not sure how we can fit that into motorcycles Vlogging though

If this is the same Mattn his thumbnails definitely have the Home Alone style facial expression down

Seriously though, nice simple easy to read text when small. The exotic car is not just the topic but a good use of reflected glory. Has a tad of click bait in the text but not the title) which YouTube suggests for creators- got what wrong? Who agreed? What got worse?

Of course with 11.1 Million subs his channel can afford to feature exotic cars

It would be interesting to see the earnings starting out after a few years though. Here is what his channel thumbnails looked like back at the beginning

So there were the same growing pains we all experience.

 

[Slorida]

Yeah... I'm really not keen on the style that Mat has gone for, I mean it obviously works for his chosen market and I guess that's his aim, but I kind of cringe at them. From the thumbnails, I'd say I'm not his market though.

I think this illustrates a potential issue for thumbnails though, what appeals to one person is not going to appeal to everybody.

 

[tojjer29]

It's not just the thumbnails though, my vids normally only get views in the hundreds. I posted one video of when I changed from my RT to the Versys. I thought I'd never get rid of that RT, so I titled that video " Oh God, what have I done". It racked up over 45k views in no time. Clickbait I hear you shout, well I really was surprised and had second thoughts after I'd done it, so I don't think so.

 

[Theodor]

Now, I don't know how the red text affects people not familiar with your channel yet, but I think I have subconsciously started associating red text with your channel.
When I open my subscription feed I immediately register it, when you have put out another video. Even if I don't have time to watch through enough, to make it to your video that day, I remember it's there, waiting.

 

[Hippo-Drones]

Now, I don't know how the red text affects people not familiar with your channel yet, but I think I have subconsciously started associating red text with your channel.
When I open my subscription feed I immediately register it, when you have put out another video. Even if I don't have time to watch through enough, to make it to your video that day, I remember it's there, waiting.

Ahh, that is interesting... maybe that is why the Gixer videos have performed less well as I generally use yellow and black in those thumbnails... hadn't even considered that red could be part of branding.
I do know I dislike it when people use red borders, especially at the bottom of the video as I can't see if I have already watched the video previously.

 

[Theodor]

To me it usually just seems I have watched it then and I just scroll past.

 

[Drakhen99]

Thumbnails are a funny one. The "pros" say they're not as important any more, since YouTube has started doing hover-to-play. As soon as a potential viewer hovers over your video, they start watching it in a tiny tiny window.

BUT, before that... the tips & tricks I gathered were these:

1. 3-4 words. The fewer the better.
2. Try to ask a question or make a decisive statement via thumbnail text.
3. Showing your face can help. It allows the viewer to connect with you.
4. Simple is better. Have a distinct subject and blur/remove the rest so as to remove clutter.

SO, here's what I do on each thumbnail:

1. Grab a still from the video that applies to the title and topic.
2. Cut out me or my bike or whatever the subject is, and blur the rest.
3. Come up with a short but explanative bit of text to go in the thumbnail.
4. Use a simple gradient to color the text, usually incorporating the mood of the video [red for rant, the color of the bike, sometimes translucent].
5. Add a black border [or white, if the background is super dark] to the text so it stands out.

Hope that helps!

-John

 

[Hippo-Drones]

Some great tips John, ty

 

[Meifesto]

The problem with a good thumbnail is

If youtube doesn't serve that thumbnail up to someone who is interested in it, the thumbnail can be golden, but still provide with very few clicks.

So unless the subject matters, I keep the thumbnail a little bit more generic.

Yes an offroad video has an offroad thumbnail, but often nothing to clickbaity specific.
Because if youtube doesn's shows the thumbnail to the people who would clikc that clickbait thumbnail then it shows it to people who won't click the clickbait thumbnail. And a generic thumbnail might be more lucky.

Then again, I'm hitting low viewrates regardless, so it might be all baloney.