Why thumbnails matter
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Top YouTube creators spend a disproportionate amount of time on packaging—the title, thumbnail, and intro. I’ve internalized the importance of crafting intros and researching thumbnails, but honestly, sometimes they still end up as an afterthought for me. Take my recent video on deleting Instagram from my phone as an example. I published it on a Friday, and it got no traction—ranking 10/10 in views (the worst-performing video among my last 10 uploads). With fewer than 30 views after 48 hours, I was ready to declare it dead in the eyes of the YouTube algorithm.
I wasn’t fully confident in the video. It ventured outside my usual content, and I used a teleprompter, which made me feel less natural on camera. But since it was Sunday and I had some spare time, I decided to experiment by tweaking the title and thumbnail. After all, the video also had its strengths. I had applied some new scripting techniques I had learned. The original title, "Why I’m Done with Instagram?" became "Why I Deleted Instagram From My Phone as a Creator," a more specific and accurate reflection of the video’s content. I also reworked the thumbnail, which had been a low-effort, recycled photo featuring a crossed-out Instagram logo. I reframed the image and added the Meta Business App icon to create curiosity. The icon is likely not recognizable for most viewers. So probably a good reason to click and find out which app I’m talking about.
The result? Dramatic and immediate improvement.
Within a couple of days, the video went from being a flop to a top performer on my channel (at least for the first week), racking up 900 views. Only time will tell if it will match the views of my most successful videos, but for now, it’s no longer a flop by my standards—and that’s good enough for me.
This was a wake-up call: I realized that by not investing enough time in my thumbnail and title upfront, I was limiting the potential reach of my videos. Thumbnail designers have approached me recently, offering their services, but for now, I’m keeping this task in-house. Why?
This experience reminded me that thumbnails are more than a visual element; they’re a core part of a video’s success. By prioritizing packaging—starting with the thumbnail and title—before scripting or filming, I can give my videos a fair chance to stand out and reach the right audience. My latest creation You can watch my new video here: After a year of trial and error, I’ve finally achieved a talking head video setup I’m proud of. In this video, I’ll take you behind the scenes to share the gear, lighting, and settings I use to achieve a cinematic look for my content. Plus, I’ll share tips for improving audio quality and reducing room echo. --- |
