Discussion
@andy that is a very good point about the lighting. That is clearly an oversight on my part, but luckily one I could easily correct.
I am not sure, lighting inconsistencies play a significant role in determining whether a thumbnail works. But I still agree, I should fix that.
@randahl I immediately associate the "It's over" caption with clickbaity stuff, like YouTube drama videos that usually overuse that caption.
@jiros @Enea90 @djembro @radicalabacus
Thank you everyone. Based on all the excellent feedback in this thread, I have decided to reuse my own thumbnail idea but to redraw it for better composition. Now both heads are closer to the viewer, the countdown is in the middle for a symmetric layout, Putin's cup is out of frame, etc.
I have configured YouTube to do a test, to see if this one works better than the original above. I will report the results later.
@randahl @jiros @Enea90 @djembro @radicalabacus ooh so keen to see the results, as I myself have been heavily using AI this half a year, and would never disclose it on polls on mastadon, because I was kind of ashamed with the vibe about all things AI here;) - but I was using this for the thing I suck the most - selling. I need to do this, but I could not sell water to the desert king - I would give it - they need it more! - so I must, and I blindly trust, and sold 0
@randahl I'm late to the party here but if you want to try a more instantly recognizable nemesis on the left the Grim Reaper (with scythe over shoulder) might be fitting.
@randahl @jiros @djembro @radicalabacus The countdown in the middle and the 2 heads more in focus give it more of a sense of urgency. Let's see how that works out!
@randahl Small typo in the video title: "Why Putins days are numbered". Apostrophe is missing: "Why Putin's days are numbered".
@randahl Another piece of feedback that I could give would be to take into account the capitalization rule for titles: https://firstenglishgrade.com/capitalization-rules-for-titles/
@Enea90 thank you so much for catching that, Enea. It is a typical Danish mistake, because we do not normally use apostrophe. It is fixed now.
@randahl are you asking the right audience? People on Mastodon differ in their opinion with YouTubers.
@randahl 1) are you surprised that AI said to use AI?
2) when I see AI artwork, it always makes me think of people who get a cheap disposable home printed business card that have an advertisement on the opposite side. It's not really a great brand ambassador, and to me reads as quick and thoughtless, which I then extrapolate onto whatever is being represented by it. Human created, even if not perfect, reads as more serious. (1/2)
@randahl When I click on your link, I don't see your thumbnail at all. I see a thumbnail of some ad that precedes your video. The first time I followed the link, I didn't even play the video, because I wasn't sure the link had taken me to the right place.
@randahl Note - after clicking on the link two or three times, I started seeing your thumbnail.
@BiscuitTaylor you can always see the thumbnail of a video by going to my channel's video page:
I tend to avoid an AI image. It makes me think that the underlying content is also AI.
@randahl
I don‘t think, I would click on the AI-generated thumbnail.
@randahl the tumbnail should have zelensky and putin on it. And figure out where your face should be. ;-)
@randahl If you were to put the second thumbnail, possibly you would get a bit higher views, albeit not from the kind of people that hang out on Mastodon. You would give up on your originality and what makes you unique, to conform to what they expect of you. The expression "selling one's soul to the Devil" comes to mind to describe that.
@randahl it might have to do something with the title.
I am not sure of your audience but I very rarely open videos with clickbait titles and thumbnails (like AI-generated suggestion here, only thing it misses is lightning) as they usually offer little substance and are rehash at best and ragey slop at worst.
For me your original thumbnail is looking good, standing out in the usual mess even but I'd change title to something more... informational? Something that you'd expect to see as good newspaper headline. Or at least expand it a bit.
@shuro thank you Shuro. I should perhaps note that the thumbnail does not exist on its own; it is supported by the video's textual title "Why Putin's days are numbered". So all in all, what users see on YouTube is
"Final Countdown / Why Putin's days are numbered"
I'm looking forward to watching this. Your analysis is always brilliant!
Your thumbnail is okay, but can be improved. The suggested version by YT is technically flawless but screams clickbait.
The photo of you was shot with a three-point lighting setup. That's excellent but your montage contradicts this; the dark-side of your face in the original thumbnail is juxtaposed to a super bright spot. Also the right side's colour in your version might be a tiny bit too vibrant.
I did not see the numbers at all. I only saw them after carefully examining the image, but I somehow felt it was busy.
Overall yours is still much better. I hope you can continue making these videos, @randahl
@andy that is a very good point about the lighting. That is clearly an oversight on my part, but luckily one I could easily correct.
I am not sure, lighting inconsistencies play a significant role in determining whether a thumbnail works. But I still agree, I should fix that.
@randahl
The AI suggestion reminds me of Meidas Touch's clickbait. Actual examples:
”This Will End His Presidency"
"Trump Poo Problem Just Got Worse"
"BREAKING: Trump and Natalie FINALLY CAUGHT"
And as you slide through those videos at 2X to see what has just happened, you always find there is no actual breaking news, fatal gunshot, or earthshaking revelation... just commentator rehash with repeated outrage.
Reminds me of the Palmer Report b.s., which, checking, I see still stinks to high heaven.
@BobHorowitz now you know why I stopped watching both Brian Tyler Cohen as well as Meidas Touch.
Agree with you Bob. You described it perfectly.
Once Meidas Touch started overdoing it with the clickbait they lost my viewership. Really disappointed.
@CuriousRPh it should be noted that MeidasTouch has passed 6 million subs.
@BobHorowitz
Fair.
But I wonder if MT's growth has been the result of Trumpian meddling in the mainstream media. But now that MSM has mostly succumbed to Agent Orange, if that source of growth will dry up.
Yours.
Absolutely not the AI one.
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