The State of YouTube Thumbnails 2024: What's Working Now

I reviewed 1000s of top-performing, recent YouTube thumbnails to bring you: how to win with YouTube thumbnails right now, and how to increase CTR on YouTube.

PERSONALIZED HELP 📈:

IDEATION 💡:

RUNNING A CHANNEL ⚙️:

RECORDING 🎙️:

I also share more outside YouTube 🧡:

#growonyoutube #youtubethumbnail #radicalcreator

Keep being a radical creator!

[ThatNateBlack]

Thank you for watching! This video took a lot of time to make. Hope you find it crazy useful!


Scroll down on that page and join the group!

[GlamGirlGabi]

Nate, I was one of the speakers at VidSummit this year and we briefly chatted in the hallway of the convention center. I was feeling 10/10 levels of anxiety on the day that I met you (and trying very desperately to hide it lol). When I was about to walk away, you asked me if I needed a hug and it was the most impactful thing that has ever happened to me in a social situation. Considering you didn't even know me, and you sensed that I was having an internal struggle and then just took a minute out of your day to give me a hug, meant everything. It was like a hug coming out of the Universe for me. I felt exponentially better after that and I was able to perform well during my talk. I can't tell you how much it meant to me. I was looking for your email so that I could send you this message privately but I figured I would just leave it on here. Thank you for sprinkling positivity and compassion into the world. I think you are a rare and truly special human.

[MiloCalimlim]

Thank you! I'm still learning thumbnails at an old age. I still only have 7 subscribers but I'm thankful for them all.

[Pokernight]

Thank you, Nate. As a growing channel that recently surpassed 100k subscribers (in a small niche), your videos are incredibly helpful as we constantly adjust our strategy.

[soggybawsmoto]

You should put a community post out asking for people willing to share analytics, then build a database for future call off.

I’d be game to furnish you with any stats you need that represent my channel size.

We’ve learned so much from your channel, it wouldn’t be a problem

[BjornSummer]

The amount of work you put into your research is insanely benefitial for all content creators on youtube, Thank you so much Nate!

[RoadReality]

Ahh, the crazy deep dive with Nate - gotta love it! I started using some of your thumbnail suggestions a while back - they take longer to make, but I like the results!

I have a small channel, but if you want to dive into my stats, let me know - I'm game :D

[AfuraNefertiti]

Something I’ve noticed with channels like this is that natural looking photos never get talked about as thumbnails. A simple (not collaged) image of a person on a landscape or in a room or street for example. I’ve seen these be very effective because they invite the viewer into a scene that’s preferably actually what they will see at some point in the video.

[toymanbricks]

I find thumbnail design fascinating and wish more people would make content like this. The amount of work you put into this is insane, thanks Nate!

[FermentedHomestead]

I’m always in awe of your ability to research so much! Thank you for the info, I have a ways to go on perfecting my thumbnails for sure!

[Georgecreations]

This was a GREAT EXPERIMENT! Well done Nate 👏

[shearfunsewing]

Yes, yes! Please give us more and more like this one!! Also, I like the new "Howdy, Howdy" on your bookcase - classy, Nate! Also, I am now actually taking notes from all your videos as I find that you give us some darned good advice I don't want to forget and I want to keep applying.

[BedeSisters]

"Do you want me to keep going?" Yes, Nate, I do want you to keep going. 
This was great analysis of thumbnails and especially of the use of faces in them.

[IcebergTech]

I took the advice to use faces in thumbnails pretty seriously from day 1, however my channel is of the "faceless" variety, so I had to get creative. I review PC gaming components, so I used characters from the games I tested in the video.
This year I've almost completely transitioned away from including faces in thumbnails altogether, and often only use between 0 and 1 words, too. Looking at my stats, I have a CTR of 5.7% overall for 2022 compared to 5.2 this year so far - however, I've gained 3.9m views this year as opposed to only 1.8m last year

[ScoobzNPetz]

Hey Nate, I finally got monetised thanks to your videos!! Thank you bro! Could you make a video on what to do when you get monetised?

[fairTX]

Also, this is an amazingly structured and presented video. Great job sir

[MyGrowthRings]

What a nerd! And Nate, I mean that in the best way! Really enjoyed this one. Scott

[TheADHDM]

Starting my morning with a massive amount of free data! Can't wait to start playing with these variables

[molamolalaaa]

As a faceless channel, I use a minimalistic approach on my thumbnails. It has worked well for me and has become a “signature” of mine.

[audreyfua]

You’re always so light hearted and uplifting, so refreshing and encouraging to watch!😊 I chuckle throughout and always leave your videos feeling better and more hopeful than other channels in your niche leave me feeling so thank you so much☀️