This is the thumbnail for my latest video which will be uploading at 1am UK time. All opinons are welcome. @Paula Stewart your input is especially welcomed 🙂

Wanted to ask what you do? TBH I actively avoid A/B bc when I tried it once - for my first video back from my hiatus - and it bombed and took DAYS to push out the other versions which cost time. So now on every video I post I check signs of performance and switch out after 12hrs (being mindful of where words could drop off on mobile: which is where most of my viewers are watching, using Thumbs.TV). Consulting VidIQs AI Coach in the process has been super-helpful. That has worked for me with my current video and the results are ‘crazy’ for me , almost hitting 1k views (Best on any of my LF this year so far + a bunch of really moving comments!). That said I also worked my ass off on the storytelling, and it seems to be paying off. Sharing first one on the Left (title was In My 50s I Banished 6 Bad Habits) and Current One on the right. And I’d really love to know what is working you right now, in your niche?

I did it for the first time on my last long form video even though some gurus say to do it first (otherwise how do we really know what to make the video about? or something like that lol). Did it make any substantial difference to how I filmed my video compared to if I did it afterwards? Maybe because the idea was solid in my head: this is about Leanne going viral off her first video this whole video hinges around her achievement and how I think she did it. Have you ever made the thumbnail before you've filmed the video?

I am switching out my thumbnail after seeing poor performance after 12 hours, to the next thumbnail with the big phone and 'Hands Only'. I have attached my analytics below after 12 hours and why I am experimenting. The reason I am dialled in on thumbnails right now is because my last 3 videos were 1 of 10's so now I am asking AI for help - in this videos case, it is saying it is a packaging problem, so let's see how it goes. Do you change out your thumbnails and titles sometimes after posting? I don't normally, or not this fast anyway. Here was the Chat GPT response below to my asking 'can I change anything to help this video?' and what led me to making this new thumbnail: Your AVD (4:38) is a good sign. People who click are watching. The problem is packaging: CTR 2.4% is low, so YouTube won’t push it wider yet. This is a thumbnail/title job, not a content job. What’s not working (based on your screenshot) Thumbnail issue Your thumbnail is basically saying: - “PHONE ONLY” (clear) - “faceless” (red bar) but it’s subtle and a little confusing at small size At phone-size, the face + red bar becomes visual “noise,” and the real benefit (“you don’t have to be on camera”) isn’t instantly readable. Title issue “Start YouTube Without Being On Camera” is good, but it’s not adding extra punch beyond the thumbnail. You want title + thumbnail to work as a pair, not repeat each other. Roughly how many impressions has it gotten so far? (If it’s under ~500 impressions, the CTR is still “noisy” and changes can swing fast.) Your retention is fine (4:38 AVD with a ✅ at your size is a win).Your CTR is the problem (2.4% with a down arrow). That means: people who click are enjoying it… you just need more of the right people to click. What I see in your thumbnail right now (based on the screenshot) What’s working - “PHONE ONLY” is instantly readable (great). - Your face + the red bar is a pattern you’ve used before, so it’s on-brand. - Clean layout (not cluttered).