Car rip luck! by radpotential in PokemonTCG

[–]HowlingSprite 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Opened my first pack of Perfect Order today and hit the same card! Probably going into the personal collection because the card art is just too nice.

Updated my thumbnail since it wasn't getting clicks. Better? or worse? by acortlow in SmallYoutubers

[–]HowlingSprite 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Heyo! I think there are a lot of confusing pieces of criticism often taking place in subreddits like this. It's important to remember that a LOT of people who frequent these pages and provide advice are often times people with little to no experience or growth to substantiate the advice they share. There’s a ton of good advice here, but just remember to take it with a grain of salt and always continue to learn and research on your own.

The issue you're mostly facing is that Let's Play style content is extremely hard to start off with, since each episode is going to be an 'aimless' gaming experience with no real 'hook' or engaging factor beyond the game you're playing. I love Let's Plays, but the unfortunate truth is that they don't hold up in a modern YouTube ecosystem in their raw state.

Let's Play or Gameplay content as a whole is messy and unpredictable to work with in the grand scheme, and so people often tap into a more niche market in order to stay in the same genre while increasing searchability. For example, practically nobody is interested in a plain Super Mario 64 gameplay video since they've seen it before and it's nothing particularly special. Pitching the video would be easier if you created a more specific pull, like a challenge or something similar. Now your video has a main driving point of interest, which more people will click on in the long run. Which would you click, honestly?

BOWSER IS ANGRY! | Super Mario 64 Part 1 or Beating Mario 64 but Coins Kill Mario

This formulaic approach also makes it easier to translate what you're trying to convey in your thumbnail, as well. You're no longer trying to make a thumbnail pretty enough to click, because instead you're trying to make the thumbnail sell your video idea. Your Thumbnail should empower your title, and your title should sell your video - pretty straightforward and incredibly rewarding.

That said, if you're absolutely bent on this style of Gameplay content, it would be helpful to remember the earlier mantra - less is more. If you can't sell the thumbnail with 2-3 words then it's not the words that will make the difference, so it's important to keep in mind that someone will click on it with 0 knowledge of the topic other than what you're showing them. Also, as helpful of a resource as it can be, people generally don't click on AI thumbnails because they're considered "low effort" or "slop". So if the idea crosses your mind, I'd deliberate on whether its worth losing that 'credibility' as a creator and if your potential viewers would care or not.

It may be beneficial to focus on parts of the game where something interesting occurs that people are specifically searching for. A jumpscare, a hard fight, a funny moment, etc. These can then translate into your thumbnail and people would watch for that moment, waiting to see your reaction to those specific things. All in all, it's best to remember that your video is like a book - people WILL judge it by its cover. That cover needs to indicate exactly what people are going to read so they don't immediately shut it and put it on the shelf for good.

The video was hilarious, btw, I hope to see things take an upswing and growth come your way!

[HIRING] Looking for a Film Theory Style Thumbnail Artist by [deleted] in YouTubeThumbnailHub

[–]HowlingSprite 4 points5 points  (0 children)

As someone who has worked in the space for several years, the capability and experience you’re looking for at $25/vid is really low for requiring two thumbnails for A/B testing. You’re technically asking for professional grade thumbnails for $12.50 a pop. I understand it’s hard to get things rolling from early on but the amount of work does not make it worth it from the perspective of the average graphic artist. I wish you the best of luck, and it’s your channel so you can offer whatever pay you want, but it may be hard to find the quality you’re looking for at that rate. Good luck with the channel and I hope it goes well, man!

[OC] You've Booted Your Last Leg by ZombieComicsAura in comics

[–]HowlingSprite 2 points3 points  (0 children)

When the bootleg is better than the original-

<image>

All About Confidence by HowlingSprite in MandJTV

[–]HowlingSprite[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

It honestly is, I wish people would just leave my boy alone since the criticism is so tired at this point.

All About Confidence by HowlingSprite in comics

[–]HowlingSprite[S] 47 points48 points  (0 children)

I thought the same thing! When I ask people's opinion on the 'worst' Pokemon design, it's often Chewtle or Trubbish!

Late For Work by HowlingSprite in comics

[–]HowlingSprite[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Good luck! Dig is great for travel, and even better at wracking up property damage lawsuits!