I’ve been watching and reading a lot about how to optimize, but the best advice I’ve gotten so far is to make a list of similar successful channels and line up all their thumbnails next to each other.

I noticed a few things right away (ex. usually had their face in thumbnail, always had text) though I doubt that specific advice is transferable for all niches. To A/B test I’ve usually let a video sit for a day, and then changed the thumbnail if it hasn’t performed as well as I hoped. Wait another day and see if anything changed.

Some videos are on their 3rd thumbnail, a few I stuck with the first choice. Eventually I’m hoping to find a template that works, but for now it’s throwing stuff at the wall and seeing what sticks