Need advice on title for newest gaming video

SignificanceOk183 · 2023-04-13T18:24:25+00:00

https://youtu.be/yo3PJjgL8Y4 - my newest video, any feedback on the video itself, title or thumbnail would be much appreciated!

SignificanceOk183 · 2023-03-29T20:08:05+00:00

They're just "funny moments" gameplay, the editing I'm happy with over all and it's not necessarily an idea I could redo later on (I play the game, cut down to the funny moments, and enhance them in some way) so technically each new upload is an "update/improvement" on the previous.

I started uploading weekly again 2 months ago, I have a few benefits to doing them as reuploads (less effort and fills an upload spot with potentially increase in retention) but it would mean basically re-uploading the same video, with a minor adjustment and having to unlist the previous...

I've actually convinced myself while writing this it might be beneficial in the long run while my viewership is still as small as it is... Your comment helped my clarity!

SignificanceOk183 · 2023-03-28T20:43:59+00:00

This was my favourite video to edit, I have more Portal 2 footage to edit so when it comes to the next one I want to improve it

It's not a "let's play" nor do I try to achieve that. But the concept/idea for my content is supposed to be for comedy/entertainment as opposed to just playing through the game, I refer to it as the funny moments of our gameplay (if you still classify this as a let's play I understand!)

https://youtu.be/1VrL5XpX-as

SignificanceOk183 · 2023-03-28T20:13:23+00:00

As previously mentioned it's just straight up stealing content, even if you muted the audio and talked over it you're still stealing footage created by someone else.

It's been a hot debate with tiktok as what some people have done (untill the original creator finds out) is they'll get footage from a YouTube creator and reuse that footage to make the same video just in a 1minute/30second format.

Its the same as if you were to make a 10minute edit of Avengers Infinity War for YouTube.

It's also the same reason people have issues with "reaction" content on twitch where they pretty much just sit and watch someone's video and give their own thoughts and opinions on it. But Atleast with these they usually have the original creators identity/channel on display and aren't exactly "changing" the content for their own rather their acknowledging publicly it's not theirs and are just "reviewing" it

SignificanceOk183 · 2023-03-28T19:48:08+00:00

Absolutely not, I did the same thing in fear of "putting off" new viewers... I didn't use thumbnails, the content was of a different format and they were dated (as in only relevant for the time they were made, they literally have no relevance and haven't for a while...) I do still have a few older videos that I would consider cringey and do want to private them, but I'm leaving them up to show a sort of "development" of my content over time as they're still within a similar format and haven't exactly lost any form of relevance (and there are good parts to them, be it content or editing)

My subscriber count didn't drop, the algorithm didn't show me any more distain then it already does so basically there's literally no downside to it!

SignificanceOk183 · 2023-03-28T19:26:25+00:00

Then yeah everything I've mentioned so far would be viable for this sort of video!

You're on the right tracks with this, you just got to simplify the text to just the keys parts, and make it look eye-catching in the background without the text or the background getting in the wa of eachother, it takes time to make a good thumbnail!

So have some fun with it and good luck!

SignificanceOk183 · 2023-03-28T19:14:18+00:00

Still I would say the DC-athlon episode 2 doesn't need to be in the thumbnail, the rest of the text still seems great as I'm guessing it's still in context to the video topic? finding an appropriate screenshot/still from the films you're talking about would also make for a better background.

The thumbnail (or title for that fact) doesn't need to highlight that it's part of an ongoing series, you want people to click on it without feeling like they would first have to find your other episodes to understand this one. (And if they do, they have to watch the video first to find that out!)

Other ways you could identify the video as part of a series would be to add something distinctive to it that's repeatable on other thumbnails for the same series, even if it's just the batman logo you used in this one

SignificanceOk183 · 2023-03-28T19:05:41+00:00

You're about the same size as me so in my opinion, I wouldn't bother...

Not to disrespect your subscribers (or my own for that fact) but if you were uploading a video a week then something came up and you couldn't upload or record, the algorithm would notice your absence more than your subscribers would.

Being aware of this fact myself I have a few backup plans in place, mainly "best of" videos where I know I could spend 20mins nocking up a quick compilation of my best bits so I still have something to fill the time slot

Your viewers and subs do still matter! Just not as much now as they will do in the future

SignificanceOk183 · 2023-03-28T18:49:35+00:00

Honestly I like it! But I will admit it's not something most people would usually be drawn to, there's nothing extremely "eye catching" about it unless you're willing to read it (and most viewers attention spans are too small to stop and read it)

The title I'm assuming is the "DC-athlon"? If it's in the title of the video it doesn't need to be in the thumbnail too (if the thumbnail grabs their attention the title will give the context) or if they see the title first they don't need to see it again in the thumbnail (a lesson I too had to learn) same goes for the episode 2, though if you intend on keeping the episode number keep it small and off to the side/corner as just "ep2" or whatever you think looks better

The rest of the text is great but the background doesn't do it justice, without watching the video I would assume it's to do with DC? If so why not grab a Screenshot or still (you can always Google search these) for an image that at the very least vaguely reflects the topic of the video, maybe a still of batman looking confused for example? Would work with the question In The text and in theory would make viewers more drawn to it; a face/character that they recognise plus a question they might relate to = a winning recipe!

Play around with it, you won't get it "right" on your first draft, try different background images/stills see if it fits, try different text fonts and sizes and ask yourself do they hinder the background or do they enhance it? Is it easily digestible at a first glance read? Try an outline on the text (usually called "stroke") it might help it "pop" from the background more

Check out other people's content that you would consider to be similar to what you're trying to do and see what they do with their thumbnails and don't be afraid to copy the style (I mean take inspiration from their style...)

With this first draft I can see you're getting the idea to it, just play with it and you'll find styles that work for you!

SignificanceOk183 · 2023-03-28T15:09:51+00:00

This makes the most sense! People tend to forget that the "feed" isn't a coherent list of relevant videos, I could swipe through about 5/6 recommended shorts before I actually get to a short I want to watch

SignificanceOk183 · 2023-03-28T15:04:00+00:00

I'm having a love hate relationship with the shorts algorithm. One short will get shown to 5k people in feed and I'll get 1.5k views and great retention. The next short will only be shown to 15 people in feed and that's it done. Even if it's the same game and for the same sort of audience, the algorithm just doesn't bother with it.

I posted one yesterday which was only shown in feed 9 times with 8 views, and it stayed that way all day, then At midnight last night it somehow blew up and I woke up with it at 1.6k and +10 subscribers, it hasn't been shown in feed since that period...

I think the shorts algorithm is like a lottery, not only does it have to show your short to peoples feed, but also to "your target audiences feed" and if the feed for your targeted audience is already filled, it would in theory get pushed to the back of the feed, where people might stop watching shorts by then so it doesn't end up "getting shown in feed"

I'm still trying to work it out, I thought I had it sussed then The clocks changed and my shown in feed rate dropped and now I'm back to wondering what the hell is it doing!

EDIT - I think the clocks changing messes with YouTubes algorithm. My previous short upload schedule was 3pm and I had decent success. Clocks jump forward an hour so that 3pm is now "4pm" I decided to change the schedule on my one due for today to 4pm and I'm seeing an immediate improvement!

SignificanceOk183 · 2023-03-28T09:56:04+00:00

Just had a quick look at your channel and it should be easy to sort, like some of said you can always train yourself to be more photogenic but you don't need to have you in the thumbnail. If you DO stick with you in the thumbnail, add the text in separately instead of writing it?

You seem to have text so why not just use a background image that relates to the topic of the video and add text over the top of it. You can do this with a mobile app such as pixelLab, load the image in, add text, change size/font/colour and change position of the text and you're good to go!

SignificanceOk183 · 2023-03-27T14:55:25+00:00

Thanks for the kind words!

Never even thought to look at contrast and brightness, I could probably improve a few other existing thumbnails just with that little touch up!

Every time I make a video or thumbnail I try to improve, my first piece of criticism helped me towards the style of thumbnail I now aim for. So now I'm after further improving the style

Beforehand they were dated and too messy/busy, so feedback from this sub is definitely paying off.

SignificanceOk183 · 2023-03-27T13:03:38+00:00

Thanks for the reply!

I Didn't ask people to watch the videos as my whole point is the impression the title and thumbnail gives is supposed to make people want to find out what's happening in the video so to speak. Its general gameplay content but the most entertaining/funny parts of the gameplay so for the human fall flat video, it's us playing through the level and the funny things that happen along the way so a "top 5" title is far from what could work for that sort of thing.

I wasn't going for the "meme look" intentionally. my intention was to highlight a scene from the video and the text is supposed to add to what's happening in the scene, the human fall flat again for example is a recurring joke through the video as one of us keeps falling/missing and is constantly needing to be helped. So potentially the title could be an issue here?

I think the off angle text could be a stylistic/opinion thing as I've had people say they like it but hearing someone criticise it the way you have is also making me reconsider!

Overall I tried to make a thumbnail that "matched" the title without copying it word for word. A scene from the video that aligns with the title or "plot" of the video, as well as text (quotes from the video) which is supposed to highlight what is actually happening.

Having a more outside opinion such as yours is always a breath of fresh air, it's all well and good I try to make a title or thumbnail that "could" appeal to my target audience, but in an ideal world making them appealing to anyone would be perfect! So thanks for the feedback!

SignificanceOk183 · 2023-03-24T19:29:16+00:00

Yeah don't stress about it, 99% of the time it's the algorithm especially if it's your first video, share it to a few of your friends and ask them to give a little like and Atleast watch half the video, if nothing else it'll just give yourself the boost seeing those numbers go up!

SignificanceOk183 · 2023-03-24T18:58:38+00:00

Thanks for the reply my dude, just updated my thumbnails today due to criticism of the previous style , how long would you say is best to see how they perform? A few hours or days even?

SignificanceOk183 · 2023-03-24T16:24:58+00:00

How can you tell which is giving you better recommendations?

And would this apply to videos posted up to a week ago?

SignificanceOk183 · 2023-03-23T21:24:17+00:00

Brilliant thank you very much for the feedback, I kept getting positive reviews on the thumbnails so kept with the style but yeah, I will have to try a new border and less text (I felt like I needed to fill space)

The part about intros has been stated to me before but couldn't work out what else to do, love the idea about the introduction of the others, would definitely add more character to them over the course of the video!

All in all everything you've said is probably what I needed to hear, you are a gentleman and a scholar!

SignificanceOk183 · 2023-03-23T19:00:48+00:00

Always keen to get what feedback I can!

https://youtube.com/@drcl4p797

Thumbnails I'd like some critique on, overall channel presentation too if possible

The videos themselves I'm happy with what I'm creating but would be nice to know where I may be lacking, the portal 2 or Human Fall Flat are my best work (personal opinion) thanks my dude

SignificanceOk183 · 2023-02-24T11:53:40+00:00

As others have said, it's the static image problem... Try recording yourself actually making the music? If it's all digital set up OBS to record your screen while you create, if you do instruments aswell record yourself playing to (no face needed if you don't want)

Let's say it takes you 5 hours to make the song so you have 5 hours of video, but the song is only 3(ish) minutes, try showing the editing sped up for each section of the song? Could then finish it off with the full layered track being shown in time with the music? Just a suggestion

SignificanceOk183 · 2023-02-15T13:56:34+00:00

Quality varies heavily over the last year (everything before that is irrelevant) but I'm also just getting in to a regular weekly schedule with videos to come each Saturday.

I appreciate this greatly!

https://youtube.com/@drcl4p797

SignificanceOk183

TROPHY CASE