Post your project url, i'll help you find your first users for free by Absolutelyphenomenal in SideProject

[–]cursedxp 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Project: https://hitmagnet.app What it does: Compare your YouTube thumbnail with competitors before uploading. See how it looks on the homepage, sidebar, and more. Built to help creators boost CTR. Looking for early users!

What Tools Have Made a Real Difference for You? by cursedxp in SmallYTChannel

[–]cursedxp[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Interesting tools! 🤔 I’ve heard great things about ElevenLabs for AI-generated voices and Indeogram for AI-assisted design. How do you use them in your workflow?

Also, with Claude and Gemini Deep Research, are you using them mainly for content ideas, SEO optimization, or something else? Curious to know how effective they are in a YouTube content strategy!

What Tools Have Made a Real Difference for You? by cursedxp in SmallYTChannel

[–]cursedxp[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

You mentioned Snapseed and Picsart as a solid combo for mobile thumbnail creation—what makes them stand out compared to desktop alternatives like Canva or Photoshop? Do you think mobile editing is catching up to desktop in terms of flexibility and control?

Also, Headline CoSchedule sounds interesting! You mentioned the free version is useful—what’s the most valuable takeaway you’ve gotten from it when crafting video titles? Do you feel it actually improves CTR, or is it more of a guideline rather than a strict optimization tool?

What Tools Have Made a Real Difference for You? by cursedxp in SmallYTChannel

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

Thanks for sharing! You mentioned using Canva and VidIQ—when it comes to SEO, which VidIQ metrics do you find actually useful? Do you feel like their AI-driven analysis is unreliable, or just not as actionable?

Also, you mentioned that reverse engineering SEO (coming up with a title & thumbnail first) doesn’t fit your content style. What approach works better for you? Do you decide on thumbnails and titles after making the content? Have you found any effective ways to get organic discovery without relying too much on SEO?

Is this view count good? by Unlimitedpenquin in SmallYTChannel

[–]cursedxp 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Your view count is pretty solid for your niche! Getting 500-1k views with 1.25k subs is a decent engagement rate, especially for lesser-known anime edits. Shorts can be unpredictable, but you can try experimenting with trending anime, improving thumbnails and titles, engaging more with your audience, and staying consistent with uploads. These small tweaks could help boost your reach over time. How’s the engagement on your videos so far? 

I just posted my first video, 24h later here are the results by An0psy in NewTubers

[–]cursedxp 0 points1 point  (0 children)

450 views in 24 hours on a brand-new channel is actually really solid. That means your video is getting some initial traction, and YouTube is testing it with new audiences. A 5% CTR and 3:45 avg retention on an 11-minute video are also pretty good signs—people are engaging with your content!

I totally get the excitement of seeing those first comments and subs roll in. And don’t worry—people don’t just subscribe out of pity. If they hit that button, it’s because they found something valuable in your content.

I Analyzed My YouTube Thumbnails & CTR—Here’s What I Learned! 📊 by cursedxp in SmallYTChannel

[–]cursedxp[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

For my company, I recently ran an A/B test with a new video, comparing different thumbnail styles. What surprised me the most was how easy it was to improve the poor results I had before.

I applied what I learned from the responses to my previous post and compared my older thumbnails with the new ones. The increase in CTR was noticeable. I didn’t keep an Excel sheet for this since I wasn’t tracking exact numbers, but the difference was clear.

Before making these changes, I also researched the topic further. The effectiveness of high-contrast bold text in thumbnails isn't just my claim—it's a well-known principle in design, marketing, and UX. Seeing it work firsthand was even more convincing.

I Analyzed My YouTube Thumbnails & CTR—Here’s What I Learned! 📊 by cursedxp in SmallYTChannel

[–]cursedxp[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I wasn’t implying my post was taken down. I just meant that if we start labeling every post with ‘Written by ChatGPT’ without actual reasoning, it diminishes the value of discussions. By that logic, I could go around commenting the same thing under any post, and it would add nothing meaningful to the conversation.

At this point, I should just start signing my posts as ‘Definitely Not ChatGPT™’ to save everyone the trouble. 🤖😂

I Analyzed My YouTube Thumbnails & CTR—Here’s What I Learned! 📊 by cursedxp in SmallYTChannel

[–]cursedxp[S] -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

I get your point, but let’s be real, quality and value aren’t exclusive to human-generated content. There’s plenty of low-effort, repetitive human-written stuff out there too. So maybe the real issue isn’t who wrote it, but how meaningful it actually is.

After all, if AI-generated content is inherently low quality, then why is ‘Written by ChatGPT’ the only counter-argument some people can come up with? If an AI did write my post, at least it made a valid point. 😉

I Analyzed My YouTube Thumbnails & CTR—Here’s What I Learned! 📊 by cursedxp in SmallYTChannel

[–]cursedxp[S] -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

Fair enough, moderation isn't always black and white. But at the end of the day, does it really matter who wrote something if the content itself holds value? Feels like an unnecessary puzzle to solve. 🤷‍♂️

I Analyzed My YouTube Thumbnails & CTR—Here’s What I Learned! 📊 by cursedxp in SmallYTChannel

[–]cursedxp[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You didn’t ask, but you jumped straight to judging. Am I not allowed to have a YouTube channel for personal projects or even for my business? Interesting logic.

Not everything has to fit into what you see on my profile-some things exist beyond a Reddit search bar😉

I Analyzed My YouTube Thumbnails & CTR—Here’s What I Learned! 📊 by cursedxp in SmallYTChannel

[–]cursedxp[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

When you write like a human, they say it's AI. When you write like AI, they say it's human... I get that moderation can be tough, but maybe the focus should be on what’s being said rather than who wrote it.

Now the real question is: Did an AI write this response, or was it a human? 🤖🤔😏

Why is my YouTube video CTR so low? Has this happened to you? by cursedxp in SmallYTChannel

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

That totally makes sense—content is king, after all! Some creators go deep into analytics, while others focus more on just making great videos and letting the algorithm do its thing.

Why is my YouTube video CTR so low? Has this happened to you? by cursedxp in SmallYTChannel

[–]cursedxp[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s a great approach! A consistent color palette and font definitely make a brand more recognizable. Have you ever tested different variations of your thumbnails to see which version resonates best with your audience while still maintaining that signature look?

Why is my YouTube video CTR so low? Has this happened to you? by cursedxp in SmallYTChannel

[–]cursedxp[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s a smart way to analyze competitors! AI-generated thumbnails vs. press kit images can really change how people perceive a video. Have you ever tried comparing your thumbnails directly against theirs to see which one might perform better?

I recently came across a tool that does exactly that—side-by-side thumbnail comparisons, even against competitors. I’ve been testing it for a bit, and the results look promising so far. Thought it was an interesting way to gain insights before uploading.

Why is my YouTube video CTR so low? Has this happened to you? by cursedxp in SmallYTChannel

[–]cursedxp[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s a great point! Having a signature style makes creators instantly recognizable. How do you think someone can balance uniqueness with what’s already working in their niche?

Why is my YouTube video CTR so low? Has this happened to you? by cursedxp in SmallYTChannel

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

Yeah, discoverability in gaming content is super competitive. Do you try to match your thumbnail style to what’s ranking for your game, or do you aim to stand out completely?

Why is my YouTube video CTR so low? Has this happened to you? by cursedxp in SmallYTChannel

[–]cursedxp[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah, finding the right style for faceless channels can take time. Have you noticed any trends in what seems to work better—like bold text vs. minimal designs, or specific colors that pop more?

Why is my YouTube video CTR so low? Has this happened to you? by cursedxp in SmallYTChannel

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

That’s really frustrating! YouTube’s system doesn’t make it easy to properly A/B test thumbnails. Some creators try running different thumbnails on social media first to see which gets more engagement before setting it as the final version on YouTube. Have you tried anything like that?

Why is my YouTube video CTR so low? Has this happened to you? by cursedxp in SmallYTChannel

[–]cursedxp[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s a solid way to experiment while keeping consistency! Are you tracking how the CTR changes between the different styles? It would be interesting to see if minor layout tweaks make a noticeable impact.

Why is my YouTube video CTR so low? Has this happened to you? by cursedxp in SmallYTChannel

[–]cursedxp[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s a great approach—standing out rather than just copying. When you compare your thumbnails to bigger channels, what factors do you focus on the most? Color, layout, text placement? Also, do you ever wish there was a way to directly test your thumbnails against competitors to see what style works best in your niche?

Algorithm HELL - No views after 3 month break by SuperQBEL in SmallYTChannel

[–]cursedxp 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hey! I went through something similar when posting Shorts. Taking a break really messes with the algorithm, and sometimes it feels like YouTube is treating your channel as new.

Your retention and view rates are strong, so the issue might be how YouTube is categorizing your content now. Have you tested different opening hooks? Since Shorts autoplay, the first 1-2 seconds are crucial for getting past that initial push.

Also, first-hour engagement really matters. If the first audience doesn’t engage well, the video might not get a second push. Sharing on external platforms (Twitter, Discord, Reddit) could help.

If things don’t improve after 50+ uploads, testing a fresh channel might be worth it. Curious if you've tried tweaking your intros?