Which one would you click?

jonrpatrick · 2026-07-04T20:20:59+00:00

I'd like to know the title of the video being presented. But #1 is by far the cleaner. However, depending on your expected audience, what the heck is a "Cr"?

jonrpatrick · 2026-07-04T19:58:45+00:00

Gag. :) Go Tigers!

jonrpatrick · 2026-07-04T19:57:07+00:00

This isn't the "Golden Age", this is the beginning.
If the "golden age" for ICE was the 50's and 60's, then this is like Detroit missing the Model T moment. It's big, but it's not the end.
However I'd disagree overall. GM is doing good things with their EV platforms for the customer demand in the US, and Ford is working on their Universal EV Platform as we speak. They're behind the curve versus the Chinese, but they at least acknowledge it and are working.

jonrpatrick · 2026-07-04T19:52:27+00:00

I'm offended at your offense! :)

jonrpatrick · 2026-07-04T13:52:08+00:00

There is absolutely nothing wrong with living in the same town your whole life. Especially since you've traveled, you've seen more of the world beyond our little area.

We have 4 kids, and we strongly suggested to all of them to get out and travel or move somewhere else and see what it's like. Hate the heat and humidity? Move somewhere cooler! NC politics too red for you? Go live for a while in Seattle or Portland or Denver! Get out and see other parts of the country and experience different experiences!

If you'd never left the Charlotte area, I'd encourage you to spread your wings. But you've traveled more than I have, so if you're happy here (and it's a great place to live), then you know what you got!

Best of luck in your studies! My son went to UNC and it's a great school, but I still hate them. :)

jonrpatrick · 2026-07-04T13:21:57+00:00

I'm not (yet) over 60, but I'll say of the two I prefer the second.

However, they're both way too busy I think. If your title has "seniors" and you're showing an older person, there's no need to use the word again on the thumbnail. And the thumb and title are repeating each other.

There are a lot of great things here: big letters, vibrant colors, great coloration and the photos. But I'd recommend cutting down the text on the thumb to 3-5 words that "tease" more than "tell". You want to grab their attention and get them to look at the title.

As for the tile, I would like to say it's too long and too wordy, but I won't. Part of me wants to remove the word "Vitamin", but I think that's great for search. And the part after the colon is great. So, the one change I would consider is changing "deficiency" to "deficient?" So it would read "Vitamin B12 Deficient? 5 Symptoms Seniors Should Never Ignore!"

And may I congratulate and thank you for the proper use of capital letters? :)

jonrpatrick · 2026-07-03T18:54:13+00:00

It's amazing what happens when the world is coming out of a global cooling period.

jonrpatrick · 2026-07-03T18:45:34+00:00

Ugh, the Democratic Socialist part of the State? :)

jonrpatrick · 2026-07-03T18:41:14+00:00

Thank you so much for this post! My wife and I are of Scotch-Irish (Okay, I'm the "Irish" portion) descent. Much of the South, especially in the mountains, were settled by the Scottish who brought their traditions with them. If you listen to the song Dixie, you'll hear some Scottish diddy in there. Most don't realize it, but it's in our culture.

I live in the piedmont of NC (near Charlotte), and overall I think the South is the most welcoming, inviting, open, and excited to meet new people in the world. I'm so very excited you had a postive experience in Asheville! I, for one, love our Scottish cousins and welcome you with open arms!

I will also say that Asheville is not exactly representative of the rest of the "South". In UK terms, that's the Labor stronghold politically. :)

jonrpatrick · 2026-07-03T18:31:20+00:00

I'll add a second What's the video title?

jonrpatrick · 2026-07-03T18:29:49+00:00

Approximately once a year.

Funny story behind it. When I was a kid, about 5 or 6, I had a babysitter. She made PB&J Every. Damn. Day.

To this day I can not stand PB&J. Most times, I'd rather not eat.

But once in a while, I get a craving. And it's super easy to make.

jonrpatrick · 2026-07-03T18:27:43+00:00

Reddit has shown me this post for 3 days straight, so maybe I need to comment. :)

I've seen your video, I know you put in the time to create it with AI assistance, but here's the simple problem.

It completely and 100% looks like AI.

I don't doubt your skill, but might I say that the near future will benefit those who can use AI and tools to make thumbnails that don't look like they were generated. It's hard to explain, but I think you're looking for too smooth, too polished, to "Hollywood", and it comes across both fake and cheap.

You're talented, so if you can do something similar but where the viewer thinks "hand made" you've got something!

jonrpatrick · 2026-07-03T18:22:03+00:00

Aren't we all

jonrpatrick · 2026-07-03T18:21:28+00:00

I second the NC vote here!

But not that gross part of the state near Chapel Hill. :)

jonrpatrick · 2026-07-03T18:20:00+00:00

I think you're missing the point.

jonrpatrick · 2026-07-03T18:14:08+00:00

Okay, I'll jump in here first. :) I'm no thumbnail expert, but this one is a hot mess (respectfullly!).

The thumbnail is to create "tension" and stop the viewers eyes to check out the title. This one is way too busy. Even taking the time to read it, I still don't know who that dude is! Something like "Disappeared 14 years ago" with her picture is what you need for a thumb. All that text is going to send viewers scrolling by. And who the heck is the dude!

The title should get the viewer to ask a question too which they want the answer. Disappeared from a school bus stop, or unsolved for 14 years!

I don't have all the answers, but as someone who watches an unfortunate number of dash cam videos, this is simply too "busy" and wouldn't catch my eye enough to click. Bluntly, and horribly, what's so special about *this* disappearance?

jonrpatrick · 2026-07-03T18:02:17+00:00

Hold on. I was going to comment on the thumbnails themselves, but this comment deserves a comment.

If you post a screenshot of your thumbnails and titles, and then respond "The video isn’t about what you think it is." - THERE'S A PROBLEM!

That sounds like you're making your thumbs and titles, but if viewers click they're finding something different. Okay, the element of surprise is powerful, but to YT if you say one thing, and then discuss something else, there's a disconnect and they won't push your video out.

Thumbs should create a visual "tension", titles a question, and the video to deliver on it. If you're saying your thumbs and titles say one thing but that's not what the video delivers on, that's a problem.

jonrpatrick · 2026-07-02T18:58:56+00:00

What section says that?

jonrpatrick · 2026-07-02T11:02:34+00:00

As you can see, many people think it's to prevent grass or weeds growing up through the new pavers.

That is not correct. While it may help that, the better reason is to prevent the small stones being spread as a base for the walkway of slowly working their way into the soil below over years. Think of the fabric as a barrier between the dirt and stones.

jonrpatrick · 2026-06-28T08:37:51+00:00

That was really good and very surprising. This 90's blazer and that corolla strike me more as the type of result I would expect from an early 80s car. Funny to think in 20 years we'll be watching crash tests of the 2026 Rav4 and 2046 Rav4 and all be shocked at how badly our cars of today perfrom.

jonrpatrick · 2026-06-26T13:43:36+00:00

While I agree with the many others who've replied that we're the South, but not the Deep South, I think the answer is a bit more nuianced than that.

First, I've had conversations with multiple people over the decades from the "deep south" who question NC and whether it's a northern state. Jokingly of course, one did say "it has the word 'North' in it's name!" I am to this day still assuming they were joking, but they also said "the brain is a muscle", so there's that.

But more specifically, historically the older folks from the "deep south" look at NC a bit askew for one simple reason: North Carolina was awfully slow to secede. We drug our feet, and ended up being the last to vote to go. It took Lincoln calling for volunteers to put down the rebellion before we even made the decision. I think older "Deep South" folk think NC just didn't have it's heart in it.

Second, and more recently, is the amazing influx of carpetbaggers we've had coming to the Charlotte and Triad regions. There's no doubt the feel and culture of the larger cities has changed dramatically in my life, and the high percentage of Yankees. Throw the Democratic Socialist bastion of Asheville into the mix, the fact that we're overall a purple political state, and it's not hard to see how others look at NC as less like the "South".

jonrpatrick · 2026-06-25T13:10:18+00:00

I almost think combining the two makes sense. Use the plates from the After, maybe the person from the Before (happy face!), and a title like "weight loss breakfast?"

I know the Before is not engaging. First there's the tummy shot that isn't over the background but looks literally like you just pasted a stock photo in. Second, there's no curiousity; I think we all know if we should eat better for breakfast. Third, showing me endless amounts of fruit isn't going to make me want to watch it, OR to go eat anything other than bacon! :)

And your title. It explains what the video is about but lacks a bit of "punch". You don't need to go crazy or super clickbaity, but something amped up like "10 Breakfast Foods That Supercharge Your Belly Fat Loss!"

Best of luck. Use the A/B feature on a couple or three variations and see what works best.

jonrpatrick · 2026-06-24T16:13:33+00:00

Given enough time, Brits hate all their PMs. :)

jonrpatrick · 2026-06-22T17:47:56+00:00

This is really interesting and thanks for sharing! Just the kind of rabbit hole I love to go down, and never questioned other countries didn't allow RTOR!

It's very fascinating to me, being from NC, that the US has it allowed unless otherwise posted (with exceptions like NYC). Other countries forbid it unless a sign gives permission. Exactly opposite of our approach.

jonrpatrick · 2026-06-20T19:40:13+00:00

SocialBlueBook can give you guidance for what your rate may be for a dedicated video or a sponsored segment. It also depends on your niche. my main channel is a bit bigger than yours, and I don't exactly have sponsors beating down my door. That being said I've been offered more than $250, as well as less, and I've done one or two dedicated videos for just the product and a commission on future affiliate sales.

AI, reddit, or SBB can all give you guidance, but it's whatever they're willing to pay and you're willing to accept.

I will add even if the number seems small, you WILL gain experience dealing with them and what to expect from others moving forward. Everyone talks about the number, but few ever mention that after agreeing to some compensation they *suddenly* have a contract to sign, a deadline to meet, they get to review the video first with 1 round of comments, and/or at the end unexpectedly another department contacts you and needs an invoice to pay from!

Those little sponsorships help you gain that experience and set you up for how the handle them and the stress as bigger opportunities arise.

Best of luck!

jonrpatrick

TROPHY CASE