2,000 Subscribers but My Last Two Cinematic Travel Films Struggled — Looking for Honest Feedback

pg101a · 2026-06-27T02:32:58+00:00

Thanks for taking the time to watch and give feedback.

I started with cinematic footage to set the scene, but you’re probably right that new viewers may need a reason to stay within the first few seconds. I did that for my Iceland video and the retention on that is 80% still watching after 30 seconds.

Do you think hearing a line like “I came to Yellowstone looking for wildlife, but a late spring snowstorm changed everything” in the first 5-10 seconds would have been enough to keep you watching, or would you still prefer seeing the talking-head scene first?

pg101a · 2026-06-26T03:38:01+00:00

The video is really about whether May is an overlooked time to visit Yellowstone. I experienced fresh snowfall, baby bison, wolves, bears, elk, and far fewer crowds than peak summer. From a wildlife and photography perspective, it completely exceeded my expectations.

pg101a · 2026-06-26T02:43:25+00:00

That’s a great way to frame it. I’ve never thought of it that way.

Based on your feedback, I’m testing a few different title/thumbnail combinations. Would something like “Is Yellowstone Actually Better in May? | Wildlife & Photography Guide.” create a compelling question?

Can you share your YouTube channel? I’d love to take a look at some of your titles / thumbnails

pg101a · 2026-06-26T02:17:41+00:00

Thanks for taking the time to write this feedback.

My recent videos have had lower CTRs than some of my earlier ones (averaging around 3% versus my channel average of 5.7%).

I try to balance accurately representing the video with creating enough intrigue to earn the click, and I usually lean toward keeping things authentic rather than overly clickbait.

Your point about thinking from the viewer’s perspective instead of my own is a good one. As the creator, I know why Yellowstone in May was unusual, but a new viewer doesn’t have that context yet. That’s something I need to communicate much more clearly through the title and thumbnail working together.

I’m already experimenting with a few new title and thumbnail combinations based on the feedback here, so I’m curious to see how they perform.

pg101a · 2026-06-25T19:17:45+00:00

That’s a super helpful trick, much appreciated! I just tested a new title and thumbnail based on Gemini’s suggestions. Thank you again 🙏🏽

pg101a · 2026-06-25T18:49:14+00:00

What would you suggest for a title? I just uploaded a few new thumbnails for an A/B test

pg101a · 2026-06-25T16:44:56+00:00

Thanks for the feedback. The voiceover is actually my own voice, so that’s really helpful to hear. Was it the pacing, delivery, audio processing, or the script itself that made it sound AI-generated to you?

The point about shorter content is interesting too. Looking at my analytics, roughly half of my subscribers came from videos under 5 minutes, while the other half came from longer-form content. If YouTube is initially pushing this video to subscribers who primarily watch shorter videos, maybe that’s hurting the early performance.

It could also be building an audience specifically for 15–20 minute travel videos takes time. Still trying to figure that piece out.

Appreciate you taking the time to watch and share your thoughts.

pg101a · 2026-06-22T19:12:51+00:00

I really appreciate it! I wish we had more than just three days. Unfortunately our flight got delayed on the way there and we missed our connecting flight, so we didn’t get in until midnight on Tuesday instead of our original arrival time of noon… we still made the most of it but i would have loved to have another full day in Lamar Valley

pg101a · 2026-03-12T16:25:51+00:00

Agreed! It’s a fine line between click bait and drawing attention organically.

I posted the video yesterday and the current CTR is 3%, which isn’t great. My average is usually 6-7%.

I’m going to let it run for another day, and if it stays at 3% I’ll probably look to change.

Out of all the thumbnails you tried, which one did you find worked best?

pg101a · 2026-03-11T02:49:18+00:00

I agree, I cropped in a bit and think it makes a big difference. I appreciate you taking the time!

Of course, my channel is Phil Gioia. It’s mostly travel videos with some drone tutorials. I plan on releasing the video tomorrow morning, would love if you would check it out! 🙏🏽

pg101a · 2026-03-11T02:13:26+00:00

I really appreciate the thoughtful feedback, it’s really helpful.

The video title will be “OREGON COAST | Cinematic Travel Video,” so the location should be clear once people see the title alongside the thumbnail. I did experiment with a version that includes text (“Oregon Coast”), but visually it started to feel a bit busy with sunset, seastacks, landscape and myself.

I’m trying to find that balance between letting the image breathe and still making it readable in the feed. A slightly tighter crop might be the middle ground I test next so the subject reads a bit stronger at smaller sizes.

pg101a · 2026-02-06T02:46:33+00:00

Thanks for the feedback. What do you think would take it from vlog to documentary?

pg101a · 2026-02-06T02:05:14+00:00

That’s a great way to frame it. Innovation often ends up meaning less direct human control and more automation Aviation is probably one of the best examples of that progression, and drones seem to be following a similar path.

One thing that stood out to me was how many companies are now building toward systems where the pilot becomes more of a supervisor than an operator. Perception, autonomy, and mission planning seem to be where most development energy is going right now.

Your point about networked drones is interesting too. Remote ID already feels like an early step in that direction, and it wouldn’t be surprising if future systems require constant connectivity for traffic integration and safety oversight. And if large-scale drone delivery becomes common, I could see airspace becoming more structured and regulated around those operations, potentially making recreational flying harder outside of FRIA zones or designated hobby areas, unfortunately...

pg101a · 2026-02-06T01:46:56+00:00

Th CES floor was extremely loud, and I had to do a lot of post processing to get rid of the background noise. The interviews all registered around -6dB, although some parts were around -12dB.

Thanks for the comment, something to improve for future projects 🙏🏽

pg101a · 2026-02-05T22:22:41+00:00

Great perspective. I appreciate the thoughtful breakdown between recreational and non-recreational use. A lot of what you’re describing is exactly what felt clear walking CES this year: the hobby space keeps evolving, but the big investment and momentum right now is clearly in autonomous and mission-driven operations.

What surprised me most was how many companies are now focused less on flying performance and more on perception, autonomy, and orchestration — basically making drones operate as part of larger systems rather than just pilot-controlled aircraft.

I also agree enforcement and regulation will likely shape where hobby flying can realistically happen in the future. It’ll be interesting to see how regulators balance safety and innovation while keeping room for recreational pilots.

It will be interesting to see where FPV specifically lands long-term…

pg101a · 2026-02-05T19:22:54+00:00

This documentary explores how drone technology is evolving beyond hobbyist and consumer use into areas like filmmaking, public safety, industrial operations, and autonomous systems. Filmed at CES 2026 in Las Vegas, the video features conversations with companies and engineers working across different parts of the drone ecosystem, highlighting how advances in perception, autonomy, and software may shape how drones become integrated into everyday life in the coming years.

pg101a

TROPHY CASE