Heard of thumbnail test running? In this guide, we will:
- Explain what thumbnail test running is
- Teach you how to do it
What is Thumbnail Test Running?
Thumbnail test running (A/B testing) means experimenting with different video thumbnails to determine which one attracts more views, engagement, or clicks.
These tests help you figure out what your audience likes best — and hence, what type of thumbnails work better for your channel.
For instance, you upload 3 thumbnails and:
- Thumbnail #1 → Goes to a few users
- Thumbnail #2 → Visible to a number of other viewers
- And so on.
After analysis, the most converting (winning) thumbnail remains in place for that specific video.
In the Context of YouTube
YouTube thumbnail testing is a feature that allows creators to A/B test different thumbnails for their videos to see which one performs better.
- It improves click-through rates (CTRs).
- Helps you get more views
- Effectively: More subscribers + engagement
To run A/B tests, creators upload 2-3 thumbnails for the same video.
YouTube then randomly shows these thumbnails to different segments of the creator’s audience.
The thumbnail that generates the highest CTR is then considered the winner.
Related: Everything about YouTube’s A/B Testing feature.
Is it worth running thumbnail tests?
Yes, it is worth doing running thumbnail tests. Reason being that you’ll understand what your audience likes better.
If you get an app to do it for you, then you don’t have to waste any time.
| Factor | Manually | Thumbnail Test |
|---|---|---|
| Time | Takes time to manually replace thumbnails | Upload thumbnails and let the app do the hard work for you. |
| Tracking data | Just manual labor | More detailed data, including average view duration, click-through rate, and audience demographics |
| Customization | Limited customization options | Offers more control over test parameters, including audience targeting and test duration |
| Cost | Free | Paid subscription service |
These are pretty much your only options:
- Manual → You can try manually creating 2 to ∞ thumbnails yourself and change them every hour, day, week, […] to see which performs better.
- App (Thumbnail Test) → Automatically does it for you so thumbnails are on autopilot, and you get to focus on other work.
- YouTube → No clear signs of a feature so far. Only releases the feature to a couple of YouTube Beta Testers in the past.
Why a third-party tool?
Because they’re more advanced – especially Thumbnail Test.
Thumbnail Test is a paid service. However, if you already are (or are planning to be) a dedicated content creator, then you might already know how much time everything takes.
Essentially: Thumbnail Test puts A/B Testing on auto-pilot, while you get to spend the whole of your time on more important work, such as:
- Video/content creation
- Collaborations & Sponsorship
- Social media management
- More — you know best.
Though, this is all just a way understanding whether your thumbnails perform well or not.
Conclusion
This guide studied what thumbnail test running is all about, and whether it’s worth doing it or not.
Hope you learned what you were looking for!
Thank you for reading this,
Thumbnail Test
