I always try to think of the canvas of the thumbnail as a the whole webpage where I can only control a small part of it where I want my part to stick out. When I put effort into a thumbnail, I always try to pick a bold color that sticks out among the related videos and a silly face. I've noticed a trend with thumbnails. The harder you clickbate, the more likely your related videos are going to be clickbaiting because that is the audience that you are attracting. It will be harder to keep your audience's attention by clickbaiting hard. So you have to start off really strong to compensate.


This was a great watch. I edit your TVDb page and when I uploaded the thumbnail for the MattsWhattitis video I noticed that thumbnail was a million times better than all the previous ones. Keep up the great work.


While everyone lost their minds in quarantine he just honed his craft... Emp you#re going places.


When I saw the circle on the Matt Watson video I instantly knew it was yours before I saw a title or account. The red border reminded me of YouTube Geographic and I got downwards spiral vibes from the red circles over the black background. Example of having your personality in your thumbnails and how it worked on me.


Ty so much for this!! People need to treat it more respectfully for the content they want to portray.


Dude. You are literally one of the greatest and most underappreciated YouTube strategists of our time.


I'm surprised you didn't mention needing some consistency in similar videos by the same creator. People who like a video will look for more of that content, and the primary way they'll identify that content is by going to another video with, while not exactly a cookie cutter series thumbnail with an adjustment, a unique yet linking theme with that of the other videos like it; for example, take Polymatter. There are times when I consciously choose not to click on a video because I decide it's not the content I'm looking flr because the thumbnail is too different from the rest


This series is 100 times more useful than youtube's tutorials.

Killing Me Will Not Bring Back Your Apples


I think that Emplemon has been on an upward spiral and now he’s gone meta completely


i saw the thumbnail before i saw the title of this video and it definitely caught my attention more than any other. my thoughts were "what the fuck am i looking at" then i scrolled to read the title, and i was like "boy that sounds interesting, and i like that emplemon guy" so i'd say, this was a success, and definitely supported your point.


One thing I think youtubers need to be aware of with their thumbnail design is the timestamp in the bottom right corner. I see a lot of thumbnails where text or something visually relevant is cut off by it and it's always distracting when it happens.


Great vid and glad to see a sponsor<br>That mini ytp at the end was pretty funny

Great vid and glad to see a sponsor
That mini ytp at the end was pretty funny


Good to see some rebeltaxi appreciation one of the best creators on the platform


I sure hope more YouTubers don't use negative space in the future. I use dark mode and they look terrible.


One interesting way of creating thumbnails is by reverse clickbait (a.k.a. spoiling the point/question of the video) but in a good way. Adam Neely's channel accentuates this style in a proper way.


Demonstrating true understanding and respect for the meta by thoroughly destroying it? Nice, nice...


A whole video about graphic design? A man after my own heart


Lovely day to see Dan being called a nobody. What a wonderful surprise.


That remake of Nirvana's Remind album had me dying. Could you imagine Kurt Cobain looking at that and going "yeah that's the key"?


After using youtube for years I've developed a sixth sense for never ever watching videos with shitty clickbaits, I even avoided nerd city videos for months because his awful clickbaitty tthumbnails I only got around actually watching his videos when Idubbz recommended his channel.


This is gonna sound like a joke but I swear to God it's true:

A few years ago, I had an old channel where I would make cringy little animatics and upload them to YouTube even though they were just for my friends. One of the animatics I made HAPPENED to use a single frame of the video with a characters butt in it. I checked back like a month later and it got like 300k views. I deleted the channel because I was embarrassed that people see my shit lol

Either way, thumbnails can 1000% influence the popularity of a video.


Regarding the whole "change your thumbnail every now and then to get more views", I think it actually works.
I haven't done myself, but a video I've favorited of the Hololive team singing Fukkireta changes its thumbnail almost every day, and also almost every day Youtube recommends it to me again.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kQ2GtvDV3s --it has happened more than once of me trying to search for this video and not finding it quick because I didnd't notice the change.


It is true that changing the thumbnail does improve performance in the algorithm.


minimme definitely deserved the shoutout for his thumbnails.


When you started the video my first youtuber that came to mind was minimme and then you showed him, that's the goodest shit man


The thumbnail is so linked to the title of the video and the contents that it is impossible to make a 'good' thumbnail. You need to draw attention to the best part of your video with the thumbnail, so ideally if your thumbnail is the Mona freaking Lisa then your video should've had as much effort put into it as the moon landing.


Lowkey miss when even the biggest  youtubers just uploaded with default thumbnails that were just a random frame from the video


Thanks m8 I wanna be a youtuber like freaking everyone else and this video's gonna help me out being rich, love you lemon man


This has resulted in me not just being both wiser and stronger. But more powerful


Man, the Team Fabulous 2 thumbnail is bringing back memories

Rest in Peace, Kitty0706


I like Adam Neely’s style where the video title is a question and the thumbnail has the answer in it, so you click to watch for the explanation.


I'm going to be honest, the thumbnail was keeping me from clicking this video before I realized who it was from.


thank you for making another good video!


this was elaborate ploy for emp to talk about last youtube geographic thumbnail


Adam Neely has the best thumbnails. Anti-clickbait. The title of the video is a question, the thumbnail has the answer.


Oddly enough, both Fredrik Knudsen and RebelTaxi just uploaded new videos soon after this very video was uploaded.


First things first, Youtube on light mode? EmpLemon, you absolute tin-can plebian.


Emplemon trying to teach me how to make a thumbnail when I don’t even know how to put a thumbnail on a video


They say "Don't judge a book by its cover" but that's dumb as hell. The Cover is there to show what the book is about.


I liked the racing game music transition there, from Mario Kart Wii right into Gran Turismo 2.


I love that mine are just random screenshots of random game clips which completely accurately represents me


I actually just look at who uploads the suggested vids then pick based upon uploader and video title and thumbnail last. Exactly because the thumbnail can be gamed so much.


Three things:
There are a ton of "how to do a thing better on YouTube" videos, but this channel makes the only ones that aren't samey and predictable.
I don't know why this wasn't on my home page, given how I always watch them from beginning to end, like, and usually comment. Something smells off, YouTube.
I have changed thumbnails on old videos before, and it does improve their stats. Not sure if YouTube just sees the interest in improving it after the fact as valuable, the thumbnail just tends to be better, or both.

Oh, and I've done negative space thumbnails, but I mostly stopped because dark mode is becoming more and more popular across the internet and devices. I really like it, but I feel like I'll only commit to it again if transparency is allowed in thumbnails at some point.


another thing i like/hate about the "red branding"; on desktop, with the red bar at the bottom that shows how much you've already watched; that becomes completely invisible with the red border. This is a blessing and a curse, since people can mistakenly reclick your video for lower watchtime (ESPECIALLY with the longform stuff Emp puts out) but can also encourage those re-clicks to happen for obvious reasons. I still can't tell if it's the best or worst "branding" decision on this website.


1:20 that thumbnail made me not watch that video for 8 months.
Then one day i decided to give it a try and it was legitimate good content.
But damn it i hate that thumbnail.


This will be the new biggest EmpLemon video


gonna be honest, you picked a bad channel for “not known faces” Daniel “lets go” gheesling is known and fucking loved by those who dont even sub to his channel


Speaking of information flow, Adam Neely is a music youtuber who makes content about either random musical topics or advice for musicians.  His titles often ask a question which is then answered by his thumbnail.  I figured you might be interested, so maybe you should check it out.


When channels i am subscribed to change a thumbnail for a video i am not interested in, i am forced to look at it again because it looks like a new video.


you slide the ad in so well im not even mad


Excellent video, love the old Mr. Plinkett references. The Phantom Menace review deserves an episode of YouTube Geographic.


James Rolf changed the thumbnails for all his old AVGN episodes and after this these old videos have been recommended to me every couple of weeks, despite i have watched them more times i can count. I think he keeps updating the thumbnails everhmy so often now to boost views, because youtube keeps recommending the same old videos over and over again.


The switching thumbnails on existing videos seems to have worked for Dragon Ball Z Abridged


The moment Emp mentioned you should pay attention to thirds and salience and other traditional forms of iconography/graphic design, a small lightbulb came up in my head.

Maybe I could come back and do YT. I think that's why my recent Instagram thumbnails for my game's updates have been doing so well. I've been using a bit more contrast.
Thanks, Emp.


I think you should do the YouTube video title metagame next


I made a thumbnail for my Death Note YTP. I just threw a bunch of shit that looked funny to me. Like Light Yagami as a light bulb


2:56 that track is from Spanky's Quest on SNES i love that weird ass game


Your the only YouTuber I don’t use an Adblock for


I dont look at thumbnails, only read the video titles

Like a psychopath


sseth and Net Historian have some pretti good thumbnails.


That majoras mask comparison video thumbnail you showed got me to watch that contect creator


Brilliant Good Sir, absolutely brilliant


12:20 ...If that's the YouTuber I'm thinking of...
...your similar voices are just a coincidence, right Emp?
Emp???


9:10
Didn't know Emp was a fan of Wrestling with Wregret


anyone else pop open emp's channel to double-check this video's thumbnail?


9:50 why you gotta put Dan Gheesling under the bus


"Operation red herring"s thumbnail is really similar to "leafy was here" one.


0:05 Eyy, that legendary YTP itself, 'Dying to Lie' by ThatGuyPoops. :)


From which video is the thumbnail at 1.20?<br>-it seems to work, it got me interested

From which video is the thumbnail at 1.20?
-it seems to work, it got me interested


Emp's in depth explanation of red spiral.

>you might not have noticed it, but your brain did.

>>haha red downward spiral


do a survey and see which ones people pick the most and ask them why they picked it


I switched off video previews just to so I can appreciate thumbnails more


4:21 who else actually found waldo in the picture...


I swear your previous thumbnail didn't look like that... I think-


I think I have some pretty swanky thumbnails


What would you say about videos that have all caps in the title and it’s over the top? Also wow I didn’t know Team Fabulous 2 was 8 years old now...


I'll tell you thumbnails that are bad now are the new ones for old AVGN videos. they changed them and they look horrible.


The worst part of this video is implying god social engineer Dan Gheesling and his iconic red buttonup aren't recognizable


4:22 There is Waldo. See if you can find him!


My ratings of all of Emp's essay form videos ordered best to worst:
Never Ever episode 4
Youtube Copyright metagame 3
Never Ever episode 1

Why you should like dislikes
Never Ever episode 3
Leafy Was Here
MEME Theory: How Donald Trump used Memes to Become President
Operation Red Herring
Frying comments: The origin of the downward spiral

Never Ever episode 2
Youtube's Next Great War
The End of Pewdiepie's Reign
Viacom Sues Youtube for a billion dollars
Neutral Response
MeiAIDS spreads and epidemic


Kothism makes an appearance. Let us not forget child labour should be legal


My boi Dan Gheesling lmao i didn't expected to see it there.


Who else saw the thumbnail at 0:05. Who else remembers that ytp?


Watch Ahoy for a masterclass on youtube branding design


How do you write your scripts. I'm trying to make a video on why steamed hams is the best meme ever and I have no idea how to start


is there a YTP in the end of the video?!


Why did you have to do my man dan like that


the year is 20XX, all thumbnails on youtube are the sy snootles moon


I really appreciate the Mr. Plinkett references you made especially the one in the thumbnail. Good shit


As long as you don't put anything important in the bottom right corner, it's good enough for me.


How old is EmpLemon because I watched his ytps when I was like twelve


8:15 Anyone else now get PTSD whenever they see a line graph?


1:21 or one thats always in your fucking recommended.


God I hate that majoras' moon thumbnail so much.


Bro does Emp watch big brother. Is that how he found Dan’s Minecraft channel


Never ever video on Bernie Mac

Get on it


TIL Dan Gheesling is an active YouTuber. Weird.


Anyone else catch the P5 music in the background?


You might not have noticed it... But your brain did


i know you don't make you know those videos anymore...but


Didn’t the people behind racist mario had to censor that thumbnail because of demonetisation?

they did, but which thumbnail do you remember better; the old one or the new one?


1:19 I HAVE SEEN THAT VIDEO, BUT I DONT REMEMBER WHAT IT WAS


Bruh just make a video of team fortress 2. you use music from it and content. please i beg u


Lol that's not the icon and title I clicked


*cough* *cough* when are you doing the Star_ vid *cough* *cough*

**cough** **cough** when are you doing the Star_ vid **cough** **cough**


The only reason I’m watching you today is because of the uncredibles


This is shit!

Now that I have your attention, what does it’s never ogre even mean.

PS I don’t actually think is shit, I liked it.


MY GUY SUBSCRIBED TO WRESTLING WITH WREGRET


Thumbnails are like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re gonna get.


> Implying Dan Gheesling's resume bodyshot is a waste of space

Green texting outside of the taiwan basket weaving forum.


Only 35 ear available. Black, blue, or red. Just a warning


I think you failed to mention “Anti-bait” where the title asks a question and the thumbnail <b>answers</b> the question. How does it work? How can there be incentive to watch the video? Well, you wanna know how the heck they got to that answer right? I think the best examples are from Adam Neely (what is the slowest possible music).

I think you failed to mention “Anti-bait” where the title asks a question and the thumbnail *answers* the question. How does it work? How can there be incentive to watch the video? Well, you wanna know how the heck they got to that answer right? I think the best examples are from Adam Neely (what is the slowest possible music).


Yeaaa, Wrestling with Wregret, I like how ur a wrestling fan, but not a wrestling channel, it’s a auto sub for me


lifehack: just tell the audience something about the rule of third and you'll be loved


Emp, you're my absolute favorite youtuber. Thank you for inspiring me to make videos. Whenever I'm down on myself for a video not performing well, I watch your videos and it gives me hope. Keep creating. Can't wait to see you at 1 million!


Emp, I'm so glad you are making content. It's hard to know what to do given our current situation


It's always a good day whenever emp posts a video like this


That's the wonderful thing about being a non-story driven YTPer. Making the thumbnail as bombastic and incoherent as possible perfectly captures both the video and creator.


I’m stuck between making trash thumbnails, and trash content; this video helped me realize I shouldn’t be a youtuber. Thanks, Emp!


I really appreciate the work put in to thumbnails. I do most of my YouTube viewing on mobile so I pretty much look at thumbnails rather than the actual title of the vid, especially for channels I know well.

So I hate the damn video preview feature on mobile... There's no way to decide what video to preview, it's just the video centered on the screen. even worse is that it then starts the video at the point the preview got to! Because why would I want to start the video from the beginning?! If Pron Hub can figure this out, then so can YT.


I'm so glad you showed minimme's thumbnails. Like, they are so beautifully cursed I love every single one of them


Great video. I'd love if you did a follow up where you went in detail on some of the more iconic thumbnails and what made them work. Seeing you deconstruct things like Idubbz's content cops and Dunkey's "I'm done with LoL" would be a treat.


Love the Forest Maze theme at 6:19 . Being a Geno fan, I'm hoping he gets into Smash.


Im in love with your videos since a few years. I never miss one single video.


I was watching the youtube geographic playlist last night and i thought these very questions.
how much thought went into this thumbnail and what would have happened if he didn't like it over time?
can he just change the trademark red border for something else and still have it represent the series? why red?
why am i exist?


Personally as someone who watched gamemaker toolkit I find that dynamic visuals make for a great thumbnail.


I really appreciated the inclusion of this videos thumbnail in the video, homage to the forced thumbnail frames of yesteryear.


I often intentionally leave the thumbnail on default, or even pick a different screenshot from the video. This is a rather extreme take on the idea of staying consistent with the video's content.


Also, the circles in a thumbnail subconsciously can be related to the spiral, and everyone on youtube knows who gets related when a spiral is mentioned


I really think that Alpharad and Ceave Gaming have the best thumbnails I've ever seen


love the room you created for the narration, thats rlly creative


videogamedunkey's thumbnails are so simple yet I almost always know if I see like a game title screenshot with no text it's a new dunkey video lol


Adam Neely asks questions in his video titles and answers then by his thumbnail in the most cohesive and short way. I think that's genius


I have a personal rule - if the thumbnail looks like it belongs on Phil DeFranco's channel or a clickbait site, I don't watch it. I'll make an exception to the rule if I follow the creator.


I prefer much more thumbnails as drawing than with the youtuber's face
I love thumbnails from channels like Antdude, The Completionist, Oneyplays... When I see thumbnails that are just cool drawings I aways feel like "wow okay this video looks like there is a good production behind it"
So if you're an artist or know one you can already make amazing thumbnails much better than most channels and that's an advantage, people may not know your face, but if your face is a Cartoon people will like it even if they don't know it


I must say that thumbnails are one of the most important things tagged goes into if I click on a video from a creator I don’t know.


I have the artistic talent of a baby seal with asbestos poisoning, so all of my videos are basically screwed in that regard. Not like they’re anything of quality to begin with. Still, nice to get insight on what can be done in the art of thumbnails.


I feel like thumbnails are one of those things where if you do a good job, nobody will notice it, but if you do a bad job everyone will notice.  Obviously, more noticeable jobs = more clicks which is what you want but now browsing youtube feels like walking through a Toys R Us and looking at all the boxes.  I think at some point in time the thumbnail metagame is going to go post-modern which we can already see reflected from the decline in the "man shouts at video game" thumbnails.


12:50 ah, yes, the master of thumbnails getting the recognition he deserves.


Digibro has an entire video speaking about how changing the thumbnail in many videos boosted his videos - like a lot of videos


Thumbnails don't necessarily need to be memorable, they just need to catch ones attention and be interesting to look at, perhaps even shocking.


I feel like you and Whang need to do a collab.


Alpharad has top tier thumbnails in my opinion. They usually have two points of focus with one of them sometimes being text but not a second title either. And also just overall he choses catchy colors and some whacky images. As much as now people continue to watch for his energy and editing (he probably has some of the best unscipted animation skills without editing i know here), his growth may come in part for his really good graphic desing. (and yes even at 2m he still mostly does it by himself)


When I was younger I noticed  the arrow and red circle trend on top 10 videos. I also noticed the poor low quality click bait content with them , which led me to actively avoid the videos. Those things which were supposed to draw my attention  effectively just led me away


i remember one of my favorite channels just put the entire second half of the video as the thumbnail and i always thought they were just really bad at editing or something


I'm a simple man. When I see EmpLemon posts a new video, I watch right away.


This can really help me on how to design better thumbnails for my channel.


Definitely going start paying more attention to your thumbnails from now on.


Your videos are always a delight, nice one


This video made me feel like I was about to pass my B spec permit


This video reminds me of the time you uploaded the summer hour long video. The thumbnail was just a shit ton of text for ants and the complaints image you loved to use. I didn't even notice the downward spiral in the thumbnail. I also didn't notice I skipped it until months later. I know the purpose of the video was to make empty subs unsubscribe, but I didn't even acknowledge the video. It makes me wonder if empty subs really did get the message to unsub or if they just glanced over it like me.


Definitely gonna try and have this when thinking about the thumbnail for my new video.


I can't believe this guy convinced me to unsubscribe to him in one of his videos. Thank god Youtube kept recommending them to me


8:25 Can confirm that this doesn't work as i was locked out of using thumbnails for a whole month because i couldn't get my account verified due my families phones being cut off, What might be happening is that videos with a decent amount of views (around 50k) get their thumbnails changed to something visually appealing getting the few people who get those videos recommended to them to click on those videos causing the algorithm to start recommended those videos on mass. Which could explain why sometimes youtube recommends random videos that are over 10 years old and had less then 100k views.


Anecdotes regarding the thumbnail changes
Youtube keeps recommending me this video with 24 Hololive members and I keep clicking it because every day they change the thumbnail to be another member. And being the simple guy I am; I see someone I like, I click.
.
There's also a thing where I barely remember anything about a video and don't rewatch but a new thumbnail is enough to convince me to watch it again.


Interesting, lots to learn about my own thumbnails from this video.


I've watched that Majora's Mask video by Nerrel almost every time I've seen it, just because of its incredible thumbnail.


Emplemon is the only creator who’s video I know I’ll like before I even watch it


8:24 I changed a lot of thumbnails in my old videos and some got more views and some don't. I you check my channel you can se that, in  my top videos list, some videos have Thumbnails created and others don't (just a random frame from the vid) and both coexist in the firsts spots.


Does this mean we owe the cliche "YouTube face" thumbnail to RWJ?


Kitty would still be proud of Team Fabulous 2 as a memorable video and thumbnail as Team Fabulous 2 is a masterpiece to me


In two words: flag design.
I guess.
I like how you made the downward spiral a trademark of your channel. Just saying.


One thing that i noticed about your red frame "branding" is that it conceales the also red progress bar under thumbnails, which indicates whether i have already watched a video, therefore baiting a second watch ;)


You are a legend for putting the first time jizzing thumbnail in the reel


4:41 I remember when I was 5, in 2007, I watched an irrational amount of YTP and Vore videos cuz I thought it was fucking hilarious


Something you didn't really talk about was just the titles of the videos. I know that's not technically the thumbnail, but I've clicked on videos like Wariodiesinacarcrash.mp4 just because of its name. Also those Yoda Ketamine videos, I think the titles (along with the thumbnail) are my favorite aspect of the meta right now.


Emp the absolute king is back with another banger video


I agree with faces being meaningless for smaller channels, but Dan Gheesling isn't the best example seeing as he was on Big Brother and was loved by fans of the show. Small criticism though.


I uploaded a animated lego video that had very little views (nothing out of the ordinary) with a meme as the thumbnail. Later on, I changed the thumbnail to a frame from the video, and it got about x3 the views.

So yeah what you said about changing thumbnails to get veiws is true


That thumbnail got me...<br>EmpLemon: YouTube Anthropologist

That thumbnail got me...
EmpLemon: YouTube Anthropologist


The 'face' issue is IMO why cartoon avatars work so much better than traditional thumbnail faces, since they give more room for self-expression, serve as flexible branding, and can serve as a microcosm of the type of content you're about to receive.

EmpLemon's Robot Chicken Ackbar perfectly matches the 'I love this site but it is causing me more than a little ongoing pain as it sucks me further into the Downward Spiral' vibe his presentations are going to give.
They can also double as flexible iconography to underscore a point (EmpLemon in a Bob Ross disguise, for instance).


Back to the face part of your branding, my little theory is that, half of the YouTubers already knew about this when they were small. So, when they reach a milestone of say... 1 million subscribers and they become somewhat well known. BAM! They hit you with the face reveal!


I agree- Dane's thumbnails are quite good.


I like that this was the first thing I saw opening YouTube at 4:27 pm on a Thursday


A way to work with brand is to create one, like downward spiral.


Do it like PewDiePie: NEVER. AIM. HIGH!
Make your thumbnails represent what you say in that video or what the video shows, NEVER what you want people to see. What i mean by this is that you want to help out the content on said video, not just clickbait random people and be done with it. For example: What good will bring you to have a diverse and diferent people who enjoy multiple contents and ideas? Exactly! NOTHING! They don't match, they are diferent people, some are casual, everyday working men and women, others are (as an example) a counter-strike player, the other is a fortnite player, another a football player, other viewers might be finantial advisors. Now imagine those people becoming "hostile" to others verbaly because they THINK the channel is that way and not this way, and they both go back and foward, leading to the ultimate conclusion of both eventually leaving the channel.

Seems like an exagerated story, right? It isn't. It happens on a daily basis. On this platform.
This is what happens if you try and aim high: You make clickbait, you talk smack, you just do it for the clout and eventually you stop growing as steadilly OR you gave such a bad reputation to your channel that people will naturally just not go there, even random people will, and if they won't, the algorithm eventually will catch-up with you and "shut you down" ahead of time (usually takes half or a Decade to that actually happen (though it's unconfirmed).

This is the power of a thumbnail, and thumbnail consistency. Use it properlly, you got yourself a great channel. Use it just because or just to aim high, you'll never go far.

16:13 - 16:21 : CORRECT! No matter how dull (diplomatic word for stupid) or smart (diplomatic word for cunning, not inteligent) you are, your subconscious sees things you don't, it understands the world diferently. Like instict, or a "unplanned" reaction to something.


So happy to see Team Fabulous 2’s thumbnail featured in some way


I’m gonna have to order some thick black  glasses without lens so I can start making some proper thumbnails. That way people will respect me when I say, “but why?”


Going to your tweet about memorable thumbnails, did anyone talk about Ahoy? He makes great videos and some of the thumbnails are really enticing


8:26 One thing that I noticed was that The Angry Video Game Nerd changed the thumbnails of every single one of his old videos (from 2006-2010ish) on top of removing the episode number from the title just shy of a year ago. Not only did most of those videos appear in my recommended but the comment section was littered with people who were also recommended the video after the thumbnail change.


The shitpost ending during the Patreon roll was a great addition.


Visual art is manifesting through different means.


Supreme Lord Daddy Emperor President Trump


I hate racist mario so much
nerrel's thumbnail seems to be pretty controversial. lots ans lots of comments berate it as being awful
I'm still impressed by the complete 180 AsumSaus managed to pull while becoming even more entertaining


12:21 Kurzgesagt and AsumSaus in the same video?  As masters of thumbnail design?  Let’s go AsumSaus!


Mr Enter’s old videos have the best thumbnails


Video suggestion:  something about why the polarization of politics in America is disastrous.  I think it'd be entertaining, plus with your style of delivery, it'd be captivating.


goddamn emp hogging all the toilet paper!!


I remember a bit back around when Filthy Frank switched from well that to joji and everyone was kinda missing him, so this might be why the video exploded more than before but someone had changed the picture from something that I can’t remember exactly to a picture of furries. Now I’ve never gotten a Filthy Frank video on my home page (most likely because of his content going against YouTube) but me and many other people got it on their home page all within the same 2 weeks


Does it Give you Heart Attack of The Mario One?<br>Cause I surely am!

Does it Give you Heart Attack of The Mario One?
Cause I surely am!


Damn brother we've got some bangers in here.


Dude that racist mario thumbnail takes me back bro

Oh how times have changed on the thumbnail game!!


1:20
Doesn't matter how often I've seen nerrels video on MM. It just keeps reapearing in my YouTube feed.

Its really good tho.
But goddam that thumbnail is cursed.


You really did my boy Dan Gheesling dirty like that lol


Damn you watch a lot of stuff that i watch, it's kinda creepy how youtube just knows and showed me your vids that one time


Never Ever will there be an album like master of puppets


Dan Gheesling was the guy that nearly won Big Brother twice


Let's gooo Dan Gheesling greatest Big Brother player of all time!


I feel ashamed to have watched all the videos in the intro


At 9:50, you talk about smaller channels with a face in their thumbnail, and you show a screenshot of one Dan Gheesling, stating his face is totally meaningless, this isn't true however, as Dan was a contestant and winner on Big Brother 10, so being known outside of YouTube, Dan specifically has a very good reason to be using his face in his thumbnail.


The thumbnail of this vid: peak YouTube<br>Memes, Bob Ross, bright colours, big arrow and circle, and the other thing

The thumbnail of this vid: peak YouTube
Memes, Bob Ross, bright colours, big arrow and circle, and the other thing


Like the video, but do you plan on making other never ever videos?


i was waiting for the Vsauce thumbnails, didn't expect to see a mention for Rebeltaxi, nice


The thumbnail on this video couldn’t be better


so basically you added a sharingan next to Matt?


idk how long it has been since i seen an uberhaxornova thumbnail with that face on it and the minecraft block but this pleases me


EmpLemon should do a never ever video Team Fortress 2


bold of you to assume that i understand anything in vsauce videos


Now everyone is just editing their thumbnails


I DIDNT REALIZE YOU WERE THE YOUTUBE POOP DUDE UNTIL YOU MENTIONED IT


I knew this was going to be good when I heard Rondo Allo Turka at the beginning


9:50 Shoutouts to Dan Gheesling D: Is it possible that EMPLemon is aware of the NLSS crew?


2:50 never place color on color or metal on metal


genuinely thought this was a year old upload lmao, good video though emp.


Ever heard of general Sam? He’s got some fantastic thumbnails


I feel like you should a never ever on team fortress 2 becuase its just so unique


woah a new vid in 3 weeks, nice. good work emp


Shrek has swag is the best series on the internet


I didn't expect to see a dlive thumbnail


tbh i had no idea what your thumbnail was; I just saw EmpLemon and I was like 'click'


-act man makes a halo vid
-another episode of down the rabbit whole
-emp lemon uploads

what a day!

RCU&HYLICSTDCO Thereviewdude liking the act man


leans into mic

 "make yourself comfortable."

*leans into mic*

 "make yourself comfortable."


i dont know ive just kinda learned to ignore the thumbnail for the most part and its just either "whatever" or "god awful" and if its not god awful then i look to the title and channel to see if i want to watch it idk maybe everyone i watch just doesnt make good thumbnails

or maybe theyre all great and im just used to it<br>whatever idk i just ignore thumbnails

or maybe theyre all great and im just used to it
whatever idk i just ignore thumbnails


Did Emp lemon really just call Big Brother king Dan Gheesling's face meaningless???


Those generic soy gaping mouth thumb nails irritate the crap out of me to the point where I take the time out of my day to hide the video and tell YouTube that I'm not interested in that person's content.


4:40 *flashbacks to many, MANY, channels*

4:40 **flashbacks to many, MANY, channels**


I see the last technique with the Official F1 channel


'your face is just a waste of space' - quote of the day!


"Your face is a waste of space" me     : (

"Your face is a waste of space" me     : (


Thanks for the upload! Todays my 24th birthday!! This was a pleasant surprise!!


8:30 the avgn was changing their thumbnails and I thought it was a new video


Finally a new video!!!!!!! I’ve been re watching everything


I only clicked this because of the thumbnail.


oooo, i immediately recognized AsumSaus's work, nice example.


ngl whenever i see that red border of branding i do click on the video


Something is wrong with Waldo he is not looking to good. lol


Grace me with your chaff and dilute the vineyard of wash puppies


Who else looked at the thumbnail before reading the title?


Some of those were alpharad’s I think, clickbait challenge or something


When an EmpLemon video walks through my notifications:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1-EPeKKemg


9:52 DAN HECKIN G H E E S L I N G HAS A VOD CHANNEL W H A T


idc how funny you try to make them, sponsor segments in the middle of videos suck


I love the fact that there's some Gran Turismo soundtrack playing in the backrgound


You can get away with A LOT MORE on Bitchute ...lol..


*_G r a p h i c  d e s i g n  i s  m y  p a s s i o n_*


And you had to go and remind me of Kitty0706


I got some bad thumbnails on my channel. be sure to check em out.


Holy shit I used to watch what the buck when I was like 11.. for what tho


7:31 damn is that H0llyLP (third row, in the middle)?


you should research vsauce thumbnails kek


Lmao isn't the thumbnail from Kitty0706, just the thumbnail taken from midpoint from the video? Aka automated by Youtube?


Just go on trending and they all look the damn same.


Is it bad that I have seen the majority of videos shown here


Dude link the Mr. Butterfingers YTP from the end


eyyyy a cameo from the Wrestling With Wregret channel


why are your viewers watching minecraft?


You sound and look way too much like funke for it too be a coincidence -__-


IM IN THIS VIDEO 1:34

KITT0706 REPRESENT


Never realized how much work you put in a thumbnail. You really do have passion for quality YouTube videos.


honestly i feel like this video made me grasp thumbnails a bit more and it makes me want to try to make my own thumbnails instead of relying on a frame of my video that best represents the video itself thank you for this video and all your content it is great to watch


I like the older random thumbnails, as when you capture a perfect moment, almost like photography.


I’m loving these YouTube meta game videos. Both informative and entertaining.


Even gameplay youtubers a lot of this applies to. When a few smash videos pop up in my notifications I can often tell if I'm about to watch alpharad, little z or zero based on thumbnail alone, and can also tell if I'm going to get gameplay or commentary in the case of zero, who does both.


Thank you. I’ve always been trying to make good thumbnails and this helps a lot


I never thought of using negative space!! I’ve been unintentionally using this for my thumbnails as a way to differentiate my type of videos. Hope this becomes a thing in the youtube genre Im apart of. Speaking of which, do y’all think your genre has an impact in the type of thumbnails you use? I see a lot of people in my genre (young fashion lifestyle) utilize elements like written text and outlines to somewhat fit the brand of that type of video. Has anyone else seen this in other YouTube genres?


You've downward spiraled into being my favorite YouTuber, fellow gator


If it's any condolences I thought Operation Red Herring thumbnail was some of your best thumbnail work yet. The minimalist almost Red Scare vibe I got from it hooked me in as soon as I saw it. Granted I have been a regular viewer for a long time, but I loved it.


MatPat said somewhere that at the beginning of a video's lifespan, it can help to change to the thumbnail if the first version didn't garner enough attention or got a poor response. Given how much he talks about the algorithm and all the work he does with Youtube, I trust that he's right (He also makes like 3 backup thumbnails per video in case one doesn't perform well, like the Luigi one)


Ironically, I clicked this video exclusively because I found the title interesting. You failed at your thumbnail game this time, lemon-man.


I consider thumbnails to be one of the most fun part of making youtube videos, love doing that shit. Then again, I used to do works as a graphic designer once, so i've pretty much always been doing and getting paid for thumbnails lmao


I ve only seen this attention to detail and meaning in pictures in my art history classes and if YouTube thumbnails are going to be the next Rembrandts, then honestly, I love it


It's beautiful how he reuses old Wii Music, and Wii games. It's giving me nostalgia.


Dude I freaking the advice you always give! Thanks man!


I just had an idea for my thumbnails because of this video. Thanks, Emp!


I changed thumbnails on old videos to see if anything would change, or just because I did not like it(I made too many videos to go through, a ton of bad ones) and for some it did boost views. I did not try on too many but it did cause a tiny boost- yet I also added tags since I generally don't and remembered that was important, so that could have been a factor


I really like your thumbnails, but the red border branding on the bottom perfectly merges with the watch time indicator on PC which makes 'impulsive benching' of this series through recommended a bit harder. I hope this information would be of use.


Emp, in regards to altering thumbnails on old videos, there is a Call of Duty Youtuber named Merkmusic that occasionally alters thumbnails and the titles of videos from Ghosts and Advanced Warfare that will typically have a face on a blue or yellow background and some of them are replaced with random images


"you didn't notice it, but your brain did"<br>That quote is so fucking good, that's sticking with me for a while.

"you didn't notice it, but your brain did"
That quote is so fucking good, that's sticking with me for a while.


i always liked adam neely's anti-clickbait thumbnails. he'll give a question as the video's title and answer it in the thumbnail, which usually makes me more likely to watch the video because i want to see how he got to the conclusion he did.


Changing thumbnail did actually boost views for me on a very small channel, but it was a jump of maybe 20 views initially going up to 80, so not the most viable of sample sizes. Still, it's a real thing.


Good gravy! I didn't know the Youtube Metagame had DLC!


Perfect timing that you just uploaded this since I was thinking about what to do with brand new thumbnail designs for my brand new content on my old channel. Thank you. :)


Regarding changing the thumbnail after a certain amount of hours probably does help but probably not due to algorithm but to people in general who react differently to each thumbnail. The people who were interested in the first one clicked and those who enjoyed the different one clicked that time.


ngl, when i am exploring music a technique that always seems to work is to click on the ones with cool/pretty thumbnails. its weid how it somehow really works


this is literally how thumbnail making works and nothing less


There may be some truth to the theory that changing your thumbnail after uploading boosts views.

Anecdotal, I know, but I can say that something similar happened on one of my videos. I changed the thumbnail about 8-9 months after uploading a video (that only had around 800 views at the time) simply because I didn't like how it looked and in the following 2-3 months it hit around 6,000. That might not sound like much but that's a *750%* increase in views. Had no idea about this being a trick to the algorithm (assuming the theory is true), but I can confirm that I did see a massive increase in views after changing the thumbnail post-upload. So there might be some truth to it.

*There may be some truth to the theory that changing your thumbnail after uploading boosts views.*

Anecdotal, I know, but I can say that something similar happened on one of my videos. I changed the thumbnail about 8-9 months after uploading a video (that only had around 800 views at the time) simply because I didn't like how it looked and in the following 2-3 months it hit around 6,000. That might not sound like much but that's a **750%** increase in views. Had no idea about this being a trick to the algorithm (assuming the theory is true), but I can confirm that I did see a massive increase in views after changing the thumbnail post-upload. So there *might* be some truth to it.


A thumbnail is like a cover of a book or the title cover of a movie. The thumbnail should hint at the mood, tone, and subject of the video.


I was going to say "take a shot every time you see a red circle with a red arrow pointing to it in this video" but encouraging suicide online is a crime so I wont.


I normally just upload through the YouTube app on my phone. So I can’t choose thumbnails,  I have to edit them by going on my laptop. I’ve looked and with the videos where I’ve changed them it doesn’t necessarily equate to the video doing good.


Luke TheNotable's thumbnails are good. He commissions work from his buddy Maeder. He has been doing this for years and I have not seen anyone else do it.


I don’t know if this is valid, conducive, evidence but I remember a YouTuber I closely follow had posted on twitter he had changed the thumbnail of a video that was months old, and as soon as I next went on YouTube it was in my recommendeds. My guess is that a user changing/interacting with their video might cause the algorithm to reinsert it into fresh recommends, as if it’s a new video,


I'm gonna be honest, I just clicked on the "Operation Red Herring" video because I've liked your videos since your YTP days and had been waiting for another YouTube Geographic.<br>The thumbnail I just really glossed over and went straight to the username in my subs. But then again I might have a bad case of The Big Dumb.

I'm gonna be honest, I just clicked on the "Operation Red Herring" video because I've liked your videos since your YTP days and had been waiting for another YouTube Geographic.
The thumbnail I just really glossed over and went straight to the username in my subs. But then again I might have a bad case of The Big Dumb.


Quick question if you don't mind. What editing software would you recommend for a beginning YouTuber?


changing thumbnails can help you boost your views, as- it makes the Video look "more Professional" . The Average Viewer does have standards to Professionalism, thus a Professional thumbnail would peak their Interest.


I got to agree, I totally did not though all that about thumbnail for your previous video, but, once you explained it... It just works


My girlfriend said she’s intimidated by how smart I am because I’m always watching “really smart YouTube videos”.

That’s you Emp. You’re a smart youtuber.


On the mobile app, where I'd imagine most people use YouTube, thumbnails are pretty big.


Making too many simpsons YTPs has turned emplemon green too.


Advice video is really what i need personally so my channel can grow and me as a individual can grow too. I appreciate these videos  wholeheartedly


I think the coolest thing is the style of thumbnails <br>Like I see it and I know oh hey it’s them

I think the coolest thing is the style of thumbnails
Like I see it and I know oh hey it’s them


AsumSaus's thumbnails need to be put in art exhibits. They transcend the human intellect.


Won’t lie Emp, another solid video, but not a great thumbnail ironically.

I only clicked cuz you da man. I would say to keep thumbnails very minimalist, as that’s current graphic design trends and what people see all around them. It doesn’t need to be too neat and pretty like the proverbial AirPods, but it does need to reduce noise and complexity for communication clarity.


I actually had an asumsaus thumbnail as my phone background for a couple months, that's how good his thumbnails are.


Ight, its about time Emplemon gets invited to the Pizza Party Podcast


Hold on I thought emp had a different thumbnail for Matt’s video... I don’t remember the red border or the phased red radial gradient...


You do have the best thumbnails in the game


Another good example of radical thumbnail design is by Adam Neely what he coins "anti-clickbait" where the title raises a question but the thumbnail shows the simple answer. In that way, viewers likely ask, "okay, but why is that the answer?"


11:20 Number 15, Burger King Foot Lettuce. The last thing you want in your burger king burger is someone's foot fungus but as it turns out it might be exactly what you get


AsumSaus has the best thumbnails in youtube if you're into melee, the guys knows his memes


I just looked through my watch next section of this video. Some of the thumbnails are exactly what you said. I see some people that have enough clout to use their face and I see really bad photoshop edits, some from big youtubers and smaller.


It's the first time i noticed all of those details<br>And now a lot of videos recomended are really different in my eyes

It's the first time i noticed all of those details
And now a lot of videos recomended are really different in my eyes


I think behind the meme had the best thumbnails


What about us small channels that stay below the boundary of toxic fame? Usually under a million subs, what about our thumbnails, our thumbnails range from boring to a new genre of art?


15:47 It also represents the downwards spiral of YouTube.

Daelin "Zeppi" Zeppeli (TheInsaneComputerGamer)


your videos make me feel like ive lost and gained braincells. (there is a net gain though)


I'll keep wearing the clown makeup, but the Raycons look nice too


I got tired of all the clickbait so I removed my thumbnails. Now it hurts to use my thumbs


Emps right, first thing I noticed in this thumbnail was the raw meat getting beat


Would have been nice if you mentioned titles too. I judge videos by the title. For example "... and this is what happened". i tend to stay away from those sort of videos.


More than one episode in a month? <br>How can it be?

More than one episode in a month?
How can it be?


I clapped when Emp said the thing I know


1:37 R.I.P Kitty.
Emp you’re still paying respect.


I love it when you shit on youtube.<br>This is why you have my sub.

I love it when you shit on youtube.
This is why you have my sub.


Holy shit Old Youtube, man I can't believed how things haved changed since I joined Youtube 2009

I really missed Kitty0706


Because of the [Prevailing circumstances] the local airport is sounding an air raid siren every day at 8pm, heard the one in the video and thought I was late for work.


Listening with raycons right now lol. The e55s are pretty solid


normally i skip ad reads but that segway got me differently so i had to watch the full ad


I don't have any visual evidence, but i always get recomended videos who's thumbnails have changed, even if i have watched them before.


EmpLemon with another intellectual video. Lol


See, the only channels that can stay generic with thumbnails. Since you only focus on the title names or video itself.


I thought I made good thumbnails until I watched this video


I dont know of this is reasonable evidence but i remember having the doomguy vs masterchied death battle i watched previously recommended to me 1 or 2 years later but with the doomslaye in the thumbnail, i thought it was a new video

And some comments said the same was for them as well


ooooooooh I notice those nice ass Youtube Geographic Thumbnails


8:25 Music videos channels do this all the time. I'm not sure if it retains views, but people do click on them wondering if the original video has been delete or something.


The Thumbnail should be the guitar solo of the video


This is Emp’s first video that’s under 20 minutes since his VidCon video. Huh.


No my brain didn't see it either lemon because scaled down to thumbnail size, no one can really quite see those effects you put on that circle for the Red Herring video


Thank you for using the WOOL thumbnail in the intro


gg on the ad, that was pretty damn smooth


i have been making thumbnails for a friend. he gained a few subs in the time i made thumbnails for him. was it because of the thumbnail ? maybe, maybe not i don't care.


I like the youtube poop at the end. Keep it up.


If there is no mention of Stimpee's thumbnails we riot.


Just remember the acronym  L.O.R.S
L: lots
O: of
R: red
S: shit


holy shit the nostalgia from forest maze


I SAW "Wool" in the beginning intro and my stoned ass lost it omfg!!!!


Emp you're droppin too many hints. The people want it.

Never Ever/Youtube Geographic about Mister Plinkett/RLM


15:43
Not to mention the one and only DOWNWARDS SPIRAL


>shows illmatic by nas

My god emplemon has good taste


16:19 I hope that was a Cybershell reference :(


Is there an extended version of the ytp at the end?


Do a Youtube Geographic on the rise and fall of Google+


Yo saw me some Dan Gheesling what a beautiful man once you see that face you never forget it!


The YouTube Thum-- RAIDCON WIRELESS EARBUDS


I wish i could buy these earpods but they dont ship to germany


I saw a Nerrel thumbnail in there. We can now confirm he watches Nerrel. Praise be Jesus. @Nerrel get on this.


4:43 it's getting popular by the second!


How about a video about the overused YouTube comments format?


hey dont diss my boy Dan Gheesling, that mans a champ


Thumbnail  in YT . you got look at it like this .

have three axes and at every end of every one is Interesting followed by clickbait followed by reflective of content

Thumbnail  in YT . you got look at it like this .
have three axes and at every end of every one is *Interesting* followed by *clickbait* followed by *reflective of content*


Everytime i saw team fabulous 2 i just missed kitty0706 even more


hey emp can  you do a short study on drain gangs album art?


Emp doesn't have a bidet? I'm disappointed.


AsumSaus is the king of all Melee Youtubers


do you still play TF2 emp? I keep seeing references that I can only imagine an active member can get


Ooh also the rise and fall of youtube intros


Idk, I think my video's thumbnail is pretty amazing.  There are a lot of problems with black people.


Emplemon uploaded a video praise da lawd!


i havent seen that uberhaxornova thumbnail in some time...


The funny thing is I have no Idea who this Matt guy is in your thumb nail. I just clicked on it because of the title alone.  Tho I probably wouldn't have clicked it if it had like 150 views or something tho.


hold up i recognize that majoras mask thubnail


I think one of those thumbnails is from a Youtuber named Nerrel


8:40: Maybe for the video People I hate by Filthy Frank.


Emp said Down the Rabbit Holes name wrong unsubbed


I just beat myself with a plank, open paint.net, and go to deep dream generator


whats the video with the mouse staring into the webcam?


This is not where i came from but how we got here together


13:48 correction, i still don't know what it means


I uploaded "random" gameplay with zero editing during past year. I get almost no views and still i spend time making thumbnails look "nice". :D

ROAST MY THUMBS SENPAI! :DDDD

PS. people report "Hentai Nazi" gameplay, don`t put name of that game in thumbnail. :D


Bad thumbnail, I’m not watching this video


I just click on not interested because some thumbnails can be looking very obnoxious.


Has anyone got the link tot hat review of that Cars Tie in Game?


Sorry not trashing your video but I honestly had to stop 5 minutes and 33 seconds in when you stopped your own video to shove a ad down my throat, You could have started the video with it or ended it with the ad. I see more and more youtubers do this and all that does and make me not tune in for the other videos.


good gran turismo 4 music. how you no ban for it?


Pewdiepie change his tumbnails a lot.

so it looks like u haven't watched it yet.


The ratty gemini aesthetically note because blizzard logistically rejoice unlike a juicy india. profuse, blushing river


dan gheesling is more famous than you lul


Thanks emp. I'll be sure to put more effort into my thumbnails for big projects from now on


I didn't notice the whole newsprint effect before you mentioned it,
but the most important part of the matt watson thumbnail was the visual cohesion with only two subjects,
both big and red with a simple black background, no text and very easy on the eyes made it highly "clickable" due to its simplicity.


9:50 Oh my god it's Dan this is wonderful. I like how EmpLemon probably chose that video because he thinks that Dan must just be another Minecraft YouTuber, but MC is actually so far off from what Dan is actually known for


Even tho I never plan to be a YouTube and my major in graphic design is still unsure I love what I got out of this


An interesting analysis on the graphic design side of YT thumbnails. As a graphic designer myself I would recommend anyone else of my craft to watch this.


Your music choice is so good. Tbh i kinda wish you'd do a video like this on that


Cool video Emp,I never really thought about thumbnails. Keep it up!


I appreciate the YTPs at the end of the video. It ran me right into the second ad roll. Bravo.


Great video as always Emp!

I always thought your "Red herring" Thumbnail was a reference to the "The hunt for Red October" movie poster.
Right down to the Red face and the fuzzy Ring, with the pattern standing in for a sonar pattern.


Thorhighheels is a master of thumbnails and turns them into cool 90s style video game covers and dumb custom CD covers you made for burned CDs, lol. Really matches his vibe. Highly recommend his vids, too. <br>A lot of times, I rely on thumbnails to find creators quickly bc I have bad vision and it's easier to look at them than read the title.

Thorhighheels is a master of thumbnails and turns them into cool 90s style video game covers and dumb custom CD covers you made for burned CDs, lol. Really matches his vibe. Highly recommend his vids, too.
A lot of times, I rely on thumbnails to find creators quickly bc I have bad vision and it's easier to look at them than read the title.


When zooming out to check to see if its still a good design, what percent do you zoom out to, to get a good look? is 30% good enough to check on it


"People say don't judge a book by its cover, but I always say, judge a youtube from their thumbnails" <br>- Youtube Professor EmpLemon

"People say don't judge a book by its cover, but I always say, judge a youtube from their thumbnails"
- Youtube Professor EmpLemon


you always find interesting things to talk about. as someone who does this full time i can say that thumbnail creation is my least fave part. i just want to make the video and be done. thumbnails and titles are my weakest link for sure :/


Circling nothing on this video's thumbnail was a stroke of genius.  It is 100% what grabbed my attention and made me read the title, which, I find, is usually the final decider on if I'll watch it or not.


I dont care about your thumbnails emp, i watch everything you upload


Adam Neely has a very interesting approach to thumbnails that wasn't mentioned in this video. He describes it as "anti-clickbait." An example is one of his videos titled "what is the slowest music?" and the thumbnail has the words "It's about 33bpm" written in it. It's something that I've found works quite well (at least for me) because it poses the question, but answers it in an unsatisfying way, prompting the user to click on the video to see why that's the answer to the question.


So, you're a history buff, a law buff, AND a graphic design buff?

Every video you continue to surprise me. This is the content I unsubscribe for.


Danggg that was a good watch! I love how you actually discussed the topic, and didn't just say I KNOW ANSWER HERE MY ADVICE.


I'd be interested to hear any further thoughts on the people who currently have decent-sized channels that don't use custom thumbnails. Some of them don't even use their faces but the thumb image of the events/layout of the video content is still recognizable


I was really glad to see this video as this topic really isn’t talked about enough and what you did bring up was really interesting


Excellent choice in showcasing (but not identifying) AsumSaus, whose thumbnail game is well noted in the Melee community. Keep it up, Emp.


"You may not have noticed it. But your brain did"

You sir are a fucking genius. Spot on


Nice to see Emp using Persona 5 music, really helps with the video.


Dog, I really needed this. Thanks, Emp ✊🏿


Cant wait for the next youtube geographic, my favorite series on this whole shit hole app


Emplemon is one of the most crucial people on youtube change my mind


Swear to god if this gets demonetized because of the nirvana album I’m gonna flip shit


That first seven seconds was like a flashback of the best and the worst of the past 15 years.


A couple more things to consider: people are naturally drawn to faces more than other things, which is one reason why people put their faces in their thumbnails, not just branding; and two, the color yellow stands out more to humans than other colors, so if you need that little extra bump with a thumbnail, consider using yellow (but remember that yellow text can sometimes be hard to read)


I come for that straight edge baby.   You could put Amy Schumer in your thumbnails and I’d still click immediately.  ALL HAIL THE EMP!


Great, now I've got to binge content cop again today. Thanks emp.


I think AVGN updated the thumbnails of REALLY old videos and they got back into people's recommendations... <br>But it's hard to tell since people have never really stopped watching them

I think AVGN updated the thumbnails of REALLY old videos and they got back into people's recommendations...
But it's hard to tell since people have never really stopped watching them


I wonder that the Ultimate clickbait thumbnail would be. Probably has to have something so outlandish and stuff every other thumbnail trope, YouTube might demonitize a video just for that.
Also hopefully there's a follow up video called "The YouTube Video Title Metagame". There's an art to uncovering what goes into titles.
(Looking at you 3 AM challenge videos)


Actually thafnine makes real good thumbnails that are interesting and have visible Easter eggs


I didn't even notice a segway until I was half way in. Well done!


I thought the thumbnail design of your last video was a reference to the hunt of the red October. Granted: I don't really remember what the movie poster looked like, so it was most likely my brain doing random connections between ideas.


I always get so happy when I hear you use Mario Kart Wii music


Ah that nostalgia trip right off the bat i miss 2016 youtube


Never forget when all the thumbnails was just a  screenshot of what was in the video


Yeah this is probably why my 7 years as a YouTuber never really got that far. My thumbnail design was mediocre at best.


To the changing the thumbnail for a raise in views point, I've seen that work to some effect on videos like the guys from DBZA I think.


Adam Neely has a great twist on thumbnail branding IMO. Often times for his videos he poses a speculative statement or asks a question as the video title, which would normally just be clickbait, but then he subverts that expectation by straight up answering the question he just asked in the thumbnail. Because of this, anyone clicking on the video is watching it because they want to see how the answer makes sense and, more importantly for Adam, why his opinion on it is important.


<i>My dude Brian Zane made it into an Emplemon video, NICE.</i>

_My dude Brian Zane made it into an Emplemon video, NICE._


Hey so something that should really be mentioned is the idea of "reverse-clickbait" It's where the thumbnail of the video answers the question posed in the title. Adam Neely loves using this idea. Check out some of his later music theory videos to see what I mean.


I love Nerrel. His thumbail still gives me nightmares tho


Please don't let this blow up, everyone can't be aware


I came across one channel (I wish I could remember the name) that used certain scenes from gay porn for the thumbnail, but all he did to censor was dress them up as something related to the game he was playing like a knight getting hit behind by a sword instead of well...a very different sort of sword... 😂


New EmpLemon vid
=
I am for a fact going to hear at least one instrumental song from one of the Gran Turismos


I can appreciate the reference to The Velvet Underground, that's not one you see very often


you dropping a video one day before my birthday is the best present ever, love you dude!


Now I'm starting to wonder if I'm doing thumbnails wrong...


That smooth transition into the ad

Nice

That smooth transition into the ad

*Nice*


Very good with the music in the background and it's mixing mr. Impleemon


Why there will never be another platform like Youtube


12:24 damn that Mario kart Wii track slammed.


Thumbnails are like the wrappers on candy, I wont elaborate on that


changing the thumbnail on old videos DOES work @emplemon


Holy shit that transition into an ad was so fucking good


I have always wondered, why are the Simpsons clips you show tainted with the color green?


12:21 Hey it's Falco Fantano. It feels so surreal that Emp and I watch similar channels.


RIP kitty, that was one of the best videos ever


Let's just put a happy little red circle around a random spot of the thumnail. There we go. That will just be our little secret that it doesn't mean anything. Just dab a little clickbait all over the place but you do as much as you want. Im a little bit edgy but you know all Youtuber's are. We don't get demonetised we just have happy little accidents. That'll just about do it for this upload and from all of us here, happy uploading and God bless my subscriber's


Did my boy daniel goddamn gheesling dirty calling him out like that.

Sick video though.


Bless the guy who suggested team fabulous 2. Godspeed kitty0706, godspeed.


i'm pretty sure YT unsubbed me from your channel. i swear i've been subbed for a year or so.


I thought the "Operation Red Herring" thumbnail was a reference to the movie poster for "The Hunt for Red October."


Emp... you had to do my boy Dan Gheesling like that?


Emplemon is the best teacher in my online class


OUR BOY GAN DHEESLING HAS MADE IT! LETS GOOOAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH


Yeah I needed this video, my last thumbnail was a bus rotated over a black background and white text saying "Bus Time"


Funny thing is, the Frying Comment vid follows all off the rules, and is one of your best thumbnail imo


I absolutely knew Asumsaus would make an appearance here.


Seeing Team Fabulous 2 in 2020 is really refreshing.


I thought the radial pattern meant the downward spiral


4:23 Waldo is behind the blue striped tent in the middle on the left side


This is why I just pick a frame from the video I upload, as the thumbnail. I know, I’m basic


Not big surprise you didn't talk about clickbait... Everybody already knows the deal with those.

It's gotten to the point where I deliberately avoid videos with it. I don't care about the quality of the channel, clickbait means you're a creativity graveyard and you probably don't have anything special to offer.

Also, the thumbnails with the :0 self insert... I always get delusional vibes with those like "look! It's ME again with my wacky antics! I'm like those big youtubers! PLEASE love me!"


thanks for reminding me to watch team fabulous 2 again


Hahahah the wing dings says DOWNWARD SPIRAL.


I just started the video and I'm waiting for Emp to mention VanossGaming thumbnails


Hello, new Emperor Lemon video from twenty-nine minutes ago<br>Why yes, I do have nothing to do for the next sixteen-minutes-fifty-three-seconds

Hello, new Emperor Lemon video from twenty-nine minutes ago
Why yes, I do have nothing to do for the next sixteen-minutes-fifty-three-seconds


About 75% of the video's are from video's i watched

Are you my reincarnation?


It's striking that this video can be summed up in ONE sentence: It is the year 2020 and Spotify does not have a music visualizer. Seriously. What the fuck? Free music players 20 years ago had nice visualizations with dozens of themes and randomization and the worlds largest music streaming platform has nothing! What the fuck is going on!? Maybe I'm the only person who cares but I think this shit is purely unacceptable in this day and age.


You want to see a example of that then just go to Jacksepticeye's Stadia video then check out Memeology101's videos on Jacksepticeye to see how the thumbnails changed.


11:39
jesus christ look at all those threads, the economy is fucked.


Red arrow, red circle, censored hentai, Impact text


I really like your videos they are good videos


Nuke a city thumbnail was one by the Infographics. How much do I win?


Mario 64 Level Portraits = Level Thumbnail


I click because of the content creator.

And I use dark theme. Negative space out the window.


Who else clicked on this video just because the thumbnail


My brother watches Camping Rusher and says that his channel isn't clickbait nowadays,but thumbnails have arrows and circles.


Don't even think about changing the Uncredibles thumbnail.


bruh, I'm having gran turismo  vietnam flashback thanks


I can tell someone has been playing persona 5 royal. Good stuff :)


I <b>Dont</b> get involved in violence. In japan they call it anime.

I *Dont* get involved in violence. In japan they call it anime.


Will ya maybe try a old style video somewhere in the future the old emplemon (now a days Twomad) editing style? This starts to feel less energetic

Like some generic filmschool dude


Only reason i clicked on it because it was in my subbox and that rediculous thumbnail


I saw your face in my sub box and immediately clicked.

Firefox is red, Explorer is blue. Google+ sucks and Chrome does too.


I thought this was an old video then I saw it was uploaded today


My thumbnails suck ass, I never learned to use Photoshop and I just use photoscape yo put on text and oversaturate the color....
For some reason my MMA vids get views, but my gaming vids never get views, could it be my lack of quality thumbnails?
Plus with the lack of free time I have (less so with quarantine) I never bothered to learn.
Any advice on how to learn ASAP?


After the ad, 6:19 (if you want to skip it)


How did I know AsumSaus would have been shown?


Title also go hand and hand with thumbnail


An Uncle Dane thumbnail, very nice.

Does this implicate you watch "TF2tubers"?

He plays tf2 himself, so safe to assume.


4:36 That Family Guy one is mine and honestly I need to change it

Creeper Lamoureux You might be in luck because I keep forgetting my video even exists


operation red herring more like operation red lettermedia


exaggerated facial expressions on youtube thumbnails are terrible, and make me angry


Hey! Wtf! That's the NLSS world champion, big brother aficionado Dan Gheesling


Jesus with all the team fabulous 2 references, you’ll probably  make a never ever on kitty0706


Channels how does video essay or video analysis had perfected the thumbnail/video title

ألتعليق ألنقدي


Ayyyy shout to my boy rebel taxi most underrated youth we been watching him since 2013 he need 1 million subs


I spent my time to decipher the Wingdings font... really man, really?


remember when youtube comments were either "cool vid" or "ur ugly"


is that the team defense fort two game for the xbox 360


thers is this youtuber called are you super cereal and it's so weird because it's videos look like they had the stereotypical click bait thumbnail but there not click bait they actually tell you what's actually going to happen in this video


He could stand to acquiesce some of this advice though


Jesus christ the internet was ugly back then. As if the same system that made ugly girls into stunning women went paralell


i see N.W.A. , nas, Pulp Fiction, Full Metall Jacket, i instantly like


You didn't shit on red arrows and circles once in all the video. Granted it might have been during the two minutes I skipped where you mentioned the shitty ad. Dont recommend channel


What's your opinion on Vanoss gamings thumbnails? Their consistent and stylish. I know you won't respond but still. Askin


Yeah but now the video just plays and it kinda suck


What is this comment section when it's on show most recent comments.


I just got an ad for diapers on this video,  perfect for Emp's demographic.


oh hey i remember you, your the guy who sent the mob of haters towards behind the meme and ruined his life