How to Make YouTube Thumbnails That Stop the Scroll & Titles That Get More Clicks

If you're struggling to get more views on YouTube, it’s probably NOT because of your content—it’s because your thumbnail and title aren’t doing their job.

Your thumbnail stops the scroll. Your title makes the decision.

If either one isn’t optimized, your video won’t perform well—no matter how great your content is.

I’ve spent over 13 years ranking my videos on YouTube and Google, and I’ve learned one powerful truth:

📌 Views don’t just happen. You design them.

And it all starts with thumbnails & titles.

In today’s post, I’ll walk you through how to create thumbnails that grab attention and titles that get clicks. You’ll also find my step-by-step video guide embedded below, so make sure to watch it in full for even more details!

📺 Watch the Full Video Here:

If you want to see these strategies in action, watch the video now, then continue reading for even more insights and practical tips!

🔥 How to Create Scroll-Stopping YouTube Thumbnails

The biggest mistake most creators make? They put TOO MUCH TEXT in their thumbnails!

Your thumbnail is NOT your title. They work together, but they serve different purposes.

✅ Thumbnail Rules That Get More Clicks:

🔹 Use big, bold text (1-4 words max). Your title gives the details—your thumbnail creates intrigue.

🔹 Contrast is key. High-contrast colors make your video stand out in the YouTube feed.

🔹 Facial expressions matter! People connect with emotion—shock, excitement, curiosity.

🔹 Use curiosity hooks. A simple phrase like “BIG Mistake!” or “You NEED to See This” can make all the difference.

🔹 Keep your branding consistent. When people recognize your style, they trust your content faster.

💡 Pro Tip: Test thumbnails without text too! Sometimes an image alone creates stronger curiosity.

🚀 How to Write Titles That Get More Clicks (Without Clickbait!)

A weak title will kill your video’s potential—even if your thumbnail is amazing.

To write a title that gets clicks and improves YouTube SEO, follow this formula:

✅ Start with your main keyword. Example: "YouTube SEO: How to Make Thumbnails That Get Clicks!"

✅ Use numbers when possible. Lists keep people engaged and boost watch time. Example: "5 Thumbnail Tricks You NEED to Try!"

✅ Add curiosity or emotion. Example: "The Thumbnail Mistake That’s Hurting Your Views!"

✅ Make it promise a result. Example: "Get More Clicks on YouTube with These Thumbnail Hacks!"

🎯 Avoid clickbait! Your title should match your video’s content—no misleading promises.

📊 How to Test Thumbnails & Titles for Better Click-Through Rates

Once you’ve designed a great thumbnail and title, how do you know if it’s the BEST version?

Here’s how you can A/B split test your thumbnails and titles:

🔹 Use TubeBuddy’s A/B testing feature. It will rotate different versions of your title/thumbnail and track which one performs better.

🔹 Manually track title performance. Try one title for a week, then update it and compare the results.

🔹 Watch your YouTube analytics. A higher CTR (Click-Through Rate) means your title & thumbnail are doing their job!

💡 Pro Tip: Even old videos can get a fresh boost just by updating the title and thumbnail!

📌 Why Using Numbers & Lists in Titles Works

Numbers increase engagement and watch time because:

1️⃣ They make content feel specific and valuable. Example: "3 Thumbnail Tricks to Double Your Clicks"

2️⃣ They create curiosity to complete a list. Example: "7 Editing Hacks – #5 Changed Everything!"

3️⃣ Odd numbers feel more authentic. Instead of 500, try "439 Creators Tested This Strategy".

Lists keep people watching because they want to see all the points, which boosts retention and signals YouTube to recommend your video to more people!

🎯 The Right Way to Optimize Tags & SEO for Your Videos

I follow a two-phase approach for my tags:

1️⃣ First, I tag my video heavily with “YouTube SEO” related tags + a couple of video-specific ones. This helps YouTube recognize my channel as an authority on YouTube SEO.

2️⃣ After the full series is uploaded, I go back and refine each video’s tags to focus more on its specific topic while keeping a few general YouTube SEO & evergreen marketing tags.

This method ensures that I rank for YouTube SEO early on, then later, each video ranks on its own merit for its specific topic.

🎬 Watch the YouTube SEO Full Course Now!

Everything I covered here is just the beginning. Today's video is part 4 of my 10 part YouTube SEO Full Course where I teach you how to create an evergreen lead generation system on autopilot for free using YouTube!

📌 Sign up now to get all 10 YouTube SEO lessons: https://cleverdough.com/evergreenleads

If you found this guide helpful, let me know in the comments below! What’s your biggest struggle when creating thumbnails or titles? I’d love to help. 🚀

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