Spend 70% of your time doing this.

Your thumbnail is the front door to your video. If it doesn’t stop the scroll, nothing inside matters. Not your edits, not your storytelling, not your “value.”

Creators love to talk about “making great content.” That’s cute, but no one will ever know it’s great if they never click.

I was talking last week with a good friend, one of the biggest creators on YouTube with over a billion views. His advice changed the game:
Spend 70% of your creative time on packaging. Thumbnails and titles.

That’s not an exaggeration.

If your thumbnail doesn’t spark curiosity and your title doesn’t create tension, it’s not getting watched and YouTube won’t recommend it.

Most creators treat thumbnails like decoration. Professionals treat them like weapons.

Start reverse-engineering every idea from the click.

Before you hit record, ask yourself:

• What emotion do I want someone to feel when they see this?

• Would I click this if it wasn’t mine?

• What would make someone stop scrolling right now?

If you can’t answer those, don’t shoot the video.

You’re not a video maker. You’re a click strategist. When you think of YouTube that way, you start winning.

If you want to learn how to create epic thumbnails and master packaging, I’m running my Zero to 1 YouTube Bootcamp in November. Six weeks of coaching to take your channel to the next level.
Space is limited because we’re keeping it small. Check it out here.

One caveat: not every channel is meant to be a view magnet. If you’re running a business or lead-gen channel, your audience will find you. As the misquote from Field of Dreams says, “If you build it, they will come.”

Have a great week. It’s only Wednesday.

Me

PS: Bootcamp spots are limited. All the info is here