YT questions answered

Another speed round of questions I rounded up over the past week from replies which I hope helps you on your journey!

What’s a good CTR on thumbnails?
Complex topic but rule of thumb, good CTR is above 5%. Below and you have a packaging issue. Between 1-2%, fire your thumbnail person.

Split testing thumbnails, best way to do it?
YouTube has built in testing now which should be available to everyone. I wouldn’t split test if my audience is under 10k. You’re splitting reach and just killing any form of pattern recognition. You can manually split test but you need to know what factors you’re measuring. Split testing is an art in itself.

You said shorts are “in” in 2026?
Correct, I was anti-shorts but since the algo change, the game has changed. It’s not a hit and hope strategy though. You need 1 second hooks, triple hooks (words, actions, visuals) and related video to lead that is congruent with the short. Pacing also matters. Think… hyper child!

How can I stop worrying about AI taking over YouTube?
Simple. Make content you can’t Google. If your content is already “algorithmically solved” it’s dead on arrival. I said this to a friend earlier.. AI can write a video but can’t run a Death Valley Marathon.

Thoughts on MoltBot for YouTube?
Now Openclaw, it’s an incredibly powerful idea but most of the dreams of what it can do are still premature. We have one set up doing a number of tasks that help refine our work. If you don’t know how to code or use API’s, stay away from it until it’s solved, it’s dangerous and can do a lot of irreparable damage.

Best AI model for YouTube
Gemini, it’s Google. As is YouTube.

Where can I hire editors and designers?
Onlinejobs.ph is very good for outsourcing. We have inhouse editors, but if you need it done and to get the ball rolling, they have good people.

What’s the best platform to work on other than YouTube?
X or LinkedIn, depending on your audience. Seen insane results on both recently. IG doesn’t convert or pay.

Have a great weekend, wherever you are in the world!