Episode 108

full
Published on:

16th Apr 2025

YouTube Thumbnail Best Practices, with Andrew Armstrong

Do you know how crucial YouTube thumbnails are to the success of a video? Andrew Armstrong reveals strategies to craft video thumbnails that grab attention and make people click Play!

Discover how the first impression provided by thumbnails can make or break your client's video's success, functioning as a gateway to garner viewers’ interest. Andrew shares how to leverage YouTube's built-in A/B testing tool to identify the most effective designs that keep audiences engaged.

The conversation also touches on how YouTube’s algorithm emphasizes search results based on watch time and audience behavior, shifting the focus from views to meaningful engagement.

Listeners will learn:

  • The fundamental role of thumbnails in stopping viewers’ scroll and encouraging video clicks
  • How A/B testing tools on YouTube can optimize a video’s performance through effective thumbnail design
  • The importance of analyzing watch time and audience behavior to refine thumbnail strategies for increased engagement

Key moments:

(00:00) "YouTube Thumbnails: What you need to know"

(03:18) Algorithm Reflects Audience Behavior

(07:28) Optimal Logo Placement Strategy

(10:07) Video Strategy: Success Elements

(14:14) Thumbnail Testing Strategy

(19:11) Assessing YouTube Channel Legitimacy

(22:57) Maximizing YouTube's Evergreen Potential


About Andrew Armstrong:

Andrew is a content creator, consultant, and storyteller passionate about helping individuals and businesses craft social media and digital content strategies.

He leverages his many years as a full-time YouTuber, and as an industry Social Media Strategist, to help content creators and companies better understand the platforms they work on, the best practices that lead to success, and the behaviors of their audiences.

His wife best describes him as "dangerously competent." For consultations, reach out to dawnforgedmedia@gmail.com


Tools:

*Captivate.fm for media hosting

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*Use of the above affiliate links may earn us a commission, which is used to support the efforts of this show. Thank you in advance for your support!

*Riverside.fm to record audio and video

We used Riverside to record this episode. Use code Yetis at *https://creators.riverside.fm/Yetis for 15% off a membership plan.

*Castmagic.io for show notes

Castmagic assisted in the crafting of this episode description. It probably saved me 30 minutes by giving me a summary to start with and a list of chapters (which helps with the body of the description). Click on the *link above to see how it works for yourself!


Sponsored by the Podcast Editor Academy

This episode has been brought to you by Podcast Editor Academy. We help individuals like you start and grow a business editing and producing podcasts. Find out more at https://www.PodcastEditorAcademy.com

Sharing link: https://podcasteditorsmastermind.com/episode/youtube-thumbnail-best-practices-with-andrew-armstrong

Mentioned in this episode:

REOPENS APRIL 16TH!!!

The Podcast Editor Academy is opening its doors to accept new members on April 16th. Make your hobby into a serious side hustle - or even your career! https://www.PodcastEditorAcademy.com

Podcast Editor Academy



This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy
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About the Podcast

Podcast Editors Mastermind
For Podcast Editors, by Podcast Editors
Are you a Podcast Editor? Or trying to become one?

This is the show for Podcast Editors, by Podcast Editors. We mastermind topics with your peers, with industry leaders, and even have a little fun along the way.

Growing a business as a Podcast Editor is challenging. It can also be lonely.

Follow or subscribe to the show, get involved in the Podcast Editors Club Facebook group, and stay in touch with the latest events and news through the newsletter at https://www.PodcastEditorAcademy.com/newsletter.

About your hosts

Steve Stewart

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Steve has been editing professionally since 2016 and founded the Podcast Editors Club Facebook community.
He also co-founded the Podcast Editor Academy - which helps individuals build their own podcast services business. When he's not online talking about editing podcasts, you'll find him staring out his home office window at the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in southern Colorado.

Mark Deal

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Mark is a nationally recognized expert and local leader in Podcasting. He serves as the Organizer of Podcast Atlanta, the Founder of Podcast Guest Academy, and leads various communities in the podcasting industry. His primary focus is showing people how to take their podcast guest appearances from boring to soaring with measurable impact.

Jennifer Longworth

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Bourbon Barrel Podcasting was founded in 2019 when Jennifer Longworth, with 14 years of audio editing experience, decided to get serious about editing podcasts for Central Kentuckians. Jennifer edits podcasts for established podcasters and helps new podcasters get started with the basics.

Bryan Entzminger

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Analyst by day. Podcast editor by night. Usually caffeinated. Husband, father, Jesus-follower all the time. Cohost The Podcast Gauntlet, former host of Engaging Missions, and former cohost of Podcast Editors Mastermind.

Carrie Caulfield Arick

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Carrie Caulfield Arick is a nerd for sound, stories, and listening. She’s learned from and worked with the industry’s best producers in her role as writer, editor and sound designer. Carrie is a co-founder of the femxle podcast post-production community, Just Busters and co-host of Podcast Editors Mastermind. Oh, and she likes cats… a lot.

Daniel Abendroth

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Hi, I’m Daniel and my podcast editing services will make your podcasts sound smooth and professional, while saving you time and money.