How to A/B Test Titles & Thumbnails on YouTube

On YouTube, the rules are simple (but not easy): earn the click and keep ‘em watching. 

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You can’t really change what’s in your video once it’s posted, but you certainly can change the packaging (Title + Thumbnail) - that earns you that click.

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Packaging can be the difference between your video completely bombing or trending on YouTube. Here is how Ed from Film Booth reincarnated the dormant video by changing just the thumbnail…

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Now, unless you are a fortune teller, it’s impossible to know which thumbnail or title is going to perform. I get surprised all the time! 

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That’s where YouTube thumbnail and title A/B testing comes in. 

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Here is how to do it. 

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First, brainstorm a title + thumbnail combinations (check out the BENS framework).

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Second, run your test. You’ll need a software tool for this. The most popular is Tube Buddy used by huge creators like Mr. Beast. But there are also tools like Tube Split. 

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After you schedule your A/B test, Tube Buddy will automatically change the thumbnail or the title daily.

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You can see the breakdown between the versions in CTR, avg. view duration impact, etc. 

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Tube Buddy will automatically finish the test once there is enough data (statistically significant) to determine the winning version. 

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Technically, all you need to do is set up the test and that’s it. But it’s helpful to look back at the data and see which version actually worked better to fine-tune your neural network (aka your brain).

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From there, you can rinse and repeat. 

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What CTR should you aim for? Above 5%.

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Some topics like “I watched the paint dry” may have worse CTR because… well, they are not as exciting when put side by side with entertaining content.