You've clicked on thousands of Youtube thumbnails. Here are 4 of the most common formulas they used to get you to click

Some of the best performing thumbnails across every niche (IRL, finance, tech, fitness, gaming, cooking, etc) all trace back to one of these

Here are the 4 thumbnail formulas that work in any niche:

Formula #1 Shock and Awe: A thumbnail so visually extreme that your brain can't scroll past it

Formula #2 Comparison: Two things placed in direct opposition. Product vs product. Person vs person. Right way vs wrong way, etc

Formula #3 Number + Visual Proof: A large specific number paired with a visual that invokes some sort of question in the potential viewers' minds

Formula #4 Ambiguity: Something is pixelated, hidden or blurred. The potential viewer's brain tries to complete the picture, but when it can't, they click

These 4 formulas work because they tap into the same things every viewer has, regardless of niche...shock, tension, credibility, and curiosity.