Every thumbnail NEEDS a scroll stopper.

The YouTube homepage has hundreds of videos fighting for attention at the same time. As viewers scroll, they’re only glancing at thumbnails for a split second

You need something in your thumbnail that instantly interrupts that scrolling behavior. Here are some you can use in your next thumbnails:

• Faces: Humans are naturally drawn to faces first. Especially when there’s eye contact, exaggerated expressions, tension/confusion. Faces give the viewer something human to instantly connect with

• Large Numbers: Create perceived value/results. The number itself grabs attention, while the other elements of the thumbnail and the video itself make it believable

• Emotions: Emotion is what creates curiosity. A thumbnail that makes the viewer FEEL something will almost always outperform one that only explains information
  Some common emotions used:

• Surprise

• Fear

• Confusion

• Excitement

• Tension

Other common scroll stoppers creators use:

• Bright Colours

• Movement

• Aesthetically Pleasing thumbnail

Most thumbnails fail because there’s nothing strong enough psychologically to interrupt the scroll and make the viewer care