How much time to you put into creating thumbnails for your videos?
Thumbnails are important for grabbing attention, and the top YouTubers invest a lot of their consideration into the exact right thumbnail image for each clip, in order to drive the most clicks.
But is there are magic formula for such, and what expression should you be going with to grab people’s as they scroll?
Is there a reason that most top YouTubers use a similar display format?
Indeed there is, and the team from Kapwing recently undertook a study to examine the most commonly used YouTube thumbnail expressions, and which perform best.
Kapwing used facial recognition technology to identify the emotion on the faces of the most watched YouTubers’ thumbnail images. Based on this, it’s come up with the below overview of thumbnail tips.
Maybe it’s worth practicing your surprised face.


You Might Also Like
The Death of Organic Reach: What Works Right Now
Has your organic reach dropped to historic lows recently? Are you looking for a way to regain visibility in an...
The Future of AI and Marketing: What’s Coming and How to Prepare
Do you feel overwhelmed by the rapid pace of AI development and how it might impact your business stability? Are...
Facebook Ad Algorithm Changes for 2026: What Marketers Need to Know
Do you feel like your Facebook ads are suddenly wasting money, but you can’t pinpoint why? Are you looking for...
How to Write High-Converting Copy with AI: A Strategic Framework
Do you feel like your AI-generated copy sounds robotic, generic, or just doesn't sound like you? Are you looking for...








