Thumbnail Concept

Demo

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---
name: Thumbnail Concept
description: Generates high-CTR YouTube thumbnail concepts with visual direction, text overlay, and paired title options. Use before filming or design to align click signal.
---

# Thumbnail Concept

A thumbnail is not a decoration; it is the first ad for the video. This skill produces concrete thumbnail concepts with a visual direction, text overlay copy, and a paired title so the creator enters production with a clear click-through target.

## The CTR Triangle

Every high-performing thumbnail has three elements working together: a clear focal point (a face with a strong expression, a dramatic object, a before/after split), a text overlay of two to five words that adds information the image alone does not carry, and a color contrast that makes the thumbnail pop against YouTube's white and dark backgrounds. If any leg of the triangle is weak, CTR drops. Concept all three together, never in isolation.

## Facial Expression Direction

When the thumbnail includes a face, the expression does most of the emotional signaling. Specify the expression precisely: not "surprised" but "mouth open, eyes wide, leaning toward camera." The expression should match the emotional payoff of the video. Curiosity, disbelief, and genuine excitement are the three highest-performing emotion categories. Avoid neutral or posed smiles; they read as stock photography.

## Text Overlay Rules

The overlay should answer the question the image raises, or raise the question the image cannot. Maximum five words. Use sentence case, not all caps except for a single emphasis word. Avoid restating the title exactly; the thumbnail and title together should create a two-part message. Font should be bold, high-contrast, and legible at 120 pixels wide (mobile size). Never put text in the bottom third where the duration badge covers it.

## Title Pairing

For each thumbnail concept, provide two title variants: one curiosity-gap title ("The reason your X keeps failing") and one direct-benefit title ("How to fix X in under 10 minutes"). The curiosity-gap title pairs best with a high-emotion image. The direct-benefit title pairs best with a clear result or transformation image. Match the pair before committing to production.
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