Wanted to just ask if this looks like a good start to a channel

[wooden anchor]

Hi @stiff plover, This appears to be a low-effort feedback post. Low-effort feedback requests tend to get fewer responses and may be considered as an attempt at self-promotion.

We encourage you to provide details about the areas you'd like feedback on.

Here are some issues that were detected:
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[stiff plover]

Also with that, if there is anything I should look into with the shared analytics, or whether it is too early to worry about them yet?

Platform: Youtube
Content Type: Videos discussing a Tabletop Game, going into detail about different aspects

@lunar mist managed to reopen, realised I deleted the post part also but added everything I put originally in comments as I had all waiting to repost after the 6 hours 😅

[lunar mist]

Ayyy

Put the unit name in front, if you have the physical pieces you can very easily take an image on a plain background and tell AI to do its magic and make it look like a studio photoshoot with good lighting for the thumbnail.

That will improve your CTR

[topaz current]

yeah way too much white space in those thumbnails

[lunar mist]

You need less text on your thumbnail, generally the idea is to not repeat titles in your thumbs

[lunar mist]

Also, this is fine to do. This is what people mean by "Use AI as a tool"

And honestly the rest is golden, your CTR is surprisingly not as low as those thumb/titles should be, which means you have a VERY GOOD NICHE for yourself and there's a lot of potential if you can just improve stuff a little bit.

Try better thumbnails and titles, and once you have a combo that works; go through your back catalog and upgrade your stuff. This is evergreen / non-trend stuff, so having an up to date title/thumb will help you a lot in the long run.

[stiff plover]

Unit name in front on the Title?
If you mean the models, they are my models that I have images of.
The thumbnails have taken some inspiration from Auspex Tactics, as the videos themselves are talking with a powerpoint slide with info in the background, atleast for these overview posts

[stiff plover]

Would keeping the Titles content the same but having the order (I.e. unit name) first be the best idea?
So MK VII - Units of the UNSC - Halo Flashpoint Season 1
or as Halo Flashpoint is the make puller going
Halo Flashpoint - MK VII - Units of the UNSC - Season 1
Or the group of the videos first, so
Units of the UNSC - MKVII - Halo Flashpoint Season 1

[stiff plover]

It does have some inspiration from Auxpex Tactics, but would that be more losing the structure of the titling in the thumbnail, simplifying it and making the model images take up more space be the recommendations?

I feel there should be some consistency between videos that are going into the same playlist doing the same thing each but for different units each to make them have that visual link with each other

[topaz current]

yeah but compare the amount of white space. This channel fills them up, uses large bold text, etc.

you use Halo Flashpoint in the title and thumbnail - that's not needed

[stiff plover]

Is that the 'and' part of using it at all?

[topaz current]

I don't understand what you mean

[stiff plover]

As a quick bash together, is this a better?

[stiff plover]

Meant as in, is it having Halo Flashpoint in both that is the issue, or having it at all?

[topaz current]

try this:

• 2 units side by side (try minimise the gaps)
• Main text: MK VII
• second text: Best Units?

you want as little text as possible, remember many people watch this on mobile

[stiff plover]

Cool, couldnt' do closer as was snipping tool from my current thumb to get bits, when I get home i'll have the better no background ones

Should be doing a new video today, is the suggestion to do the alt versions with those and then see about changing the old ones depending how that goes?
Also is the secondary text better to be almost a question then? or do whitty nicknames, etc?
As I don't think I can put Best unit? on ever of the 25 unit videos, feel like that would possibly get old, especially if someone knows it isn't even close

[topaz current]

1. Try A/B test if you have the option with different configurations
2. I don't know your audience, but try doing more research. In general, having 3-5 words max is best. Needs to be quick and to the point, but also create curiosity.

[stiff plover]

Will give A/B testing a go.
I think the miniature Wargaming audience does lend to not being as needing of dumbed down or too clickbaity to pull them in, but I think something more catchy likely could help.

I'll test on the next few videos and ask some people in the hobby for their opinions thanks.

[topaz current]

to me, I test every thumbnail style every time. If one style works better - I go with that. Doesn't also mean dumbing it down, it could just mean better marketing.

[stiff plover]

Thanks, its a lot of great info for me to go away and think on
I think dumbing down was the wrong wording to use

[stiff plover]

So doing a test in the Halo Flashpoint with my OG thumbnail, and then this one with a white background and with the blue as pictured and this one is getting heavy favourtism
Any thoughts of your own on this one?

[topaz current]

• not a big fan of the gradient
• hard to read red text, could be bigger still
• images should be higher quality if possible
• better overall

[stiff plover]

Thank you for the feedback

• Do you mean you'd prefer a flat colour instead of a gradient?
• Is that that red text is hard to read or this text in particular? If it is the colour, any recommendations on what is a good colour, to choose, unless all text black is fine?
• Images i'll have to sort out later

[topaz current]

This is kinda what I was thinking about. It's not 100%, but I tried to maximise the space available (I know the images are wrong)

but if you move you face far back it's easier to read

[stiff plover]

Ok thanks, will keep messing about and working out what works.
Going to have to work out how to get some better images of the miniatures as they are my own ones

[topaz current]

yup I'd work on that, again I'm not saying my attempt is any better, go with what your audience prefers

[stiff plover]

Seems they are preferring the Blue Background currently in the poll I did, think it might be due to the gradient being similar to the Halo logo colours (was the first thing that came up when I pressed gradient on powerpoint as well)

These are the new ones i've put together based on the poll and your feedback, especially on the red.
The miniature image quality I will need to sort later as will likely need to do new photographs of them irl

I've also looked to change the title of the videos from "Halo Flashpoint - Season 1 - Units of the UNSC - MK VII" to "Spartan MK VII - Units of the UNSC - Halo Flashpoint"

[lunar mist]

No no the gradient bg is BAD

[stiff plover]

What about it is the issue so I can understand, mainly because I've had a lot of people liking it and see posts about gradients being better than solid

[lunar mist]

it gives 2005 tech vibes; don't trust people liking something; use YouTube's A/B testing and only trust that

[stiff plover]

Cool thanks

[stiff plover]

So quickly set up a way to get a cleaner picture for the thumbnails

And this is the one i've come to for the video i'll do today currently

Though i'll also put up the old version with A/B testing to see

[lunar mist]

INSANELY BETTER PICS

[lunar mist]

'less is more'
"Most Stable Unit" is virtually the same, but less words

[stiff plover]

It's a double entendre, as it's one of the most reliable to put in a list units but also it has a keyword called Stable which is one of the strongest things about it.
While Most Stable Unit work, I personally feel the current wording feels better playing on that

[lunar mist]

Your call ultimately, just sharing my 2c ❤️

That explains the capital S

[stiff plover]

Thanks, all the feedback has been great