Is anyone OK with the new thumbnails and titles?

[Tancio]

Hey! So... I was wondering if I'm the only one who is this annoyed by the new thumbnails and video titles. I love the channel's content in its majority, but Linus following this trend makes me want to pull my hair out. It really drives me crazy. Does anyone have a suggestion regarding how to stop this? Linus himself said in the WAN show he didn't like it, but it gave him more views, so he didn't have a choice. Are we out of options here? I appreciate any help. 

[Eaglerino]

You aren't the only one, in fact one of my threads about it got way more attention than I ever expected. Anyway main result is that these thumbnails and titles feed off people with impulse control issues, giving Linus more views and as a result money, so there's no reason for him not to do it. Completely understandable, still freaking annoying... (Mordin Solus sniff) unlikely to change.

[Techstorm970]

1 minute ago, Eaglerino said:

these thumbnails and titles feed off people with impulse control issues, giving Linus more views and as a result money, so there's no reason for him not to do it.

Basically, the only way to fix the problem is to remove a lot of idiots all at once.  Problem is, that is impossible to do, so we're stuck. 

 

[TVwazhere]

Ironically I care more about the new outro than the title or the thumbnail

Regardless of any of it, I'm gonna watch it. 

[Tech_Dreamer]

Yes , i'm okay with it

 

                           - (12-13 year olds)

[LinusTech]

4 hours ago, Tancio said:

Hey! So... I was wondering if I'm the only one who is this annoyed by the new thumbnails and video titles. I love the channel's content in its majority, but Linus following this trend makes me want to pull my hair out. It really drives me crazy. Does anyone have a suggestion regarding how to stop this? Linus himself said in the WAN show he didn't like it, but it gave him more views, so he didn't have a choice. Are we out of options here? I appreciate any help. 

We are out of options.

 

It's a business decision, not one that was made because my personal feelings make me want to make silly faces in our thumbnails.

 

The cold hard reality is that if making a goofy face drives 15-25% more click through on a video we would have made anyway, then that extra few minutes of effort on something that already has MANY hours invested in it is a no-brainer.

 

It's generated lots of complaints, but look at it from my perspective.. What do I do that DOESN'T generate lots of complaints? Do any of you even remember the uproar over the name of the WAN Show when it was renamed from "Livestream"?...

 

Everyone will get used to it, and we'll continue having (by far) our best year ever for viewership and growth..

 

https://socialblade.com/youtube/user/linustechtips

 

[Guest]

i dont really mind or even care

[NuclearKing]

1 minute ago, LinusTech said:

We are out of options.

 

It's a business decision, not one that was made because my personal feelings make me want to make silly faces in our thumbnails.

But you don't have to go so far as the thumbnail for the EVGA ICX video card? That was simply ridiculous, even according to the new thumbnail standards. Dont get me wrong, great video, but that thumbnail is all kinds of horrible.

 

[TVwazhere]

1 minute ago, NuclearKing said:

But you don't have to go so far as the thumbnail for the EVGA ICX video card?

 

 

5 minutes ago, LinusTech said:

It's a business decision

 

making a goofy face drives 15-25% more click through on a video

 

What do I do that DOESN'T generate lots of complaints? 

When you're owner of LTT, you get to make the decisions. When you're the provider for (I believe) thirteen other people's income, it puts pressure on you to be the best employer you can, so if you do something small that makes a big difference (legally), you'll gonna do it. 

[HelplmChoking]

As much as I don't like it, it generates more views and I don't tend to look at the thumbnail for more than a few seconds so I don't care. While keeping a professional look is nice, LMG is a business and a business needs to grow to survive, and goofy thumbnails are a great way to grow fast.

[TubsAlwaysWins]

Honestly, I don't mind the pictures. Its the titles that really piss me off

 

And I get why they do it. Its just annoying. Like the Windows 9 thing where its really just special windows 8. 

Something like 'The OS between 8 and 10' would have been better IMO

Still clickbaity, but less deceiving (sort of). IDK

 

@LinusTech just give me scrapyard wars

[Techstorm970]

15 minutes ago, LinusTech said:

https://socialblade.com/youtube/user/linustechtips

LinusTechTips is about to hit 1B views.  Congratulations! 

[LinusTech]

26 minutes ago, TVwazhere said:

 

When you're owner of LTT, you get to make the decisions. When you're the provider for (I believe) thirteen other people's income, it puts pressure on you to be the best employer you can, so if you do something small that makes a big difference (legally), you'll gonna do it. 

19 other people + my dependents, so supporting 22 people

 

17 minutes ago, techstorm970 said:

LinusTechTips is about to hit 1B views.  Congratulations! 

thanks

[Sauron]

I really don't care

[MageTank]

39 minutes ago, LinusTech said:

We are out of options.

 

It's a business decision, not one that was made because my personal feelings make me want to make silly faces in our thumbnails.

 

The cold hard reality is that if making a goofy face drives 15-25% more click through on a video we would have made anyway, then that extra few minutes of effort on something that already has MANY hours invested in it is a no-brainer.

 

It's generated lots of complaints, but look at it from my perspective.. What do I do that DOESN'T generate lots of complaints? Do any of you even remember the uproar over the name of the WAN Show when it was renamed from "Livestream"?...

 

Everyone will get used to it, and we'll continue having (by far) our best year ever for viewership and growth..

 

https://socialblade.com/youtube/user/linustechtips

 

Let's not forget that delid video. Or that "ram speed doesn't matter" video. I'll complain in your honor, my good sir!

[TetraSky]

I don't care either.

The thumbnail honestly just help me know it's a Linus video

[8-Bit Ninja]

50 minutes ago, LinusTech said:

19 other people + my dependents, so supporting 22 people

 

thanks

I really don't want to continue this, but todays 1080 video's thumbnail is quite frankly just click bait, i have no issue with goofy faces, but showing Luke "cutting" a 1080 in the thumbnail is really quite misleading. 

[WMGroomAK]

7 hours ago, Tancio said:

I was wondering if I'm the only one who is this annoyed by the new thumbnails and video titles.

I'm not really annoyed at the thumbnails or video titles... 

 

3 hours ago, LinusTech said:

The cold hard reality is that if making a goofy face drives 15-25% more click through on a video we would have made anyway, then that extra few minutes of effort on something that already has MANY hours invested in it is a no-brainer.

If the business decision allows for LMG to get more clicks and thus raise more revenue to provide more content, then there is no problems with the thumbnails and titles.  Just so long as the content remains at least mostly factual, informative and entertaining (subjective).  Also, if there are previous videos where some prior topics are now out of date, is LMG looking at revising that material?  Maybe as a follow-up?

[Tancio]

3 hours ago, LinusTech said:

We are out of options.

 

It's a business decision, not one that was made because my personal feelings make me want to make silly faces in our thumbnails.

 

The cold hard reality is that if making a goofy face drives 15-25% more click through on a video we would have made anyway, then that extra few minutes of effort on something that already has MANY hours invested in it is a no-brainer.

 

It's generated lots of complaints, but look at it from my perspective.. What do I do that DOESN'T generate lots of complaints? Do any of you even remember the uproar over the name of the WAN Show when it was renamed from "Livestream"?...

 

Everyone will get used to it, and we'll continue having (by far) our best year ever for viewership and growth..

 

https://socialblade.com/youtube/user/linustechtips

 

I understand your position. I'm plain frustrated. I'll be honest, I watch your content anyways. I just wish there was an easy solution for the direction YouTube is taking. The only one seems to be education, that is not your responsibility and it would take time. Anyways, I'd appreciate it if you avoided misleading titles in the meantime.

Best regards to you and all the crew ?

[Princess Luna]

I feel the thumbnails gotten better after they reached the bottom with that laptop SSD video a while back.

[KyleKyleKyle]

Lol I had no idea that there was such a thing as Youtube thumbnail controversies  Maybe I should start putting pictures of cats making weird faces in my thumbnails  Either way I like the videos you guys do, no matter what the thumbnail picture is lol, keep up the good work.

[LinusTech]

7 hours ago, 8-Bit Ninja said:

I really don't want to continue this, but todays 1080 video's thumbnail is quite frankly just click bait, i have no issue with goofy faces, but showing Luke "cutting" a 1080 in the thumbnail is really quite misleading. 

It's a card in a vice. I agree it could be more clear that he's *compressing* it. But it's not misleading so much as a way to visualize the topic. 

[SansVarnic]

People are making waaaaaay to much out of the thumbnails ... its not your channel it Linus'.

I honestly think the thumbnails are interesting and find nothing wrong with them. 

 

If there is something for someone to complain about there will always be someone to make complaints.  

[Corrupt_Liberty]

8 hours ago, 8-Bit Ninja said:

I really don't want to continue this, but todays 1080 video's thumbnail is quite frankly just click bait, i have no issue with goofy faces, but showing Luke "cutting" a 1080 in the thumbnail is really quite misleading. 

Who was misled by this? Did you honestly think they crushed a video card in a vice?

 

I admit the thumbnails and titles can get a bit click bait ish at times. But you people find the stupidest shit to complain about. If it's truly such an onerous insult to your proprieties, unsubscribe. I understand constructive criticism, but to be so butt hurt over a thumbnail image.

 

@LinusTech I for one appreciate your hard work.  Keep it up. And if you make content I don't like I promise to just not watch it in silence and wait for the next video.

Edited March 8, 2017 by Corrupt_Liberty
Damn you autocorrect.

[LAwLz]

11 hours ago, LinusTech said:

It's generated lots of complaints, but look at it from my perspective.. What do I do that DOESN'T generate lots of complaints?

How about making good content? Oh wait, you were asking for things you are doing...

 

11 hours ago, LinusTech said:

19 other people + my dependents, so supporting 22 people

Don't you think the problem is that you now have 20 (is that right?) people and you're... Making Youtube videos?

The fixed costs for LMG must be through the roof, at least compared to other youtube channels.

 

How many videos do you make a week again? Like 10? If that's the case, you pay about an average of 80 hours worth of salary to make each video (assuming those 20 people are employed 40 hours a week). For the type of content you put out, that is mind boggling high.

(And yes, I do know that not all 20 people are working on videos directly, which is why I said "hours worth of salary").

 

I get that "we have no options left" is an easy excuse because you now have to pay all these people, but you were the one who decided to expand and employ these people to begin with. If you really are so strapped for cash as it seems (because whenever someone brings up you compromising on quality for higher income people go "He has to feed his kids and pay his employees! They have no other options left!") then why keep employing more people?

 

There is no shortage of examples of channels which makes far better content, with much fewer people.

 

To an outsider like me, it just seems like you are trapped in an endless spiral where your "solution" to your problem is actually the cause. You need more money to pay for all the fixed expenses, so you employ more people to help with videos and other operational things, which in turn makes the fixed expenses even higher and so on...

I would not be surprised if, in a couple of years, you will have employed more people and still be in the same situation where "we need more money!" is your excuse for compromising on the quality of your content.

 

1 hour ago, Corrupt_Liberty said:

 

@LinusTech I for one appreciate your hard work.  Keep it up. And if you make content I don't like I promise to just not watch it in silence and wait for the next video.

You might think that's what Linus wants, but it's not.

Fans that don't speak out when they think someone is heading in the wrong direction is the worst type of fans. It's like letting your friend drive home even though they are drunk as hell. A good friend will say "hey, I know you want to drive right now but that is a bad idea. You should take a taxi instead.".

 

If everyone did like you then the channel might have been dead already. Everyone might just have stopped watching without ever giving Linus a hint of why people were not watching anymore, or what he should have changed to improve his content.