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My First Million

The best business ideas come from noticing what's working and doing it better, faster, or for a different audience.

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Algorithmic Thumbnail Testing

Rapid Sequential Thumbnail Testing at Video Launch

Why It Works

Platform algorithms use early engagement signals to determine broader distribution, so optimizing thumbnails in the first 24 hours maximizes reach potential

Prerequisites

Large existing audience for initial engagement dataTechnical capability to programmatically swap thumbnailsAnalytics system to measure click-through rates in real-time

How to Execute

1

Create 50-100 different thumbnail variations before video launch

2

Launch with thumbnail optimized for existing audience

3

Programmatically swap thumbnails every few hours during first day

4

Measure click-through rates and engagement for each variation

5

Switch to winning thumbnail for broader platform distribution

When It Fails

When audience is too small to generate statistically significant data, or when thumbnail changes confuse the algorithm

Real Example

“MrBeast tests hundreds of thumbnails during video launch to optimize for both loyal fans (who want to see his face) and new viewers (who respond to challenge visuals)”