Q: "Do thumbnails with a face really get more clicks, or is that outdated advice?"

Q: "Do thumbnails with a face really get more clicks, or is that outdated advice?"

Great question. Short answer: faces won, but expressive faces won way more.

The case: a tech reviewer ran three thumbnail versions on similar videos. Product-only thumbnails got a 4.1% click-through rate. Neutral-face thumbnails got 5.9%. Exaggerated-expression faces (shock, excitement) got 9.2% — more than double the product-only.

Longer answer: a face gives the brain something to read instantly, and emotion signals stakes. Verdict: don't just slap a face on it — make the expression do work. The plain face barely beat the product shot.