SunnyV2's YouTube Thumbnails Strategy: From Zero to 1 Billion

It's a quiet evening in January 2019. Somewhere in Australia, a young man named Lachlan Windross is sitting at his computer, about to upload his first YouTube video. Little does he know that in just five years, his channel - soon to be known as SunnyV2 - would rack up a staggering 1.16 billion views.

How did he do it? Was it just luck? Amazing content? Well, those played a part. But there was another secret weapon in SunnyV2's arsenal: his thumbnails.

That's right, those little images you see before you click on a video? They're more powerful than you might think. And Sunny has mastered the art of creating thumbnails that make scrolling thumbs stop dead in their tracks.

We'll explore how SunnyV2 makes thumbnails, how they have evolved, what made them work, and, most importantly, what we can learn from them. Whether you're watching on a desktop or mobile device, by the end of this post, you'll be ready to create your own attention-grabbing YouTube thumbnail images like SunnyV2's thumbnails.

Who is SunnyV2?

Before we jump into the thumbnail magic, let's get to know our YouTube star.

For those who aren’t familiar with it, SunnyV2, or Lachlan Windross, is an Australian commentary YouTuber that focuses on the rise and fall of internet personalities. His channel has seen massive growth thanks to his in-depth analysis and, of course, custom thumbnails with illustrated portraits that grab viewers' attention.

• Name: Lachlan Windross
• YouTube Persona: SunnyV2
• Niche: Commentary on pop culture and social media personalities
• Channel Launch Date: January 22, 2019
• Current Stats:
  • Subscribers: 4.1 million
  • Total Views: 1.16 billion
  • Videos Uploaded: 236

From zero to over a billion views in just five years—that's the kind of growth most YouTubers can only dream of!

The Evolution of SunnyV2's Thumbnails

SunnyV2’s YouTube video thumbnails aren’t just random images slapped onto his videos. They’re carefully designed to convey the message and theme of the video, making viewers want to click.

Let’s break it down:

Phase 1: The Early Days (2019-2020)

When Sunny first started his channel, he needed to stand out in a sea of content. Here's how his early thumbnails looked:

• Style: Simple, bold, and eye-catching
• Key Elements:
  • Custom illustrated portraits
  • High-contrast colors (usually white and red text on a black background)
  • Minimal text, usually just a name or short phrase

These early thumbnails helped him establish his brand. When viewers saw these distinctive images in their recommended videos or search results, they immediately knew it was a SunnyV2 video.

Results:

• Average Views: 1.8 million to 14 million per video
• Subscriber Growth: From 0 to over 2 million

Phase 2: Adding Depth (2020-2021)

As his channel grew, he started to experiment with his thumbnails. He introduced a new style for his "rise and fall" videos:

• New Elements:
  • Consistent illustrated figures
  • Graphs with green or red pointer lines
  • Brighter backgrounds

These YouTube thumbnail images told a story at a glance. Viewers could immediately see if the video was about someone's rise to fame (upward graph) or fall from grace (downward graph).

Results:

• Views: 1 million to 7.9 million per video
• Continued steady growth in subscribers

Phase 3: The Blank Space Revolution (2021-Present)

In his most recent evolution, SunnyV2 has mastered the art of using blank space in his thumbnails:

• Advanced Techniques:
  • Close-up illustrations of personalities
  • Controversial social media screenshots
  • Eye-catching highlights and dramatic effects

What this teaches us about how he makes thumbnails is that he cleverly uses blank space and creates depth and intrigue in his thumbnails. This makes viewers curious and more likely to click.

Results:

• Views: 5 million to 15 million per video
• Rapid growth to 4.1 million subscribers

Changing Strategy: Adapt or Fade Away

SunnyV2’s thumbnail approach evolved as he understood the importance of adapting to audience behavior. His newer thumbnails focused on using bright colors, eye-catching photos, and emotive pictures. This change allowed his videos to stand out in an ever-crowded platform.

What Changed:

• More Colorful Templates: He began to explore templates that included vibrant colors, catching the eye of potential viewers scrolling through their feeds.
• Iconography & Nostalgia: Incorporating game icons or nostalgic images from pop culture, attracted fans of specific genres or creators.
• Mastering the Click: By continuously optimizing his YouTube thumbnails, SunnyV2 ensured that his videos stood out across mobile devices and desktop platforms.

What Can We Learn from SunnyV2's Thumbnail Strategy?

If you’re looking to grow your YouTube channel, here are key lessons you can take from SunnyV2’s thumbnail strategy:

1. Consistency is Key: He has kept core elements like illustrated portraits consistent, helping viewers instantly recognize his content in search results and recommended videos.
2. Evolve Gradually: Notice how Sunny didn't completely change his style overnight. He made small changes over time, keeping his audience along for the ride.
3. Tell a Story: The best thumbnails give viewers a taste of what the video is about without giving everything away.
4. Use Contrast: Bright colors and high contrast make thumbnails pop on both desktop and mobile devices.
5. Experiment and Analyze: SunnyV2 clearly tested different styles and stuck with what worked best for his audience.

Tips for Creating Your Own Killer YouTube Thumbnails

Here are some of the tips to create your own custom YouTube thumbnail image after learning how SunnyV2 makes YouTube thumbnail images:

1. Find Your Unique Style: Develop a look that represents your brand and stands out in search results.
2. Think Mobile-First: Most YouTube views come from mobile devices. Make sure your thumbnails look good on small screens.
3. Use Templates: Starting with a template can help maintain consistency across your videos. Many online tools offer customizable templates.
4. Play with Text: Use bold, readable fonts. But remember, less is often more when it comes to text on thumbnails.
5. Capture Emotions: Faces that show strong emotions tend to attract more clicks.
6. A/B Test: Try different thumbnail styles for similar videos and see which ones perform better.

SunnyV2’s Thumbnails Against YouTube’s Thumbnail Guidelines

When creating thumbnails, YouTube recommends following certain guidelines to maximize their impact. These include focusing on clear imagery, bold contrasts, and emotional appeal to grab attention quickly. Comparing SunnyV2's thumbnails to YouTube's thumbnail guidelines, we can see how well his designs align with key elements like image balance, emotion, and word usage.

Level Up Your YouTube Thumbnail Game with Rizzle

Speaking of tools for creating great thumbnails, have you heard of Rizzle? It's a user-friendly platform that can help you create eye-catching thumbnails in minutes.

This AI-powered tool analyzes your video, selects the best frames, and customizes a thumbnail optimized for desktop and mobile device.

With Rizzle, you can:

• Choose from a variety of templates suitable for any niche
• Customize images, aspect ratio, edit text, and graphics easily
• Preview how your thumbnail will look on different devices
• Once your creation is done, hit the download button.

Whether you're running a gaming channel, a cooking show, or anything in between, Rizzle has tools to help you create thumbnails that stand out.

Your Thumbnails, Your Success

SunnyV2's thumbnail journey from a new channel to a billion-view phenomenon is truly impressive. While great content was certainly a big part of his success, we can't overlook the role his eye-catching thumbnails played in attracting viewers.

Remember, your thumbnail is like a mini-poster for your video. It's often the first (and sometimes only) chance you have to grab someone's attention. So take a page from SunnyV2 and his YouTube thumbnail strategies for success: be consistent, be bold, and don't be afraid to evolve.

Don’t just rely on basic photos—explore different styles, adapt to your audience, and, most importantly, make use of tools like Rizzle to make your thumbnails stand out.

Ready to start creating thumbnails that'll make your viewers click? Why not give Rizzle a try? Who knows - with the right combination of great content and stellar thumbnails, you might be the next YouTuber we're writing about!