How A/B Testing Boosted My Revenue by 320%
Using A/B Testing with TubeBuddy, you can upload two different thumbnails for your YouTube video. TubeBuddy will alternate between them automatically each day, revealing which thumbnail performs better.
The results were remarkable!
I applied this to a video tutorial on creating a website, in which I promoted a web hosting company. Whenever someone purchased web hosting through my affiliate link, I earned a commission. As shown in the image below, the right thumbnail outperformed the other by 37.2%.
Initially, I was getting a few sales per month and the video was performing moderately well. After I started using TubeBuddy’s A/B Testing feature, I discovered that adding a simple red border to my thumbnail increased the click-through rate by 37%. This meant 37% more people were clicking on my video compared to before. Following the A/B test with TubeBuddy, my sales skyrocketed.
How does a 37% increase lead to a 320% rise in revenue?
You might be wondering, “How can a 37% increase lead to a 320% rise in revenue?” It’s a great question! When the Click-Through Rate (CTR) of a video increases, YouTube tends to promote it to a broader audience. So, because of the 37% boost in CTR, I didn’t just get 37% more viewers; I actually attracted 400% more viewers to my YouTube video. This surge in viewership allowed me to increase my revenue by 320%.
Below is all the data provided by TubeBuddy when conducting an A/B test.
What is A/B Testing on TubeBuddy? A/B Testing Statistics
A/B Split testing is the process of selecting two different thumbnails and letting TubeBuddy display each thumbnail every other day. TubeBuddy then tracks various statistics to determine which thumbnail performs better. These statistics include:
- Click-Through Rate
- Impressions to Clicks ratio
- Watch time per Impression
- Daily Impressions
- Daily Clicks
- Total Views
- Average View Duration
- Estimated Total Minutes Watched
- Daily Views
- YouTube Search Numbers
- Suggested Video Numbers
- Browse Features Numbers
- Subscribers Gained
- Comments
- Likes
- Dislikes
With these statistics, TubeBuddy can automatically help us decide which thumbnail is more effective. Ultimately, this results in a higher click-through rate, increased views, and greater exposure on YouTube, as videos with a higher click-through rate are favored in YouTube’s algorithms.
What are the most crucial statistics?
I understand that the abundance of statistics can be overwhelming and exhilarating. However, I hone in on just two:
- Click-Through Rate
- Average View Duration
When these two metrics outperform the original thumbnail, I consider it a winning thumbnail. Why? Because for YouTube, Click-Through Rate and Average View Duration hold immense significance.
Which of the two is more crucial? Average View Duration. YouTube aims to retain viewers on the platform for as long as possible to maximize ad revenue. Therefore, if you can prolong viewer engagement, YouTube favors your content.
What impact does a thumbnail have on Average View Duration?
If I created a thumbnail promising viewers they could earn $1,000 a day with just 5 minutes of work, my Click-Through Rate would skyrocket. Many would be compelled to click! However, once viewers realize the video is about plants, they may quickly exit.
When your thumbnail doesn’t align with your content, viewers are more likely to leave unless the actual content surpasses their expectations. Thus, achieving a higher click-through rate is achievable, but it may lower Average View Duration. Aligning your thumbnail with your video content can increase Average View Duration.
The ideal scenario is when your new thumbnail not only outperforms the original but also increases Average View Duration. This combination can significantly boost your video’s performance, as demonstrated in the case study above. It represents the best outcome: your new thumbnail improves both CTR and Average View Duration.
What Comes Next Following an A/B Split Test
Upon concluding your A/B Split test, you can initiate another split test using the winning thumbnail. This approach enables you to continually refine your thumbnail, driving increased traffic and expanding YouTube’s audience reach for your video.
Let’s discuss the A/B testing examples mentioned above. I experimented with different profile pictures, showcasing a telephoto shot (zoomed in from a distance) on the left and a close-up image (24mm lens) on the right. The thumbnail featuring the close-up image performed 20% better than the one with the telephoto shot.
Consequently, I selected the winning thumbnail. However, I continued to refine this winning product by altering the text in the button from “2023” (left) to “Make Your First Website” (right). TubeBuddy’s analysis revealed that the original with “2023” performed better. When the Average View Durations of both thumbnails are nearly identical, I opt for the original image and explore new variations.
The aim is to have multiple A/B Tests ongoing at all times. Why? This approach enables continual optimization of thumbnails, leading to increased views, broader exposure on YouTube, higher earnings, and channel growth.
Split Testing Your Title, Description, and Tags
You can take it a step further by conducting A/B tests not only on thumbnails but also on your YouTube video’s Title, Description, and Tags. This allows you to experiment and determine what elements perform better. Aligning your tags with those of the top-ranking video for your target search term can increase the likelihood of your video being suggested more frequently. Let’s illustrate this with an example.
Changing the title from “How To Make A WordPress Website 2022| Dutch Tutorial” to “How To Make A Website 2022” increased the Click-Through Rate by 75%. This resulted not only in 75% more views but also in increased exposure from YouTube, as many viewers clicked on my thumbnail. YouTube tends to promote videos with a high Click-Through Rate. Additionally, the Average Watch Time slightly improved, which is also positive. However, if the watch time had decreased by 50%, I would not have opted for the Variation Title.
Getting Started with TubeBuddy’s A/B Testing
I hope you’re excited and eager to witness the results firsthand! Ready to get started? Simply sign up for TubeBuddy using the button below.
Which Plan Should You Choose?
Now, you’ll need to select the Legend plan as it enables A/B Testing. Let’s do some calculations: If you earn $30 per 1000 views on YouTube and you have ten videos generating 100 views per day each, you’ll make around $30 per day. However, with A/B testing, if you increase the Click-Through Rate on all videos by 20%, you’ll make $36 per day. That’s an extra $6 per day, which amounts to $2,190 extra per year (calculated as $6 extra per day multiplied by 365 days). And that’s not even considering the potential increase in views due to the higher Click-Through Rate. This is why I’m so enthusiastic about TubeBuddy and Split Testing.
Connecting your YouTube Account (Which Is Completely Secure)
Once you’ve chosen the Legend plan, you’ll need to link your YouTube channel and provide your details. Payment options include PayPal and Credit Card.
Begin Your First A/B Test
Now you can start doing Split Tests. Go to your TubeBuddy Dashboard and select A/B Tests.
Click On “Create AB Test”
Click on the Green button that says: “Create AB Test.”
Upload Your Second Thumbnail
Upload the second thumbnail you created for the Split Test. If you haven’t created a thumbnail yet, you can follow this guide using TubeBuddy.
Select one of your recent videos or search for a specific video by typing in the title or a keyword your video contains.
There are two types of A/B Tests.
- Thumbnails
- Metadata (Title, Description, Tags, Thumbnail)
Select “Number of Days” or “Statistically Significant”?
Now, you have the option to run the split test for a specified number of days or until TubeBuddy determines that one of the thumbnails is performing better. However, it’s advisable never to choose the latter option. Why? TubeBuddy solely considers the Click-Through Rate, but it’s equally crucial to monitor the Average View Duration. If the Average View Duration significantly drops despite a higher Click-Through Rate, it could negatively impact your video’s exposure and result in fewer views. Therefore, always opt for the “Number of Days” option. I personally prefer to set it at 14 days. Within this timeframe, you’ll have a clear understanding of which thumbnail is performing better.
Upload the second Thumbnail
Once you’ve selected the 14 Days option, upload the second thumbnail to TubeBuddy. Now, TubeBuddy will work its magic! You can sit back and relax while TubeBuddy automatically changes your thumbnail every 24 hours and tracks the statistics.
Is there a limit to the number of thumbnails you can test?
There’s no maximum limit on the number of A/B tests you can run simultaneously, so it’s wise to make the most of it by creating numerous thumbnails and discovering which ones perform best!
Additionally, you can apply this approach to older videos as well. By making this a weekly habit, you can be confident that your videos will consistently perform better over time!
What other features does TubeBuddy offer?
That was just one feature of TubeBuddy. But there’s more! Here are some other features TubeBuddy offers:
- Health Report
- Launch Pad
- Competitor Scorecard
- Search Rank Tracking
- Brand Alerts
- Backups & Export
- Canned Responses
- Promo Materials
- Retention Analyzer
- Usage Statistics
- Reply Templates
You can find more information about these topics on TubeBuddy’s website.
