No Face Needed: When to Skip the Selfie
Faces are not always the answer. Our data reveals specific categories and styles where faceless thumbnails actually outperform.
Quick answer
Tech product reviews with high-quality product photography outperform face-based versions by 8% when the product itself is the draw.
Key Findings
Product reviews can skip faces
Tech product reviews with high-quality product photography outperform face-based versions by 8% when the product itself is the draw.
Cooking channels thrive without faces
Food-focused thumbnails showing the finished dish outperform face+food combos by 14%, as the food is the primary attraction.
Art and craft channels benefit from work focus
Thumbnails showing the finished artwork or project get 19% more clicks than those showing the creator for art channels.
Faceless channels are growing fast
Faceless YouTube channels grew 67% year-over-year, proving viable business models exist without showing your face.
Data Points
+8%
Product review no-face boost
+14%
Food channel no-face boost
+19%
Art channel no-face boost
+67%
Faceless channel growth
5+
Categories where faces lose
- For product content, let the product be the hero of the thumbnail
- Food and cooking channels should lead with the finished dish
- Art and craft channels should showcase the finished work
- Use interesting objects or scenes as face replacements
- If going faceless, invest more in professional product/subject photography
Apply These Insights
Use these data-driven insights to create thumbnails that get clicked. Our AI-powered editor makes it easy to implement these best practices.
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