Youtube Thumbnail Outlier Research

Community

timscheuerai

youtube-thumbnail-outlier-research

Research high-performing YouTube thumbnails in the author's niche, extract the patterns to borrow or avoid, and brief thumbnail concepts before rendering. Use when choosing a thumbnail direction or before youtube-thumbnail renders.

Overview

Publisher	timscheuerai
Repository	`linkedin-funnel`
Skill name	`youtube-thumbnail-outlier-research`
Stars	60
Forks	20
Bundled files	Instructions only
License	MIT
Links	Skill source Repository

Markdown instructions
A SKILL.md file the model loads on demand, so it only costs tokens when a request actually matches.
Works with any LLM
AI skills are plain Markdown, not provider-specific code, so this works with GPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, or a local model.
Self-contained
Everything the model needs lives in the instructions — no extra files to sync.
Open source
Published by timscheuerai on GitHub. Read the source before you install it.

Installation

Install the Youtube Thumbnail Outlier Research AI skill in TypingMind to use it with any LLM, or drop it into another agent that reads SKILL.md.

Install in TypingMind

TypingMind installs a skill straight from its GitHub folder — it reads SKILL.md, bundles the resource files, and stores the result locally.

Open the app and go to Plugins → Skills.
Choose "Install from GitHub".
Paste the skill folder URL below and confirm.
https://github.com/timscheuerai/linkedin-funnel/tree/main/skills/youtube-thumbnail-outlier-research
Enable the skill in any chat where you want it available.

Store

Installed

Skills

Add skills

Import one or more skills from a public GitHub folder or a local .skill or .zip archive, or SKILL.md file.

From GitHub URLFrom .skill, .zip, or SKILL.md

GitHub repo or folder

https://github.com/timscheuerai/linkedin-funnel/tree/main/skills/youtube-thumbnail-outlier-research

Points to a single skill folder, or any folder that contains multiple skills. Public repos only.

CancelContinue

Plugins → Skills → Add skill → From GitHub URL, then paste the folder URL and press Continue.

Install in another agent

Any agent that reads the Agent Skills format can use this skill — copy the folder into that agent's skills directory.

Claude Code — .claude/skills

git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/timscheuerai/linkedin-funnel.git /tmp/linkedin-funnel
mkdir -p .claude/skills
cp -r /tmp/linkedin-funnel/skills/youtube-thumbnail-outlier-research .claude/skills/youtube-thumbnail-outlier-research

Restart Claude Code after copying so it picks up the new skill.

Use it in TypingMind

Enable Youtube Thumbnail Outlier Research in any TypingMind chat and the model takes it from there. Its name and description sit in the system prompt, and the moment a request matches, the model loads the full instructions itself — you never invoke it by hand, and it costs no tokens until it is actually used.

The model loads Youtube Thumbnail Outlier Research on its own as soon as a request matches it.

Works with any AI model

AI skills are plain Markdown instructions rather than provider-specific code, so Youtube Thumbnail Outlier Research is not tied to the model it was written for. Install it once in TypingMind and use it with GPT-5, Claude, Gemini, Grok, DeepSeek, Mistral, Llama, or a local model you run yourself — all on your own API keys.

Loaded only when it is needed
The system prompt carries just the name and description. The instructions are fetched on the first matching request, so an idle skill costs nothing.
Switch models mid-chat
Because the skill is instructions rather than code, changing model does not break it — the next model reads the same SKILL.md.

Skill instructions

This is the SKILL.md content the model loads. Read it before installing — a skill is instructions your model will follow.

Workspace: all context paths below (identity, audience, strategy, voice, brand, raw, output, index, log, workspace preferences and context scripts) resolve from context/ in the kit root. Read both the root AGENTS.md and context/AGENTS.md.

YouTube thumbnail outlier research

Run before a new thumbnail render. Pair with youtube-title-outlier-packaging for the titles and youtube-thumbnail for the pixels.

Research

Find the outliers: the vidIQ plugin (outlier search and visually similar thumbnails) if installed, otherwise niche searches and the channels the audience watches. Use the outlier definition in youtube-title-outlier-packaging.
Download the full-size thumbnails (https://i.ytimg.com/vi/<id>/maxresdefault.jpg) of the top references and look at them at full size and at 320 x 180.
Sort the patterns: overused in the niche, and rare but working.
Write 4 to 6 concepts with the on-thumbnail text, the layout, the title they pair with and any number that still needs proof.

Patterns that repeat in AI, GTM and lead-gen niches

Often overused, so do not clone them blindly:

Big face + giant 3D numeral + short boast
Face + an army of product logos + "Steal these"
"UNLIMITED LEADS" + spreadsheet banners
Rows of 3 tool logos or "vs" frames

Usually still useful:

1 large product mark instead of a row of small ones
A small countable badge, only when the number is proven
A real scene or setup of the author at work instead of a cut-out face
A calm expression over a shocked open mouth

Rules

Use real photos of the author; never generate or "polish" their face.
Little text: about 2 to 4 words.
A number on the thumbnail must be shown in the video.
Differentiate with the scene, the product mark and the hook wording.
Check every concept at 1280 x 720 and 320 x 180.

Hand-off

Return the references with URLs, the patterns to borrow and avoid, and 4 to 6 concepts ready for youtube-thumbnail. The author picks before anything is rendered.

Frequently asked questions

What does the Youtube Thumbnail Outlier Research AI skill do?

Why use Youtube Thumbnail Outlier Research on TypingMind?

Because you install it once and use it with any model. Youtube Thumbnail Outlier Research is plain Markdown rather than provider-specific code, so the same skill runs on GPT-5, Claude, Gemini, Grok, or a local model — and you can switch model mid-chat without it breaking. TypingMind runs on your own API keys, so you pay providers directly instead of a per-seat subscription, and your skills and chats stay in your own storage.

How do I install Youtube Thumbnail Outlier Research in TypingMind?

Open Plugins → Skills → Install from GitHub in TypingMind and paste https://github.com/timscheuerai/linkedin-funnel/tree/main/skills/youtube-thumbnail-outlier-research. TypingMind reads its SKILL.md and installs it as a skill you can enable per chat.

Which AI models can use Youtube Thumbnail Outlier Research?

Any model you connect in TypingMind. AI skills are plain Markdown instructions rather than provider-specific code, so GPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, and local models can all load this skill when a request matches it.

How many AI models can I use with Youtube Thumbnail Outlier Research?

As many as you like. As long as a model supports skills, you can use Youtube Thumbnail Outlier Research with it — GPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, DeepSeek, Mistral, Llama and more — all on TypingMind with your own API keys.

Is the Youtube Thumbnail Outlier Research AI skill free?

Yes. It is published on GitHub by timscheuerai under the MIT license. You only pay your own AI provider for the tokens you use.

What are AI skills?

An AI skill is a reusable instruction bundle that teaches an AI model how to do one specific task. It follows the open Agent Skills format: a SKILL.md file with a name and description, plus any scripts, templates or reference files the model may need. The model reads the instructions only when your request matches the skill, so an installed skill costs nothing until it is used.

How are AI skills different from plugins or MCP servers?

A plugin or MCP server gives a model new tools to call — code that runs somewhere and returns a result. An AI skill gives the model knowledge and process instead: how to approach a task, which steps to follow, what good output looks like. Skills are plain Markdown, so they need no server, no API key and no runtime, and they work with any model.

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Overview

Installation

Install in TypingMind

Install in another agent

Use it in TypingMind

Works with any AI model

Skill instructions

YouTube thumbnail outlier research

Research

Patterns that repeat in AI, GTM and lead-gen niches

Rules

Hand-off

Frequently asked questions

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