YouTube thumbnails offer a fantastic platform for creativity. Still, it can be challenging to consistently produce a strong thumbnail.
These six pointers will help you get started on making your thumbnails.

YouTube thumbnails offer a fantastic platform for creativity. Still, it can be challenging to consistently produce a strong thumbnail.
These six pointers will help you get started on making your thumbnails.
- Make Use of a Still Picture from the Film
The simplest type of YouTube thumbnail is this one.
If you’re lucky, YouTube may have chosen the ideal still photo from your video for the thumbnail automatically.
As an alternative, you might use video editing software to output a specific still image.
What happens if you don’t have the original YouTube video and you’re changing the thumbnails? Alternatively, you could always set the video to fullscreen, pause it at a still you like, and then snap a screenshot.
After that, you can utilize the picture by itself or give it a title, as in this Shopify video that narrates the MVMT Watches narrative. - Make a Unique Image
A lot of firms produce a picture thumbnail that accurately depicts the substance of the video. This frequently includes a succinct headline summarizing the main advantages of the film.
The name or emblem of the brand will appear in these kinds of YouTube thumbnails.
This is an illustration of a YouTube video thumbnail that we created for our tutorial on how to start your first Facebook ad campaign. - Incorporate Graphics Into a Video Still
A still image from your video can be combined with graphic components to make a YouTube thumbnail that is genuinely captivating and attention-grabbing.
This is a well-liked choice for person-focused videos, like talk shows, vlogs, and tutorials.
This is a preview of the film we created to show you how to choose a reliable dropshipping provider. - Craft Attention-Grabbing Titles
Though this isn’t entirely accurate, your YouTube video’s title matters. Videos are only as excellent as their names. It’s also imperative that you include it in your thumbnail. Clearly state the topic of your film to viewers while also attempting to grab their attention with well chosen titles.
A video about video marketing, for instance, may be titled “Everything about Video Marketing” or, if we’re feeling really clever, “Video Marketing in a Nutshell: 6 Tips to Elevate your Video Marketing in 2024.” Which one would you click on more likely? The second one catches the eye more. - Steer clear of deceptive photos and titles
It’s simple to overdo it when making titles and thumbnails, especially if you’re attempting to maximize traffic to your YouTube channel. This is rather common, but you should exercise caution when using your creativity to make sure that the pictures or names you come up with are not deceptive.
The content you are advertising is deceptive, for instance, if your thumbnail says “How to create an amazing YouTube Thumbnail Image” yet your video is about the top 6 strategies to optimize your thumbnail. To improve your video click-through rate, make your image clear and concise.
It’s also very important to avoid including images that could endanger your viewers. Avoid using overwhelming, ostentatious, or improper imagery since you don’t want to frighten away your intended audience.
Avoid utilizing someone else’s photo as well, as employing reverse image search engines can lead you to the original owner and cause serious problems. - Examine Various Thumbnail Designs
Don’t be afraid to experiment with multiple designs if you’re unsure about which thumbnail best fits your YouTube channel. Choose a design you like, choose a movie that works well, update the thumbnail to the new design, and monitor the outcome. If, after making changes to the thumbnail image, your click-through rate rises, then this design is more appropriate for your target audience than the last one.
As long as you base your conclusions on meaningful facts, the nicest part about testing is that you can keep experimenting with alternative ideas. There isn’t enough evidence to support a claim if a video only gets one or two clicks every week or month.
Check out our post, 18 Simple (and Free) Ways to Get More Views on YouTube, for some simple strategies to put into practice if you need to increase your YouTube views before experimenting with alternative thumbnail styles.
Best Youtube Thumbnails in Nutshell
- High Contrast and Bright Colors: Use bright and contrasting colors to make your thumbnail stand out in YouTube’s white background. Avoid using too much white or black as they might blend in with the website’s color scheme.
- Clear and Bold Text: If you include text, make sure it’s large, bold, and easy to read even at a small size. Limit the amount of text to a few words to avoid cluttering the thumbnail.
- Emotion and Expressiveness: Faces showing clear emotions tend to attract more attention. If your video features a person, use a close-up of their expressive reaction or emotion related to the video content.
- High-Quality Images: Use high-resolution images to avoid pixelation when YouTube displays your thumbnail in various sizes.
- Brand Consistency: If you have a series of videos or a specific brand style, maintain consistency in your thumbnails to create a recognizable look.
- Simplicity and Clarity: The design should be simple and not overcrowded. The thumbnail needs to convey the essence of your video at a glance.
- Context and Teasers: Sometimes, including an element of curiosity or a teaser about the video content can compel viewers to click and watch.
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