In this guide, I’ll tech you:
- How to make an engaging YouTube thumbnail;
- That will bring you more clicks…
- And improve your CTR through the thumbnail.
Let’s check it out.
How to Make an Engaging Thumbnail?
For an engaging YouTube thumbnail, combine bright colors and high-quality images that express your video’s essence. Add clear, bold text to highlight the main point, making it pop and inviting clicks.
1. Grab Attention
- High contrast colors: Use bright, contrasting colors that pop against the background. Avoid YouTube’s branding colors (white/red/black) so your thumbnail doesn’t blend in.
- Clear and concise: People browsing YouTube thumbnails see them at a small size, so keep it simple and easy to understand at a glance.
Here’s a great example:
See what this image does? It makes you wonder what’s next and what that car is:
- Shadowed element — wants you to click on it
- Many question marks — raises curiosity.
Pro Tip: Check out the 10 Best YouTube Thumbnail Types.
2. Representative Text
- Accurately represent your video: Don’t mislead viewers! The thumbnail should give a clear idea of what your video is about.
- Text wisely: Keep text short, easy to read, and use a large, bold font.
Great example for this:
It’s short and straight to the point.
3. Spark Interest
- Emotions: Use facial expressions or imagery that evokes emotions like curiosity, surprise, or excitement.
- Intrigue: Pose a question in your text or use an image that leaves viewers wanting more.
Mr Beast is always a great example:
Every video’s got a different face: shocked, smiling, tired — you name it.
His thumbnails are 100% showing emotion.
4. Adjust for all Screen Sizes
- Size and format: Use the recommended dimensions of 1280×720 pixels with a 16:9 aspect ratio. This ensures it looks good on all devices.
- Source image: If you’re using a screenshot from your video, make sure it’s high quality and not blurry.
5. A/B Test to find The Best
- Why A/B Test? You might have a great thumbnail idea, but how do you know it’s the best? A/B testing allows you to compare different thumbnails and see which one gets more clicks and views.
- Thumbnail Test: This is a tool that lets you upload multiple thumbnails for the same video. It then shows each thumbnail to a different segment of your audience and tracks the results. This way, you can see which thumbnail is performing better and choose the winner.
Shortlist: Your First Engaging Thumbnail
All of the above must’ve been a tough ride, so let us break it all down.
| Strategy | What it means |
|---|---|
| Use Bright Colors | Bright and contrasting colors catch the eye. Avoid blending in with the YouTube background or other thumbnails. |
| Include Faces | Human faces, especially with strong emotions, attract attention. Close-ups of expressive faces work well. |
| Add Text Overlays | Use bold, readable fonts to add short, compelling text that complements your video title and entices clicks. |
| High-Quality Images | Use sharp, clear images. Blurry or low-resolution thumbnails can seem unprofessional. |
| Simplicity | Focus on one key visual that represents your video. Too much clutter can be overwhelming. |
| Consistent Branding | Style, fonts, and colors helps with brand recognition. Consider a recurring element that identifies your videos. |
| Highlight Key Moments | Use an image that represents an intriguing moment in your video to spark curiosity. |
| Use Contrast and Scale | High contrast and playing with scale can make your thumbnail stand out. |
| Action Shots | Images depicting action or motion can suggest excitement and dynamic content. |
| A/B Test | A/B Test different thumbnails to see what works best for your audience. Analytics can provide valuable insights. |
Each strategy aims to make your thumbnail stand out, convey the essence of your video, and entice viewers to click and watch.
Thank you for reading this,
Thumbnail Test
