We’ll teach you how to make the perfect thumbnail.
How to Make a Good YouTube Thumbnail
An effective YouTube thumbnail is essentially a mini-billboard that needs to grab attention. It should raise curiosity, and accurately represent your content.
You can find free, high-quality stock pictures on Unsplash.
Essentially:
Easy Thumbnail Option: Use a still from your video. YouTube may suggest stills, but they might not be the most engaging, so you’ll need to add a custom thumbnail.
Enhance for Impact: Consider editing a chosen still with photo editing software to improve its appeal. Highly recommended!
Use images that relate directly to your video’s content, like your reaction.
Add text, but don’t overdo it. Leave the detailed description to your video’s title.
Here’s why you should do this:
Clarity: Text can immediately tell viewers what your video is about, especially if the image is ambiguous. This can be especially helpful for educational or instructional videos.
Click-through rate (CTR): Well-written and designed text can grab attention and entice viewers to click on your thumbnail, potentially increasing your YouTube CTR.
Accessibility: Viewers who are deaf or hard of hearing may rely on the text in your thumbnail to understand the video’s content.
4. Personal Brand
When someone scrolls through YouTube, your video thumbnails instantly jump out. That’s the power of a strong brand identity on YouTube!
Why Your Brand Matters:
Attract viewers: A clear brand image tells people what you’re about, drawing in your target audience.
Build trust: Consistency across your channel (colors, fonts, visuals) makes you look professional and reliable.
Grow your community:Strong branding makes your channel memorable, turning viewers into loyal fans.
Get Going:
Think visually: Choose imagery that represents your content and attracts your ideal audience.
Pick your colors: A consistent color palette helps viewers recognize your brand instantly.
Remember: Branding is a journey, not a destination.
Experiment, have fun, and watch your audience connect with your unique YouTube identity! Speaking of experimenting…
5. A/B Test
Ever wonder if your YouTube thumbnails are actually working? Introducing Thumbnail Test.
Imagine this: Two versions of your video thumbnail, each fighting for clicks. Which one grabs viewers faster? A/B testing reveals the champion, boosting your views and engagement.
Why Test Thumbnails:
Stop guessing: See what thumbnails truly drive clicks, not just what looks good to you.
Theme: Pick a style that reflects your channel’s vibe and stick with it. Think vibrant and playful for fun content, or sleek and minimalist for a serious tone.
Color Coordination:Establish a color palette that screams “you” and use it across all your thumbnails. Consistency is key to building recognition.
Font: Choose a font that’s readable, matches your theme, and makes a statement. Don’t be afraid to get creative!
YouTubers often create their thumbnails using graphic design software like Adobe Photoshop or Canva, incorporating vibrant colors, bold text, and engaging visuals to grab viewers’ attention.
They typically use high-resolution images, featuring close-up faces expressing emotions, and ensuring the design reflects the video’s content.
3. Why do YouTubers have their mouth open in thumbnails?
YouTubers often have their mouths open in thumbnails to convey strong emotions like surprise, excitement, or shock, which naturally draw viewers’ curiosity and interest, making the video more enticing to click on.
I closed my mouth on all my thumbnails and the watch time went up on every video lol pic.twitter.com/qq8mF4Dgjf
David is the head of the editing team at ThumbnailTest. With his help, the editorial team is able to provide you with the best free guides related to YouTube thumbnails and A/B testing.
