Creating an Effective YouTube Video Thumbnail
While uploading my first video on YouTube, I was thrilled at everything that I did. First, I spent some hours filming, editing, and choosing background music. Finally, after uploading the video, I just kept waiting for clicks.
They never came.
Though the video was good enough, I could see that it is not getting too much popularity, especially in comparison with other videos in the same category. There was one key point that differed my video from those a thumbnail.
At that time, I did not think that thumbnails were important, as I thought that YouTube was randomly selecting a frame from the video for a thumbnail. They will click anyway, no matter what. However, I was mistaken in this.
By using the thumbnails, I saw that my click-through rate increased dramatically. Sometimes, my videos even got recommended, as users clicked on them.
Thus, in case you are new to YouTube and want to learn how to make an attracting thumbnail, follow these steps.
Why Your YouTube Thumbnail Matters
Recall the last time you were searching for something on YouTube.
Did you pay close attention to the titles?
Chances are that you did not.
Firstly, you noticed the thumbnail. If it got your attention, you looked at the title. And if both of those caught your attention, you clicked.
Your thumbnail is the equivalent of the cover of a book. Not everything that has an amazing cover will be appreciated inside, but it sure makes people want to look inside.
An outstanding video can easily go unnoticed if the thumbnail is unappealing or confusing.
What Makes a Good YouTube Thumbnail?
A thumbnail does not have to be complex.
A good thumbnail has such elements as:
Main topic of the picture
Bright and attractive colors
Text that can be easily read
Clean background
High-quality image
Facial expressions of people, if used
The aim is not to create something fancy.
The goal is to help people get an idea of your video right away.
Size of YouTube Thumbnail
Before you start to create your own thumbnail, use proper sizes.
Optimal size:
1280 × 720 pixels
Ratio 16:9
Image format: JPG, PNG or GIF
Maximum image size: 2 MB
The correct size of the thumbnail will help you avoid blurring or distorting images.
Step 1: Figure Out What Your Thumbnail Will Say
Think about one simple thing before starting to create your thumbnail.
Why people should watch your video?
Don't tell about the whole video.
It's enough to tell about one important thing.
For example:
If your video is about:
"How to Edit Videos Using CapCut"
Your thumbnail might be about:
Edit Like a Pro
Easy Video Editing
CapCut Tricks
It's always better to use a small amount of text instead of sentences.
Step 2: Pick Up the Perfect Background for the Thumbnail
Blurry screenshot will spoil your thumbnail.
It's better to use:
Clear photo
HD screenshot
Colourful background
No clutter
If you make gaming videos, take the most interesting moment of your game.
If you do tutorial videos, take the screenshot of the program.
If you make educational videos, use graphics related to the subject.
Step 3: Include Legible Large Text
The first mistake that I have committed is writing almost a full sentence.
Nobody will be able to read it through a mobile phone.
Now I mostly stick to using only two to five words.
Examples:
Free Tips
Watch Before Buying
Beginner Guide
Secret Settings
Easy Method
Include bold fonts.
Make sure the text can be read from a small screen size.
Step 4: Choose Contrasting Colours
Effective colour combinations tend to catch people’s attention effortlessly.
Some of the colour combinations that work effectively are:
Yellow and Black
White and Red
Blue and White
Green and Black
Orange and White
Try not to include too many different colours on your thumbnails.
Two or three colours should suffice.
Step 5: Put Your Face In
People tend to pay attention to a face.
If you feel comfortable being on video, then put your face into your thumbnail.
Emotions such as surprise, happiness, curiosity, and excitement tend to attract attention.
Make sure not to put up a fake reaction that does not reflect your video.
Step 6: Make the Design Simple
Beginners tend to include:
Excessive text
Too many icons
Too many arrows
Too many emojis
Many fonts
Include only the necessary things.
A simple thumbnail will make it easy to understand in a second.
Best Free Tools for Making YouTube Thumbnails
There are quite a few thumbnail editors that I have tried over time.
Here are the ones I continue to use.
Canva
This seems to be the easiest one for beginners.
It includes:
Templates for making thumbnails
Drag-and-drop editor
Free icons
Effects on text
Background removal (Pro feature)
If you have never designed anything in your life, Canva is the place to start.
Adobe Express
Adobe Express provides professional templates without making it complicated for the users.
This can be a good choice if you already use Adobe products.
Pixlr
Pixlr is online and works right from your browser.
You don't need a high-end computer for this.
It can do the editing, background removal, and color adjustment work quickly.
Photopea
Photopea resembles Photoshop but is purely browser-based.
If you have experience with Photoshop, then you should not have any difficulty working with Photopea.
Canva Mobile Application
While travelling, when I have to upload a video, then I use Canva app in my mobile.
Canva works surprisingly fine for editing thumbnails.
Steps to Edit a Thumbnail on Canva
These are the steps that I follow.
Step 1
Go to Canva.
Step 2
Type "YouTube Thumbnail" in the search bar.
Step 3
Select the canvas or template.
Step 4
Upload your photo.
Step 5
Write texts.
Step 6
Change colour and font.
Step 7
Download your file in the PNG or JPG format.
Step 8
Upload the thumbnail when you upload the video on YouTube.
The entire process takes about 10 minutes.
Tips Which Helped Me Improve My Click Rate
There were certain things I did which had a large impact.
Have Only One Main Subject
Don't put many subjects in your thumbnail.
Use one subject.
Use Contrast
It's easier for people to see when there's contrast.
Test Different Thumbnails
On occasion, I test two thumbnails before posting them online.
Comparing the two makes it easier to choose the best one.
Match the Video
The thumbnail should reflect your video.
If viewers click for something specific and get something totally different, they will exit your video right away.
This is detrimental to your video performance.
Common Mistakes When Designing Your Thumbnail
Here are some mistakes I've made which you could avoid making.
Very Small Text
If your text cannot be read on a phone screen, it is too small.
Too Many Words
Be brief.
Five words will do the trick.
Low-Quality Pictures
Blurry thumbnails do not draw attention.
Use high definition images.
Misleading Thumbnails
Do not make misleading thumbnails for your videos.
You may get more clicks at first, but people will stop believing you.
Too Many Font Styles
One or two is more than enough.
When you have too many fonts, your thumbnail becomes cluttered.
A Real Example
Suppose you are creating a video titled:
How to Make Your Slow Computer Fast
Instead of putting the whole title on the thumbnail, you can just write:
Laptop Faster
Speed Boost
Fix Slow PC
And add:
A picture of a laptop
A speed symbol
Yellow color text
A simple background
Your title gives all the information.
Your thumbnail raises curiosity.
Thumbnail Design for Mobile and Desktop Platforms
The most common way for YouTube viewers to watch videos is through their cellphones.
This is why I am always being extra careful when working on the thumbnail.
If I cannot see the text in a very small font, I make it larger.
Never forget to check your thumbnail on the mobile screen before uploading it on the Internet.
Use of AI for Thumbnail Creation
AI could help a lot if used in order to get some suggestions about the creation of thumbnails. They can give you some tips about the layout design, background elimination or graphics design, in general. AI would be helpful when you don't have enough time, but don't trust AI too much.
A good thumbnail is one which presents your video content. Spend some time on the colors, fonts and images adjustment.
Conclusion
One does not need to be a graphic designer to make a good thumbnail for his/her video on YouTube.
The moment I stopped using the thumbnail which is automatically made by the program and decided to create my own, recognizable and simple thumbnail, I received more views for my video. Not the quality of the content was changed, but only the presentation of it was changed.
First of all, make sure that you use a clear layout, readable text, good images and be honest with your viewers by making a preview of the video's content for them. And after you will release more videos, you will definitely find your style of thumbnail designs.
0 Comments