How to make great YouTube thumbnails
Creating effective YouTube thumbnails can be tricky because you're trying to communicate a lot of information in a really small space. You want to describe in words what the video is about but also show some kind of image or illustration.
In this blog post I will share some tips regarding what to think about when it comes to designing a great YouTube thumbnail.
How to make great YouTube thumbnails
In general, when it comes to YouTube thumbnails, less is more.
We often tend to overdo our thumbnail designs and put as much as possible into that little 1280 x 720 rectangle (YouTube will compress every thumbnail to that size).
To make my thumbnails stand out and perform well, I stick to a few key principles:
Contrast: Strong contrast helps your thumbnail pop. It also helps the subject stand out clearly from the background and it makes the text easier to read (like white text on black background instead of red text on green background). Contrasting colors can also draw attention to the most important elements in the thumbnail.
Colors: Vibrant colors catch the eye, but you also want the colors to align with your brand (ideally). You can either stick to a color scheme that feels consistent across your channel (to build your brand recognition over time) or being bold and use colors that will stand out more in the feed. A mix of both can be a good idea, where you use vibrant colors to highlight something important in the thumbnail. (You can also keep your brand consistent without limiting the color choices. For example by sticking to the same font, using the same type of images/illustrations, or stick to the same kind of layout in your thumbnails.)
Emotions: People connect with people and emotions, so using expressive faces or images that triggers curiosity or excitement can make a big difference in engagement. (Think about how many thumbnails you’ve seen with people who look happy, scared or surprised.)
Text: Less is more here. Choose a few impactful words that either spark curiosity or add context to your image. Ideally, these words should leave some questions unanswered, to get viewers to click and find out more. (Only using capital letters can make it harder to read because all capital letters are usually the same height.)
Your thumbnail should not only communicate what the video is about but also look professional and create a sense of intrigue - teasing what’s coming up without giving away too much.
When it comes to the text in your YouTube title, aim for a question or a bold statement rather than an answer.
The answer should be delivered in the video content, not the thumbnail.
Think about it like a Christmas gift. You don’t want to see what’s inside, you just want to get excited and curious (without getting disappointed when you open it).
🎞 Watch the video here!
(The video is a short snippet from my “YouTube Crash Course” which is one of many video lessons inside my online program "Streamlined Creator")
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Thanks for reading!
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