YouTube Thumbnail Tips That Actually Help
A thumbnail is one of the main elements a viewer sees before deciding to engage with your video; often dozens of videos appear side by side in a reduced size of a single thumbnail, and the viewer needs to make a choice on which video to watch next. A thumbnail that communicates a singular message better than its competitors at a glance is far more effective than one that tries to over-explain.
Prioritize A Singular Message Over Everything Else
One of the most common thumbnail mistakes is including too much information in one thumbnail, such as multiple text elements and extra small images, in addition to a busy background. A thumbnail should communicate a single message clearly at a glance. If you can't summarize your thumbnail's message or theme in three words, it's likely communicating too many ideas.
Design The Thumbnails For The Smaller Thumbnail Sizes
Thumbnail sizes appear small in different places across YouTube, and rarely in their original size. Thumbnails must be designed to be readable and informative in a smaller size. If you have to look closely at a thumbnail to discern fine details, they will not be visible to most viewers. Many elements, colors, and text fine details will disappear in a smaller thumbnail size, so it's a good idea to practice reducing it before publishing.
Prioritize High Contrast
High contrast between the subject and the background and between text and the color it's on will always help a thumbnail stand out at a glance. Text on a busy background of similar colors will be hard to read, while the same text on a contrasting background will be instantly readable, even at smaller sizes.
Keep The Text On Thumbnails Short, Sweet, And In A Larger Font Size
Text elements on thumbnails should have no more than 5 words and be in a larger, bolder, and more easily readable font size. Text should complement the design of the thumbnail not be its subject. Remember: a thumbnail with heavy text elements is asking the viewer to read not glance, and lose your video in the scroll.
Use Expressive Faces On Thumbnails
Wherever possible, use a clear image of a human face that can be seen at a glance, with an emotional expression (happy, sad, surprised, worried, etc.) so that the thumbnail communicates an emotion. A viewer's eye will automatically gravitate towards a face and will read the text and context around it faster than other kinds of thumbnails. If you're using your face on the thumbnails, make sure to clearly express the emotion or read the text.
Establish A Consistent Thumbnail Style For Your YouTube Channel
A series of thumbnails with similar color schemes or using the same text treatments will allow your viewers to identify your videos faster in the search results, just like they recognize products on store shelves by their brand's packaging. This will help your YouTube channel grow faster since viewers can find your videos by their familiar look before they even read the title.
Focus On Representing Your Video's Content Truthfully
Representing your video's content truthfully on a thumbnail will allow you to maximize views because viewers are engaged right away. A video that delivers on the promise of the thumbnail will have more retention; a video that doesn't will cause the viewer to leave right away, communicating to YouTube's algorithm that the video's content wasn't what the thumbnail suggested.