One of the greatest things you can do for your YouTube channel is use custom thumbnails. Many companies enable this feature, but few utilize it well, and opt to upload the same stock, boring thumbnails for all of their videos.
Here are some tips to create thumbnails that will attract more clicks:
- Make sure your thumbnails are clear and crisp.
- Use a 16:9 aspect ratio. If you aren’t sure whether or not your thumbnail matches this ratio, use this tool.
- Make them bright and high-contrast.
- Close ups of faces generally attract more clicks.
If you use text, make sure it’s readable and looks attractive at different sizes. Also, try to keep the important information out of the lower right, which will be covered up by a timestamp in the search results.
Finally, make sure your thumbnails are appropriate and free of potential copyright violation. You don’t want to miss an opportunity to gain exposure because YouTube decides your thumbnail is inappropriate, or a violation of their policies. Check out YouTube Creator Academy for more information on what is and isn’t acceptable.
Do you agree with our thoughts on what makes a great video thumbnail? Let us know in the comments below!
