Trombati Othmane
Newbie
- Aug 25, 2021
- 12
- 8
Hey guys, I'm a long time lurker and I thought I might contribute something useful for you with this little "guide" on how to create a good thumbnail.
If it works, the viewer will probably read your title and click on your video.
So this little picture, is of crucial value and should be treated like that. Give it your best shot, take your time and improve with each one. If your thumbnail isn't good, don't use it and keep creating until you have a good one.
They key elements of your description, can also be the key elements of your Thumbnail.
Don't promise or teaser something in your thumbnail, that your video won't deliver or show.
Look at well performing videos with similar topics or in a similar niche to get some inspiration, but be better than those, or at least different.
Try to focus on a single one, negative emotions tend to work better to get attention.
If you can use high quality logos (for a video game), do that instead of text.
Learn how to cut out pictures, this is a very important skill you will need in every thumbnail.
Start to place your pictures on your thumbnail and play with position and style, don't be afraid to mirror those to get the perfect position and remember the time stamp (right bottom corner) later on.
(I tend to increase the contrast of every single picture I use, maybe this is helpful for you too)
If you can present your idea without even using text, do that! If text is necessary, use 3 words at max. Choose your words wisely and don't repeat words you want to use in your title. Remember, thumbnails on a smartphone will be pretty tiny, so make sure your pictures are big enough.
Use a simple-to-read font. The understanding of the viewer has priority over your artistic desire to look cool.
Thumbnail will be seen first, title second, so create something that complements each other in this order. Let the title expand on the idea or topic your thumbnail presents.
Humans are attracted to emotions, bright colors and other human faces. Use that knowledge, but with style.
Decide on a single eye-catcher and build your thumbnail around that point, so the viewer's attention is automatically located to that point. Everything in your thumbnail composition, should lead his view to that. This can be done with bright colors like red, yellow and orange. Often times, people forget that, for an eye-catcher to actually work, everything else can't be... that exciting! So make sure you don't add too many elements that will distract from your eye-catcher.
Bad examples are a red or yellow background, which distracts from the actual things you want to represent.
I don't think it's a good idea for the following reasons:
To present a brand, you need to have one in the first place. Nobody is interested in a logo or face of you, if you're not already established in your niche. But even then, look at the most popular YouTubers, they don't do all of that. Their face is enough.
By adding the same elements to your thumbnail, you limit yourself and your own creativity. Your thumbnails will look the same because they contain the same elements.
I like to compare a video thumbnail to a book cover, every book has its own unique book cover art, even if it's a series.
The best way to brand your thumbnails, would be to create a specific "Style" or form of art. Like, there are several crafting channels who are easily recognizable, just because of their style and craft.
Some examples : Studson Studio, Boylei Hobby Time and North of the Border
So the challenge would be to make your thumbnails unique to each other, but still keep a level of style that is recognizable.
After all, the brand is "you", not a logo, not a picture, your channel and the videos you create are your brand.
Once you have your favorite one, upload it and don't change it for at least a week/month to see how it performs. (Except a negative impact is directly seen after uploading)
All The best guys !!
- What is a Thumbnail?
If it works, the viewer will probably read your title and click on your video.
So this little picture, is of crucial value and should be treated like that. Give it your best shot, take your time and improve with each one. If your thumbnail isn't good, don't use it and keep creating until you have a good one.
- What does a Thumbnail needs to be, to do that?
- How do I create a thumbnail like this?
Describe your Video in one or two sentences
Imagine someone asking you about your latest video, and you would have a very short time to describe it. Keep it short and focus on the main selling point. Bonus points if you can make the viewer curious about it.They key elements of your description, can also be the key elements of your Thumbnail.
Don't promise or teaser something in your thumbnail, that your video won't deliver or show.
Variety
Once you have your key elements, you will create 3 Thumbnails at least, which should be totally different in style and representation from each other and continue with the next steps on each of these.Look at well performing videos with similar topics or in a similar niche to get some inspiration, but be better than those, or at least different.
Emotions
The best thumbnails evoke emotions in us, so think about what emotions your visual representation/thumbnail will evoke in a potential viewer and build your thumbnail around that.Try to focus on a single one, negative emotions tend to work better to get attention.
Adding Pictures
Choose the pictures for your thumbnail carefully, they need to be of a very high quality each.If you can use high quality logos (for a video game), do that instead of text.
Learn how to cut out pictures, this is a very important skill you will need in every thumbnail.
Start to place your pictures on your thumbnail and play with position and style, don't be afraid to mirror those to get the perfect position and remember the time stamp (right bottom corner) later on.
(I tend to increase the contrast of every single picture I use, maybe this is helpful for you too)
Composition
Keep it simple! The Viewer has to understand the thumbnail in less than a second, use 3 elements at max. For example, Face, Thing, Arrow. 3 Elements, you stop right there.If you can present your idea without even using text, do that! If text is necessary, use 3 words at max. Choose your words wisely and don't repeat words you want to use in your title. Remember, thumbnails on a smartphone will be pretty tiny, so make sure your pictures are big enough.
Use a simple-to-read font. The understanding of the viewer has priority over your artistic desire to look cool.
Thumbnail will be seen first, title second, so create something that complements each other in this order. Let the title expand on the idea or topic your thumbnail presents.
Humans are attracted to emotions, bright colors and other human faces. Use that knowledge, but with style.
Decide on a single eye-catcher and build your thumbnail around that point, so the viewer's attention is automatically located to that point. Everything in your thumbnail composition, should lead his view to that. This can be done with bright colors like red, yellow and orange. Often times, people forget that, for an eye-catcher to actually work, everything else can't be... that exciting! So make sure you don't add too many elements that will distract from your eye-catcher.
Bad examples are a red or yellow background, which distracts from the actual things you want to represent.
Branding
So I have seen many small YouTubers making a "branding" by putting their logo or face into each and every thumbnail or using the same background over and over again.I don't think it's a good idea for the following reasons:
To present a brand, you need to have one in the first place. Nobody is interested in a logo or face of you, if you're not already established in your niche. But even then, look at the most popular YouTubers, they don't do all of that. Their face is enough.
By adding the same elements to your thumbnail, you limit yourself and your own creativity. Your thumbnails will look the same because they contain the same elements.
I like to compare a video thumbnail to a book cover, every book has its own unique book cover art, even if it's a series.
The best way to brand your thumbnails, would be to create a specific "Style" or form of art. Like, there are several crafting channels who are easily recognizable, just because of their style and craft.
Some examples : Studson Studio, Boylei Hobby Time and North of the Border
So the challenge would be to make your thumbnails unique to each other, but still keep a level of style that is recognizable.
After all, the brand is "you", not a logo, not a picture, your channel and the videos you create are your brand.
Rating your thumbnail
You don't need friends or A/B testing to compare your thumbnails, because your thumbnail will not perform against them, it will perform against the big quality thumbnails which are already performing good. So compare it to those and make it better than that.Once you have your favorite one, upload it and don't change it for at least a week/month to see how it performs. (Except a negative impact is directly seen after uploading)
All The best guys !!