Trombati Othmane
Newbie
- Aug 25, 2021
- 24
- 8
(Reading time: 3 mins)
I have been researching a lot of videos, and that's what I do all day (part of my job).I wanted to know what makes a near-perfect thumbnail.
Because no one will watch your video unless you have a great thumbnail.
Thumbnails are like the movie posters for your videos. Your audience is gambling that your video will pay off, and a compelling thumbnail can push them all in.
After studying many ultra-successful youtube creators like Mr. Beast, Mark Rober, Logan Paul, KSI, MKBHD, etc.
Here are the 3 things I found common in all of their thumbnails:
Rule #1: Faces are important.
When some neuromarketers did eye tracking research on babies, they found that their minds showed a high reaction when they saw faces in advertisements.
And that makes sense from an evolutionary perspective; we are wired to pay attention to faces all around us. So it makes sense to have your face in the thumbnail. A person’s face should take up 30–50% of your thumbnail.
On a crowded YouTube page, full of iPhones and sports highlights, faces cut through the noise. Use facial expressions to give a hint at the nature of the video. Rant video? Pose with an angry face. Success tips? Smile like you just won a million dollars.
Rule #2: Story Element
Use an object or symbol to tell a more in-depth story. It can elevate a mediocre thumbnail to a juicy thumbnail. The iPhone serves as the main element in an MKBHD iPhone review.
For a Bitcoin video, the gold Bitcoin emblem serves as the plot element. Use emojis, symbols, and arrows to accentuate your thumbnail.
Rule #3: Text in thumbnails
Clear, legible, and use less than 25 characters. Do not write a full sentence on your thumbnail. Use short, big, bold words that pique curiosity, like “HE DID WHAT?” or “DELETE THIS NOW.”
I know it feels weird and unnatural, but it works! The text should give context to the person’s face in the thumbnail.
You can use these tactics to enhance your video thumbnails and the next time you see a video trending! I am 100% certain you will find their thumbnail following one if not all of these three rules!
All the Best!
!