8 Secrets to Creating Compelling Video Thumbnails That Drive Clicks

Written By  Aquib Nawab

Credits: Canva

1. Use High-Quality Images

Choose high-resolution images that are of good quality, choose the ones that are clear and crisp, and those that look amazing on any device. Avoid thumbnails that are blurry or pixelated since they can be a turn off to viewers.

Credits: Canva

2. Incorporate Human Faces

Because they can boost click-through rates by as much as 38%, we should consider including human faces. Some of the emotions that evoke curiosity, happiness or surprise serve as an attraction to people.

Credits: Canva

3. Utilize Bright Colors

Use bright, vibrant colors to grab attention and stand out from other posts on social media platforms which are constantly overpopulated with content. Create some contrast by using different color tones to make your thumbnail stick out.

Credits: Canva

4. Add Compelling Text Overlays

Create text overlays that will catch the viewer’s attention. Make sure you keep the text to a minimum and it should grab attention using bold, easy to read fonts which complement your thumbnail.

Credits: Canva

5. Showcase Your Brand

Instantly recognized by your customers through adding either of your logos or any branding elements in your company’s videos, you can effectively use the whole YouTube channel and its thematic materials to promote your brand.

Credits: Canva

6. Tease Your Content

Create excitement by providing a preview of your video’s contents, so that your audience will be interested in watching the rest of it. Make them curious enough without divulging all the details.

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7. Optimize for Mobile

Make your video mobile friendly. Of all the online videos viewed on YouTube, slightly more than two-thirds were watched on mobile devices. Make sure that your thumbnail looks good even on small screens.

Credits: Canva

8. Test and Iterate

Conduct tests and refine them by exploring through alternate styles and features of the thumbnails. Review statistics on click-through rates to discover what is most effective for your readers.

Credits: Canva

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