2 min readAug 10, 2023
best thumbnail design best practices that you should know before starting building a Youtube channel
- High-Quality Imagery: Use high-resolution images for your thumbnails to ensure they look professional and clear, even on different devices and screen sizes.
- Visual Consistency: Maintain a consistent look and feel across your thumbnails. This helps viewers recognize your videos instantly and builds your channel’s branding.
- Contrasting Colors: Use colors that stand out and contrast well with each other. This makes your thumbnail eye-catching and easier to spot among other videos.
- Bold and Readable Text: Add bold, clear text to your thumbnail that gives viewers an idea of what your video is about. Use readable fonts and avoid overcrowding with too much text.
- Thumbnail Size and Ratio: Follow YouTube’s recommended thumbnail size of 1280 x 720 pixels (16:9 aspect ratio). This ensures your thumbnails display properly on all devices.
- Focus on the Main Subject: Highlight the main subject of your video in the thumbnail. This could be a person, product, or scene that represents the video’s content accurately.
- Emotional Appeal: Use facial expressions and imagery that evoke emotions relevant to your video’s content. Emotionally appealing thumbnails can attract more clicks.
- Close-Ups and Expressions: If applicable, use close-up shots of faces or products with expressive emotions. These tend to catch viewers’ attention and create a connection.
- Avoid Clickbait: While it’s important to make your thumbnails engaging, avoid misleading viewers with clickbait. Your thumbnail should accurately represent the video’s content.
- Simple and Uncluttered: Keep your thumbnails simple and uncluttered. Too much visual information can confuse viewers, so focus on a clear and central message.
- Test Different Styles: Experiment with different thumbnail styles over time to see what resonates best with your audience. Monitor click-through rates to determine which designs are most effective.
- Include Branding Elements: Add your channel’s logo, colors, or other branding elements to your thumbnails. This helps establish a recognizable identity.
- Use Arrows or Icons: If relevant, use arrows, icons, or overlays to guide viewers’ attention towards key elements in your thumbnail.
- Maintain Relevance: Ensure that your thumbnail accurately represents the content of your video. Viewers should get what they expect when they click on your video.
- Test on Different Devices: Preview your thumbnails on various devices, including smartphones, tablets, and desktops, to ensure they look appealing and clear on all screens.
Remember, the goal of a thumbnail is to capture viewers’ attention and entice them to click on your video. By following these best practices, you can create thumbnails that effectively drive engagement and views to your YouTube channel.
