How many times have you clicked into a YouTube video because of its interesting thumbnail? Well, we certainly have! Think of YouTube thumbnails as the equivalent of billboards on Times Square in the city of YouTube.
Many YouTubers put a lot of effort into their thumbnails, to the extent of carrying out a poll on Instagram to select their thumbnails. It is no secret that a well-designed thumbnail and title will effectively capture attention and attract new fans to your channel. It encourages viewers to watch through your videos because they’re intrigued, or know what to expect.
This can also make your content appealing for a broad range of advertisers.
However, a YouTube thumbnail needs to have the correct size or it won't be displayed properly on the video-sharing platform. If you're looking for the perfect YouTube thumbnail size, you've come to the right article.
We'll explain why you need a thumbnail in the first place, the proper thumbnail resolutions YouTube recommends, and if you read to the end, we'll even give you tips to design the perfect thumbnail for your channel! Without further ado, let's begin.
Thumbnails are often the first thing viewers lay eyes upon when browsing on YouTube. It is an important piece of your video’s metadata. They work together with your video title as a team to generate anticipation.
However, be sure to accurately represent what’s in your video. If your thumbnails and titles don’t match what’s in the video, viewers tend to leave almost immediately, which will be tracked by YouTube and their algorithm will limit your discoverability.
Alternatively, when viewers stay on and watch your entire video, this lets YouTube know that the viewer is enjoying your content. The longer people watch your video, the more likely your
Tweaking your YouTube thumbnail and title combination can radically transform the viewer’s expectation of the video content. Here’s a first hand example:
Managing the user’s expectations and perceptions well is the key to an awesome video!
90% of the best-performing videos on YouTube have custom thumbnails and we recommend that you create one too!
When you customise your thumbnails, you are in greater control of how you appear to viewers and convey key information about your video.
You can apply the rule of thirds to compose interesting and dynamic images, then overlay with your branding and/or descriptive text. If you add text, make sure that you use a font that’s easy to read on screen. Also, think about how you can be eye-catching and age-appropriate for your audience.
Imagine a tic-tac-toe grid embossed on your thumbnail image, that breaks it into thirds, both horizontally and vertically, leaving you with 9 frames (3 x 3).
These frames serve as guidelines as to where you should place subjects of interest in your image, either at the intersections (red circles) or along the lines (in black). By placing the elements at these spots, you’re creating a more visually pleasing image that naturally helps guide the viewer’s eye.
Case Study: Hyram
Hyram, a YouTube content creator and social media influencer, is recognized for his passion for skin care. His videos featured product recommendations, cleaning techniques, and general dermatological information.
In his thumbnail, he has neatly utilised the rule of thirds by placing his face shot in the right third of the thumbnail (in blue), and layered it above the other objects to make himself appear in the foreground.
The thumbnail text is in an easily readable font and capital letters to be eye-catching. Notice how the text is limited to the top third of the thumbnail (in red)?
Before creating any thumbnail, you should know the proper size and resolution for it. According to YouTube, your YouTube thumbnail size should:
Given how significant a thumbnail is, it’s wise to think about your thumbnail even before you shoot your video, so that you’ve got several options when you upload.
Remember, thumbnails appear in different sizes across YouTube and external sites that embed YouTube videos, so ensure that your thumbnail looks good on mobile and desktop.
To upload custom thumbnails, you must have a verified account. For new videos,
Uploads
Live streams
Uploaded videos
Once you’ve added a custom thumbnail, hover over it and click More to download or edit the thumbnail.
If you prefer to watch a video tutorial, you can learn how to do so here.
Avoid outrageous, offensive or gross thumbnails and titles. This sort of stuff can turn away viewers and hurt your chances of being recommended to new viewers.
Custom thumbnails need to follow YouTube’s Community Guidelines. Violations may result in your custom thumbnail being removed and a Community Guidelines strike. Learn more about thumbnail policies on YouTube.
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