Of course I want to create the BEST thumbnails for my YouTube Channel videos, but I'm just saying, it's not so easy as previously thought.
It's a science in some ways and human psychology or luck too it seems to me. Luckily, YouTube hall-of-famer, Derral Eves, shares a few key thumbnail strategies in a recent video and I have the notes to share with you in this post!
Specifically, here are 10 tips for creating effective YouTube thumbnails based on the video.
Avoid Clickbait: Ensure that your thumbnail accurately represents the content of your video to avoid clickbait and maintain viewer trust.
Color: Use colors that stand out and align with your brand to make your thumbnails visually appealing.
Text Usage: Consider using text to convey a message or highlight key points, ensuring it’s readable even on smaller screens.
Symbols and Perspective: Incorporate symbols and consider perspective to add depth and intrigue to your thumbnail.
Hand Gestures and Arrows: Use hand gestures and arrows to direct attention or create a sense of movement in the thumbnail.
Object Placement: Strategically place objects in the thumbnail to tell a story or create visual interest.
Facial Expressions: Incorporate compelling facial expressions to convey emotions and capture attention.
Curiosity and Emotional Connection: Utilize psychological triggers to evoke curiosity and establish an emotional connection with the audience through your thumbnail.
Mobile Optimization: Design thumbnails with mobile devices in mind, ensuring they remain clear and impactful even on cell phones.
Iterative Improvement: Be proactive in generating thumbnail ideas, make small adjustments based on performance, and consider watching related videos for visibility within YouTube channels.
What's Your Take?
These are pretty great tips, right? No wonder Derral is the king of YouTube. And the good news for us is he's taken days, weeks, months, and all kinds of crazy hours in researching and studying to come up with this useful list. Thanks, Derral!
If you're a video creator and need better thumbnails, go ahead and try these tips, too.
One thing I'm curious about is whether you create your thumbnails before or after your video content. I'm hearing a lot of pushback from YouTubers suggesting that perfecting the title and thumbnail needs to happen before you start anything else in your video workflow. Of course I'm trying this theory out, but I think it starts even sooner in nailing down your content ideas and core topics.
Let me know what you think in the comments. And thanks for your ☕ support, if able:) Best—