How to Make an Enticing Thumbnail for Your Video
Is your spectacular, well-crafted YouTube video not getting the attention—and the clicks—it deserves?
It could be because the thumbnail you’re using isn’t attracting the right audience, or any audience at all.
You could make the best video ever, but without a great thumbnail, your target audience might not be enticed to watch it. Read on to learn how to create a great thumbnail for your videos.
What is a thumbnail?
First, you need to understand what a thumbnail is and how it affects the success of your videos. Thumbnails are compressed, preview images YouTube and other sites use as a placeholder for your video. It’s easiest to think of them as book covers—and while you’re not supposed to judge a book by its cover, you can bet your audience will judge your video by its thumbnail.
Thumbnails have a big impact on whether a person watches your video. Great thumbnails do two things at once: attracting the attention of your target audience and distinguishing your video from the rest. If more clicks, views and conversions is what you’re after, you need to make a dynamic thumbnail.
Choosing the right thumbnail
How do you choose the best thumbnail for your video? Think about the overall theme or message of your video and pick an image that reflects that. Keep in mind that the thumbnails that get the most attention often have people in the frame—and they’re even more dynamic if the person is up close and looking directly at the camera. Where’s the best place to find images like this?
· Pulling frames: If you’re looking for a thumbnail that accurately represents the overall message of your video, it’s smart to pull frames right from the video. Remember to check your B-roll, since some footage that’s been edited out can work as a great thumbnail, too. Look through your video for an informative or exciting moment, grab the frame and make it your thumbnail.
· Photos: It’s always helpful to take photos on set while you’re producing your video. They not only provide reference content for future work, but they can also be used as a thumbnail. Usually, these pictures are taken at more appropriate or specific angles, or at higher resolutions compared to pulling frames from the video.
· Illustration: When used appropriately, illustration can be highly effective as a thumbnail, especially if you’re making an animated video. Ask your animator to create a dynamic still illustration to use as the thumbnail.
· Royalty-free images: While there are better options, some royalty-free images can be used to enrich a thumbnail. This option should only be used when you’ve exhausted all others, since royalty-free images aren’t unique to your brand.
Still wondering how to pick the best thumbnail for your video? Say hello to Spin Creative. As a leading video marketing and branding agency, we’ll help you create a comprehensive video strategy that knows how to get your content seen by the people who need to see it the most.
About Us
Spin Creative is a video production company and creative agency helping marketers create winning video and creative strategies that engage, inspire and activate targeted audiences. Spin is headquartered in Seattle with offices in San Francisco and London, serving brands around the globe.
