I'm sure you've heard the saying "a picture is worth a thousand words."
It holds true for video as well. The reason everyone loves videos so much is because they're such an easy and powerful way to tell a story.
But with a plethora of options available on the internet, how do you decide what video to watch?
The two factors that determine video viewership and grab your attention is the title of the video (make sure it's relevant to your interest and video content) and the image on the video.
I'm talking about thumbnails!
What is a Thumbnail?
Thumbnails are the most important aspect of any video and plays a major role in its play rate, other than the content itself.
Seriously!
This is because they determine whether or not a person will click on your video and watch it through in its entirety.
A thumbnail image can make viewers decide within seconds if the particular piece of media has anything valuable enough for their time spent viewing it.
Thumbnails accurately portray the content in each video to get an existing audience and new audiences excited about watching more of the video. It gives a glimpse of the video.
There is a pattern to what gets the audience hooked the right way with an appealing thumbnail. For example, if you know your audience loves cats, it makes sense to add a thumbnail of a cat to your video so your audience will show interest in opening your video.
Why Thumbnail?
- Thumbnail gives a snapshot of the entire video in a small image.
- You can add text and other graphic content to the thumbnail image.
- Thumbnail is the first thing you see in a video.
- They come in reduced file sizes as opposed to the original image.
Why Thumbnail?
- Thumbnail gives a snapshot of the entire video in a small image.
- You can add text and other graphic content to the thumbnail image.
- Thumbnail is the first thing you see in a video.
- They come in reduced file sizes as opposed to the original image.
Advantages of Using Thumbnails
- Using/creating a custom thumbnail gets your channel or brand a professional image.
- Always using customized and own thumbnails will portray your business as a professional one and give authority to it.
- Thumbnails improve click-through rates, and metrics show that 90% of videos that perform very well have something in common- a custom thumbnail unique to their brand or business.
- Thumbnails draw attention to your message, thereby promoting the brand.
- A well-made thumbnail gives viewers a glimpse of what's in the video, thereby attracting only the right kind of audience.
- Thumbnails are like Movie Posters, and they have the power to grab attention quickly.
Also Read: Video Personalization: The Ultimate Guide
Here Are Some Tips For Creating Better Thumbnails
1. Use Close Images of Face on a Thumbnail
Humans are a social species, and we communicate in large part through the face. In addition to making eye contact with people who've been lurking on your profile page or inbox for too long (you're not interested!).
Humans also detect emotions from images that have been edited onto them—so make sure there's plenty of white space where it counts!
2. Genuine Expressions and Honest Emotions
Showing strong emotions is a technique that makes the viewer feel like they're in the same shoes as you.
If someone's feeling anger or sadness, then chances are their empathy will go up for other peoples' problems too! It can take many different forms, from just talking about your feelings alone.
3. Make Your Background Interesting, Bright, and Lively
To make your thumbnails more attention-grabbing, use a bright background. A white BG looks sharp and stark against any contrast and will grab the viewer's eye in an instant because of how unexpected it looks next to other thumbnail images without any color at all!
Use sunbursts or pinwheels on video thumbnails which makes them pop out even more than usual.
Also Read: 9 Personalized Video Email Examples To Keep Your Prospects Engaged
4. Maintain Consistency in Thumbnail Across Devices
Make sure you are customizing and calibrating your thumbnails to be displayed uniformly across devices and screens.
Maintaining consistency is key and allows readers to see uniformity in brand messaging and in design.
Follow consistency in design, font, layout, colors, text arrangement, and other elements have great results.
5. Maintain the Right Size
While creating a thumbnail, maintain the right size, check the aspect ratio, YouTube studio suggested size to garner better viewership.
An image that is out of proportion and fits the frame is a big turn-off and spoils the video experience, thereby affecting your click rate.
Best Practices for Creating a Good Thumbnail
- Always add a Title or Text to the thumbnail.
- Use the Brand Font or a Font with the best readability.
- Always pick an image that is relevant to the video content.
- Know your competition, analyze their content, see what world, and design your thumbnail accordingly.
- Use thumbnail maker tools like Canva, Adobe Spark, etc., available over the internet for consistent, quick results.
- Follow the thumbnail Policy of the Video hosting platforms and stick to the guidelines and policies.
- Planning always takes you a long way. Plan your thumbnail content ahead of time so when you release the video, you don't have to put something up in a rush.
How to Add a Custom Thumbnail on VideoForm
1. Sign in to your Videoform Account
2. Click on "My Templates"
3. Open your template
4. Click on "Video Thumbnail"
5. Choose any template from the options and click 'Use Template
6. You can customize your template by adding texts, images, and logo
7. After you're satisfied with your edits, click on 'Save' and preserve your thumbnail template
8. "You are all set" 🎉 You can now use this template on your video and share it with your prospects using your favorite tools. Share this awesome video using your favorite tools
Creating thumbnails on Videoform is super easy. Signup today!
.svg)
