Is The Size Of Your YouTube Thumbnail Ideal? | adstube | Blog

Video thumbnails make easy for viewers as they see a quick snapshot of your video as they are browsing on YouTube. After your video is finished uploading, you can choose a thumbnail from the three options, Here YouTube automatically generates, or upload your own. Day by Day YouTube is going a  competitive battleground for video marketers. So much so, that something as seemingly trivial as your YouTube thumbnail can actually make a huge difference in the overall success of your videos.

In this article, we’re going to take a look at everything you need to know about YouTube thumbnails, from the ideal dimensions, through to best practices and examples, and even gave design tools that can make your thumbnails pop.

What are YouTube thumbnails?

YouTube thumbnails are the preview images that represent your videos. They give viewers a hint of what to expect from the video before they click on it. Here are some examples:

It is compulsory that thumbnail images should not be a random still from your video. They should be carefully chosen to grab the attention of potential viewers . When people search for a video on YouTube, they’re looking for visual content. So even though your video will pop up with a title, your channel name, and even the number of views, a lot of focus will be on the thumbnail image – so it needs to stand out!

Ideal YouTube thumbnail dimensions

In order for your YouTube thumbnail to have the best impact, it needs to be the correct size. You should set YouTube thumbnail according to these dimensions:

Resolution: 1280×720 (with a base width of 640 pixels  )

Aspect Ratio: 16:9

Max File Size: 2MB

The accepted image formats are: JPG, GIF, and PNG

How to add a custom thumbnail

When you upload a video to YouTube, the platform will automatically generate three thumbnails for you. These are selected at random from the video content and will appear at the bottom of the upload page:

customised thumbnails. As you can see, these are just stills selected from the video. And none of them really stand out. To include a custom thumbnail, click the tweaked thumbnail fasten and upload your image. Then click the save changes button, and you’re done!.

Best practices

In an arena as competitive as YouTube , it’s not enough to simply know how to do something. You need to know how to do it well.

Here are 6 best practices for creating a YouTube thumbnail…

1. Grab attention with text overlays

Adding text to your thumbnail can help to draw viewers in and give them a quick insight into what the video is going to be about. This is especially helpful if you want to add more context than you did in the title. 

2. Make it relevant

Nobody likes clickbait. So make sure your thumbnails reflect what actually happens in your videos. By giving potential viewers a hint of what they will see in the video – like the thumbnail below – you can not only encourage them to click but also ensure they won’t be disappointed by what they see.

3. Include your logo

By including your logo in your thumbnail you can strengthen your brand presence and also improve your chances of viewers remembering your brand name. This will not only come in handy when they want to search for you on YouTube, but it could also help you generate some word of mouth marketing if they tell their friends.

Instead of plastering your logo over the main image, place your logo in a discreet place, and keep the placement consistent. Vevo always includes their logo in the bottom left-hand corner:

4. Less is more

YouTube thumbnails are quite small, so it’s important that you don’t overcrowd your image. This may sound contradictory, especially when we’re also advising you to include your logo and text overlays, but there is an important balance to strike. If there’s too much happening on-screen, then your thumbnail could actually turn people away instead of drawing them in. And that’s the opposite of what you want!

5. Make people curious

Your youtube thumbnail is the main selling point of your video. It’s often the difference between people watching your video or watching another (probably made by a competitor).

If your thumbnails make people curious, then they’re more likely to click on the video. You can spark curiosity with action shots

6. Be consistent

Consistency will help viewers to identify your videos among the masses of results on their YouTube homepage or search results screen. And it will also help to strengthen your brand presence on the platform.

This is an especially good idea if you’ve already tested your thumbnails and know what works best for your channel.