February 21, 2025
Thumbnails can make or break a YouTube video. If done correctly, you can guarantee a successful YouTube channel.
In the worst case, no one will click on your videos.
And no one gets to see the great video that you invested so much time in creating.
After making over 40 videos on YouTube, I have found that there are 4 rules that ensure a successful thumbnail.
These 4 rules have drastically increased my Click-Through Rate:
Rule 1: Make a promise
A thumbnail is just a promise.
When the viewer clicks on the video, they are trusting you to deliver what you promised.
So make sure to have a clear goal.
The greater and more promising the goal, the better.
Of course, you want to keep that promise by delivering what you promised in the video (because everyone hates clickbait).
Rule 2: Invoke emotions
Your video and thumbnail should evoke emotions.
The worst thing you can do is be normal.
You have to consciously choose what emotion suits the topic and convey it both in the thumbnail and video.
The most common ones are:
- Excitement
- Novelty
- Fear of Missing Out
You can show these emotions by choosing the right words, colors, and most importantly, your facial expression.
Rule 3: Keep it simple
Take it easy.
The time you invest in creating the thumbnail does not guarantee you any viewership.
More often than not, when you spend too much time creating a thumbnail, you make it too confusing.
Have a maximum of 3 elements in the thumbnail: A combination of
- A subject
- Text
- A picture or icon
Don't forget that you have a title as well. So choose wisely between what you show in the thumbnail and the title of the video.
Rule 4: Make it personal
When making videos, you should think about it as a continuous process rather than a one-time thing.
YouTube will test your videos on your previous viewers first.
So make sure that they recognize you by making the thumbnail personalized.
The easiest way to achieve this is to slap your face on the thumbnail.
In the long run, you should build your own style, including text fonts, colors, and overall aesthetics.
Recap
These are the rules I personally follow and have proven practical when creating thumbnails.
Overall, try not to overthink the whole process and follow your gut feeling ;).
