Video thumbnails and covers are becoming more and more important for social media. They may not be the first thing people see on their FYP, but it’s their first impression on your profile or explore page. As a visual hook, a video thumbnail has to grab the audience’s attention and get them interested in learning more.
Designing a thumbnail can seem intimidating at first; most of us aren’t graphic designers. But there are a few elements that, if you get them right, you’ll nail the cover/video thumbnail game!
1. A Title or Hook 🪝
Even a quick minute of research will prove that most effective video thumbnails have a title or hook. It doesn’t have to be the name of your video or even a one-line summary. The title just needs to be attention-grabbing…maybe even click-baity, if it won’t be too obvious. Ideally, it should be short, maybe no more than five words, and clear/easy to understand.
For example, if you’re doing a series on a home improvement project you just finished, you’ve got a couple of options. The kitchen could be “I Gutted My Kitchen” or “Kitchen Reno Pt. 1”. The bathroom videos could be “Ultimate Bathroom Makeover” or (if you have a well-known bathroom, for some reason) “Saying Goodbye to this Tile”. Run into a problem? “Did I Make A Mistake” is a great title.
It doesn’t have to be hard and don’t spend hours finding the perfect title. Just tweak it a little. And make sure everything’s spelled right, of course!
2. An Eye-Catching Image 🖼️
Every video thumbnail needs an eye-catching picture. It’s the essential element: if you do nothing else, make sure you get the best image you can. This can be an interesting frame from the video or a picture somehow related to the video itself. Try coming up with a few variations instead of just going with the first one you land on.
If you do decide to use an image for your cover, be mindful of copyright and IP laws! Only use an image you took/have permission to use, or that you got from a stock website. If you’re able to give credit in the caption for an image you took from Google, that might be alright. But we recommend sticking to content you have the rights to.
3. A Few Emojis 🙊
Emojis inject personality into anything and immediately catch the reader’s attention. And adding them to your cover is as easy as adding text! Just add them to the title as you type it, or only type an emoji and drag it where you want it.
The main thing with emojis is to make sure they add to or convey the emotion of the video. If we’re going back to our home improvement example, “Did I Make A Mistake” would pair well with a screaming emoji, a crying emoji, or even a skull emoji. “Ultimate Bathroom Makeover” would go well with a bathtub emoji, some bubbles, and a little sparkle. Don’t overthink it!
4. Variation and Variety 💃
You don’t want to create the same video thumbnail over and over again. It becomes repetitive and makes your audience actually lose interest. You want your profile and videos to be appealing and fresh, so try different angles, styles, or layouts. Keep one or two elements similar, but branch out and try new things. Cohesion is good, but not repetition.
5. Branding, If Applicable ✨
This is where cohesion comes into play! You want your covers to have a similar style and flair. Your videos should be unmistakably you. Whether that means using a specific photography style, a certain font, or dropping your logo somewhere on the screen, don’t be afraid to put your stamp on it.
Depending on how or why you post, you may need to develop some kind of consistent branding. Think about colors you want to use, fonts you like, and even emojis that best fir your content. This doesn’t have to develop right away and won’t happen over night. Just start creating content and testing out new covers, and your personal brand will come to you.
To recap, your video thumbnail just needs a mix of five elements to stand out. It’s got to have an attention-grabbing title or hook and an eye-catching image that relates to the video. We also recommend adding a few emojis that correspond to the video and that you have some kind of variety and variation in your covers. Overtime, you’ll develop your own style and personal brand to inject into your covers. Which will only make them more interesting.
Want more content creation tips? Check out our article on maintaining your personal style while following trends. Or use our list of video ideas your audience will love f or some content inspiration. Then put a few of our tips into action when you create their covers!