How do you grab your prospect’s attention when posting your video testimonial or other marketing content on YouTube? It all starts with creating compelling thumbnail images.
Mr Beast, one of the most successful YouTubers, reportedly invests $10,000 to design each thumbnail image of his videos—that’s how important they are.
Luckily, you don’t have to spend anywhere near as much money to create strong, vibrant images that stand out in a crowded feed.
How to craft a compelling video thumbnail image for YouTube
1. Think Small.
This is, after all, a thumbnail, so consider the size of your image. It appears much smaller on YouTube compared to when designing it on a larger screen. Ensure it renders well by avoiding clutter and keeping the design clear and concise. And make the text BIG! Neglecting mobile users can seriously limit your video’s reach.
2. Imagine you’re making a movie poster.
Movie posters show the vibe of the film and create a story for the viewer. You instantly know it’s a comedy or action film from the imagery and text. In the same way, decide what you’re saying, selling or promoting in your video and make it the focal point of your thumbnail.
Use colors, images, shapes and personalities that are consistent with the content of the video and your brand. But, since this is YouTube, push as much towards the playful and colorful side as your brand will allow.
3. Use real faces, not stock images.
Steer clear of using generic or meaningless images that could easily be mistaken for stock photos. For customer testimonials and expert story videos, take stills or action shots showing the client speaking—you can make a still photo look dynamic by capturing the person pointing, laughing or making a gesture. Include the speaker’s photo and name to establish instant credibility and personalize the thumbnail.
Other videos could use icons, arrows, or other simple graphics that drive attention to the visual narrative.
4. Follow the rule of thirds.
The rule of thirds is a composition technique for creating visually appealing images. It involves mentally dividing an image into a grid of 9 squares and placing the subject of your image on one of the four intersecting points where two lines meet. This places the subject in the left or right third of the thumbnail, keeping the other two thirds open.
The rule of thirds works because it places the subject in the sweet spot in your design where people naturally tend to look first
5. Use text that complements the image.
Some well-placed words can add major impact—but think of them as a supplement to the image rather than the main focus. Adding a bombshell quote or data point from the content (“5x more conversions than Facebook!”) can help draw people in. Don’t use the same text in the title and thumbnail as that’s a wasted opportunity. The two should work together to get more information across.
Two great examples of YouTube thumbnails for B2B video marketing
1. Example of an engaging video testimonial thumbnail image
- Opt for simplicity and clarity in your design. Ensure that the text is legible even in smaller sizes. Strip out unnecessary elements that might clutter the image or become indistinguishable when scaled down.
- Highlight the most impactful moments or quotes from the testimonial in your thumbnail. This could be a close-up of the person giving the testimonial, a snapshot of them expressing strong emotions, or a key visual representing the product or service being praised.
2. Example of an engaging thought leadership video thumbnail
- Focus on showcasing the core message or key insight from your video. This could be a powerful quote, statistic, or concept that encapsulates the essence of your thought leadership.
- Instead of generic imagery, incorporate visual symbols or icons that represent the themes or topics discussed in your thought leadership video.
- If featuring individuals in your thumbnail, ensure that their names and photos are recognizable to your target audience.
Pro tip: don’t use the same text that’s in your title, in your thumbnail
The text in your thumbnail image and the title should complement each other, but not repeat the same information.
Here’s an example for a video testimonial:
Thumbnail: How I tripled my marketing contribution to rev
Title: Use a scalable video testimonial process that drives revenue | Matt Benati, VP marketing at ClearGov
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