How to make Youtube thumbnails

If they don’t click, they don’t watch - Mr. Beast

If you’re trying to build on Youtube, this email is for you. If you’re not the designer/executor, send this to your team. In fact, get them to send some love this way and subscribe.

This is for people looking to get more views on videos to grow their brand. It’s not for every channel. Some channels need a certain look and/or growth isn’t priority. That’s totally fine! No good or bad.

Youtube has rules of the game when it comes to getting clicks. If you don’t play by the rules, don’t expect the results of those who do. Of course there are unicorns, but don’t navigate life by them.

If your thumbnails suck, your video won’t get the love.

Here’s how to fix that:

Step 1: Hook the Eye (Fast)

• You’ve got half a second to stop the scroll.

• Strong colour contrast (light vs dark, red vs blue)

• Big emotionl face (shock, rage, joy, scared)

• Massive numbers or punchy words (“$69K Debt” or “Do This NOW”)

Goal: Trigger curiosity and emotion. Not comprehension just pause the scroll.

Step 2: Pair It With a Kick Ass Title

• Your title does the explaining. The thumbnail just hooks them.

• Most people look at the thumb THEN read the title.

• Make sure your title answers: “What do I get if I click?”

• Use pain points, results, or curiosity gaps.

Example:

• Title: I Paid $40K in Taxes I Didn’t Owe
  Thumbnail: You with hands on your head, IRS envelope on the table, big red “OVERPAID” stamp on screen

Step 3: Reinforce, Don’t Repeat

• Thumbnail and title are a combo, not duplicates.Don’t put the title on the thumb.

• If your title says “How I Built a Billion-Dollar Brand,” your thumbnail should show emotion, a bold number, or a metaphor.

• Not just text that says “Billion-Dollar Brand” again.

Step 4: Design for Mobile

I say this to nearly EVERYONE I work with. Most of your designers are designing thumbnails on giant monitors with colour correction. A great thing I learned awhile ago is called The Squint Test. Make the thumbnail tiny (as for most mobile devices) and squint. Can you make it out clear what the video is about? Odds are not. Probably too much small text, random images, blending colours…. Don’t overdesign.

Step 5: Test, Test, Test

• Have your designer create at least 3 thumbnails per video. The big boys make dozens and test.

• You might like one, but it’s not about you. It’s about serving the viewer. Surprise winners happen daily.

• Test one thing at a time. If you change thumb and title, you’ll have no idea what moved the needle.

Is there more to it? 1000% more yes, but this is just to set you up basically on the winning track. A good thumbnail designer who knows the rules is worth their weight in gold. They are the gatekeepers of your channel.

That’s all I got for you this week, hope you are having a great week wherever you are in the world.

Bo

ps. My good friend Markham’s channel has nearly hit 100k subs! Give him a follow to help him hit that big number - https://www.youtube.com/@RetirementTransformed