5 Thumbnail Tips That Doubled Our CTR
Click-through rate is the gateway metric on YouTube. Here are 5 proven strategies that dramatically improve thumbnail performance.
Your thumbnail is the first thing a potential viewer sees. A bad thumbnail can destroy an otherwise great video.
1. Use Faces with Emotion
Thumbnails with human faces perform 38% better on average. The emotion shown should match the tone of your video.
2. Bold, Short Text
If you use text, keep it to 3-5 words maximum. Use a bold, readable font. It needs to be legible on a mobile screen.
3. High Contrast Colors
Colors that pop against YouTube's white background get more clicks. Red, yellow, and orange consistently outperform muted tones.
4. Create Curiosity
The best thumbnails make you ask a question. They don't give away the answer — they make you click to find out.
5. A/B Test Everything
YouTube allows you to test multiple thumbnails. Use this feature. What you think looks best is often not what performs best.