How I Actually Make Viral Thumbnails

Introduction

Creating viral thumbnails is both an art and a science. To draw viewers in, you need to employ specific strategies that captivate and encourage clicks. Here’s a step-by-step guide to making thumbnails that can help boost your video views.

The Importance of Thumbnails

Initially, it's crucial to understand the role of thumbnails. If no one clicks on your video, they won’t watch it. Thumbnails serve as the gateway to your content, which means they must spark curiosity or emotion that compels viewers to know what happens next.

Design Principles

1. Rule of Thirds: This fundamental composition principle from photography can elevate your design. By adding four guiding lines, you can position important elements—like your main image—on or near these lines, creating a visually appealing layout.

2. Choosing Colors: Use the color wheel to create contrast. Opt for two opposite colors or choose a primary color, then add black, white, and a medium shade of your choice to maintain simplicity but with a striking palette.

3. Maintaining Consistency: While it’s beneficial to change the highlight color in your thumbnails to keep them fresh, using a recognizable color palette will help viewers identify your content quickly.

4. Font Style: Opt for a simple yet effective font that stands out. I personally use the font called "East Man."

Thumbnail Types

There are many types of thumbnails you can produce, and it's often effective to combine multiple styles:

1. Emotionally Charged: Thumbnails that convey strong emotions can attract viewers, such as shock or surprise.
2. Simplicity: Sometimes, less is more. An intriguing snapshot or a direct question can pique curiosity.
3. Social Hacking: Use the face of a well-known figure in your niche. This strategy can lend credibility and draw more clicks.
4. Comparison: Showing a side-by-side comparison—like "iPhone vs. Android"—helps contextualize the content.
5. Numbers and Titles: Incorporating big numbers or bold statements in your thumbnail grabs attention.

Combining Thumbnail Styles

Successful thumbnails often mix various styles. For instance, using a shock factor with numbers alongside a recognizable figure can lead to higher engagement rates. Experimenting with different combinations might yield a distinctive flair that sets your thumbnails apart in a crowded field.

Staying Unique

While mirroring successful thumbnails in your niche may seem like a shortcut, it could backfire. It’s important to ensure your thumbnails stand out — this can be done by pulling inspiration from channels outside your niche to create something that resonates differently.

Design Tools and Steps

Creating thumbnails can be simplified with tools like Photoshop. Here’s how I typically do it:

1. Sketch and Plan: First, draft your thumbnail concept.
2. Open Photoshop: Create a new project and add your lines, characters, text, and background.
3. Enhance Text: Use double-click options to make your text pop with glow effects.
4. Adjust Background: Apply blurring or coloring techniques to ensure readability.
5. Test Everything: Use tests like thumbs up.tv to see how your design appears on YouTube.

Conclusion

By mastering these elements, you can create visually compelling thumbnails that attract more viewers. The important takeaway is to be mindful of both design and innovative content representation. Make this your creative canvas!

Keyword

Viral thumbnails, Rule of Thirds, Color contrast, Thumbnail types, Emotional impact, Social hacking, Comparison, Simplicity, Designing thumbnails.

FAQ

Q: What is the Rule of Thirds?
A: It’s a photography principle where you divide your image into three equal sections, placing key elements along these lines for better composition.

Q: How do I choose colors for my thumbnails?
A: You can select a primary color, then add black, white, and another complementary color for contrast.

Q: What are some effective thumbnail types?
A: Effective thumbnails might include emotionally charged images, simple designs, social hacking, comparisons, and those with big numbers.

Q: Can I use popular figures in my thumbnails?
A: Yes, but make sure the content is relevant to their image; otherwise, it may come off as clickbait.

Q: What tools can I use to design thumbnails?
A: Photoshop is a popular choice, but you can also use other graphic design platforms depending on your needs.