The image a user sees while previewing a list of videos on your channel or in search results is known as a thumbnail. Its objective is to attract potential viewers and pique their interest in order to make them want to watch more. Viewers are more likely to notice, watch, and select your video from the competition when it has a compelling thumbnail. That’s why YouTube thumbnail mistakes must be avoided in order to get more views.

Without a thumbnail, you can post, but YouTube will choose a frame from your video at random to serve as the video cover. Such photographs frequently appear ugly or even awkward:

• They don’t give the user any context.
• Viewers won’t select and view your videos if you have a pale profile and unimpressive design.
• Video gets lost in dozens, perhaps even hundreds, of attractive, eye-catching thumbnails.

Also read: How to Increase YouTube Engagement

Here are the 5 worst YouTube Thumbnail Mistakes:

1. Poor color to contrast ratio
2. Incorrect Size
3. No context
4. Clickbait
5. Incorrect text font or no title text

1. Poor color to contrast ratio:

A thumbnail’s background image should be an eye-catching image that you can use as a blank canvas for text and other features. In addition, YouTube thumbnails serve as your brand’s visual display, assisting users in recognizing and differentiating your video from that of rivals. In an effort to stand out, some creators keep doing the same YouTube Thumbnail Mistakes.

In the design of your thumbnails, don’t use more than three colors. A limit of three items, colors, or typefaces is a surefire approach to keep your thumbnail straightforward but effective because the human brain remembers three of these things best. Choosing soft, soothing colors for backdrops is a wonderful idea because they make it easy for visitors to view and read thumbnails on various devices.

2. Incorrect Size:

The improper size of the thumbnail is another YouTube Thumbnail Mistake. Please keep in mind that there may be embedded videos even when YouTube search results’ thumbnails appear to be quite smaller. Making thumbnail photos too small is a mistake. Instead of using a small image and sacrificing resolution when you need to scale up, preferably design a large image that can be shrunk.

With a minimum width of 640 pixels, 1280 x 720 pixels is the perfect size for YouTube thumbnails. Think about your thumbnail’s ratio, file size, and file type in addition to its size.

3. No Context

Compelling graphics in YouTube thumbnails draws viewers attention. The majority of people are still visual beings who comprehend images 60,000 times faster than words. As a brand, you have the chance to develop credibility and a devoted following. Therefore, creating generic thumbnails with no context is one of the worst thumbnail mistakes.

A top-notch image that is pertinent to the context of your video serves as a preview of what viewers will receive after viewing. In order to help viewers decide whether to watch your video, please make sure that your thumbnail gives context.

Also read: 7 Ways to improve Your Video Content

4. Clickbait

Make sure to be accurate while making YouTube thumbnails and avoid mistakes. Your brand’s credibility and rankings will suffer if you engage in click-baiting and user deception:

• When viewers encounter irrelevant content, they will exit your channel.
• Bounce rates will increase.
• It will serve as a warning to YouTube to stop displaying your videos in relevant search results.

Make sure your thumbnail provides context that will improve rather than hurt the performance of your video.

5. Incorrect text font or no title text

Even if the image is of good quality and relevance, the message still won’t be fully conveyed. It would be a biggest fault to leave them unaddressed because two persons can have opposite associations when looking at the same image.

Always add a title text to YouTube thumbnails so that visitors may comprehend the precise objective of your video. To get viewers to click and watch, include active verbs and evocative words in your title. Don’t use the normal fonts that most other YouTubers do. Think of something distinctive and remarkable that would convey the tone of your message and get visitors to feel the same way.

Also read: 7 Best Video Content Maker Habits

CONCLUSION

Designing your channel’s YouTube thumbnails is essential for audience engagement and branding. You may affect your personal or business videos’ exposure and rankings in YouTube search results by appropriately optimizing their thumbnails. If you want to become a successful YouTuber, avoid the mistakes you’ve learned in this article.