How to Create Engaging Visual Hooks: A Guide to Video Thumbnail Making

How to Make Video Thumbnails for YouTube

Richard Bennett

Oct 26, 2023• Proven solutions

The video thumbnails you use for YouTube are vital to getting views and subscribers. There are a lot of things that go into making people watch your videos, but your video thumbnail might be the most important factor.

Here are 5 easy tips for creating thumbnails that get views.

Have a Consistent Layout
Use Your Face
Use Graphics/Emojis That is On Topic
Make Your Text Huge
Keep It Clutter-Free!

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Edit Your Videos Before Creating Video Thumbnails

1. Have a Consistent Layout

Your thumbnails all must look like part of the same set. You want viewers to recognize your videos like yours, and they are more likely to do that if you build up a standard layout that they can start associating with you.

An example of a standard layout could be you in the middle of the screen wearing an expression that matches the theme of your video, with your title written underneath your face. Every individual thumbnail would still be different, but you and the text would always be in the same spot.

2. Use Your Face

People feel automatically connected and drawn into images that make eye contact. This makes thumbnails which feature faces more click-able than thumbnails which don’t, in most genres (i.e. if you make food videos then this may not apply – featuring the food might be more important than featuring your face). Check out more tips like this here .

Also, if somebody recognizes you in your thumbnail from a previous video of yours, that will go a long way towards making them click.

3. Use Graphics/Emojis that are On Topic

Anybody can take a screenshot of themselves in their video and use it as a thumbnail. To make your thumbnails look polished, consider using small images (like emojis or hearts) to stand out. This will add color and personality to your thumbnail.

Make sure the images you choose are relevant to the topic of your video.

4. Make Your Text Huge

If you use text in your thumbnail (you don’t have to) then it should be to add context. For example, if the main image is just you smiling then you might need some text to let viewers know the video is a makeup tutorial.

Thumbnails might look large while you’re putting them together in your image editor, but when they’re displayed on YouTube they’re a lot smaller. That goes double if a viewer is watching on their phone. So, make sure that any text you use is large enough that it can be read easily on small screens.

5. Keep it Clutter-Free

It’s great to add text and emojis to your thumbnails, but you do need to be careful not to add too much. You never want your thumbnails to look cluttered. Viewers should be able to glance at your thumbnails and know exactly what kind of video to expect – that’s difficult to do if there’s too much to process.

A good rule for text is to use only 1-3 words. That way they won’t clutter your screen, and you can make them large enough to read on small-screened devices.

For even more tips on making great YouTube thumbnails, click here .

Use these tips to make video thumbnails for YouTube, and tell us what kind of results you get!

Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Richard Bennett

Revolutionizing Video Revenue: A Conducive Guide to Youtube Profits

YouTube is a widely beloved platform that appeals to individuals of all age groups. If you understand how to harness its potential, YouTube can become a source of income. Generating income from YouTube videos becomes simple through YouTube video monetization. If you’re keen on monetizing your YouTube account, this article is your guide. You can turn it into a part-time gig or a full-time profession, potentially earning a solid income.

To earn well, your content must align with what viewers truly desire. Read this article to learn about how you can monetize YouTube videos, its rules, and requirements.

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Part 1. How to Get Monetized on YouTube: Rules and Requirements

How to Monetize YouTube Channel

Begin making money from your YouTube videos through the YouTube Partner Program. You can create earnings from your YouTube channel by connecting it to your Google account. Monetize your website using Google AdSense.

Google AdSense generates substantial website revenue. If viewers interact with the ads in your videos, you earn money. Adding AdSense to your YouTube channel makes your videos monetizable.

Some videos cannot be monetized, however. Content must meet specific requirements to qualify for YouTube’s program. Criteria include content quality, community guidelines, and copyright compliance. Your YouTube channel can generate income once your videos meet these standards.

Monetizing YouTube Videos: What Are The Requirements?

You can monetize your YouTube videos by joining the YouTube Partner Program. Everyone can create a YouTube account, but YPP requires certain requirements. Every time you create content, you must consider these requirements.

Prior to applying for the program, your channel must first accomplish the following:

One thousand subscribers
A total of 4,000 watch hours in the past year

Building your audience and creating great content will help you meet these requirements. Joining the YPP, and making sure your YouTube channel complies with YouTube’s rules and policies, is the more complicated aspect.

Those advertising on YouTube want to avoid being linked to low-quality content. Therefore, YouTube Partner Program members are encouraged to create unique, valuable videos.

When you upload content to YouTube, you’ll need to keep these things in mind. Those who plan on monetizing their videos should thoroughly read these documents. You also need to set up a Google AdSense account, which tracks and pays for your YouTube ads.

Part 2. 10 Proven Ways to Monetize Your YouTube Channel

10 Methods to Monetize YouTube Videos

You can monetize your YouTube videos in 10 different ways, including:

Google Adsense
Paid Sponsorship
YouTube Premium
Memberships
Merchandise
Invest in crowd-funding
Stickers, chats, and thanks
YouTube Shorts
YouTube Brandconnect
YouTube Shopping

YouTube channel monetization is the most popular method. By adding AdSense to your videos, you can generate revenue from the ads displayed. You must adhere to our advertiser-friendly guidelines when creating your videos. The monetization of all videos may not be possible, therefore. YouTube and AdSense work seamlessly together. With no technical knowledge required, your monetization strategy can be set up and managed easily.

2. Paid Sponsorships

Sponsorship involves paying a content creator to use, demonstrate, or test a brand’s product in a video. Both the creator and the brand benefit from sponsorships provided by brands.

The rewards of sponsorship can be immense, but sponsorships are hard to come by. You can pitch relevant brands to partner with your influential channel if your channel has a large following.

3. YouTube Premium

Joining the YouTube Partner Program qualifies you for YouTube Premium. In addition, it can increase your earnings. YouTube Premium members get paid when they watch your content as a creator. The number of Premium members has now surpassed 20 million. It is possible that this may occur quite frequently. YouTube Premium will automatically pay you if someone watches your content.

4. Memberships

Creating membership tiers on your channel allows you to offer different perks to different levels of subscription. Using memberships has the main benefit of providing a more steady income stream. Ad revenue is a more traditional method of monetization. This feature is enabled by channels with at least 1,000 subscribers, and the creator sets fees.

5. Merchandise

You can sell merchandise on YouTube videos with over 10,000 subscribers using a merch shelf. By selling branded merchandise to your YouTube fans, you can generate additional revenue.

It’s especially useful for YouTube creators without their own website who want to sell merchandise. Currently, there are over 45 platforms or retailers worldwide that support merch, so growing your brand is easy.

6. Invest in crowd-funding

It’s not just for startups anymore; you can use crowdfunding to fund content creation on YouTube as well. You can find people to support your work through third-party applications like Patreon in exchange for perks. You can now place sponsor buttons on your YouTube videos, which allows you to crowdfund. With this, you can offer rewards in exchange for monthly funding like with Patreon.

7. Stickers, chats, and thanks

During live streams and premieres, creators can engage their fans with Super Chat and Super Stickers. In the live chat, fans can purchase Super Chats to display their message prominently. A Super Sticker is an animated image displayed during a live chat session. The Super Thanks feature enables creators to earn income from their videos. Additional appreciation may be expressed by those who wish to do so

8. YouTube Shorts

Using the YouTube app, short, vertical videos can be uploaded straight to YouTube using a smartphone. In the same way as Instagram Stories are uploaded to the social media site. The length of YouTube shorts is limited to 60 seconds. In 2021 and 2022, a $100 million fund will be distributed for YouTube Shorts. With this initial stage, YouTube Shorts began to monetize in May 2021. A YouTube Short will only be compensated if it meets the fund’s criteria.

9. YouTube BrandConnect

Brands and YouTube creators can work together on content campaigns through YouTube BrandConnect. In terms of product recommendations, audiences trust creators. It is also possible to partner with YouTube channels through BrandConnect

10. YouTube Shopping

YouTube shopping gives you the chance to promote your own products or those of other brands. It is possible to connect your store (such as Shopify) to YouTube. Add your products to videos, shorts, live streams, etc., as well as tag other brands’ products.

Part 3. Wondershare Filmora: A Video Editing Software to Help Edit YouTube Videos

Wondershare Filmora is your creative ally when it comes to enhancing and editing YouTube videos. Video editing software like Filmora allows you to produce visually engaging and captivating content. Creating the conditions for effective YouTube monetization.

Filmora is cross-platform compatible. Making it accessible for all creators, so you can work on your videos wherever you are. With Filmora, you can enhance your video content no matter what platform you’re using.

Edit YouTube videos with Filmora’s features

Using Filmora’s features, you can give your videos a professional edge.

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Adjustment Layer

Take the Adjustment Layer feature, for instance, which allows you to add general effects to multiple video clips simultaneously, saving you time and effort. This feature can make your video content more engaging, ultimately attracting a larger audience.

Split Screen

You can create eye-catching split-screen videos with Filmora’s Split Screen Video Editor. Simply click a button to create split-screen videos using premade templates. Enhancing the visual appeal and dynamic of your videos for easy monetization on YouTube.

Motion Tracking

Motion Tracking is another exciting feature that Filmora brings to the table. It enables you to track the movement of objects within your videos and pin graphics and media files to follow the motion magically. This not only adds a touch of professionalism to your videos but also keeps your audience engaged.

Video Effects

Filmora offers a treasure trove of creative possibilities with its Video Effects, including transitions, filters, titles, and motion elements that you won’t find elsewhere. These exclusive features will help you infuse your videos with creativity and style.

Mask and Blend

And let’s not forget the Mask and Blend feature, which allows you to create unique video effects by masking and blending video clips. With only a few clicks, you can create distinct video effects that will set your content apart.

Wondershare Filmora empowers you to take your YouTube videos to the next level. making them more visually appealing, engaging, and ultimately better suited for monetization.

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Conclusion

For those aspiring to turn their passion into a source of income, YouTube is a treasure trove of opportunities. This comprehensive 2024 guide has shed light on the path to monetizing your YouTube channel. With Google AdSense, paid sponsorships, and YouTube Premium, you’ve learned the ropes of the YouTube Partner Program.

With Wondershare Filmora‘s user-friendly tools, your videos will stand out on a professional level. As a result, your YouTube dreams will become a reality in 2024 with dedication and these insights.

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