A must read for all our Wizdeo partners: an article that sums up the importance of thumbnails on YouTube.

http://www.reelseo.com/optimize-youtube-thumbnails/

To summarize the article, here are several important points about the thumbnails:

• A good thumbnail is a thumbnail that is often "clicked" when viewed, on a search page or on a “related videos” page.  It is very, very important: in fact, it is become probably more important than a good title.

• Choosing a thumbnail is a privilege allowed for the channels like yours: YouTube partners. For the others, it's much more complicated (see the explanation video). But it will help you make a real difference… if you know how to use them!

• As the article says, the qualities of a thumbnail must be:

1. Image clarity, good resolution

2. Bright, with contrast

3. Close up faces

4. Visually interesting backgrounds (i.e. not a gray wall)

5. Centered

6. Foreground distinct from the background

7. Pictures that encourage you to click

8. The image gives an exact idea of the content of the video

• In most cases, this means that instead of taking a pre-selected thumbnail from the video, you have to make you own “custom” image:

1. Either taken with a camera during shooting

2. Or imported from a picture library that you have the right to use (Be careful: copyright is applied on both thumbnails and videos)

3. Rework the picture with Photoshop if needed (to add text or to increase contrast and brightness)

4. Check the image size

• Add a large text can be a great idea (no more than two to three words, i.e. Freddie W). It helps to give an exact idea of the content of the video.

• Finally, you can improve your thumbnails:

1. For your new videos, of course

2. But also to boost the audience of your old videos!

Conclusion:  Spending time on your thumbnails will be much more productive than spending time on your editing.