🙌 The 3 Rules for the Perfect YouTube Thumbnail

❌ No ONE will watch your video UNLESS you have a great thumbnail.

But creating a great thumbnail is easier than ever!

Thumbnails are the movie posters for your videos. Your audience is gambling that your video will pay off — and a compelling thumbnail can push them all in.

I’ve produced over 2,000 videos and the best performing videos have the best performing thumbnails. But the winning formula is as simple as 1..2..3! 🧪

This list is ranked both in importance and size:

😜 Rule #1 — Faces

Rule: A person’s face should take up 30–50% of your thumbnail.

We are all immediately drawn to faces and eyes. On a crowded YouTube page, full of iPhones and sports highlights — faces cut through the noise. Use facial expressions to give a hint into the nature of the video.

Rant video? Pose with an angry face. Success tips? Smile like you just won a million dollars.

🔠 Rule #2 — Text

Rule: Clear, legible, and use less than 25 characters.

Do NOT write a full sentence on your thumbnail. Use short, big, BOLD words that pique curiosity, “HE DID WHAT? -or- “DELETE THIS NOW…” The text should give context to the person’s face in the thumbnail.

Great fonts to use: Bebas Neue, Futura, Oswald, Poppins, Raleway

📱 Rule #3 — Story Element

Rule: Use an object or icon to build a deeper story

The Story Element is least important but can turn a good thumbnail into a JUICY thumbnail.

For an MKBHD iPhone review, the story element is the iPhone. For a Bitcoin video, the gold Bitcoin icon is the story element. Anything can be a story element: emojis, icons, arrows, circles, brush strokes, textures, or even other people’s faces.

📝 Homework: Look at your favorite YouTubers’ thumbnails and spot the 1–2–3's.

This post was created with Typeshare