Thumbnails are one of the biggest pain points for new creators, and an important one to solve. Thumbnails are the "book cover" of your video—something that needs to grab attention in just a fraction of a second. 

There are so many elements that go into making that winning thumbnail for your content, and it's simply not possible to address all of that here. So, 

 with expert, John Scott, to get all your thumbnail queries answered.

In this post, we'll walk you through the ideal 

, some key best practices for creating thumbnails that stand out!

12 Types of YouTube Thumbnails People Love to Click On

First impressions are critical in the endless ocean of YouTube content. The thumbnail plays a massive role in getting viewers to click on your video over countless others. For new YouTubers trying to gain traction, getting your thumbnail right can be the difference between a low-performing video and that ever-alluring viral hit. With the 

, you'll get high-performing thumbnails for your YouTube videos in just a few seconds, so check it out!

: YouTube thumbnails appear across a wide range of devices—desktops, tablets, and, most importantly, mobile phones. Therefore, you need a thumbnail that remains sharp and eye-catching across all these platforms.

: Thumbnails with the correct size and dimensions ensure a polished, professional look. Low-quality, blurry images won’t just make your video less appealing—they’ll make it look amateurish.

 Faster Than Ever: 6 Ways to Make YouTube Thumbnails in Record Time

The Best Size for YouTube Thumbnails in 2025

When designing your thumbnail, the recommended size is 

 with a 16:9 aspect ratio. This size works across devices and ensures your thumbnail looks pleasing to the eye. Additionally, the minimum width YouTube accepts is 640 pixels but going lower than the recommended size is probably not a good idea. To keep things simple, here's what you need to follow.

: 16:9 (standard YouTube video aspect ratio)

. It helps you instantly format your thumbnail to the ideal size (1280 x 720) so your image always looks sharp and professional—no extra editing tools required.

https://www.oberlo.com/blog/youtube-thumbnail-size

Using the optimal size guarantees that your thumbnail will look crisp, regardless of the screen size it's being viewed on. It also helps your video stand out in YouTube search results and suggested video sections, making it an essential element of your overall video SEO strategy.

Best Practices for Creating YouTube Thumbnails

Creating a well-designed thumbnail is more than just getting the size right. It’s about crafting something that resonates with your audience and drives them to click. Let’s break down some important design strategies that’ll help your thumbnails pop in 2024:

Your thumbnail needs to deliver a clear message in a split second. Overloading it with too many details, colors, or text can be overwhelming, especially when viewed on smaller screens like mobile phones. Stick to one focal point and keep the design clean.

Text on thumbnails can be incredibly effective—if done right. Use 

 that stand out against the background. Avoid cramming too many words; instead, aim for short, snappy phrases that intrigue viewers. Also, contrast is essential. If your background is dark, make sure your text is light, and vice versa.

Your thumbnail should immediately grab attention, even when it’s displayed alongside hundreds of others. Using high-contrast colors can help your image stand out. Consider using colors that are complementary or that contrast sharply with YouTube’s default red, black, and white color scheme.

Thumbnails that feature human faces—especially ones that show strong emotions—tend to get higher engagement. Whether it’s excitement, surprise, or curiosity, showing a human expression can create an instant connection with potential viewers.

One great trick for building brand recognition is to use a consistent style for all your thumbnails. This could include specific color schemes, text placement, or the use of your logo in a corner. Over time, viewers will come to recognize your videos at a glance, making it more likely they’ll click on your content.

For example, this is how the vidIQ channel home page looks at first glance. As you can see, there is homogeneity in the way we use our creators faces and other graphical elements across videos./

While designing thumbnails can be fun, it’s wise to avoid a few traps. Here are some common mistakes that you should avoid at all costs:

: Never use clickbait or misleading images that have nothing to do with your video’s content. This will only frustrate viewers, hurt your channel’s reputation, and lead to a high bounce rate—something YouTube’s algorithm won’t like.

: You don’t want to clutter your thumbnail with unnecessary text. Keep it short and to the point. Let the title of your video do the talking, and use text on your thumbnail sparingly.

: More than half of YouTube’s traffic comes from mobile devices, so always ensure your thumbnails are legible on small screens. If you’re adding text, make sure it’s large and bold enough to read easily on a smartphone.

: A blurry or pixelated thumbnail can significantly reduce your video’s chances of getting clicked. Always use high-resolution images, and if you’re unsure, err on the side of larger file sizes (

Tips for Testing and Optimizing Thumbnails

If you’re not sure which thumbnail design will work best, don’t be afraid to experiment. YouTube allows you to change thumbnails even after your video has been published. Here are some tips for testing and optimizing your thumbnails over time:

: Try switching between different thumbnails on the same video and track their performance in 

. This way, you can identify which design drives more clicks.

 of your videos. A higher CTR means more people are engaging with your content, which helps boost your visibility in YouTube’s algorithm.

: Beyond the CTR, also look at how long people are watching your video. If your audience is dropping off quickly after clicking, your thumbnail might not accurately represent your content. 

 for optimizing, testing, and comparing different thumbnail options for the same video by using the above metrics. 

According to YouTube, 90% of the best-performing videos use custom thumbnails.

 In 2025, making it on YouTube involves more than just creating great content—you need to package it well, starting with your thumbnail. Understanding the 

 and following design best practices will set you on the path to success. 

Whether you’re just starting or looking to level up your YouTube game, getting your thumbnail right is a crucial step to increasing your views, engagement, and subscriber count. 

Now it’s time to create that killer thumbnail

Gold play button with vidIQ logo inside broken golden ruler circle on coral background

Learn the correct YouTube thumbnail measurements for 2025 and how to optimize them for the best quality and viewer engagement!

YouTube Thumbnail Measurements: The Right Size for 2025

"Why are my YouTube Shorts not getting views?"

If you find yourself thinking this often, you're not alone. Getting views on a YouTube Short — millions of views, for that matter — is a challenging goal. It seems like everyone is making shorts now and creating more competition as they do.

But there are other reasons you might struggle to get views. Your Shorts could be lacking any of these elements:

A superb "hook" in the first three seconds

Storytelling that takes viewers on a journey

Making viewers feel something — happy, amused, surprised, etc.

In the video above, our Boost creators Travis and Jenn discuss why your Shorts might not be getting views. Two signs you might need to click on that video right now are:

 This means that viewers are not sticking until the end of your Shorts.

If too many viewers swipe away quickly, it signals that your content isn't engaging enough.

When a short is posted, the YouTube algorithm pushes it out to as many viewers as it can. Some of these viewers might not be interested in your niche, or style. But following our methods helps you cast as wide a net as possible to catch the most viewers!

Entertaining your viewers is a powerful way to make better YouTube Shorts. If you can show something interesting, funny, or action-packed right off the bat in the first three seconds, there's a chance viewers will stick around for the next 30 (give or take).

If you don't know what entertains your viewers, start by asking some basic questions. 

Which videos have the most views on your channel right now? What are they about, and what makes them so intriguing?

How can you pack those elements into a YouTube Short?

This video is incredibly entertaining for three reasons:

 There's no "intro" to endure before things take off.

. Every time the group bounces on the trampoline, the person in the middle flips higher into the sky.

An inspirational, upbeat tune accompanies a wild stunt.

 would make the video go viral with 13 million views? Our guess: He noticed what worked on his channel versus what didn't.

Here are some of Jesse's most popular videos:

, especially on a trampoline. That's what they find entertaining and choose to watch on Jesse's channel.

Revealing something shocking or unexpected is another way to get YouTube Shorts views. This works because sometimes, as humans, we're exposed to the same things every day. That could be our jobs, where we live, the restaurants in our neighborhood, etc.

I'll admit that before I watched a Short about 3D billboards, I had no idea they existed. So I was amazed to see what they look like in 

 video, "These 3D Billboards Stop Everyone on the Street." The Short has 38 million views and counting, so I know I'm not alone in my amazement.

Plus, Dylan makes the video 10 times better by explaining what's happening:

"These 3D billboards look so real when they show 3D animations, like a lion breaking through the glass and jumping onto the street, which even had this lady scared…. So many of these have gone viral for how incredible they look and immediately stop everyone on the street," he says.

You may have noticed that with emotional videos, people don't just watch them and leave. They take the time to leave comments, like the content, or share it with friends and family — because the videos make them 

. In "Dad Will Do Everything for His Daughter to Win," a father lets his daughter win at every game. It's a heartwarming experience because you get to see her dad cheat (in the best way possible) as the daughter giggles after each "win."

If you want to make emotional content (and boost your engagement rate), create a psychological profile of your viewers. You can start by answering these questions:

With this information, you can make Shorts that resonate with people and encourage them to engage. All of those engagements (likes, comments, and shares) let the YouTube algorithm know the video is worth recommending to more people.

Watch this tutorial for more ways to add emotion, entertainment, and education to your Shorts:

Extra Ways to Get Views on YouTube Shorts

Want to go the extra mile? Use these tips to get 

Want to help viewers find your YouTube Shorts? According to YouTube, 

 to your video title helps people do just that.

But that's not the only hashtag you should use. You can also add 

 related to your video, like this Short using the hashtag #Encanto (from the popular Disney movie).

When viewers tap a hashtag (like the one above), YouTube takes them to the official 

 for that topic. There, they can explore dozens of videos covering the same subject. This is where you want your video featured, just in case viewers are searching for Shorts similar to yours.

A YouTube Short that "loops" doesn't have a recognizable beginning or end. Because viewers have no idea where the story concludes or starts, they watch the video several times before realizing it's on repeat. This works because YouTube replays the same Short until you swipe to the next one.

As such, it's the perfect way to get YouTube Shorts views.

Here's an example of a looped YouTube Short from 

Want to loop your Shorts? Read this post to learn how it's done.

With YouTube Shorts, one of the first things viewers see is the title.

If you want viewers to watch (instead of swiping away), make sure the words tell an engaging story about your video.

Have relevant keywords (both for viewers and YouTube's algorithm).

For more tips, read this guide about writing better video titles.

Make Your YouTube Shorts the Right Length

You have almost 60 seconds to get your point across in a YouTube Short. But if you can tell your story in less time, you probably should. People consume short videos faster than they do longer ones, so you have to make every second count — and cut dead scenes.

So once you have the whole story packed into your Short, try not to add anything else. People will have fewer chances to get bored and swipe away.

For a long time, going viral with YouTube Shorts didn't equal more money for creators.

Now there are three reasons to create better Shorts and get as many views as possible:

Earning a bonus each month ($100-$10,000) from the YouTube Shorts Fund

Linking your Shorts to related long-form videos

Becoming eligible for the YouTube Partner Program after getting 10 million Shorts views in 90 days (plus having 1,000 subscribers)

Get a head start with this monetization guide for YouTube Shorts. 

Person opening the YouTube Shorts app on mobile

Close-up of hand holding phone with YouTube Shorts logo on screen in dark setting

Want to get more YouTube Shorts views? This guide will help you attract viewers with the three E’s: entertainment, education, and emotion.

How to Get More YouTube Shorts Views on Your Channel

Starting a YouTube channel without showing your face in 2025 is not only feasible but rapidly becoming a popular trend as creators leverage privacy and innovative content strategies. Whether for privacy reasons, access to quality automation, discomfort in front of the camera, or simply because the content doesn’t require a visible host, faceless YouTube channels offer creators a path to success.

By combining consistent content creation with diverse monetization strategies such as ads, sponsorships, affiliate marketing, and emerging subscription options, faceless creators can achieve significant and sustainable income. Here, we’ll explain how you can do it for your channel!

40 Awesome YouTube Channel Ideas (Without Showing Your Face)

A faceless YouTube channel is a type of channel where the content creators don’t appear on camera. These channels focus on delivering value through other means like voiceovers, stock footage, animations, or simply visuals that don’t require the creator’s presence.

Illustration showcasing the concept of a faceless YouTube channel

There could be many reasons why creators choose this path. Some content is better delivered without a visual personality, such as channels focused on commentary, documentaries, or storytelling. Including a face might take away from the actual focus of the content that the creators want to put out.

We also know that not everyone is comfortable being on camera, and many creators prefer to remain anonymous. It could be because they want to protect themselves from online bullying or refrain from letting people know in real life.

Whatever the reason may be, faceless channels can be a profitable venture in many lucrative niches on YouTube and help you build a sustainable presence on the platform.

From what we’ve seen so far, there are two broad categories of faceless channels:

These are channels where the creator chooses not to show their face but still uses their voice or other unique elements to engage viewers.

These channels rely heavily on AI tools, stock footage, and outsourcing. Many automated channels use AI-generated voices and pre-existing visuals to create content quickly and at scale.

To help creators like you get started with their faceless YouTube journey, our in-house expert Rob Wilson made an intensive guide. Watch the video below:

So, let’s break this content creation process down:

Choosing a niche is crucial. You want a topic that has a large audience but isn’t overly saturated. Popular niches for faceless channels include:

How-to videos, tutorials, and explainer videos.

Conduct thorough research of existing channels in your niche to identify topics with high viewership; use advanced analytics to uncover actionable data for your content strategy. This will guide your content strategy.

The list is not all-inclusive by any means, but it provides an idea of what works among faceless and automated channels. You can use this information to

 that’ll give you a deeper understanding of these niches and find you topics with high search volume and lower competition.

This strategy applies to all creators, emphasizing the importance of analyzing successful channels to understand what drives engagement, regardless of on-camera presence. Modeling after channels that have already achieved success in your niche can fast-track your growth. By analyzing successful strategies and understanding audience behavior, you can build a channel that is both innovative and highly effective. Try to learn the reasoning behind the important elements like the title and thumbnail. Identify what grabs your attention and learn how they’ve kept their viewers engaged.

Hands-on experience in video creation—from scripting and editing to publishing and analysis—is invaluable for mastering YouTube's dynamic environment. You need to learn how to write scripts, the basics of editing, and other related skills. Here’s why:

Your script is the backbone of your video. Write engaging, informative scripts that keep your audience hooked.

Even if you plan to outsource or automate it eventually, understanding the basics of video editing will help you maintain quality control.

If you choose to use your voice, practice delivering it clearly and with the right tone for your content.

Visual representation of video creation without appearing on camera

Essential Tools for Running a Faceless Channel

Running a faceless YouTube channel isn’t just about creative ideas—it’s also about using the right tools to streamline production and boost growth. There is a range of essential tools, from advanced keyword research and content planning platforms to modern video editing software and AI-powered automation. These resources help optimize every stage of video creation, ensuring that your content is engaging, well-structured, and SEO friendly. 

 that not only boost productivity but also allow you to focus on crafting compelling narratives that resonate with your target audience.

Faceless YouTube channels have unique monetization avenues compared to traditional channels. While traditional channels have an element of personal branding that drives much of the revenue, faceless channels can pursue other forms of monetization. Selling digital products and sponsored content opportunities are massive here because of a wider reach of faceless content. 

By focusing on content rather than personality, creators can use AI tools and automation to churn out more videos.

Certain niches, like educational content or motivational videos, don’t require a face but thrive on well-researched, high-quality content.

Spending money on lights and camera equipment becomes unnecessary, which might be easy on many new creators.

Starting a faceless channel has challenges that might sometimes cause serious harm. A lot of channels get demonetized, or worse, terminated, as they fail to adhere to certain responsibilities as creators. Some of these problems are:

 Always verify that your content—be it footage, music, or images—is either royalty-free or qualifies under fair use guidelines and is properly credited. Provide enough inputs so that it is transformative.

YouTube’s strict policy on reused content means you must add significant value or transformation to content that isn’t originally yours.

The advancement of AI has transformed content creation for faceless channels. Innovative AI-powered script generators, editing tools, and 

 allow creators to produce high-quality videos efficiently. By automating repetitive tasks and optimizing content delivery, you can focus on creative strategy and establishing a unique voice.

Maintaining a consistent upload schedule not only fosters audience growth but also signals to YouTube’s algorithm that your channel is active and reliable, boosting overall visibility.

YouTube Automation: How to Avoid Copyright Claims on Faceless Channels

When we mentioned before that faceless channels can make bank, we were not kidding! In the video, Rob mentioned many such channels that are piling up views and subscribers with their faceless channels. A few months back, 

 who is managing over 25 automated channels and earning over $200,000 a month.

While there’s fierce competition, the space is also riddled with opportunities. So, use this guide as your first point of reference and 

Beginner's guide to faceless YouTube channels

Hooded figure with glowing YouTube play icon face and text "Beginner Guide" on black background

Learn how to start a faceless YouTube channel and leverage AI and automation to scale your growth. Discover niche strategies, monetization tips, and effective SEO insights.

Faceless YouTube Channel: A Step-by-Step Guide

Of all the milestones you can achieve as a YouTube creator, reaching 100k is among the most significant, second only to meeting YPP requirements. On reaching 100k subs, the dream of being a full-time creator over the long run feels more like a reality.

Although it’s not imperative to reach this milestone within some time frame, a few creators from our community have achieved this incredible feat over just the last 30 days. So, let's take a look at who they are and join in celebrating their achievement!

As always, we define the vidIQ community as anyone using our growth tools to reach YouTube success. So, if you've 

 to optimize your videos, find keywords, or even get video ideas, this roundup is for you. We're celebrating your wins.


Top Channels Passing 100,000 Subscribers in July

 creates content and vlogs around motorcycles.

uploads entertaining and creative Shorts based on the racing game BeamNG.

 provides tips and insights on laws that are useful in everyday life.

 are a Swiss couple who document their travels across the world

is a food reviewer and critic from Indonesia.

 makes entertaining content based on Roblox games and characters.

 does interview-style videos about strange and funny events from America’s history.

 showcases the most incredible sights from around the world through “best of” style Shorts

 covers paranormal activities and eerie encounters caught on camera.

Congrats to everyone who had amazing subscriber growth last month! 🥳 If you want to see your channel grow, don't forget to 

 and get robust tools, data, and video ideas.

Plus, check out these top YouTube channels to discover even more creators:

100K subscribers celebration badge with stars and fireworks on dark background

Reaching 100,000 subscribers is no cakewalk, but these 10 creators did it in a flash! Discover who they are and how quickly they grew!

10 YouTube Channels that Hit 100K Subs FAST! [July]

As a creator, only a few experiences can match the thrill of gaining 10,000 YouTube subscribers. It's even more astounding when this happens within a mere 30 days. Therefore, we are honoring the creators who have reached this incredible milestone! To all these gifted and hardworking channels, a warm welcome to the 10K elites!

As always, we define the vidIQ community as anyone using our growth tools to reach success. So, if you've 

 to optimize your videos, find keywords, or even get video ideas, this roundup is for you. We're celebrating your wins.

Top Channels Passing 10,000 Subscribers in April

is a professional gymnast who teaches Yoga and flexibility.

 is a lifestyle vlogger and content creator.

 provides entertaining songs and nursery rhymes for kids.

 uploads popular clips from the world of football.

 condenses stories of popular movies and shows into medium-length videos and Shorts.

 makes entertaining Shorts based on popular cartoon characters.

helps you learn the English language from scratch.

 documents family life in a mountainous village of Vietnam.

Plus, swing by our top YouTube channels section to discover even more creators:

10,000 subscribers milestone celebration graphic with stars on dark background

We're thrilled to celebrate the standout creators of our community who have just soared past the 10,000 subscriber mark! This milestone is a testament to their hard work, creativity, and connection with their audience.

10 Small YouTube Channels that Hit 10K Subs [July]

Today, we're celebrating 10 creators who hit 

 in just 30 days! Their channels, many of which grew from super small to breathtakingly big, cover interesting topics on YouTube, like gaming, tutorials, travel, and so much more. Plus, they managed to reel in 

As always, we define the vidIQ community as anyone using our growth tools to reach YouTube success. So if you've 

 to optimize your videos, find keywords, or even get video ideas, this roundup is for you. We're celebrating 

Ready to see who got the most subscribers? These were the fastest-growing YouTube channels last month.

Top Channels Passing 1,000 Subscribers in the Last 30 Days

 creates videos on all kinds of animals from the wild to the domesticated.

 explores travel destinations across the world with AI content.

 makes creative content based on the racing and obstacles game Teardown.

 shares financial advice, from budgeting to saving to making more money.

 provides information on headphones and auditory equipment.

 provides quick fixes and simplified technical tutorials.

 talks about lifestyle of popular models and actresses with the help of AI.

Which small YouTube channels grew the fastest in July? Get to know 10 rising creators who make videos about money, nutrition, the latest trends, and more.

Uttaran Samaddar

Posts Written By Uttaran Samaddar

YouTube Thumbnail Measurements: The Right Size for 2025

How to Get More YouTube Shorts Views on Your Channel

Faceless YouTube Channel: A Step-by-Step Guide

10 YouTube Channels that Hit 100K Subs FAST! [July]

10 Small YouTube Channels that Hit 10K Subs [July]

10 Small YouTube Channels that Hit 1,000 Subs FAST [July]

10 YouTube Channels that Hit 100K Subs FAST! [June]

10 Small YouTube Channels that Hit 10K Subs [June]

10 Small YouTube Channels that Hit 1,000 Subs FAST [June]

YouTube Algorithm Hack: Chase Watch Time and Engagement — Not Views

10 YouTube Channels that Hit 100K Subs FAST! [May]

How To Win on YouTube Without Fancy Equipment