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YouTube banners are a vital part of any creator’s channel. Size-wise, they’re bigger than YouTube thumbnails and much larger than profile pictures.
That means people will notice your banner before seeing anything else on your channel homepage. If you want viewers to scroll down and click on your videos, you need a banner that entices them to do so.
What makes a good YouTube banner image? We believe the best ones are balanced, eye-catching, and complement the profile pictures beside them.
Here are five tips for creating a banner that intrigues anyone who lands on your channel.
Good YouTube banners look sharp no matter where you view them: mobile devices, laptops, tablets, and even giant computer monitors.
To make a sharp banner image for your channel:
Whether you’re into Minecraft gaming or finding lost puppies (yes, it’s a thing), your YouTube channel banner should reflect that. Viewers should look at your banner and think, It looks like this channel is about [insert topic here]. I’m in the right place.
If someone wants to learn Microsoft Excel, for example, the imagery in your banner has to match that desire. You might add a tiny spreadsheet to the design or make the banner forest green to match the Excel colors.
Some viewers will understand your banner without text, but others won’t be as fortunate.
That’s why it’s best to add a few words to the design. If someone doesn’t realize you’re a tech channel after seeing your banner, they won’t spend more than a second guessing. They’ll see the answer on your YouTube header: Tech reviews. Gear talk. Gadgets galore.
If you can, add your channel’s value proposition to the banner too. It’s an easy way to show people what your channel is about and what they’ll gain from being there. Our value proposition at vidIQ is “creator obsessed YouTube education,” and you know that instantly by reading our banner.
The typical advice we give for YouTube channel art is to keep it simple. Just like YouTube thumbnails, you want your banner to be understandable within seconds. That means adding just enough design elements to get your point across – some text, 1-2 images representing your niche, and a robust background. Stay away from designs that look congested or have too many colors for someone to process.
Banners are fun and artsy, but they’re more than a stylish billboard for your channel. They’re also a place to advertise your social media, from Twitter to Facebook to Instagram. You can display five links on a banner, so use those spots wisely. We recommend putting the most important link in position one.
Also, consider placing a call to action on your banner. It could be an arrow pointing to the first banner link or a glowing box that encapsulates all links. Test different strategies to see what brings in the most clicks.
It’s easy to come up with YouTube banner ideas once you’ve seen a few examples. Here are five good ones to inspire your YouTube banner design.
Now that you’ve seen some quality banners, you’re probably wondering where to find YouTube banner art. After all, a good graphic is nothing without attractive imagery. If you’re going to design something that truly stands out, you’ll need quality banner images for YouTube.
Don’t worry: You don’t need to pay for a Shutterstock account or anything like that.
Plenty of websites will supply both the channel art and the editing tools you need to build a banner:
Do you have an old banner you’re dying to switch out? Here’s a step-by-step guide to upload your fresh header:
Are you ready to take your channel art to the next level?
Learn how to make YouTube end screens and increase your video views.
Lydia Sweatt is a writer, bookworm, and bass guitar enthusiast. When she goes outside, a bicycle goes with her.
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