Preview picture (that mini one that u can chose when uploading to youtube)

[Marbro_za]

I used to let youtube decide... now i open the vid up, watch it till i see something i like then screenshot and add some text
yellow with a black border seems to be the most visable.

 

[Lurch]

I think the text makes it unless the thumbnail speaks for itself - for example if you visit a monument or castle, then that's your thumbnail, for general riding about/obs videos then it needs more than just the road ahead IMO. If you have an intro and a font that's prevalent through your channel then it brings a brand identity to your vlogs, a visual stamp before people view that it's your video rather than just your vlogging style which has to be heard or at least watched by playing the video.

 

[Shirou]

There are a few tutorials on youtube to get the most out of the video thumbnails.
I got this one but for some reason it is not working right now:

 

[hungabustavlogs]

I used to let youtube decide... now i open the vid up, watch it till i see something i like then screenshot and add some text.

This.
I try to keep font's etc the same and soon I will be trying to include my logo somehow.

 

[Brasi]

I always pick an actual screenshot from my video (I will not stoop to putting google pictures in order to "con views") then overlay my channels logo onto it. Nothing pisses me off more than when you click on an interesting thumbnail, but its not actually a screen grab from the video....

 

[SwissMotard]

I always pick an actual screenshot from my video (I will not stoop to putting google pictures in order to "con views") then overlay my channels logo onto it. Nothing pisses me off more than when you click on an interesting thumbnail, but its not actually a screen grab from the video....

That's my current method. Have you toyed with the idea of adding text? What are your thoughts on that?

 

[Brasi]

Yea I have but for now I like just my logo...just gives a nice clean/crisp look to them. If I was gonna put text, I'd probably try and keep the font/colour consistent otherwise I find your channel just ends up looking like a big colourful mess, if that makes sense.

Have a look at C2W's channel, I think his still look good. Same with Dan Motovlog's. Even though he uses different colours, the font's consistent so it looks good and doesn't look cluttered. Just my opinion.

 

[SwissMotard]

Got a link to your channel buddy so I can see what yours are like?

 

[Brasi]

Yea just a few vids so far but have a look: https://www.youtube.com/user/ValentinoBrasi

 

[SwissMotard]

Those thumbnails certainly do it for me!

 

[Brasi]

Those thumbnails certainly do it for me!

Sweet! Yea I'll kinda see if I can somehow incorporate some text overlay in the future if I get sick of looking at my logo, but for now I'm content. Love your name by the way...catchy!

 

[AndyManCam]

I follow the apparent trend here, and ALWAYS take a screenshot form the video in question and then Photoshop a Title and episode number on top. I HATE when the thumbnail that made me watch isn't actually in the video. On principal, if this happens, that creator is blacklisted as far as I'm concerned!!

 

[SwissMotard]

Sweet! Yea I'll kinda see if I can somehow incorporate some text overlay in the future if I get sick of looking at my logo, but for now I'm content. Love your name by the way...catchy!

I wouldn't, they work really well as they are.

Your thumbnails are interesting and your brand stands out. Mashing a ton of text on there would ruin it, and I think you should only do it if your content is poor.