The success of your B2B videos often hinges on a single element:
The thumbnail.
Arguably, thumbnails are the most important part of a video.
Even more important than the content itself.
After all, the thumbnail is the FIRST thing people see.
Buyers decide in seconds whether to open your video or keep scrolling.
In truth, you can have the best video in the world, but if the thumbnail doesn’t 'get the click', your message is never seen.
Quick tips:
- Customization is King
A lot of thumbnails you see are just random screen grabs from the video itself.
Big mistake.
Reportedly, 90% of the best-performing videos on YouTube have custom thumbnails.
- Communicate Value
Before buyers press the play button, they decide if it’s going to be worth their TIME.
A well-crafted thumbnail communicates WHO the video is for and WHAT are the key benefits --- within seconds.
- Job No. 1
In a nutshell, the purpose of a thumbnail is to gain the buyer's ATTENTION and INTEREST.
To get them to stop doing what they're doing and click play.
That's a big challenge considering today's crowded feeds and inboxes.
- The 2 Elements of a Thumbnail
1) Image
2) Headline
The image gets buyers' attention.
The headline draws them in.
A compelling image along with a strong, clear message increases click-through rates dramatically.
- Use Real People
Studies show our brains respond faster to faces than any other object.
So buyers are naturally attracted to thumbnails featuring real people.
Faces can actually build emotional connections with viewers before the video even starts.
It's a relationship business, not a product business.
- Keep it Simple
A good thumbnail doesn't require award-winning, high-end artwork.
It just needs to be (a) eye-catching and (b) relevant to your buyers' personal interests.
Clear, authentic, human thumbnails --- not overly polished or generic --- can start building trust and credibility before a single word is spoken.
Conclusion
The right thumbnail makes a huge difference.
Otherwise, all the time, effort and hard work spent creating your videos is wasted.
Need help?
Click below for a simple, straightforward, step-by-step guide to creating powerful thumbnails within minutes.
Including easy-to-use templates.
