A Step-by-Step Breakdown: Creating Your Best YT Shorts

YouTube is one of the most leading social media platforms attracting a huge number of people each day. Recently YouTube has launched a new concept known as YouTube shorts which is a short, crisp 60 or fewer seconds of video content. YouTube shorts has been successful in attracting viewers to the platform. Along with the video the platform allows you to write a text which is a YouTube shorts description to give some idea about your video to viewers.

Let’s talk about in YouTube shorts description in detail and learn ways to write on the platform.

In this article

01 What is YouTube Shorts Description?

02 Why is YouTube Shorts Description Important?

03 How do you Write a Description on YouTube Shorts?

04 Tips for Writing Effective YouTube Shorts Description

Part 1: What is YouTube Shorts Description?

YouTube shorts description means a simple text or a message written below to your YouTube shorts giving an idea about the uploaded YouTube shorts video to the viewers.

Such a YouTube short description helps viewers in getting some hint about the video and to decide whether the video is what they are looking for or not. Also, we can also add additional information such as relevant links and hashtags to the video.

Source: adweek.com

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YouTube shorts description plays an important role in attracting viewers and growing your channel. There are a few reasons behind is such as

It gives a simple idea and context about your video to viewers.

Attractive and appealing YouTube short descriptions would easily catch the attention of viewers.

It let viewers decide whether the YouTube shorts video is what they are looking for or not.

You can add relevant hashtags to your video in the description as well to gain more views.

Part 3: How do you Write a Description on YouTube Shorts?

Let’s talk about ways to write a YouTube shorts description with easy to follow steps:

Step 1: At first you need to open the YouTube homepage and select a Library in the bottom right corner of the screen.

Step 2: Once you do that now click on any of your Videos.

Step 3: Then after pick a YouTube shorts video where you want to add a description and click on the three dots beside it. You would find a menu where click on edit.

Step 4: Now you can add the relevant YouTube shorts description and tags. Then click on save and you are all done.

So you can follow above mentioned easy step guidance and write the most iconic YouTube shorts description on your channel.

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Part 4: Tips for Writing Effective YouTube Shorts Description

There are some of the key points to keep in mind while writing a YouTube shorts description. All these tips would surely help your videos gain more views.

1. Be specific

While writing a YouTube shorts description is very important that you are well aware of which keywords to use. Here your choice of keywords will play a key role in ranking your videos up.

2. Do keyword research

If you are not aware of the right keywords about your YouTube shorts then you could take online help of an online keyword planner. You must be including the right keywords on your YouTube shorts description to make it more searchable.

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3. Know where to place your keywords

You should make sure to put your primary keywords on the first three sentences only and the reason is that users always would notice on the initial part of your description.

4. Track the keywords

Always keep an eye on knowing which keywords are working and which are not for you. It would help you decide your YouTube shorts description in that manner and generate more traffic.

5. Find other interests of your audience

Along with your video content have a look at what other things are attracting your audience. You can always check out that and based on that plan and deliver your upcoming YouTube shorts.

Conclusion

Thus YouTube shorts has become already successful in catching the eye of users and allowing the platform to grow. Along with the video, the platform allows users to add YouTube short descriptions to appeal audience in a right and effective manner. We have talked about YouTube shorts description and the importance of it in growing your video channel in detail.

Now it is time for you to pick the right YouTube shorts description for your video and get a maximum number of views on your channel.

02 Why is YouTube Shorts Description Important?

03 How do you Write a Description on YouTube Shorts?

04 Tips for Writing Effective YouTube Shorts Description

Part 1: What is YouTube Shorts Description?

YouTube shorts description means a simple text or a message written below to your YouTube shorts giving an idea about the uploaded YouTube shorts video to the viewers.

Such a YouTube short description helps viewers in getting some hint about the video and to decide whether the video is what they are looking for or not. Also, we can also add additional information such as relevant links and hashtags to the video.

Source: adweek.com

Part 2: Why is YouTube Shorts Description Important?

YouTube shorts description plays an important role in attracting viewers and growing your channel. There are a few reasons behind is such as

It gives a simple idea and context about your video to viewers.

Attractive and appealing YouTube short descriptions would easily catch the attention of viewers.

It let viewers decide whether the YouTube shorts video is what they are looking for or not.

You can add relevant hashtags to your video in the description as well to gain more views.

Part 3: How do you Write a Description on YouTube Shorts?

Let’s talk about ways to write a YouTube shorts description with easy to follow steps:

Step 1: At first you need to open the YouTube homepage and select a Library in the bottom right corner of the screen.

Step 2: Once you do that now click on any of your Videos.

Step 3: Then after pick a YouTube shorts video where you want to add a description and click on the three dots beside it. You would find a menu where click on edit.

Step 4: Now you can add the relevant YouTube shorts description and tags. Then click on save and you are all done.

So you can follow above mentioned easy step guidance and write the most iconic YouTube shorts description on your channel.

Part 4: Tips for Writing Effective YouTube Shorts Description

There are some of the key points to keep in mind while writing a YouTube shorts description. All these tips would surely help your videos gain more views.

1. Be specific

While writing a YouTube shorts description is very important that you are well aware of which keywords to use. Here your choice of keywords will play a key role in ranking your videos up.

2. Do keyword research

If you are not aware of the right keywords about your YouTube shorts then you could take online help of an online keyword planner. You must be including the right keywords on your YouTube shorts description to make it more searchable.

3. Know where to place your keywords

You should make sure to put your primary keywords on the first three sentences only and the reason is that users always would notice on the initial part of your description.

4. Track the keywords

Always keep an eye on knowing which keywords are working and which are not for you. It would help you decide your YouTube shorts description in that manner and generate more traffic.

5. Find other interests of your audience

Along with your video content have a look at what other things are attracting your audience. You can always check out that and based on that plan and deliver your upcoming YouTube shorts.

Conclusion

Thus YouTube shorts has become already successful in catching the eye of users and allowing the platform to grow. Along with the video, the platform allows users to add YouTube short descriptions to appeal audience in a right and effective manner. We have talked about YouTube shorts description and the importance of it in growing your video channel in detail.

Now it is time for you to pick the right YouTube shorts description for your video and get a maximum number of views on your channel.

02 Why is YouTube Shorts Description Important?

03 How do you Write a Description on YouTube Shorts?

04 Tips for Writing Effective YouTube Shorts Description

Part 1: What is YouTube Shorts Description?

YouTube shorts description means a simple text or a message written below to your YouTube shorts giving an idea about the uploaded YouTube shorts video to the viewers.

Such a YouTube short description helps viewers in getting some hint about the video and to decide whether the video is what they are looking for or not. Also, we can also add additional information such as relevant links and hashtags to the video.

Source: adweek.com

Part 2: Why is YouTube Shorts Description Important?

YouTube shorts description plays an important role in attracting viewers and growing your channel. There are a few reasons behind is such as

It gives a simple idea and context about your video to viewers.

Attractive and appealing YouTube short descriptions would easily catch the attention of viewers.

It let viewers decide whether the YouTube shorts video is what they are looking for or not.

You can add relevant hashtags to your video in the description as well to gain more views.

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Part 3: How do you Write a Description on YouTube Shorts?

Let’s talk about ways to write a YouTube shorts description with easy to follow steps:

Step 1: At first you need to open the YouTube homepage and select a Library in the bottom right corner of the screen.

Step 2: Once you do that now click on any of your Videos.

Step 3: Then after pick a YouTube shorts video where you want to add a description and click on the three dots beside it. You would find a menu where click on edit.

Step 4: Now you can add the relevant YouTube shorts description and tags. Then click on save and you are all done.

So you can follow above mentioned easy step guidance and write the most iconic YouTube shorts description on your channel.

Part 4: Tips for Writing Effective YouTube Shorts Description

There are some of the key points to keep in mind while writing a YouTube shorts description. All these tips would surely help your videos gain more views.

1. Be specific

While writing a YouTube shorts description is very important that you are well aware of which keywords to use. Here your choice of keywords will play a key role in ranking your videos up.

2. Do keyword research

If you are not aware of the right keywords about your YouTube shorts then you could take online help of an online keyword planner. You must be including the right keywords on your YouTube shorts description to make it more searchable.

3. Know where to place your keywords

You should make sure to put your primary keywords on the first three sentences only and the reason is that users always would notice on the initial part of your description.

4. Track the keywords

Always keep an eye on knowing which keywords are working and which are not for you. It would help you decide your YouTube shorts description in that manner and generate more traffic.

5. Find other interests of your audience

Along with your video content have a look at what other things are attracting your audience. You can always check out that and based on that plan and deliver your upcoming YouTube shorts.

Conclusion

Thus YouTube shorts has become already successful in catching the eye of users and allowing the platform to grow. Along with the video, the platform allows users to add YouTube short descriptions to appeal audience in a right and effective manner. We have talked about YouTube shorts description and the importance of it in growing your video channel in detail.

Now it is time for you to pick the right YouTube shorts description for your video and get a maximum number of views on your channel.

02 Why is YouTube Shorts Description Important?

03 How do you Write a Description on YouTube Shorts?

04 Tips for Writing Effective YouTube Shorts Description

Part 1: What is YouTube Shorts Description?

YouTube shorts description means a simple text or a message written below to your YouTube shorts giving an idea about the uploaded YouTube shorts video to the viewers.

Such a YouTube short description helps viewers in getting some hint about the video and to decide whether the video is what they are looking for or not. Also, we can also add additional information such as relevant links and hashtags to the video.

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Source: adweek.com

Part 2: Why is YouTube Shorts Description Important?

YouTube shorts description plays an important role in attracting viewers and growing your channel. There are a few reasons behind is such as

It gives a simple idea and context about your video to viewers.

Attractive and appealing YouTube short descriptions would easily catch the attention of viewers.

It let viewers decide whether the YouTube shorts video is what they are looking for or not.

You can add relevant hashtags to your video in the description as well to gain more views.

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Part 3: How do you Write a Description on YouTube Shorts?

Let’s talk about ways to write a YouTube shorts description with easy to follow steps:

Step 1: At first you need to open the YouTube homepage and select a Library in the bottom right corner of the screen.

Step 2: Once you do that now click on any of your Videos.

Step 3: Then after pick a YouTube shorts video where you want to add a description and click on the three dots beside it. You would find a menu where click on edit.

Step 4: Now you can add the relevant YouTube shorts description and tags. Then click on save and you are all done.

So you can follow above mentioned easy step guidance and write the most iconic YouTube shorts description on your channel.

Part 4: Tips for Writing Effective YouTube Shorts Description

There are some of the key points to keep in mind while writing a YouTube shorts description. All these tips would surely help your videos gain more views.

1. Be specific

While writing a YouTube shorts description is very important that you are well aware of which keywords to use. Here your choice of keywords will play a key role in ranking your videos up.

2. Do keyword research

If you are not aware of the right keywords about your YouTube shorts then you could take online help of an online keyword planner. You must be including the right keywords on your YouTube shorts description to make it more searchable.

3. Know where to place your keywords

You should make sure to put your primary keywords on the first three sentences only and the reason is that users always would notice on the initial part of your description.

4. Track the keywords

Always keep an eye on knowing which keywords are working and which are not for you. It would help you decide your YouTube shorts description in that manner and generate more traffic.

5. Find other interests of your audience

Along with your video content have a look at what other things are attracting your audience. You can always check out that and based on that plan and deliver your upcoming YouTube shorts.

Conclusion

Thus YouTube shorts has become already successful in catching the eye of users and allowing the platform to grow. Along with the video, the platform allows users to add YouTube short descriptions to appeal audience in a right and effective manner. We have talked about YouTube shorts description and the importance of it in growing your video channel in detail.

Now it is time for you to pick the right YouTube shorts description for your video and get a maximum number of views on your channel.

Crafting Visuals: The Science of YouTube Banners & Thumbnails

How to Make YouTube Banners and Thumbnails

Richard Bennett

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

The art on your YouTube channel – banners, thumbnails, icons, and watermarks – will help to determine how viewers feel about your vlog. If your art does not look like it all goes together then people will get a sloppy, amateurish, impression of your channel. However, if your different pieces of channel art all seem to complement each other and match the tone and theme of your channel then it will help viewers to have a pleasant browsing experience. They will get the impression that you take your YouTube channel seriously and that they can trust you as a source of information, comedy, or general entertainment.

How to Make YouTube Banners and Thumbnails

YouTube Banners and Thumbnails are two of the most important pieces of channel art you will need. This article will explain the best practices for both, and suggest sites where you will be able to build your own banners and thumbnails for free.

1. YouTube Banners

Quick Tips:

1. The image you upload for your YouTube banner should be 2560 x 1440px (pixels).
2. The ‘safe area’ for text, logos, and other important visual information (like faces) is 1546 x 423px.

Your banner is probably the first thing that comes to mind when you think about channel art. Banners are the headers that rest at the tops of channel pages on YouTube. Your banner should be 2560 x 1440 px, although not all of it will always be visible. On a desktop computer or mobile device only a 1546 x 423 px ‘safe area’ will be visible. When viewed on a TV screen your entire image will be visible. YouTube does support PNG, but if your PNG file does not upload properly (as has been the case for some YouTubers) then changing your file type to JPEG might help.

YouTube Banners are extremely important to the success of your channel. If you do not have a banner then it looks like you do not really care about your vlog. If you have a basic banner that is not at all personalized then it certainly looks like you care, but it might also look like you are new to YouTube.

The best banners are customized to reflect the kind of experience you want viewers to have on your channel. The banner of a comedic YouTube channel might use bright colors, where the banner for a gaming channel will probably use darker colors similar to the ones that are in the games the vlogger plays. Connecting your banner to the theme of your channel is part of how you define the style of your vlog. It is the difference between being a Beauty Guru and a general YouTuber who gives makeup tips sometimes.

Including a photo of yourself, or your logo if you have one, is a great way to personalize your banner.

2. YouTube Thumbnails

Quick Tips:

1. Search for your video’s topic to see the thumbnails your thumbnail will be competing against.
2. Make any text huge so people can read it on their smartphone screens.
3. Emojis, colored boarders, and graphics are all potential ways to stand out.

Thumbnails are often ignored by newer YouTubers. YouTube selects a thumbnail for every one of your videos and it is always a still image from that video. You can choose which frame you want to use and a lot of people feel like that is good enough. When you create a custom thumbnail, however, you get to not only choose your image but insert a title.

If you are choosing the images you are using for thumbnails you can make sure they are always similar frames. This will help people identify your videos quickly in searches. Using titles in your thumbnails will also help searchers identify your videos, if you always use the same title style. Another benefit of titles is that they capture the attention of people looking for your specific topic. Remember when building your thumbnails that they will appear smaller on YouTube than they probably are while you edit them. On mobile devices, they will look even smaller. So, if you are going to use text in your thumbnail, make sure it is huge.

One thumbnail taboo that you should never break is using an image that has nothing to do with your video. Using an image of a cute cat for a vlog post that has nothing to do with cats is misleading and will anger viewers. You may draw in a lot of viewers who want to see a cat video, but they will leave right away when they do not see a cat and they will never watch anything by you again.

3.Where To Create Banners and Thumbnails

There are sites online that will allow you to edit images and use them in templates for YouTube banners. You can also use these services to edit your thumbnails. Two of the most popular, free, online photo editors are PicMonkey.com and Canva.com.

Canva has templates you can use to create YouTube banners, as well as a variety of stock images you can use in combination with your own when creating channel art. It is free to edit images on Canva, but they do have some premium features which cost $1 each to access. This service has both a desktop version and an iPad app.

PicMonkey lets you import images from your computer or social media accounts, edit them, and use them in templates for YouTube banners or other kinds of social media graphics. PicMonkey is free to use, but you can only access their more advanced editing tools if you buy a paid subscription. Monthly subscriptions are $4.99 per month, and yearly subscriptions are $2.75 per month.

Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

The art on your YouTube channel – banners, thumbnails, icons, and watermarks – will help to determine how viewers feel about your vlog. If your art does not look like it all goes together then people will get a sloppy, amateurish, impression of your channel. However, if your different pieces of channel art all seem to complement each other and match the tone and theme of your channel then it will help viewers to have a pleasant browsing experience. They will get the impression that you take your YouTube channel seriously and that they can trust you as a source of information, comedy, or general entertainment.

How to Make YouTube Banners and Thumbnails

YouTube Banners and Thumbnails are two of the most important pieces of channel art you will need. This article will explain the best practices for both, and suggest sites where you will be able to build your own banners and thumbnails for free.

1. YouTube Banners

Quick Tips:

1. The image you upload for your YouTube banner should be 2560 x 1440px (pixels).
2. The ‘safe area’ for text, logos, and other important visual information (like faces) is 1546 x 423px.

Your banner is probably the first thing that comes to mind when you think about channel art. Banners are the headers that rest at the tops of channel pages on YouTube. Your banner should be 2560 x 1440 px, although not all of it will always be visible. On a desktop computer or mobile device only a 1546 x 423 px ‘safe area’ will be visible. When viewed on a TV screen your entire image will be visible. YouTube does support PNG, but if your PNG file does not upload properly (as has been the case for some YouTubers) then changing your file type to JPEG might help.

YouTube Banners are extremely important to the success of your channel. If you do not have a banner then it looks like you do not really care about your vlog. If you have a basic banner that is not at all personalized then it certainly looks like you care, but it might also look like you are new to YouTube.

The best banners are customized to reflect the kind of experience you want viewers to have on your channel. The banner of a comedic YouTube channel might use bright colors, where the banner for a gaming channel will probably use darker colors similar to the ones that are in the games the vlogger plays. Connecting your banner to the theme of your channel is part of how you define the style of your vlog. It is the difference between being a Beauty Guru and a general YouTuber who gives makeup tips sometimes.

Including a photo of yourself, or your logo if you have one, is a great way to personalize your banner.

2. YouTube Thumbnails

Quick Tips:

1. Search for your video’s topic to see the thumbnails your thumbnail will be competing against.
2. Make any text huge so people can read it on their smartphone screens.
3. Emojis, colored boarders, and graphics are all potential ways to stand out.

Thumbnails are often ignored by newer YouTubers. YouTube selects a thumbnail for every one of your videos and it is always a still image from that video. You can choose which frame you want to use and a lot of people feel like that is good enough. When you create a custom thumbnail, however, you get to not only choose your image but insert a title.

If you are choosing the images you are using for thumbnails you can make sure they are always similar frames. This will help people identify your videos quickly in searches. Using titles in your thumbnails will also help searchers identify your videos, if you always use the same title style. Another benefit of titles is that they capture the attention of people looking for your specific topic. Remember when building your thumbnails that they will appear smaller on YouTube than they probably are while you edit them. On mobile devices, they will look even smaller. So, if you are going to use text in your thumbnail, make sure it is huge.

One thumbnail taboo that you should never break is using an image that has nothing to do with your video. Using an image of a cute cat for a vlog post that has nothing to do with cats is misleading and will anger viewers. You may draw in a lot of viewers who want to see a cat video, but they will leave right away when they do not see a cat and they will never watch anything by you again.

3.Where To Create Banners and Thumbnails

There are sites online that will allow you to edit images and use them in templates for YouTube banners. You can also use these services to edit your thumbnails. Two of the most popular, free, online photo editors are PicMonkey.com and Canva.com.

Canva has templates you can use to create YouTube banners, as well as a variety of stock images you can use in combination with your own when creating channel art. It is free to edit images on Canva, but they do have some premium features which cost $1 each to access. This service has both a desktop version and an iPad app.

PicMonkey lets you import images from your computer or social media accounts, edit them, and use them in templates for YouTube banners or other kinds of social media graphics. PicMonkey is free to use, but you can only access their more advanced editing tools if you buy a paid subscription. Monthly subscriptions are $4.99 per month, and yearly subscriptions are $2.75 per month.

Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

The art on your YouTube channel – banners, thumbnails, icons, and watermarks – will help to determine how viewers feel about your vlog. If your art does not look like it all goes together then people will get a sloppy, amateurish, impression of your channel. However, if your different pieces of channel art all seem to complement each other and match the tone and theme of your channel then it will help viewers to have a pleasant browsing experience. They will get the impression that you take your YouTube channel seriously and that they can trust you as a source of information, comedy, or general entertainment.

How to Make YouTube Banners and Thumbnails

YouTube Banners and Thumbnails are two of the most important pieces of channel art you will need. This article will explain the best practices for both, and suggest sites where you will be able to build your own banners and thumbnails for free.

1. YouTube Banners

Quick Tips:

1. The image you upload for your YouTube banner should be 2560 x 1440px (pixels).
2. The ‘safe area’ for text, logos, and other important visual information (like faces) is 1546 x 423px.

Your banner is probably the first thing that comes to mind when you think about channel art. Banners are the headers that rest at the tops of channel pages on YouTube. Your banner should be 2560 x 1440 px, although not all of it will always be visible. On a desktop computer or mobile device only a 1546 x 423 px ‘safe area’ will be visible. When viewed on a TV screen your entire image will be visible. YouTube does support PNG, but if your PNG file does not upload properly (as has been the case for some YouTubers) then changing your file type to JPEG might help.

YouTube Banners are extremely important to the success of your channel. If you do not have a banner then it looks like you do not really care about your vlog. If you have a basic banner that is not at all personalized then it certainly looks like you care, but it might also look like you are new to YouTube.

The best banners are customized to reflect the kind of experience you want viewers to have on your channel. The banner of a comedic YouTube channel might use bright colors, where the banner for a gaming channel will probably use darker colors similar to the ones that are in the games the vlogger plays. Connecting your banner to the theme of your channel is part of how you define the style of your vlog. It is the difference between being a Beauty Guru and a general YouTuber who gives makeup tips sometimes.

Including a photo of yourself, or your logo if you have one, is a great way to personalize your banner.

2. YouTube Thumbnails

Quick Tips:

1. Search for your video’s topic to see the thumbnails your thumbnail will be competing against.
2. Make any text huge so people can read it on their smartphone screens.
3. Emojis, colored boarders, and graphics are all potential ways to stand out.

Thumbnails are often ignored by newer YouTubers. YouTube selects a thumbnail for every one of your videos and it is always a still image from that video. You can choose which frame you want to use and a lot of people feel like that is good enough. When you create a custom thumbnail, however, you get to not only choose your image but insert a title.

If you are choosing the images you are using for thumbnails you can make sure they are always similar frames. This will help people identify your videos quickly in searches. Using titles in your thumbnails will also help searchers identify your videos, if you always use the same title style. Another benefit of titles is that they capture the attention of people looking for your specific topic. Remember when building your thumbnails that they will appear smaller on YouTube than they probably are while you edit them. On mobile devices, they will look even smaller. So, if you are going to use text in your thumbnail, make sure it is huge.

One thumbnail taboo that you should never break is using an image that has nothing to do with your video. Using an image of a cute cat for a vlog post that has nothing to do with cats is misleading and will anger viewers. You may draw in a lot of viewers who want to see a cat video, but they will leave right away when they do not see a cat and they will never watch anything by you again.

3.Where To Create Banners and Thumbnails

There are sites online that will allow you to edit images and use them in templates for YouTube banners. You can also use these services to edit your thumbnails. Two of the most popular, free, online photo editors are PicMonkey.com and Canva.com.

Canva has templates you can use to create YouTube banners, as well as a variety of stock images you can use in combination with your own when creating channel art. It is free to edit images on Canva, but they do have some premium features which cost $1 each to access. This service has both a desktop version and an iPad app.

PicMonkey lets you import images from your computer or social media accounts, edit them, and use them in templates for YouTube banners or other kinds of social media graphics. PicMonkey is free to use, but you can only access their more advanced editing tools if you buy a paid subscription. Monthly subscriptions are $4.99 per month, and yearly subscriptions are $2.75 per month.

Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

The art on your YouTube channel – banners, thumbnails, icons, and watermarks – will help to determine how viewers feel about your vlog. If your art does not look like it all goes together then people will get a sloppy, amateurish, impression of your channel. However, if your different pieces of channel art all seem to complement each other and match the tone and theme of your channel then it will help viewers to have a pleasant browsing experience. They will get the impression that you take your YouTube channel seriously and that they can trust you as a source of information, comedy, or general entertainment.

How to Make YouTube Banners and Thumbnails

YouTube Banners and Thumbnails are two of the most important pieces of channel art you will need. This article will explain the best practices for both, and suggest sites where you will be able to build your own banners and thumbnails for free.

1. YouTube Banners

Quick Tips:

1. The image you upload for your YouTube banner should be 2560 x 1440px (pixels).
2. The ‘safe area’ for text, logos, and other important visual information (like faces) is 1546 x 423px.

Your banner is probably the first thing that comes to mind when you think about channel art. Banners are the headers that rest at the tops of channel pages on YouTube. Your banner should be 2560 x 1440 px, although not all of it will always be visible. On a desktop computer or mobile device only a 1546 x 423 px ‘safe area’ will be visible. When viewed on a TV screen your entire image will be visible. YouTube does support PNG, but if your PNG file does not upload properly (as has been the case for some YouTubers) then changing your file type to JPEG might help.

YouTube Banners are extremely important to the success of your channel. If you do not have a banner then it looks like you do not really care about your vlog. If you have a basic banner that is not at all personalized then it certainly looks like you care, but it might also look like you are new to YouTube.

The best banners are customized to reflect the kind of experience you want viewers to have on your channel. The banner of a comedic YouTube channel might use bright colors, where the banner for a gaming channel will probably use darker colors similar to the ones that are in the games the vlogger plays. Connecting your banner to the theme of your channel is part of how you define the style of your vlog. It is the difference between being a Beauty Guru and a general YouTuber who gives makeup tips sometimes.

Including a photo of yourself, or your logo if you have one, is a great way to personalize your banner.

2. YouTube Thumbnails

Quick Tips:

1. Search for your video’s topic to see the thumbnails your thumbnail will be competing against.
2. Make any text huge so people can read it on their smartphone screens.
3. Emojis, colored boarders, and graphics are all potential ways to stand out.

Thumbnails are often ignored by newer YouTubers. YouTube selects a thumbnail for every one of your videos and it is always a still image from that video. You can choose which frame you want to use and a lot of people feel like that is good enough. When you create a custom thumbnail, however, you get to not only choose your image but insert a title.

If you are choosing the images you are using for thumbnails you can make sure they are always similar frames. This will help people identify your videos quickly in searches. Using titles in your thumbnails will also help searchers identify your videos, if you always use the same title style. Another benefit of titles is that they capture the attention of people looking for your specific topic. Remember when building your thumbnails that they will appear smaller on YouTube than they probably are while you edit them. On mobile devices, they will look even smaller. So, if you are going to use text in your thumbnail, make sure it is huge.

One thumbnail taboo that you should never break is using an image that has nothing to do with your video. Using an image of a cute cat for a vlog post that has nothing to do with cats is misleading and will anger viewers. You may draw in a lot of viewers who want to see a cat video, but they will leave right away when they do not see a cat and they will never watch anything by you again.

3.Where To Create Banners and Thumbnails

There are sites online that will allow you to edit images and use them in templates for YouTube banners. You can also use these services to edit your thumbnails. Two of the most popular, free, online photo editors are PicMonkey.com and Canva.com.

Video Converter Factory Pro

Canva has templates you can use to create YouTube banners, as well as a variety of stock images you can use in combination with your own when creating channel art. It is free to edit images on Canva, but they do have some premium features which cost $1 each to access. This service has both a desktop version and an iPad app.

EmEditor Professional (Lifetime License, non-store app)

PicMonkey lets you import images from your computer or social media accounts, edit them, and use them in templates for YouTube banners or other kinds of social media graphics. PicMonkey is free to use, but you can only access their more advanced editing tools if you buy a paid subscription. Monthly subscriptions are $4.99 per month, and yearly subscriptions are $2.75 per month.

vMix Pro - Software based live production. vMix Pro includes everything in vMix 4K plus 8 channels of Replay and 8 vMix Call
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Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.

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