Essential Tips for Creating Compelling Free Ads on YouTube

How to Create Video Ads for Free in YouTube Video Builder

Richard Bennett

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Many people find it challenging to create compelling video advertisements for their brand promotions. While some of the creative tools might be expensive, the easy ones have a steep learning curve, and engaging a professional designer wouldn’t be something you might be ready for. YouTube Video Builder is a great solution for any such situation.

With that being said, the following sections talk about what YouTube Video Builder is, how is it useful, what advantages does it offer, and how can you create professional video adverts using the tool.

• Part 1: What Is YouTube Video Builder?
• Part 2: How Does YouTube Video Builder Work?
• Part 3: How to Get YouTube Video Builder?
• Part 4: How to Make Video Ads for Free with YouTube Video Builder?
• Part 5: Tips for Making Good Video Ads with YouTube Video Builder

---

Part 1: What Is YouTube Video Builder?

YouTube recently came up with an online tool, YouTube Video Builder, that, as the name suggests, enables you as an organization to prepare videos for free. These videos could be anywhere from 6 to 15 seconds long and are most appropriate for advertisements. Once created, the films can be used in the campaigns to promote your brand and/or products online.

However, you must keep the following few things handy before starting with YouTube Video Builder to prepare a video advertisement:

• Logo

You must have a good-quality photo of your brand logo that you want to add to the video as a watermark. This gives your organization online recognition.

• HD Images

At the time of this writing, YouTube Video Builder only allows you to add still images. The tool compiles these photos using a theme that you select, and enables you to add background music to make the advert more engaging. Therefore, it is imperative to have high-definition images of your product(s) that you want to create a promotional video for.

• Google Chrome Browser

You must have the latest version of the Google Chrome web browser installed on your computer.

• YouTube Channel

Because YouTube Video Builder will publish your video advertisements on YouTube itself, you must have your own YouTube Channel created , configured, and properly functioning so the posting process remains smooth and seamless.

• Availability of the Tool and Features

YouTube Video Builder is still in the Beta phase, and therefore you may not have access to all the features that the tool has to offer. However, this majorly depends on the region of your residence. As of now, the utility is not even available in some countries of the world.

Part 2: How Does YouTube Video Builder Work?

As explained earlier, YouTube Video Builder is an online tool that works on the latest version of the Google Chrome browser. The web interface of the utility has separate blocks (or placeholders if you want to call them) for different types of images. For instance, there is a placeholder for your logo, and a couple of other blank slots where you can import the photos from your computer.

There are some text input fields that you can populate with the relevant information such as the name of the video, the product’s name that you wish to promote, and many other things. There is a storyboard at the bottom of the interface that helps give your video a theme and the alignment of the ingredients that you have imported from your computer.

Finally, you can add background music to the video from the royalty-free tracks that can be accessed from the built-in library, and you are all set to go.

Part 3: How Can I Get YouTube Video Builder?

Because YouTube Video Builder is in its Beta phase, at the time of this writing you are required to send an access request to Google using your account that you want to use to create the videos from. You can send your requests to: https://services.google.com/fb/forms/videobuilderbeta/ .

Once your request is approved, you can then use the same Google account to sign in to the YouTube Video Builder portal, and start preparing your video advertisements. Here, it is important to understand that the Google account that you use to send an access request and prepare the videos must be the same ID that has your active and functional YouTube Channel.

Part 4: How to Make Video Ads for Free with YouTube Video Builder?

Once you have access to the Beta version of YouTube Video Builder, you can start creating the video ads for free. You can learn the process of how this can be done by following the simple instructions given below:

Step 1: Prepare a Console

After signing in to your YouTube Video Builder account, on the main interface, click Select Layout from the navigation bar at the right if not already selected, pick a layout that best suits your needs, and click Use Layout.

Next, from the Color & Logo section, choose the base (background) and text colors using their corresponding tools from under the Brand colors section.

After this, insert an image of your brand logo in the block under the Logos category.

Step 2: Add the Ingredients

When you are on the Images & Text section of the navigation bar, pick the high-definition photos from the Storyboard at the bottom, and add them to the Image 1, Image 2, and Image 3 boxes accordingly.

Now, scroll down to the Text section, and add the relevant content in the available text input fields. Make sure to add a compelling Call to action text to give the viewers a free passage to connect with you.

Step 3: Make Cosmetic Manipulations

From the Pick a Font section of the navigation bar, click the Google Fonts catalog link to search for a unique font, and once found, type its name in the available field to use that font.

Alternatively, you can leave the default one selected. When on the Select Music section, choose your preferred background music from the drop-down list that is present under the section.

Finally, click Create video, and wait while YouTube Video Builder takes you to the Preview, Save, Share section, and generates your video.

Step 4: Save the Video and Begin Promotion

After the video is generated, play to preview the film. If everything looks good, click Save video.

On the next page, click Copy to copy the video link, and share it with your friends, colleagues, and family members for their feedback.

Next, scroll down to get to the Create Campaign section of the navigation bar, and from the left screen, click Create campaign to begin a campaign to promote your brand and/or product(s).

Part 5: Tips for Making Good Video Ads with YouTube Video Builder

The whole point here is to prepare your video adverts with the least investment and almost no effort. The following few tips would help you achieve this with ease:

• Make sure to gather all the ingredients such as the photos of the products, brand logo, etc. before starting with the video creation process
• Set a layout, font, theme color, and background music that compliments the product(s) you wish to promote
• Remain consistent with the theme color, fonts, etc. throughout the video
• Make sure to include a catchy ‘Call for action’ text in your video ad
• Make as many modifications as you want before publishing the ad on your YouTube Channel. Avoid doing any amendments after the ad has been posted
• Share the link of your video with as many people as you possibly can to make your product(s) and brand visible and popular
• Make sure to use the ad in your campaigns to make people aware of your brand/product(s)

Conclusion

The bitter truth is, producing videos, especially for brand promotions requires expert creators, expensive tools, and a good amount of work experience. Although all these can be managed if you have some spare funds, YouTube Video Builder helps you create advertising videos of up to 15 seconds with ease and for free. All you need is access to YouTube Video Builder, your own YouTube Channel, your brand logo, and high-definition photos of your product(s).

Richard Bennett

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

Follow @Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Many people find it challenging to create compelling video advertisements for their brand promotions. While some of the creative tools might be expensive, the easy ones have a steep learning curve, and engaging a professional designer wouldn’t be something you might be ready for. YouTube Video Builder is a great solution for any such situation.

With that being said, the following sections talk about what YouTube Video Builder is, how is it useful, what advantages does it offer, and how can you create professional video adverts using the tool.

• Part 1: What Is YouTube Video Builder?
• Part 2: How Does YouTube Video Builder Work?
• Part 3: How to Get YouTube Video Builder?
• Part 4: How to Make Video Ads for Free with YouTube Video Builder?
• Part 5: Tips for Making Good Video Ads with YouTube Video Builder

---

Part 1: What Is YouTube Video Builder?

YouTube recently came up with an online tool, YouTube Video Builder, that, as the name suggests, enables you as an organization to prepare videos for free. These videos could be anywhere from 6 to 15 seconds long and are most appropriate for advertisements. Once created, the films can be used in the campaigns to promote your brand and/or products online.

However, you must keep the following few things handy before starting with YouTube Video Builder to prepare a video advertisement:

• Logo

You must have a good-quality photo of your brand logo that you want to add to the video as a watermark. This gives your organization online recognition.

• HD Images

At the time of this writing, YouTube Video Builder only allows you to add still images. The tool compiles these photos using a theme that you select, and enables you to add background music to make the advert more engaging. Therefore, it is imperative to have high-definition images of your product(s) that you want to create a promotional video for.

• Google Chrome Browser

You must have the latest version of the Google Chrome web browser installed on your computer.

• YouTube Channel

Because YouTube Video Builder will publish your video advertisements on YouTube itself, you must have your own YouTube Channel created , configured, and properly functioning so the posting process remains smooth and seamless.

• Availability of the Tool and Features

YouTube Video Builder is still in the Beta phase, and therefore you may not have access to all the features that the tool has to offer. However, this majorly depends on the region of your residence. As of now, the utility is not even available in some countries of the world.

Part 2: How Does YouTube Video Builder Work?

As explained earlier, YouTube Video Builder is an online tool that works on the latest version of the Google Chrome browser. The web interface of the utility has separate blocks (or placeholders if you want to call them) for different types of images. For instance, there is a placeholder for your logo, and a couple of other blank slots where you can import the photos from your computer.

There are some text input fields that you can populate with the relevant information such as the name of the video, the product’s name that you wish to promote, and many other things. There is a storyboard at the bottom of the interface that helps give your video a theme and the alignment of the ingredients that you have imported from your computer.

Finally, you can add background music to the video from the royalty-free tracks that can be accessed from the built-in library, and you are all set to go.

Part 3: How Can I Get YouTube Video Builder?

Because YouTube Video Builder is in its Beta phase, at the time of this writing you are required to send an access request to Google using your account that you want to use to create the videos from. You can send your requests to: https://services.google.com/fb/forms/videobuilderbeta/ .

Once your request is approved, you can then use the same Google account to sign in to the YouTube Video Builder portal, and start preparing your video advertisements. Here, it is important to understand that the Google account that you use to send an access request and prepare the videos must be the same ID that has your active and functional YouTube Channel.

Part 4: How to Make Video Ads for Free with YouTube Video Builder?

Once you have access to the Beta version of YouTube Video Builder, you can start creating the video ads for free. You can learn the process of how this can be done by following the simple instructions given below:

Step 1: Prepare a Console

After signing in to your YouTube Video Builder account, on the main interface, click Select Layout from the navigation bar at the right if not already selected, pick a layout that best suits your needs, and click Use Layout.

Next, from the Color & Logo section, choose the base (background) and text colors using their corresponding tools from under the Brand colors section.

After this, insert an image of your brand logo in the block under the Logos category.

Step 2: Add the Ingredients

When you are on the Images & Text section of the navigation bar, pick the high-definition photos from the Storyboard at the bottom, and add them to the Image 1, Image 2, and Image 3 boxes accordingly.

Now, scroll down to the Text section, and add the relevant content in the available text input fields. Make sure to add a compelling Call to action text to give the viewers a free passage to connect with you.

Step 3: Make Cosmetic Manipulations

From the Pick a Font section of the navigation bar, click the Google Fonts catalog link to search for a unique font, and once found, type its name in the available field to use that font.

Alternatively, you can leave the default one selected. When on the Select Music section, choose your preferred background music from the drop-down list that is present under the section.

Finally, click Create video, and wait while YouTube Video Builder takes you to the Preview, Save, Share section, and generates your video.

Step 4: Save the Video and Begin Promotion

After the video is generated, play to preview the film. If everything looks good, click Save video.

On the next page, click Copy to copy the video link, and share it with your friends, colleagues, and family members for their feedback.

Next, scroll down to get to the Create Campaign section of the navigation bar, and from the left screen, click Create campaign to begin a campaign to promote your brand and/or product(s).

Part 5: Tips for Making Good Video Ads with YouTube Video Builder

The whole point here is to prepare your video adverts with the least investment and almost no effort. The following few tips would help you achieve this with ease:

• Make sure to gather all the ingredients such as the photos of the products, brand logo, etc. before starting with the video creation process
• Set a layout, font, theme color, and background music that compliments the product(s) you wish to promote
• Remain consistent with the theme color, fonts, etc. throughout the video
• Make sure to include a catchy ‘Call for action’ text in your video ad
• Make as many modifications as you want before publishing the ad on your YouTube Channel. Avoid doing any amendments after the ad has been posted
• Share the link of your video with as many people as you possibly can to make your product(s) and brand visible and popular
• Make sure to use the ad in your campaigns to make people aware of your brand/product(s)

Conclusion

The bitter truth is, producing videos, especially for brand promotions requires expert creators, expensive tools, and a good amount of work experience. Although all these can be managed if you have some spare funds, YouTube Video Builder helps you create advertising videos of up to 15 seconds with ease and for free. All you need is access to YouTube Video Builder, your own YouTube Channel, your brand logo, and high-definition photos of your product(s).

Richard Bennett

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

Follow @Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Many people find it challenging to create compelling video advertisements for their brand promotions. While some of the creative tools might be expensive, the easy ones have a steep learning curve, and engaging a professional designer wouldn’t be something you might be ready for. YouTube Video Builder is a great solution for any such situation.

With that being said, the following sections talk about what YouTube Video Builder is, how is it useful, what advantages does it offer, and how can you create professional video adverts using the tool.

• Part 1: What Is YouTube Video Builder?
• Part 2: How Does YouTube Video Builder Work?
• Part 3: How to Get YouTube Video Builder?
• Part 4: How to Make Video Ads for Free with YouTube Video Builder?
• Part 5: Tips for Making Good Video Ads with YouTube Video Builder

---

Part 1: What Is YouTube Video Builder?

YouTube recently came up with an online tool, YouTube Video Builder, that, as the name suggests, enables you as an organization to prepare videos for free. These videos could be anywhere from 6 to 15 seconds long and are most appropriate for advertisements. Once created, the films can be used in the campaigns to promote your brand and/or products online.

However, you must keep the following few things handy before starting with YouTube Video Builder to prepare a video advertisement:

• Logo

You must have a good-quality photo of your brand logo that you want to add to the video as a watermark. This gives your organization online recognition.

• HD Images

At the time of this writing, YouTube Video Builder only allows you to add still images. The tool compiles these photos using a theme that you select, and enables you to add background music to make the advert more engaging. Therefore, it is imperative to have high-definition images of your product(s) that you want to create a promotional video for.

• Google Chrome Browser

You must have the latest version of the Google Chrome web browser installed on your computer.

• YouTube Channel

Because YouTube Video Builder will publish your video advertisements on YouTube itself, you must have your own YouTube Channel created , configured, and properly functioning so the posting process remains smooth and seamless.

• Availability of the Tool and Features

YouTube Video Builder is still in the Beta phase, and therefore you may not have access to all the features that the tool has to offer. However, this majorly depends on the region of your residence. As of now, the utility is not even available in some countries of the world.

Part 2: How Does YouTube Video Builder Work?

As explained earlier, YouTube Video Builder is an online tool that works on the latest version of the Google Chrome browser. The web interface of the utility has separate blocks (or placeholders if you want to call them) for different types of images. For instance, there is a placeholder for your logo, and a couple of other blank slots where you can import the photos from your computer.

There are some text input fields that you can populate with the relevant information such as the name of the video, the product’s name that you wish to promote, and many other things. There is a storyboard at the bottom of the interface that helps give your video a theme and the alignment of the ingredients that you have imported from your computer.

Finally, you can add background music to the video from the royalty-free tracks that can be accessed from the built-in library, and you are all set to go.

Part 3: How Can I Get YouTube Video Builder?

Because YouTube Video Builder is in its Beta phase, at the time of this writing you are required to send an access request to Google using your account that you want to use to create the videos from. You can send your requests to: https://services.google.com/fb/forms/videobuilderbeta/ .

Once your request is approved, you can then use the same Google account to sign in to the YouTube Video Builder portal, and start preparing your video advertisements. Here, it is important to understand that the Google account that you use to send an access request and prepare the videos must be the same ID that has your active and functional YouTube Channel.

Part 4: How to Make Video Ads for Free with YouTube Video Builder?

Once you have access to the Beta version of YouTube Video Builder, you can start creating the video ads for free. You can learn the process of how this can be done by following the simple instructions given below:

Step 1: Prepare a Console

After signing in to your YouTube Video Builder account, on the main interface, click Select Layout from the navigation bar at the right if not already selected, pick a layout that best suits your needs, and click Use Layout.

Next, from the Color & Logo section, choose the base (background) and text colors using their corresponding tools from under the Brand colors section.

After this, insert an image of your brand logo in the block under the Logos category.

Step 2: Add the Ingredients

When you are on the Images & Text section of the navigation bar, pick the high-definition photos from the Storyboard at the bottom, and add them to the Image 1, Image 2, and Image 3 boxes accordingly.

Now, scroll down to the Text section, and add the relevant content in the available text input fields. Make sure to add a compelling Call to action text to give the viewers a free passage to connect with you.

Step 3: Make Cosmetic Manipulations

From the Pick a Font section of the navigation bar, click the Google Fonts catalog link to search for a unique font, and once found, type its name in the available field to use that font.

Alternatively, you can leave the default one selected. When on the Select Music section, choose your preferred background music from the drop-down list that is present under the section.

Finally, click Create video, and wait while YouTube Video Builder takes you to the Preview, Save, Share section, and generates your video.

Step 4: Save the Video and Begin Promotion

After the video is generated, play to preview the film. If everything looks good, click Save video.

On the next page, click Copy to copy the video link, and share it with your friends, colleagues, and family members for their feedback.

Next, scroll down to get to the Create Campaign section of the navigation bar, and from the left screen, click Create campaign to begin a campaign to promote your brand and/or product(s).

Part 5: Tips for Making Good Video Ads with YouTube Video Builder

The whole point here is to prepare your video adverts with the least investment and almost no effort. The following few tips would help you achieve this with ease:

• Make sure to gather all the ingredients such as the photos of the products, brand logo, etc. before starting with the video creation process
• Set a layout, font, theme color, and background music that compliments the product(s) you wish to promote
• Remain consistent with the theme color, fonts, etc. throughout the video
• Make sure to include a catchy ‘Call for action’ text in your video ad
• Make as many modifications as you want before publishing the ad on your YouTube Channel. Avoid doing any amendments after the ad has been posted
• Share the link of your video with as many people as you possibly can to make your product(s) and brand visible and popular
• Make sure to use the ad in your campaigns to make people aware of your brand/product(s)

Conclusion

The bitter truth is, producing videos, especially for brand promotions requires expert creators, expensive tools, and a good amount of work experience. Although all these can be managed if you have some spare funds, YouTube Video Builder helps you create advertising videos of up to 15 seconds with ease and for free. All you need is access to YouTube Video Builder, your own YouTube Channel, your brand logo, and high-definition photos of your product(s).

Richard Bennett

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

Follow @Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Many people find it challenging to create compelling video advertisements for their brand promotions. While some of the creative tools might be expensive, the easy ones have a steep learning curve, and engaging a professional designer wouldn’t be something you might be ready for. YouTube Video Builder is a great solution for any such situation.

With that being said, the following sections talk about what YouTube Video Builder is, how is it useful, what advantages does it offer, and how can you create professional video adverts using the tool.

• Part 1: What Is YouTube Video Builder?
• Part 2: How Does YouTube Video Builder Work?
• Part 3: How to Get YouTube Video Builder?
• Part 4: How to Make Video Ads for Free with YouTube Video Builder?
• Part 5: Tips for Making Good Video Ads with YouTube Video Builder

---

Part 1: What Is YouTube Video Builder?

YouTube recently came up with an online tool, YouTube Video Builder, that, as the name suggests, enables you as an organization to prepare videos for free. These videos could be anywhere from 6 to 15 seconds long and are most appropriate for advertisements. Once created, the films can be used in the campaigns to promote your brand and/or products online.

However, you must keep the following few things handy before starting with YouTube Video Builder to prepare a video advertisement:

• Logo

You must have a good-quality photo of your brand logo that you want to add to the video as a watermark. This gives your organization online recognition.

• HD Images

At the time of this writing, YouTube Video Builder only allows you to add still images. The tool compiles these photos using a theme that you select, and enables you to add background music to make the advert more engaging. Therefore, it is imperative to have high-definition images of your product(s) that you want to create a promotional video for.

• Google Chrome Browser

You must have the latest version of the Google Chrome web browser installed on your computer.

• YouTube Channel

Because YouTube Video Builder will publish your video advertisements on YouTube itself, you must have your own YouTube Channel created , configured, and properly functioning so the posting process remains smooth and seamless.

• Availability of the Tool and Features

YouTube Video Builder is still in the Beta phase, and therefore you may not have access to all the features that the tool has to offer. However, this majorly depends on the region of your residence. As of now, the utility is not even available in some countries of the world.

Part 2: How Does YouTube Video Builder Work?

As explained earlier, YouTube Video Builder is an online tool that works on the latest version of the Google Chrome browser. The web interface of the utility has separate blocks (or placeholders if you want to call them) for different types of images. For instance, there is a placeholder for your logo, and a couple of other blank slots where you can import the photos from your computer.

There are some text input fields that you can populate with the relevant information such as the name of the video, the product’s name that you wish to promote, and many other things. There is a storyboard at the bottom of the interface that helps give your video a theme and the alignment of the ingredients that you have imported from your computer.

Finally, you can add background music to the video from the royalty-free tracks that can be accessed from the built-in library, and you are all set to go.

Part 3: How Can I Get YouTube Video Builder?

Because YouTube Video Builder is in its Beta phase, at the time of this writing you are required to send an access request to Google using your account that you want to use to create the videos from. You can send your requests to: https://services.google.com/fb/forms/videobuilderbeta/ .

Once your request is approved, you can then use the same Google account to sign in to the YouTube Video Builder portal, and start preparing your video advertisements. Here, it is important to understand that the Google account that you use to send an access request and prepare the videos must be the same ID that has your active and functional YouTube Channel.

Part 4: How to Make Video Ads for Free with YouTube Video Builder?

Once you have access to the Beta version of YouTube Video Builder, you can start creating the video ads for free. You can learn the process of how this can be done by following the simple instructions given below:

Step 1: Prepare a Console

After signing in to your YouTube Video Builder account, on the main interface, click Select Layout from the navigation bar at the right if not already selected, pick a layout that best suits your needs, and click Use Layout.

Next, from the Color & Logo section, choose the base (background) and text colors using their corresponding tools from under the Brand colors section.

After this, insert an image of your brand logo in the block under the Logos category.

Step 2: Add the Ingredients

When you are on the Images & Text section of the navigation bar, pick the high-definition photos from the Storyboard at the bottom, and add them to the Image 1, Image 2, and Image 3 boxes accordingly.

Now, scroll down to the Text section, and add the relevant content in the available text input fields. Make sure to add a compelling Call to action text to give the viewers a free passage to connect with you.

Step 3: Make Cosmetic Manipulations

From the Pick a Font section of the navigation bar, click the Google Fonts catalog link to search for a unique font, and once found, type its name in the available field to use that font.

Alternatively, you can leave the default one selected. When on the Select Music section, choose your preferred background music from the drop-down list that is present under the section.

Finally, click Create video, and wait while YouTube Video Builder takes you to the Preview, Save, Share section, and generates your video.

Click here

Step 4: Save the Video and Begin Promotion

After the video is generated, play to preview the film. If everything looks good, click Save video.

On the next page, click Copy to copy the video link, and share it with your friends, colleagues, and family members for their feedback.

Next, scroll down to get to the Create Campaign section of the navigation bar, and from the left screen, click Create campaign to begin a campaign to promote your brand and/or product(s).

Part 5: Tips for Making Good Video Ads with YouTube Video Builder

The whole point here is to prepare your video adverts with the least investment and almost no effort. The following few tips would help you achieve this with ease:

• Make sure to gather all the ingredients such as the photos of the products, brand logo, etc. before starting with the video creation process
• Set a layout, font, theme color, and background music that compliments the product(s) you wish to promote
• Remain consistent with the theme color, fonts, etc. throughout the video
• Make sure to include a catchy ‘Call for action’ text in your video ad
• Make as many modifications as you want before publishing the ad on your YouTube Channel. Avoid doing any amendments after the ad has been posted
• Share the link of your video with as many people as you possibly can to make your product(s) and brand visible and popular
• Make sure to use the ad in your campaigns to make people aware of your brand/product(s)

Conclusion

The bitter truth is, producing videos, especially for brand promotions requires expert creators, expensive tools, and a good amount of work experience. Although all these can be managed if you have some spare funds, YouTube Video Builder helps you create advertising videos of up to 15 seconds with ease and for free. All you need is access to YouTube Video Builder, your own YouTube Channel, your brand logo, and high-definition photos of your product(s).

Richard Bennett

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

Follow @Richard Bennett

Addressing Missing Thumbnails in YouTube Shorts

Video thumbnails are important since they encourage people to click and watch the video. But what if your set YouTube Shorts thumbnail is not showing? YouTube will use a random part of the video as the thumbnail. It may be an unflattering or uninteresting shot. Then, your Shorts video is doomed.

That said, it is a problem you want to solve. Here are 7 FAQs about YouTube Shorts thumbnails. They may help you with fixing this issue.

Q1. Can I Customize YouTube Shorts Thumbnails?

Yes, you can. YouTube did allow short-form video creators to upload custom thumbnails for their Shorts. However, they aren’t that optimized. For instance, some people may not see them on the Shorts shelf. Also, if you share a link to the video somewhere else, the old video thumbnail may show instead of the new one.

Adding a custom thumbnail for YouTube Shorts is the same as adding one for long-form videos on the platform. Follow these steps:

• Open the YouTube mobile app. Click the “Plus” icon at the bottom center > “Create Short.” Upload, edit, and post your video.

• Get to your desktop computer or laptop. Open your channel’s YouTube Studio.

Click here

• On the left navigation menu, click “Content.”

• Click the “pencil” icon next to the Shorts you just uploaded. This video should be at the top of the list.
• Navigate to the Thumbnail section. Click “Create Thumbnail.”

Q2. Why Are YouTube Shorts Thumbnails Not Showing?

It’s not you who’s the only one with Shorts thumbnails not showing. Many short-form content creators on the platform are also facing this issue. A YouTuber took to Reddit to complain about how he uploaded custom thumbnails for all his videos. The thumbnails are correct in the editor. However, YouTube still displays a random frame as the thumbnail on the Shorts shelf.

“They ALL have randomly selected different parts of each video I have uploaded & somehow generated a new/unknown thumbnail that was neither what I uploaded as the custom option nor 1 of the 3 that YouTube auto populated.”

YouTuber on Reddit

The reason behind this is the difference in the thumbnail size. Regular YouTube video thumbnails are in the ratio of 16:9. Meanwhile, Shorts uses a ratio of 9:16. The thing is that YouTube does not yet allow you to upload 9:16 thumbnails. Thus, the thumbnail for Shorts may show correctly on the video section but not on the Shorts shelf.

Q3. How to Fix YouTube Shorts Thumbnail Problem?

Unfortunately, there is no reliable fix to this problem yet. YouTubers have tried different things in hopes that YouTube will display the correct thumbnail for their Shorts.

Some YouTubers have tried using different images. Others have experimented with changing the aspect ratio of the thumbnail or using Adobe editor for ratios. Clearing histories and cache, using different browsers, resizing, and changing the images’ resolution have also been done. Sadly, these are all failed attempts.

Q4. How To Boost Views When I Have no Control Over YouTube Shorts Thumbnails?

Attracting viewers on Shorts is the same as attracting viewers on the main YouTube. You use interesting thumbnails and video titles. Since thumbnails are out of the options, selecting great video titles has become even more important.

Here are some pointers. Your title should be at most 40 characters. Also, it should be concise and irresistible. And forget about SEO since no one is searching for YouTube Shorts anyway. People consume what they see in their feeds. So instead, the title should be “snappy.” It should intrigue, entertain, or enlighten the viewers. That will net you some views for your Shorts content.

Q5. How To Get More Views on YouTube Shorts?

Forgoing the intro is the way to go. An intro will just prolong the video when people are in Shorts to find bite-sized videos. So jump right into the video content. You can also start the video with a still frame instead. Using hashtags, captions, and text effects are also recommended. And interacting with your audience through comments and pinned comments will keep them coming back to your Shorts channel.

Of course, ensuring that the video quality is high is key to getting more views. For that, you need a good video editor. You can try Wondershare Filmora , a powerful and easy-to-use video editor.

Free Download For Win 7 or later(64-bit)

Free Download For macOS 10.14 or later

The best thing is that you don’t need to transfer the video from your phone to your computer and back. Wondershare Filmora is available on mobile. And it’s one of the best tools for enhancing a short-form video.

Short-form video watchers love filters, transitions, and effects. And Filmora gives you access to all of that. It provides you with fun and amazing filters, effects, transitions, and stamps that can add a wow factor to your short-form video.

Q6. Do YouTube Shorts Make Money?

Making money from YouTube Shorts was challenging. The platform pays content creators who are doing well through the Creator Fund. However, as Shorts grew, the payout became smaller.

Luckily, that’s going to change. Starting this year, Shorts will be a part of the YouTube Partner Program. This means that you can make money from the ads that people watch on Shorts. According to YouTube, creators will keep 45% of the revenue. It will be distributed based on your share of total Shorts views.

YouTube also adjusted the requirements to qualify for the YPP. They made it easier for Shorts content creators to get into the program.

Q7. How Do You Make YouTube Shorts Play Normal?

You can watch Shorts like normal YouTube videos where you can rewind when you want to. Follow these steps.

On a Desktop Computer

• Open a Shorts video on YouTube.

• Pause the video.

• Click “Library” on the left panel.

Click here

• Select the Shorts you just watched. It should be on the top and first on the list.

On a Mobile Phone

• Open the YouTube app. Watch a Shorts video.

• Like the Shorts video.

• Tap “Library”

• Scroll down to find “Liked Videos.” Click on it.

• Select the Shorts video you just watched. It should be at the top of the list.

Conclusion

Unfortunately, custom thumbnails not showing on Shorts does not have a fix yet. So to attract viewers, you must leverage the things in your control. You must title your videos in a way that will make users click the video. Also, adding effects and filters on the video using an editor like Wondershare Filmora can help.

Users can subscribe to Shorts channels. And if they see that your videos are well-edited and high-quality, they’ll be more likely to do so. Once they are subscribed, they will see and watch your videos more often.

Free Download For macOS 10.14 or later

The best thing is that you don’t need to transfer the video from your phone to your computer and back. Wondershare Filmora is available on mobile. And it’s one of the best tools for enhancing a short-form video.

Short-form video watchers love filters, transitions, and effects. And Filmora gives you access to all of that. It provides you with fun and amazing filters, effects, transitions, and stamps that can add a wow factor to your short-form video.

Q6. Do YouTube Shorts Make Money?

Making money from YouTube Shorts was challenging. The platform pays content creators who are doing well through the Creator Fund. However, as Shorts grew, the payout became smaller.

Luckily, that’s going to change. Starting this year, Shorts will be a part of the YouTube Partner Program. This means that you can make money from the ads that people watch on Shorts. According to YouTube, creators will keep 45% of the revenue. It will be distributed based on your share of total Shorts views.

YouTube also adjusted the requirements to qualify for the YPP. They made it easier for Shorts content creators to get into the program.

Q7. How Do You Make YouTube Shorts Play Normal?

You can watch Shorts like normal YouTube videos where you can rewind when you want to. Follow these steps.

On a Desktop Computer

• Open a Shorts video on YouTube.

• Pause the video.

• Click “Library” on the left panel.

• Select the Shorts you just watched. It should be on the top and first on the list.

On a Mobile Phone

• Open the YouTube app. Watch a Shorts video.

• Like the Shorts video.

• Tap “Library”

• Scroll down to find “Liked Videos.” Click on it.

• Select the Shorts video you just watched. It should be at the top of the list.

Conclusion

Unfortunately, custom thumbnails not showing on Shorts does not have a fix yet. So to attract viewers, you must leverage the things in your control. You must title your videos in a way that will make users click the video. Also, adding effects and filters on the video using an editor like Wondershare Filmora can help.

Users can subscribe to Shorts channels. And if they see that your videos are well-edited and high-quality, they’ll be more likely to do so. Once they are subscribed, they will see and watch your videos more often.

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