How can you make your video titles and thumbnails more engaging?

If you want to attract more viewers to your videos, you need to make sure your titles and thumbnails are catchy, relevant, and appealing. Your title and thumbnail are the first impression you make on your potential audience, and they can determine whether they click on your video or scroll past it. In this article, you will learn some tips and tricks on how to make your video titles and thumbnails more engaging, using video editing skills and tools.

1 Know your audience

The first step to creating engaging titles and thumbnails is to know who you are targeting and what they are looking for. You need to understand their interests, preferences, pain points, and goals, and craft your title and thumbnail accordingly. For example, if you are making a video about video editing storytelling, you might want to use words like "how to", "tips", "secrets", or "mistakes" in your title, and show an image of a video editing software or a storyboard in your thumbnail. These elements can capture the attention and curiosity of your audience, and communicate the value and relevance of your video.

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Jatin Kumar

Freelance Video Editor | Graphic Designer | Social Media Marketing
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Understanding what your audience want is one of the major thing one needs to master. 1) Taking the audience preferences into consideration and giving then the expected thing is a great achievement. 2) Keeping the titles crisp and precise helps in boosting the number of viewers. Using of SEO keywords in the title is always considered a great thing. 3) Making the thumbnails clear and creative makes your video and content standout from the crowd. Keeping that in mind that the thumbnails should not be considered in the category of clickbait. 4) Always try experimenting new things such as different templates, colour scheme. This may help you explore more in your field.

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Amit Diwakar

Video Editor || +90 Million views Generated || +2800 Projects Delivered || +5 Years Experience || IG +100k ||Post Production || Convert Raw Videos Into $$$
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Captivating titles and thumbnails are crucial. Craft titles that hint at the content's value or evoke curiosity. For thumbnails, use clear visuals and vibrant colors. High-quality images and bold, legible text are essential. Ensure relevance between the thumbnail and video content to entice viewers. Experiment with different designs, but maintain consistency to build a recognizable brand. Regularly analyze audience response to optimize engagement.

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Charlene de Guzman

YouTube SEO Specialist | I help coaches and course creators turn their expertise into profit with comprehensive and engaging YouTube SEO Strategies | Video Editor | Ads Strategist
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Understanding your target audience is the foundation of creating captivating video titles and thumbnails. Consider their interests, preferences, and pain points. Tailor your titles and thumbnails to resonate with their emotions and needs.

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2 Use keywords and phrases

The second step to creating engaging titles and thumbnails is to use keywords and phrases that match what your audience is searching for and what your video is about. Keywords and phrases can help your video rank higher in search engines and platforms, and make it easier for your audience to find you. You can use tools like Google Keyword Planner, YouTube Analytics, or TubeBuddy to research and analyze the best keywords and phrases for your video topic, niche, and genre. You can also look at the titles and thumbnails of popular and successful videos in your field, and see what keywords and phrases they use.

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3 Be clear and concise

The third step to creating engaging titles and thumbnails is to be clear and concise about what your video is about and what it offers. You want to avoid misleading, vague, or irrelevant titles and thumbnails that can confuse or disappoint your audience. You also want to avoid using too many words, characters, or images that can clutter or cut off your title and thumbnail. A good rule of thumb is to use no more than 10 words or 60 characters for your title, and no more than 3 elements for your thumbnail. You can also use punctuation, capitalization, or emojis to create contrast and emphasis in your title and thumbnail.

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Charlene de Guzman

YouTube SEO Specialist | I help coaches and course creators turn their expertise into profit with comprehensive and engaging YouTube SEO Strategies | Video Editor | Ads Strategist
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Avoid ambiguity in your video titles. Clearly convey what your video is about while keeping the title concise. Long and convoluted titles can be off-putting and fail to convey the content's essence effectively.

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4 Be creative and unique

The fourth step to creating engaging titles and thumbnails is to be creative and unique in your presentation and style. You want to stand out from the crowd and show your personality and voice in your title and thumbnail. You can use humor, curiosity, emotion, or storytelling to hook your audience and make them want to watch your video. You can also use colors, fonts, effects, or graphics to enhance your title and thumbnail and make them more eye-catching and memorable. You can use video editing software like Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, or iMovie to create and customize your title and thumbnail.

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Alba Mendoza

Freelance Creative Video Editor
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Even though I'm an editor, I also have to know how to use other software like photoshop, illustrator and XD to create thumbnails and other graphics needed for my videos. It is key that you learn how to do them with a creative flair! If you ever have the chance to take a graphic design course do it, it'll add a lot to your skillset.

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5 Test and optimize

The fifth step to creating engaging titles and thumbnails is to test and optimize them based on your performance and feedback. You want to monitor and measure how your title and thumbnail affect your views, watch time, retention, engagement, and conversions. You can use tools like YouTube Studio, Google Analytics, or VidIQ to track and analyze your metrics and data. You can also use tools like TubeBuddy, PickFu, or UsabilityHub to conduct A/B testing and surveys to compare and evaluate different versions of your title and thumbnail. You can then use the insights and results to improve and refine your title and thumbnail and achieve your goals.

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6 Experiment and have fun

The sixth and final step to creating engaging titles and thumbnails is to experiment and have fun with your video editing skills and tools. You want to try new and different ideas and techniques to create and test your title and thumbnail, and see what works and what doesn't. You also want to enjoy the process and express yourself and your passion in your title and thumbnail. You can use video editing as a way to learn, grow, and communicate with your audience, and make your videos more engaging and impactful.

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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How can you make your video titles and thumbnails more engaging?

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1 Know your audience

2 Use keywords and phrases

3 Be clear and concise

4 Be creative and unique

5 Test and optimize

6 Experiment and have fun

7 Here’s what else to consider

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