Picture this:

You've worked countless hours on your new YouTube video, slap a thumbnail on it in a rush, and hit 'publish'.

The result? 3 views (and let's be honest, 2 are just you rewatching it).

Not quite the viral sensation you hoped for, right?

Here are 10 tips that you MUST follow for all your next thumbnails.

1. Create your thumbnail FIRST.

Or at least have a plan for how the thumbnail will look.

Yes, even before you press record. Even before you write the script.

Instead:

• Think of a strong video idea.

I can't stress this enough—the video idea matters more than anything. If you have a weak idea, it's all for nothing.

• Create at least 3 title and thumbnail variations.

Ask yourself: Would you click on this? Is this something people are interested in?

If not, you've saved yourself hours of work by not working on a video that wouldn't have succeeded anyway.

Plan carefully. If the concept isn't solid, don't record the video—it's pointless.

2. Use high-quality images and the recommended thumbnail size: 1280x720 px.

This is one of the biggest mistakes I see people making. They spend all this money and time on gear and recording videos but somehow manage to take the worst photos ever. These photos are often pixelated, blurry, with weird lighting from all directions, and busy backgrounds that are hard to remove.

Instead, dedicate one day to shoot 10–50 photos with various poses and facial expressions. Ensure you have:

• Good lighting