One of the easiest ways to improve your thumbnails is by testing for clarity before you upload

Most viewers don’t see your thumbnail in full size. They see it small on the homepage or in the sidebar

So before finalizing the thumbnail, ask yourself

• Can I instantly tell what the thumbnail is about?

• Is every word easy to read at a glance?

• Do the main elements stand out clearly?

• Is there one obvious focal point?

• Would this still work if it was viewed very small?

In the image below, notice how every thumbnail is still easy to understand even at sidebar size

• Easy to tell what the thumbnail is about

• Simple words and easy to read text

• Simple composition and elements stand out (good separation of elements through design techniques)

If the viewer has to stop and “figure out” what they’re looking at, they’ll usually just keep scrolling instead