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Create > Tools > YouTube thumbnail maker

Free online YouTube thumbnail maker

Quickly create and distribute a stunning YouTube thumbnail with the Marq brand templating platform. With a powerfully intuitive editor, it's never been easier to impress your audience... and yourself.

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Get started fast with smart YouTube thumbnail templates

Design a YouTube thumbnail
  • Easy YouTube thumbnail design

    Lay out text, images, shapes & video with a simple drag-and-drop motion—nothing could be easier. Try our keyboard shortcuts to save even more time. You'll feel like a design genius.

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    Quickandeasy
  • Brand consistency

    Eliminate the risk of team members accidentally stretching, moving, discoloring (you get the point) your brand assets by locking down fonts, images, logos, position, and more.

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    Growyourbrand-650
  • Work together

    Lay out text, images, shapes & video with a simple drag-and-drop motion—nothing could be easier. Try our keyboard shortcuts to save even more time. You'll feel like a design genius.

    More features
    Empoweryourteam_650

Why choose our YouTube thumbnail maker?

You don’t have to be a brilliant designer to craft beautiful content. Whether you’re a team of one or a team of five, our brand templating platform makes it easy to create content and build your brand in the new design democracy.

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Brand assets

Make customizing content even easier by storing all your brand assets in one place.

Cloud-Based

Web-based platform

Since Marq' platform is web-based, there's nothing to download or install — so you'll always have the latest version.

Time_Saving

Data automation

Smart Fields auto-populate information in your templates, so you don't have to chase down information.

Mail-Merge

Easy Import

Marq integrates with your favorite tools to put content at your fingertips. Transfer text from a Google Doc, import an InDesign file or insert photos from Dropbox, Facebook or Unsplash so you can stay focused on your work.

Design a YouTube thumbnail

How to make YouTube thumbnails

Growing an audience on YouTube takes work. The Marq Youtube thumbnail creator takes some of that effort off your shoulders with the ability to convert any document into a personal template. That way, once you have the perfect YouTube thumbnail, you can convert it to a template and reuse it with slight adjustments over and over again.

Step 1: Choose a layout

An effective YouTube thumbnail should drive interest in your video, show what the video is about and avoid being too busy.

Choosealayout

Step 2: Choose an image

Want to stand out in YouTube search results? Images with faces and bright colors do best at capturing the audience's attention. Choose a fun shot from the video itself or upload a photo related to the content.

Chooseanimage

Step 3: Brand the thumbnail

Incorporate your brand colors and your brand logos into the thumbnail to drive brand recognition and awareness.

Brandthethumbnail

Step 4: Download and share

Share your thumbnail with with the world. Download a high quality image and upload it to YouTube.

Downloadandshare

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Frequently asked questions

What is the importance of a compelling YouTube thumbnail?

A captivating thumbnail is crucial for drawing viewers to your videos. It serves as a visual preview and can significantly impact whether users click to watch. A well-designed thumbnail can increase your video's click-through rate and overall engagement.

Can I use my own images and graphics in the thumbnails?

Absolutely! Marq's YouTube thumbnail maker allows you to upload your own images, logos, and graphics to create personalized and branded thumbnails. You can make your thumbnails consistent with your channel's identity.

Are there design guidelines I should follow for YouTube thumbnails?

Yes, YouTube has specific recommendations for thumbnails. It's advisable to use images with a resolution of 1280x720 pixels, follow a 16:9 aspect ratio, and ensure the thumbnail remains clear and legible even at smaller sizes. Marq's thumbnail maker helps you design within these guidelines.

Can I track the performance of my thumbnails?

While Marq's thumbnail maker doesn't directly offer performance tracking, YouTube's analytics provide insights into how your thumbnails are performing. You can see metrics like click-through rate (CTR) and views to assess which thumbnails are driving the most engagement and adjust your designs accordingly.