"A Complete Guide to Crafting Best-in-Class YT Thumbnails for 2024"

"A Complete Guide to Crafting Best-in-Class YT Thumbnails for 2024"

Steven Lv12

A Complete Guide to Crafting Best-in-Class YT Thumbnails

Best YouTube Thumbnail Size: How to Make a Thumbnail for YouTube in 2024

author avatar

Benjamin Arango

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

You must have heard the phrase, Never judge a book by its cover. But actually, we do judge everything by its cover. The same is the case with Youtube videos. No matter how good the content of your video is if you are unable to convey that with the thumbnail of your video, it will not bring any good to your channel. If you are looking forward to growing your channel and attracting more viewers, then having an appealing and eye-catching thumbnail is one of the most important factors. There are several things to be considered while creating a custom thumbnail if you want to make your videos look stunning and engaging. By following all these points, you can increase the chances of your channel’s growth.


In this article, we have 5 chapters for you:


Best YouTube Thumbnail Size

Being a content creator, you never know which device is being used by the viewer to watch your videos. It can be a smartphone, laptop, pc, or smart TV. It is very important to keep all these devices in mind while choosing a Youtube thumbnail size. For the best possible results, consider the following points while making a thumbnail for your Youtube videos.

  • To cover all the devices perfectly, set the thumbnail resolution to 1280x720
  • Save the thumbnail in JPG, GIF, or PNG format
  • Try not to cross the 2MB limit
  • Make sure to use a 16:9 aspect ratio for perfect results throughout the devices

youtube-thumbnail-size


How Important is a Custom Thumbnail?

Custom Thumbnail is a tool through which the viewers can understand everything about a video. It tells the viewers what to expect from a video, what not to expect, and what the video is all about. no matter if you create amazing content, if the thumbnail is not good enough to covey that to the viewers, all your hard work will be of no use and will not bring any good to your channel and its growth. According to Google ,90% of best-performing videos have custom thumbnails. It shows the importance of custom thumbnails.

piechart-importance-of-custom-thumbnail.png


Best Practice From Experiences

Now, since we know the importance of having a custom thumbnail, it is important to know how to make a thumbnail for Youtube look perfect, appealing, and eye-catching at the same time. There are some points to be considered while creating a thumbnail for Youtube. We will provide you with the best practices that we have learned throughout our journey of using Youtube and growing it from zero.

7 best practices can help you make your Youtube thumbnail stand out from the crowd and make its way out.

  1. Show your face

In a world full of machines and computers, people love to listen and interact with people instead of computer-generated voices and a voice without a face. Showing your face on a Youtube thumbnail makes it more appealing to users to click and listen to the person who is being shown in the thumbnail. Humans are more inclined towards faces. When there is a human element in a video, it increases its effectiveness. Check out the pics below, which one are you most likely to click through?

comparison-of-showing-face-or-not

  1. Use Simple Fonts

With your face, it is necessary to put some text on your Youtube thumbnail to let viewers know what this video is all about without clicking or watching it. Don’t use fancy fonts on Youtube thumbnail. It makes it hard for the viewers to read and understand what to expect in the video, especially for those watching YouTube on their 5 inches screen smartphone, ultimately decreasing the chances of your video being clicked and watched. I personally recommend you to use give these fonts a go while making YouTube thumbnail.

simple-fonts-recommended

  1. Use Phrases, not sentence

If you have ever noticed, Youtube thumbnails are very small in size, making it hard for viewers to notice any small elements. According to YouTube , more than 70% of Youtube watch time comes from mobile devices. While adding text in a thumbnail, instead of using sentences, make sure to use only words and make them large in size that can easily be noticed on small screens. Summurise your video in no more than 5 words.

piechart-youtube-watchtime-percentage

use-phrases-not-sentences

  1. Put every stuff on left side

When we navigate to a Youtube thumbnail and place the cursor on it, it shows us two icons, “Watch Later” and “Add to Queue,” located on its right size. Come on, you don’t want your beautiful thumbnail that cost you a few hours be covered. To avoid these icons from hiding your important stuff of thumbnail, make sure to put everything on the right side of your thumbnail.

put-stuff-on-left

  1. Have a unique and Consistent style

Try to make all your thumbnails follow the same style. Following the same style for all your Youtube thumbnails will make your channel look unique and all your videos identical. It will be easy for viewers to identify your videos when they see them. It gives your channel a touch of its unique brand.

unique-and-consistent-style

  1. Use elements to grab the attention

To make your Youtube thumbnail more appealing to the viewers, add circles and arrows to grab viewers’ attention to something very important in the video. It will increase the curiosity in the viewers and make them click your videos to learn more.

use-elements-to-grab-attention

  1. Choose the right tool

This whole process seems to be very hectic and time taking, but do you know, you can do everything on just one software? There is no need to edit a video in a different software then make a thumbnail in another software. With Filmora X, you can perform all these tasks on a single platform with so many amazing features. Whether you want to remove the background of your image or add attractive titles to it, Filmora X has got you covered.

  1. Avoid clickbait and irrelevant pics and title

It is one of the old tricks that so many people on Youtube use. It undoubtedly brings you clicks and more views, but once the viewer realizes that you have used irrelevant pictures or texts to attract them**. I**n reality, your video doesn’t contain any information related to it, you are going to lose their trust. They are never going to click on your videos again. Even if you don’t use such a trick anymore. Try to avoid such activities. Avoiding such activities can make your channel grow in the long term. Only use the text and images that are relevant to your content and stick to that.

  1. Choose your preview window wisely

Do you know that Youtube can show a 3-second preview of your video when someone hovers the cursor over it? It is one of the best ways to show the viewers the content of your video even when they don’t click on your video. These three seconds will help them decide whether to click on your video or not. This preview is selected by the system from the first half of your video according to its relevance and similarity with the topic. That’s why it is very important to add related information in the first half of the video, otherwise, Youtube will choose it randomly. If the preview is not selected for two days, it means your video is not eligible for it.

choose-preview-wisely


How to Make a Fortnite Thumbnail Super Fast and Free?

Many of you might be interested in how to make a fortnite thumbnail, so here it is. To make a Fortnite thumbnail for free, we are going to use Filmora X. Filmora X contains all kinds of features and elements that are required for a perfect and eye-catching thumbnail. To get started, make sure to download and install the latest version of Filmora X.

  1. Before we start making Fortnite Thumbnails, we have to take a screenshot of the gameplay. Open Fortnite and go to the Career tab. Here you will find Replays.

 make-fortnite-thumbnail-step1

  1. It contains all your recent gameplays. We can use it to take a screenshot. If you are using a console, you will find 10 recent gameplays here. But if you are a PC user, you can find the last 100 gameplays. Select the gameplay you want to take a screenshot from.

 make-fortnite-thumbnail-step2

  1. For our preferred angle, choose “Drone Free Camera” mode from the bottom right corner of the screen. It will allow us to use our preferred angle without any restriction. Choose an angle and take a screenshot.

 make-fortnite-thumbnail-step3

  1. Open Filmora X, make sure to select the 16:9 screen ratio. Import the screenshot that you have taken from Fortnite.

 make-fortnite-thumbnail-step4

  1. Place it into the timeline to start working on it.

 make-fortnite-thumbnail-step5

  1. Now to separate the character from the background, go to the Effects. Under effects, you can find a tab named AI Portraits. Click on AI Portrait. Now drag the Human Segmentation and drop it on the screenshot in the timeline.

 make-fortnite-thumbnail-step6

  1. It will ask you to purchase it. But there is no need to do that. Just hit Try It.

 make-fortnite-thumbnail-step7

  1. This effect will remove the background of your screenshot.

 make-fortnite-thumbnail-step8

  1. Now you can add a background of your choice. You can upload an image or choose a simple color from Filmora’s Media tab and drag it below the screenshot in the timeline.

 make-fortnite-thumbnail-step9

  1. To add text to the screenshot, go to Titles. Here you can find a wide range of different and unique titles to choose from for your Fortnite Thumbnail. Choose any of the titles and place them accordingly.

 make-fortnite-thumbnail-step10

  1. To make it more attractive, we can add icons and other elements from Filmora’s Element tab. You can also download the stickers from the internet and use them.

 make-fortnite-thumbnail-step11

  1. After completing the thumbnail, click on the Snapshot icon located below the preview tab of Filmora. Or press “CTRL+ALT+S”. It will save a screenshot into the media panel of Filmora.

 make-fortnite-thumbnail-step12

  1. Right-click on the screenshot and navigate to “Reveal in Explorer”. It will open the folder that contains all the screenshots taken from Filmora. Now you can use it as a Fortnite Thumbnail.

 make-fortnite-thumbnail-step13


How to Add a Custom YouTube Thumbnail to Your Video in YouTube

Once you have successfully created a custom thumbnail, you can use it in your videos on Youtube.

  1. Open Youtube Studio and upload your video. While uploading the video, you can see a section named “Thumbnail”. Under this section, click on “Upload Thumbnail”.

how-to-add-custom-youtube-thumbnail-to-video-step1

  1. Select the thumbnail that you have made. Just like the one Fortnite thumbnail that we have created using Filmora X.

how-to-add-custom-youtube-thumbnail-to-video-step2

  1. The thumbnail will be uploaded and attached to the video. Now you can process all the settings and publish the video.

how-to-add-custom-youtube-thumbnail-to-video-step3

Conclusion

Thumbnail is the first thing that helps the viewer decide whether to click on a video or ignore it. Which increases the importance of having a well-structured and attractive thumbnail. By following the above guide, you can make an astonishing and clickable thumbnail in no time. For better and quick results, we recommend you using Filmora X. It allows you to perform all the tasks from video editing to thumbnail creation on a single platform.

Download Win VersionDownload Mac Version

author avatar

Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

You must have heard the phrase, Never judge a book by its cover. But actually, we do judge everything by its cover. The same is the case with Youtube videos. No matter how good the content of your video is if you are unable to convey that with the thumbnail of your video, it will not bring any good to your channel. If you are looking forward to growing your channel and attracting more viewers, then having an appealing and eye-catching thumbnail is one of the most important factors. There are several things to be considered while creating a custom thumbnail if you want to make your videos look stunning and engaging. By following all these points, you can increase the chances of your channel’s growth.


In this article, we have 5 chapters for you:


Best YouTube Thumbnail Size

Being a content creator, you never know which device is being used by the viewer to watch your videos. It can be a smartphone, laptop, pc, or smart TV. It is very important to keep all these devices in mind while choosing a Youtube thumbnail size. For the best possible results, consider the following points while making a thumbnail for your Youtube videos.

  • To cover all the devices perfectly, set the thumbnail resolution to 1280x720
  • Save the thumbnail in JPG, GIF, or PNG format
  • Try not to cross the 2MB limit
  • Make sure to use a 16:9 aspect ratio for perfect results throughout the devices

youtube-thumbnail-size


How Important is a Custom Thumbnail?

Custom Thumbnail is a tool through which the viewers can understand everything about a video. It tells the viewers what to expect from a video, what not to expect, and what the video is all about. no matter if you create amazing content, if the thumbnail is not good enough to covey that to the viewers, all your hard work will be of no use and will not bring any good to your channel and its growth. According to Google ,90% of best-performing videos have custom thumbnails. It shows the importance of custom thumbnails.

piechart-importance-of-custom-thumbnail.png


Best Practice From Experiences

Now, since we know the importance of having a custom thumbnail, it is important to know how to make a thumbnail for Youtube look perfect, appealing, and eye-catching at the same time. There are some points to be considered while creating a thumbnail for Youtube. We will provide you with the best practices that we have learned throughout our journey of using Youtube and growing it from zero.

7 best practices can help you make your Youtube thumbnail stand out from the crowd and make its way out.

  1. Show your face

In a world full of machines and computers, people love to listen and interact with people instead of computer-generated voices and a voice without a face. Showing your face on a Youtube thumbnail makes it more appealing to users to click and listen to the person who is being shown in the thumbnail. Humans are more inclined towards faces. When there is a human element in a video, it increases its effectiveness. Check out the pics below, which one are you most likely to click through?

comparison-of-showing-face-or-not

  1. Use Simple Fonts

With your face, it is necessary to put some text on your Youtube thumbnail to let viewers know what this video is all about without clicking or watching it. Don’t use fancy fonts on Youtube thumbnail. It makes it hard for the viewers to read and understand what to expect in the video, especially for those watching YouTube on their 5 inches screen smartphone, ultimately decreasing the chances of your video being clicked and watched. I personally recommend you to use give these fonts a go while making YouTube thumbnail.

simple-fonts-recommended

  1. Use Phrases, not sentence

If you have ever noticed, Youtube thumbnails are very small in size, making it hard for viewers to notice any small elements. According to YouTube , more than 70% of Youtube watch time comes from mobile devices. While adding text in a thumbnail, instead of using sentences, make sure to use only words and make them large in size that can easily be noticed on small screens. Summurise your video in no more than 5 words.

piechart-youtube-watchtime-percentage

use-phrases-not-sentences

  1. Put every stuff on left side

When we navigate to a Youtube thumbnail and place the cursor on it, it shows us two icons, “Watch Later” and “Add to Queue,” located on its right size. Come on, you don’t want your beautiful thumbnail that cost you a few hours be covered. To avoid these icons from hiding your important stuff of thumbnail, make sure to put everything on the right side of your thumbnail.

put-stuff-on-left

  1. Have a unique and Consistent style

Try to make all your thumbnails follow the same style. Following the same style for all your Youtube thumbnails will make your channel look unique and all your videos identical. It will be easy for viewers to identify your videos when they see them. It gives your channel a touch of its unique brand.

unique-and-consistent-style

  1. Use elements to grab the attention

To make your Youtube thumbnail more appealing to the viewers, add circles and arrows to grab viewers’ attention to something very important in the video. It will increase the curiosity in the viewers and make them click your videos to learn more.

use-elements-to-grab-attention

  1. Choose the right tool

This whole process seems to be very hectic and time taking, but do you know, you can do everything on just one software? There is no need to edit a video in a different software then make a thumbnail in another software. With Filmora X, you can perform all these tasks on a single platform with so many amazing features. Whether you want to remove the background of your image or add attractive titles to it, Filmora X has got you covered.

  1. Avoid clickbait and irrelevant pics and title

It is one of the old tricks that so many people on Youtube use. It undoubtedly brings you clicks and more views, but once the viewer realizes that you have used irrelevant pictures or texts to attract them**. I**n reality, your video doesn’t contain any information related to it, you are going to lose their trust. They are never going to click on your videos again. Even if you don’t use such a trick anymore. Try to avoid such activities. Avoiding such activities can make your channel grow in the long term. Only use the text and images that are relevant to your content and stick to that.

  1. Choose your preview window wisely

Do you know that Youtube can show a 3-second preview of your video when someone hovers the cursor over it? It is one of the best ways to show the viewers the content of your video even when they don’t click on your video. These three seconds will help them decide whether to click on your video or not. This preview is selected by the system from the first half of your video according to its relevance and similarity with the topic. That’s why it is very important to add related information in the first half of the video, otherwise, Youtube will choose it randomly. If the preview is not selected for two days, it means your video is not eligible for it.

choose-preview-wisely


How to Make a Fortnite Thumbnail Super Fast and Free?

Many of you might be interested in how to make a fortnite thumbnail, so here it is. To make a Fortnite thumbnail for free, we are going to use Filmora X. Filmora X contains all kinds of features and elements that are required for a perfect and eye-catching thumbnail. To get started, make sure to download and install the latest version of Filmora X.

  1. Before we start making Fortnite Thumbnails, we have to take a screenshot of the gameplay. Open Fortnite and go to the Career tab. Here you will find Replays.

 make-fortnite-thumbnail-step1

  1. It contains all your recent gameplays. We can use it to take a screenshot. If you are using a console, you will find 10 recent gameplays here. But if you are a PC user, you can find the last 100 gameplays. Select the gameplay you want to take a screenshot from.

 make-fortnite-thumbnail-step2

  1. For our preferred angle, choose “Drone Free Camera” mode from the bottom right corner of the screen. It will allow us to use our preferred angle without any restriction. Choose an angle and take a screenshot.

 make-fortnite-thumbnail-step3

  1. Open Filmora X, make sure to select the 16:9 screen ratio. Import the screenshot that you have taken from Fortnite.

 make-fortnite-thumbnail-step4

  1. Place it into the timeline to start working on it.

 make-fortnite-thumbnail-step5

  1. Now to separate the character from the background, go to the Effects. Under effects, you can find a tab named AI Portraits. Click on AI Portrait. Now drag the Human Segmentation and drop it on the screenshot in the timeline.

 make-fortnite-thumbnail-step6

  1. It will ask you to purchase it. But there is no need to do that. Just hit Try It.

 make-fortnite-thumbnail-step7

  1. This effect will remove the background of your screenshot.

 make-fortnite-thumbnail-step8

  1. Now you can add a background of your choice. You can upload an image or choose a simple color from Filmora’s Media tab and drag it below the screenshot in the timeline.

 make-fortnite-thumbnail-step9

  1. To add text to the screenshot, go to Titles. Here you can find a wide range of different and unique titles to choose from for your Fortnite Thumbnail. Choose any of the titles and place them accordingly.

 make-fortnite-thumbnail-step10

  1. To make it more attractive, we can add icons and other elements from Filmora’s Element tab. You can also download the stickers from the internet and use them.

 make-fortnite-thumbnail-step11

  1. After completing the thumbnail, click on the Snapshot icon located below the preview tab of Filmora. Or press “CTRL+ALT+S”. It will save a screenshot into the media panel of Filmora.

 make-fortnite-thumbnail-step12

  1. Right-click on the screenshot and navigate to “Reveal in Explorer”. It will open the folder that contains all the screenshots taken from Filmora. Now you can use it as a Fortnite Thumbnail.

 make-fortnite-thumbnail-step13


How to Add a Custom YouTube Thumbnail to Your Video in YouTube

Once you have successfully created a custom thumbnail, you can use it in your videos on Youtube.

  1. Open Youtube Studio and upload your video. While uploading the video, you can see a section named “Thumbnail”. Under this section, click on “Upload Thumbnail”.

how-to-add-custom-youtube-thumbnail-to-video-step1

  1. Select the thumbnail that you have made. Just like the one Fortnite thumbnail that we have created using Filmora X.

how-to-add-custom-youtube-thumbnail-to-video-step2

  1. The thumbnail will be uploaded and attached to the video. Now you can process all the settings and publish the video.

how-to-add-custom-youtube-thumbnail-to-video-step3

Conclusion

Thumbnail is the first thing that helps the viewer decide whether to click on a video or ignore it. Which increases the importance of having a well-structured and attractive thumbnail. By following the above guide, you can make an astonishing and clickable thumbnail in no time. For better and quick results, we recommend you using Filmora X. It allows you to perform all the tasks from video editing to thumbnail creation on a single platform.

Download Win VersionDownload Mac Version

author avatar

Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

You must have heard the phrase, Never judge a book by its cover. But actually, we do judge everything by its cover. The same is the case with Youtube videos. No matter how good the content of your video is if you are unable to convey that with the thumbnail of your video, it will not bring any good to your channel. If you are looking forward to growing your channel and attracting more viewers, then having an appealing and eye-catching thumbnail is one of the most important factors. There are several things to be considered while creating a custom thumbnail if you want to make your videos look stunning and engaging. By following all these points, you can increase the chances of your channel’s growth.


In this article, we have 5 chapters for you:


Best YouTube Thumbnail Size

Being a content creator, you never know which device is being used by the viewer to watch your videos. It can be a smartphone, laptop, pc, or smart TV. It is very important to keep all these devices in mind while choosing a Youtube thumbnail size. For the best possible results, consider the following points while making a thumbnail for your Youtube videos.

  • To cover all the devices perfectly, set the thumbnail resolution to 1280x720
  • Save the thumbnail in JPG, GIF, or PNG format
  • Try not to cross the 2MB limit
  • Make sure to use a 16:9 aspect ratio for perfect results throughout the devices

youtube-thumbnail-size


How Important is a Custom Thumbnail?

Custom Thumbnail is a tool through which the viewers can understand everything about a video. It tells the viewers what to expect from a video, what not to expect, and what the video is all about. no matter if you create amazing content, if the thumbnail is not good enough to covey that to the viewers, all your hard work will be of no use and will not bring any good to your channel and its growth. According to Google ,90% of best-performing videos have custom thumbnails. It shows the importance of custom thumbnails.

piechart-importance-of-custom-thumbnail.png


Best Practice From Experiences

Now, since we know the importance of having a custom thumbnail, it is important to know how to make a thumbnail for Youtube look perfect, appealing, and eye-catching at the same time. There are some points to be considered while creating a thumbnail for Youtube. We will provide you with the best practices that we have learned throughout our journey of using Youtube and growing it from zero.

7 best practices can help you make your Youtube thumbnail stand out from the crowd and make its way out.

  1. Show your face

In a world full of machines and computers, people love to listen and interact with people instead of computer-generated voices and a voice without a face. Showing your face on a Youtube thumbnail makes it more appealing to users to click and listen to the person who is being shown in the thumbnail. Humans are more inclined towards faces. When there is a human element in a video, it increases its effectiveness. Check out the pics below, which one are you most likely to click through?

comparison-of-showing-face-or-not

  1. Use Simple Fonts

With your face, it is necessary to put some text on your Youtube thumbnail to let viewers know what this video is all about without clicking or watching it. Don’t use fancy fonts on Youtube thumbnail. It makes it hard for the viewers to read and understand what to expect in the video, especially for those watching YouTube on their 5 inches screen smartphone, ultimately decreasing the chances of your video being clicked and watched. I personally recommend you to use give these fonts a go while making YouTube thumbnail.

simple-fonts-recommended

  1. Use Phrases, not sentence

If you have ever noticed, Youtube thumbnails are very small in size, making it hard for viewers to notice any small elements. According to YouTube , more than 70% of Youtube watch time comes from mobile devices. While adding text in a thumbnail, instead of using sentences, make sure to use only words and make them large in size that can easily be noticed on small screens. Summurise your video in no more than 5 words.

piechart-youtube-watchtime-percentage

use-phrases-not-sentences

  1. Put every stuff on left side

When we navigate to a Youtube thumbnail and place the cursor on it, it shows us two icons, “Watch Later” and “Add to Queue,” located on its right size. Come on, you don’t want your beautiful thumbnail that cost you a few hours be covered. To avoid these icons from hiding your important stuff of thumbnail, make sure to put everything on the right side of your thumbnail.

put-stuff-on-left

  1. Have a unique and Consistent style

Try to make all your thumbnails follow the same style. Following the same style for all your Youtube thumbnails will make your channel look unique and all your videos identical. It will be easy for viewers to identify your videos when they see them. It gives your channel a touch of its unique brand.

unique-and-consistent-style

  1. Use elements to grab the attention

To make your Youtube thumbnail more appealing to the viewers, add circles and arrows to grab viewers’ attention to something very important in the video. It will increase the curiosity in the viewers and make them click your videos to learn more.

use-elements-to-grab-attention

  1. Choose the right tool

This whole process seems to be very hectic and time taking, but do you know, you can do everything on just one software? There is no need to edit a video in a different software then make a thumbnail in another software. With Filmora X, you can perform all these tasks on a single platform with so many amazing features. Whether you want to remove the background of your image or add attractive titles to it, Filmora X has got you covered.

  1. Avoid clickbait and irrelevant pics and title

It is one of the old tricks that so many people on Youtube use. It undoubtedly brings you clicks and more views, but once the viewer realizes that you have used irrelevant pictures or texts to attract them**. I**n reality, your video doesn’t contain any information related to it, you are going to lose their trust. They are never going to click on your videos again. Even if you don’t use such a trick anymore. Try to avoid such activities. Avoiding such activities can make your channel grow in the long term. Only use the text and images that are relevant to your content and stick to that.

  1. Choose your preview window wisely

Do you know that Youtube can show a 3-second preview of your video when someone hovers the cursor over it? It is one of the best ways to show the viewers the content of your video even when they don’t click on your video. These three seconds will help them decide whether to click on your video or not. This preview is selected by the system from the first half of your video according to its relevance and similarity with the topic. That’s why it is very important to add related information in the first half of the video, otherwise, Youtube will choose it randomly. If the preview is not selected for two days, it means your video is not eligible for it.

choose-preview-wisely


How to Make a Fortnite Thumbnail Super Fast and Free?

Many of you might be interested in how to make a fortnite thumbnail, so here it is. To make a Fortnite thumbnail for free, we are going to use Filmora X. Filmora X contains all kinds of features and elements that are required for a perfect and eye-catching thumbnail. To get started, make sure to download and install the latest version of Filmora X.

  1. Before we start making Fortnite Thumbnails, we have to take a screenshot of the gameplay. Open Fortnite and go to the Career tab. Here you will find Replays.

 make-fortnite-thumbnail-step1

  1. It contains all your recent gameplays. We can use it to take a screenshot. If you are using a console, you will find 10 recent gameplays here. But if you are a PC user, you can find the last 100 gameplays. Select the gameplay you want to take a screenshot from.

 make-fortnite-thumbnail-step2

  1. For our preferred angle, choose “Drone Free Camera” mode from the bottom right corner of the screen. It will allow us to use our preferred angle without any restriction. Choose an angle and take a screenshot.

 make-fortnite-thumbnail-step3

  1. Open Filmora X, make sure to select the 16:9 screen ratio. Import the screenshot that you have taken from Fortnite.

 make-fortnite-thumbnail-step4

  1. Place it into the timeline to start working on it.

 make-fortnite-thumbnail-step5

  1. Now to separate the character from the background, go to the Effects. Under effects, you can find a tab named AI Portraits. Click on AI Portrait. Now drag the Human Segmentation and drop it on the screenshot in the timeline.

 make-fortnite-thumbnail-step6

  1. It will ask you to purchase it. But there is no need to do that. Just hit Try It.

 make-fortnite-thumbnail-step7

  1. This effect will remove the background of your screenshot.

 make-fortnite-thumbnail-step8

  1. Now you can add a background of your choice. You can upload an image or choose a simple color from Filmora’s Media tab and drag it below the screenshot in the timeline.

 make-fortnite-thumbnail-step9

  1. To add text to the screenshot, go to Titles. Here you can find a wide range of different and unique titles to choose from for your Fortnite Thumbnail. Choose any of the titles and place them accordingly.

 make-fortnite-thumbnail-step10

  1. To make it more attractive, we can add icons and other elements from Filmora’s Element tab. You can also download the stickers from the internet and use them.

 make-fortnite-thumbnail-step11

  1. After completing the thumbnail, click on the Snapshot icon located below the preview tab of Filmora. Or press “CTRL+ALT+S”. It will save a screenshot into the media panel of Filmora.

 make-fortnite-thumbnail-step12

  1. Right-click on the screenshot and navigate to “Reveal in Explorer”. It will open the folder that contains all the screenshots taken from Filmora. Now you can use it as a Fortnite Thumbnail.

 make-fortnite-thumbnail-step13


How to Add a Custom YouTube Thumbnail to Your Video in YouTube

Once you have successfully created a custom thumbnail, you can use it in your videos on Youtube.

  1. Open Youtube Studio and upload your video. While uploading the video, you can see a section named “Thumbnail”. Under this section, click on “Upload Thumbnail”.

how-to-add-custom-youtube-thumbnail-to-video-step1

  1. Select the thumbnail that you have made. Just like the one Fortnite thumbnail that we have created using Filmora X.

how-to-add-custom-youtube-thumbnail-to-video-step2

  1. The thumbnail will be uploaded and attached to the video. Now you can process all the settings and publish the video.

how-to-add-custom-youtube-thumbnail-to-video-step3

Conclusion

Thumbnail is the first thing that helps the viewer decide whether to click on a video or ignore it. Which increases the importance of having a well-structured and attractive thumbnail. By following the above guide, you can make an astonishing and clickable thumbnail in no time. For better and quick results, we recommend you using Filmora X. It allows you to perform all the tasks from video editing to thumbnail creation on a single platform.

Download Win VersionDownload Mac Version

author avatar

Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

You must have heard the phrase, Never judge a book by its cover. But actually, we do judge everything by its cover. The same is the case with Youtube videos. No matter how good the content of your video is if you are unable to convey that with the thumbnail of your video, it will not bring any good to your channel. If you are looking forward to growing your channel and attracting more viewers, then having an appealing and eye-catching thumbnail is one of the most important factors. There are several things to be considered while creating a custom thumbnail if you want to make your videos look stunning and engaging. By following all these points, you can increase the chances of your channel’s growth.


In this article, we have 5 chapters for you:


Best YouTube Thumbnail Size

Being a content creator, you never know which device is being used by the viewer to watch your videos. It can be a smartphone, laptop, pc, or smart TV. It is very important to keep all these devices in mind while choosing a Youtube thumbnail size. For the best possible results, consider the following points while making a thumbnail for your Youtube videos.

  • To cover all the devices perfectly, set the thumbnail resolution to 1280x720
  • Save the thumbnail in JPG, GIF, or PNG format
  • Try not to cross the 2MB limit
  • Make sure to use a 16:9 aspect ratio for perfect results throughout the devices

youtube-thumbnail-size


How Important is a Custom Thumbnail?

Custom Thumbnail is a tool through which the viewers can understand everything about a video. It tells the viewers what to expect from a video, what not to expect, and what the video is all about. no matter if you create amazing content, if the thumbnail is not good enough to covey that to the viewers, all your hard work will be of no use and will not bring any good to your channel and its growth. According to Google ,90% of best-performing videos have custom thumbnails. It shows the importance of custom thumbnails.

piechart-importance-of-custom-thumbnail.png


Best Practice From Experiences

Now, since we know the importance of having a custom thumbnail, it is important to know how to make a thumbnail for Youtube look perfect, appealing, and eye-catching at the same time. There are some points to be considered while creating a thumbnail for Youtube. We will provide you with the best practices that we have learned throughout our journey of using Youtube and growing it from zero.

7 best practices can help you make your Youtube thumbnail stand out from the crowd and make its way out.

  1. Show your face

In a world full of machines and computers, people love to listen and interact with people instead of computer-generated voices and a voice without a face. Showing your face on a Youtube thumbnail makes it more appealing to users to click and listen to the person who is being shown in the thumbnail. Humans are more inclined towards faces. When there is a human element in a video, it increases its effectiveness. Check out the pics below, which one are you most likely to click through?

comparison-of-showing-face-or-not

  1. Use Simple Fonts

With your face, it is necessary to put some text on your Youtube thumbnail to let viewers know what this video is all about without clicking or watching it. Don’t use fancy fonts on Youtube thumbnail. It makes it hard for the viewers to read and understand what to expect in the video, especially for those watching YouTube on their 5 inches screen smartphone, ultimately decreasing the chances of your video being clicked and watched. I personally recommend you to use give these fonts a go while making YouTube thumbnail.

simple-fonts-recommended

  1. Use Phrases, not sentence

If you have ever noticed, Youtube thumbnails are very small in size, making it hard for viewers to notice any small elements. According to YouTube , more than 70% of Youtube watch time comes from mobile devices. While adding text in a thumbnail, instead of using sentences, make sure to use only words and make them large in size that can easily be noticed on small screens. Summurise your video in no more than 5 words.

piechart-youtube-watchtime-percentage

use-phrases-not-sentences

  1. Put every stuff on left side

When we navigate to a Youtube thumbnail and place the cursor on it, it shows us two icons, “Watch Later” and “Add to Queue,” located on its right size. Come on, you don’t want your beautiful thumbnail that cost you a few hours be covered. To avoid these icons from hiding your important stuff of thumbnail, make sure to put everything on the right side of your thumbnail.

put-stuff-on-left

  1. Have a unique and Consistent style

Try to make all your thumbnails follow the same style. Following the same style for all your Youtube thumbnails will make your channel look unique and all your videos identical. It will be easy for viewers to identify your videos when they see them. It gives your channel a touch of its unique brand.

unique-and-consistent-style

  1. Use elements to grab the attention

To make your Youtube thumbnail more appealing to the viewers, add circles and arrows to grab viewers’ attention to something very important in the video. It will increase the curiosity in the viewers and make them click your videos to learn more.

use-elements-to-grab-attention

  1. Choose the right tool

This whole process seems to be very hectic and time taking, but do you know, you can do everything on just one software? There is no need to edit a video in a different software then make a thumbnail in another software. With Filmora X, you can perform all these tasks on a single platform with so many amazing features. Whether you want to remove the background of your image or add attractive titles to it, Filmora X has got you covered.

  1. Avoid clickbait and irrelevant pics and title

It is one of the old tricks that so many people on Youtube use. It undoubtedly brings you clicks and more views, but once the viewer realizes that you have used irrelevant pictures or texts to attract them**. I**n reality, your video doesn’t contain any information related to it, you are going to lose their trust. They are never going to click on your videos again. Even if you don’t use such a trick anymore. Try to avoid such activities. Avoiding such activities can make your channel grow in the long term. Only use the text and images that are relevant to your content and stick to that.

  1. Choose your preview window wisely

Do you know that Youtube can show a 3-second preview of your video when someone hovers the cursor over it? It is one of the best ways to show the viewers the content of your video even when they don’t click on your video. These three seconds will help them decide whether to click on your video or not. This preview is selected by the system from the first half of your video according to its relevance and similarity with the topic. That’s why it is very important to add related information in the first half of the video, otherwise, Youtube will choose it randomly. If the preview is not selected for two days, it means your video is not eligible for it.

choose-preview-wisely


How to Make a Fortnite Thumbnail Super Fast and Free?

Many of you might be interested in how to make a fortnite thumbnail, so here it is. To make a Fortnite thumbnail for free, we are going to use Filmora X. Filmora X contains all kinds of features and elements that are required for a perfect and eye-catching thumbnail. To get started, make sure to download and install the latest version of Filmora X.

  1. Before we start making Fortnite Thumbnails, we have to take a screenshot of the gameplay. Open Fortnite and go to the Career tab. Here you will find Replays.

 make-fortnite-thumbnail-step1

  1. It contains all your recent gameplays. We can use it to take a screenshot. If you are using a console, you will find 10 recent gameplays here. But if you are a PC user, you can find the last 100 gameplays. Select the gameplay you want to take a screenshot from.

 make-fortnite-thumbnail-step2

  1. For our preferred angle, choose “Drone Free Camera” mode from the bottom right corner of the screen. It will allow us to use our preferred angle without any restriction. Choose an angle and take a screenshot.

 make-fortnite-thumbnail-step3

  1. Open Filmora X, make sure to select the 16:9 screen ratio. Import the screenshot that you have taken from Fortnite.

 make-fortnite-thumbnail-step4

  1. Place it into the timeline to start working on it.

 make-fortnite-thumbnail-step5

  1. Now to separate the character from the background, go to the Effects. Under effects, you can find a tab named AI Portraits. Click on AI Portrait. Now drag the Human Segmentation and drop it on the screenshot in the timeline.

 make-fortnite-thumbnail-step6

  1. It will ask you to purchase it. But there is no need to do that. Just hit Try It.

 make-fortnite-thumbnail-step7

  1. This effect will remove the background of your screenshot.

 make-fortnite-thumbnail-step8

  1. Now you can add a background of your choice. You can upload an image or choose a simple color from Filmora’s Media tab and drag it below the screenshot in the timeline.

 make-fortnite-thumbnail-step9

  1. To add text to the screenshot, go to Titles. Here you can find a wide range of different and unique titles to choose from for your Fortnite Thumbnail. Choose any of the titles and place them accordingly.

 make-fortnite-thumbnail-step10

  1. To make it more attractive, we can add icons and other elements from Filmora’s Element tab. You can also download the stickers from the internet and use them.

 make-fortnite-thumbnail-step11

  1. After completing the thumbnail, click on the Snapshot icon located below the preview tab of Filmora. Or press “CTRL+ALT+S”. It will save a screenshot into the media panel of Filmora.

 make-fortnite-thumbnail-step12

  1. Right-click on the screenshot and navigate to “Reveal in Explorer”. It will open the folder that contains all the screenshots taken from Filmora. Now you can use it as a Fortnite Thumbnail.

 make-fortnite-thumbnail-step13


How to Add a Custom YouTube Thumbnail to Your Video in YouTube

Once you have successfully created a custom thumbnail, you can use it in your videos on Youtube.

  1. Open Youtube Studio and upload your video. While uploading the video, you can see a section named “Thumbnail”. Under this section, click on “Upload Thumbnail”.

how-to-add-custom-youtube-thumbnail-to-video-step1

  1. Select the thumbnail that you have made. Just like the one Fortnite thumbnail that we have created using Filmora X.

how-to-add-custom-youtube-thumbnail-to-video-step2

  1. The thumbnail will be uploaded and attached to the video. Now you can process all the settings and publish the video.

how-to-add-custom-youtube-thumbnail-to-video-step3

Conclusion

Thumbnail is the first thing that helps the viewer decide whether to click on a video or ignore it. Which increases the importance of having a well-structured and attractive thumbnail. By following the above guide, you can make an astonishing and clickable thumbnail in no time. For better and quick results, we recommend you using Filmora X. It allows you to perform all the tasks from video editing to thumbnail creation on a single platform.

Download Win VersionDownload Mac Version

author avatar

Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Benjamin Arango

Snappy Sounds: Discover Role Rhythms

Create High Quality YouTube Video - Wondershare Filmora

An easy and powerful YouTube video editor

Numerous video and audio effects to choose from

Detailed tutorials provided by the official channel

Try It Free Try It Free

The entertainment industry is continually taking the world by storm. Lots of improvements are on the rise, especially online. Several apps are now at your fingertip, and you can access lots of videos and music right from your mobile phone. The social media platform has made it easy for millions of users to access information from other creators and editors. From Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and the new kid in the block YouTube Shorts. And being that YouTube streaming service already harbors many users, Shorts has just come at the right time, with ready users at hand. Additionally, YouTube shorts music will spice up your listening experience like never before.

what is youtube shorts

In this article

01 What are YouTube Shorts?

02 Which role does music play in YouTube Shorts?

03 YouTube Shorts Music - Things You Need to Know

What are YouTube Shorts?

YouTube Shorts is an app feature in YouTube that was introduced in 2020. It has so far rolled out in more than 100 countries. It enables both artists and creators to compose short videos to express any feeling. It could be for entertainment or educational purposes. However, the videos are short, not exceeding 60 seconds, with a default length of 15 seconds. You also have the option to record your videos with music to add value to your video.

YouTube Shorts has two main features; a platform to watch short videos and a tool you can use to compose your own short-form videos. To watch the clip, just go to the “Homepage” and find several thumbnails for popular Shorts. Then click on a video and land on the vertical video player to watch the video. Likewise, you can use the thumbs up or down to like or dislike the video. Additionally, you can pause the video and post a comment or share the Shorts with other fans.

Which role does music play in YouTube Shorts?

Music is always soothing to the soul. And using YouTube shorts music is a quick way to boost your video performance. Check below the importance of using music in your Shorts.

- Generates important emotions

Music creates a good mood, giving your audience a positive feeling towards your YouTube Shorts. Any sound will touch the listener, making the videos more interesting and beautiful.

- Music is memorable

If you use a particular tune, then there is a way your listeners will think directly of you when they hear the tune. It gives more value to the Shorts. Choosing the right music for your Shorts video is also important .

- Music represents who you are

You may put across your message via Shorts but adding some music will help the viewer directly imagine your identity.

- For effective message

Music can stimulate actions, causing immediate attraction to the listener. Use YouTube Shorts music to emphasize the overall story.

YouTube Shorts Music - Things You Need to Know

1. How to add music to your YouTube Shorts video?

As a creator, it is ideal to know how to add music to your YouTube Shorts video. Follow these steps to add music using the YouTube Shorts creator tool camera.

Step 1. First, select the Shorts video that you want to add music to.

Step 2. Then click on the “YouTube Shorts creator camera” tool.

Step 3. You’ll then be directed to your camera where you’ll find the “Add Music” option.

Step 4. Then find a “Library of songs” from popular artists that you can use. Select the song you wish to use.

Step 5. Finally, tap the “Use This Sound” option found at the bottom of the screen. Then just cue up what part of the song to use on your Shorts and go-ahead to record and upload the video.

2. The sources of music for YouTube Shorts?

You can use any music clip as long as it is not a copyrighted piece of music. Bellow are common sources where to find background music for YouTube Shorts video.

YouTube Audio Library: This is the first place to source YouTube Shorts music. YouTube is free and contains tons of free songs. You can sort your selection by duration, genre, instrument, mood, etc. To access music, go to the “Creator Studio” > “Create” > “Audio Library” and select which music to use.

Free Music Archive: This is another free site where you can discover an array of curated background music for any type of content. You’ll get more than 1,500 tracks at the tap of a button.

SoundCloud: SoundCloud streaming music service lets you use its “Creative Commons” music as long as you follow the guidelines that are laid down by the artist.

Converted music from your computer: You can also download and convert available songs from Spotify, Amazon Music, Tidal, among other streaming services. Just get a music converter tool that will remove encryption from the tracks to make it free for use forever.

3. How to extend music on YouTube Shorts?

Even though the typical duration for YouTube Shorts music is 15 seconds, you can make them longer up to 60 seconds. Just record multiple clips at 15 seconds intervals that add up to 60 seconds.

4. Can I use my own audio in YouTube Shorts?

Yes, you can use your audio in YouTube Shorts. Several converter apps are available for downloading and converting music to playable formats. Filmora is one available tool that will provide free music and let you edit your videos with minimal effort. More so, you can import and export your music in any format to make stunning YouTube Shorts videos.

Key Features of Filmora
  • Edit and export your videos at a high resolution of up to 4K
  • Use it to add animated messages from the titles and text library
  • Easily adjust the audio of each music track on your timeline
  • Add any mood with its royalty-free songs and sound effects to YouTube Shorts videos
How to add a music track to your video with Filmora

1. First, open up Filmora and go to “Project Settings” and select the “Change project aspect ratio” option.

2. From the aspect ratio, select “9:16” portrait.

how to use your own music on youtube shorts

3. Then set the resolution according to your preference.

4. Next, select the “Frame rate” according to your existing video that you wish to convert into Shorts. Hit the “OK” button to save the settings.

5. Drag and drop your footage onto the timeline. Ensure you keep the project settings.

6. You can add text or music to your footage. To add music, first, download music from YouTube or other sources into your computer.

7. Then click on the “Audio” option from the “Menu” bar and choose music that’s already available on your PC.

choose audio to add to video

8. Next, import the music to the video. Just click on the “File” > “Import File” > “Import Video Files” option.

add audio to youtube shorts

9. Click on the “+” icon to add the music to your video.

10. You’ll then have the song onto your project.

Try It Free

For Win 7 or later (64-bit)

Try It Free

For macOS 10.12 or later

5. Do artists earn royalties from Shorts?

Yes. Artists do receive some revenue from their music if creators use their songs in YouTube Short videos. Royalties come from ad revenue but it will depend on the type of ad on the video. So, more popular videos get higher rates than non-popular ones.

6. What to post on YouTube Shorts?

You can post several videos to YouTube Shorts which include:

  • Tutorials: teach your viewers via YouTube Shorts.
  • Confessional videos: This is when you speak to your viewers about what you are passionate about.
  • Entertainment videos: You can also entertain your viewers with funny videos.

7. Can I promote my music on YouTube Shorts?

YouTube Shorts is a perfect platform to promote your music if you are an artist. You can either hire an influencer or do it yourself as an artist. These tips will help you to successfully promote your brand.

Be precise: Condense all the important details in your video and ensure the background music aligns with the theme.

Think widely: Check at what others are adding to their Shorts. You can include memes and other entertaining clips.

Post videos more often: Since YouTube Shorts are short videos that can’t accommodate so much information, try to post your videos more often so that your viewers follow up closely on what you are putting across.

Use catchy music: It doesn’t mean that the latest singles are more catchy or viral. Songs from a few years ago can also be equally catchy.

8. How are YouTube Shorts different from other short-form videos?

YouTube streaming service is already a popular platform that provides tones of music and video clips. Encompassing Shorts just pushed it at the forefront. The userbase is readily available and any Shorts you post will be widely viewed in over 100 countries. More so, you can extract music from the platform for use on your Shorts videos.

Conclusion

You can make a great milestone with YouTube Shorts music than if you didn’t use any. Music makes your videos catchy and interesting to viewers. Several platforms are available for sourcing music to use on your Shorts. More so, you can use the recommended app, Filmora, to add free music to your videos.

Try It Free Try It Free

The entertainment industry is continually taking the world by storm. Lots of improvements are on the rise, especially online. Several apps are now at your fingertip, and you can access lots of videos and music right from your mobile phone. The social media platform has made it easy for millions of users to access information from other creators and editors. From Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and the new kid in the block YouTube Shorts. And being that YouTube streaming service already harbors many users, Shorts has just come at the right time, with ready users at hand. Additionally, YouTube shorts music will spice up your listening experience like never before.

what is youtube shorts

In this article

01 What are YouTube Shorts?

02 Which role does music play in YouTube Shorts?

03 YouTube Shorts Music - Things You Need to Know

What are YouTube Shorts?

YouTube Shorts is an app feature in YouTube that was introduced in 2020. It has so far rolled out in more than 100 countries. It enables both artists and creators to compose short videos to express any feeling. It could be for entertainment or educational purposes. However, the videos are short, not exceeding 60 seconds, with a default length of 15 seconds. You also have the option to record your videos with music to add value to your video.

YouTube Shorts has two main features; a platform to watch short videos and a tool you can use to compose your own short-form videos. To watch the clip, just go to the “Homepage” and find several thumbnails for popular Shorts. Then click on a video and land on the vertical video player to watch the video. Likewise, you can use the thumbs up or down to like or dislike the video. Additionally, you can pause the video and post a comment or share the Shorts with other fans.

Which role does music play in YouTube Shorts?

Music is always soothing to the soul. And using YouTube shorts music is a quick way to boost your video performance. Check below the importance of using music in your Shorts.

- Generates important emotions

Music creates a good mood, giving your audience a positive feeling towards your YouTube Shorts. Any sound will touch the listener, making the videos more interesting and beautiful.

- Music is memorable

If you use a particular tune, then there is a way your listeners will think directly of you when they hear the tune. It gives more value to the Shorts. Choosing the right music for your Shorts video is also important .

- Music represents who you are

You may put across your message via Shorts but adding some music will help the viewer directly imagine your identity.

- For effective message

Music can stimulate actions, causing immediate attraction to the listener. Use YouTube Shorts music to emphasize the overall story.

YouTube Shorts Music - Things You Need to Know

1. How to add music to your YouTube Shorts video?

As a creator, it is ideal to know how to add music to your YouTube Shorts video. Follow these steps to add music using the YouTube Shorts creator tool camera.

Step 1. First, select the Shorts video that you want to add music to.

Step 2. Then click on the “YouTube Shorts creator camera” tool.

Step 3. You’ll then be directed to your camera where you’ll find the “Add Music” option.

Step 4. Then find a “Library of songs” from popular artists that you can use. Select the song you wish to use.

Step 5. Finally, tap the “Use This Sound” option found at the bottom of the screen. Then just cue up what part of the song to use on your Shorts and go-ahead to record and upload the video.

2. The sources of music for YouTube Shorts?

You can use any music clip as long as it is not a copyrighted piece of music. Bellow are common sources where to find background music for YouTube Shorts video.

YouTube Audio Library: This is the first place to source YouTube Shorts music. YouTube is free and contains tons of free songs. You can sort your selection by duration, genre, instrument, mood, etc. To access music, go to the “Creator Studio” > “Create” > “Audio Library” and select which music to use.

Free Music Archive: This is another free site where you can discover an array of curated background music for any type of content. You’ll get more than 1,500 tracks at the tap of a button.

SoundCloud: SoundCloud streaming music service lets you use its “Creative Commons” music as long as you follow the guidelines that are laid down by the artist.

Converted music from your computer: You can also download and convert available songs from Spotify, Amazon Music, Tidal, among other streaming services. Just get a music converter tool that will remove encryption from the tracks to make it free for use forever.

3. How to extend music on YouTube Shorts?

Even though the typical duration for YouTube Shorts music is 15 seconds, you can make them longer up to 60 seconds. Just record multiple clips at 15 seconds intervals that add up to 60 seconds.

4. Can I use my own audio in YouTube Shorts?

Yes, you can use your audio in YouTube Shorts. Several converter apps are available for downloading and converting music to playable formats. Filmora is one available tool that will provide free music and let you edit your videos with minimal effort. More so, you can import and export your music in any format to make stunning YouTube Shorts videos.

Key Features of Filmora
  • Edit and export your videos at a high resolution of up to 4K
  • Use it to add animated messages from the titles and text library
  • Easily adjust the audio of each music track on your timeline
  • Add any mood with its royalty-free songs and sound effects to YouTube Shorts videos
How to add a music track to your video with Filmora

1. First, open up Filmora and go to “Project Settings” and select the “Change project aspect ratio” option.

2. From the aspect ratio, select “9:16” portrait.

how to use your own music on youtube shorts

3. Then set the resolution according to your preference.

4. Next, select the “Frame rate” according to your existing video that you wish to convert into Shorts. Hit the “OK” button to save the settings.

5. Drag and drop your footage onto the timeline. Ensure you keep the project settings.

6. You can add text or music to your footage. To add music, first, download music from YouTube or other sources into your computer.

7. Then click on the “Audio” option from the “Menu” bar and choose music that’s already available on your PC.

choose audio to add to video

8. Next, import the music to the video. Just click on the “File” > “Import File” > “Import Video Files” option.

add audio to youtube shorts

9. Click on the “+” icon to add the music to your video.

10. You’ll then have the song onto your project.

Try It Free

For Win 7 or later (64-bit)

Try It Free

For macOS 10.12 or later

5. Do artists earn royalties from Shorts?

Yes. Artists do receive some revenue from their music if creators use their songs in YouTube Short videos. Royalties come from ad revenue but it will depend on the type of ad on the video. So, more popular videos get higher rates than non-popular ones.

6. What to post on YouTube Shorts?

You can post several videos to YouTube Shorts which include:

  • Tutorials: teach your viewers via YouTube Shorts.
  • Confessional videos: This is when you speak to your viewers about what you are passionate about.
  • Entertainment videos: You can also entertain your viewers with funny videos.

7. Can I promote my music on YouTube Shorts?

YouTube Shorts is a perfect platform to promote your music if you are an artist. You can either hire an influencer or do it yourself as an artist. These tips will help you to successfully promote your brand.

Be precise: Condense all the important details in your video and ensure the background music aligns with the theme.

Think widely: Check at what others are adding to their Shorts. You can include memes and other entertaining clips.

Post videos more often: Since YouTube Shorts are short videos that can’t accommodate so much information, try to post your videos more often so that your viewers follow up closely on what you are putting across.

Use catchy music: It doesn’t mean that the latest singles are more catchy or viral. Songs from a few years ago can also be equally catchy.

8. How are YouTube Shorts different from other short-form videos?

YouTube streaming service is already a popular platform that provides tones of music and video clips. Encompassing Shorts just pushed it at the forefront. The userbase is readily available and any Shorts you post will be widely viewed in over 100 countries. More so, you can extract music from the platform for use on your Shorts videos.

Conclusion

You can make a great milestone with YouTube Shorts music than if you didn’t use any. Music makes your videos catchy and interesting to viewers. Several platforms are available for sourcing music to use on your Shorts. More so, you can use the recommended app, Filmora, to add free music to your videos.

Try It Free Try It Free

The entertainment industry is continually taking the world by storm. Lots of improvements are on the rise, especially online. Several apps are now at your fingertip, and you can access lots of videos and music right from your mobile phone. The social media platform has made it easy for millions of users to access information from other creators and editors. From Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and the new kid in the block YouTube Shorts. And being that YouTube streaming service already harbors many users, Shorts has just come at the right time, with ready users at hand. Additionally, YouTube shorts music will spice up your listening experience like never before.

what is youtube shorts

In this article

01 What are YouTube Shorts?

02 Which role does music play in YouTube Shorts?

03 YouTube Shorts Music - Things You Need to Know

What are YouTube Shorts?

YouTube Shorts is an app feature in YouTube that was introduced in 2020. It has so far rolled out in more than 100 countries. It enables both artists and creators to compose short videos to express any feeling. It could be for entertainment or educational purposes. However, the videos are short, not exceeding 60 seconds, with a default length of 15 seconds. You also have the option to record your videos with music to add value to your video.

YouTube Shorts has two main features; a platform to watch short videos and a tool you can use to compose your own short-form videos. To watch the clip, just go to the “Homepage” and find several thumbnails for popular Shorts. Then click on a video and land on the vertical video player to watch the video. Likewise, you can use the thumbs up or down to like or dislike the video. Additionally, you can pause the video and post a comment or share the Shorts with other fans.

Which role does music play in YouTube Shorts?

Music is always soothing to the soul. And using YouTube shorts music is a quick way to boost your video performance. Check below the importance of using music in your Shorts.

- Generates important emotions

Music creates a good mood, giving your audience a positive feeling towards your YouTube Shorts. Any sound will touch the listener, making the videos more interesting and beautiful.

- Music is memorable

If you use a particular tune, then there is a way your listeners will think directly of you when they hear the tune. It gives more value to the Shorts. Choosing the right music for your Shorts video is also important .

- Music represents who you are

You may put across your message via Shorts but adding some music will help the viewer directly imagine your identity.

- For effective message

Music can stimulate actions, causing immediate attraction to the listener. Use YouTube Shorts music to emphasize the overall story.

YouTube Shorts Music - Things You Need to Know

1. How to add music to your YouTube Shorts video?

As a creator, it is ideal to know how to add music to your YouTube Shorts video. Follow these steps to add music using the YouTube Shorts creator tool camera.

Step 1. First, select the Shorts video that you want to add music to.

Step 2. Then click on the “YouTube Shorts creator camera” tool.

Step 3. You’ll then be directed to your camera where you’ll find the “Add Music” option.

Step 4. Then find a “Library of songs” from popular artists that you can use. Select the song you wish to use.

Step 5. Finally, tap the “Use This Sound” option found at the bottom of the screen. Then just cue up what part of the song to use on your Shorts and go-ahead to record and upload the video.

2. The sources of music for YouTube Shorts?

You can use any music clip as long as it is not a copyrighted piece of music. Bellow are common sources where to find background music for YouTube Shorts video.

YouTube Audio Library: This is the first place to source YouTube Shorts music. YouTube is free and contains tons of free songs. You can sort your selection by duration, genre, instrument, mood, etc. To access music, go to the “Creator Studio” > “Create” > “Audio Library” and select which music to use.

Free Music Archive: This is another free site where you can discover an array of curated background music for any type of content. You’ll get more than 1,500 tracks at the tap of a button.

SoundCloud: SoundCloud streaming music service lets you use its “Creative Commons” music as long as you follow the guidelines that are laid down by the artist.

Converted music from your computer: You can also download and convert available songs from Spotify, Amazon Music, Tidal, among other streaming services. Just get a music converter tool that will remove encryption from the tracks to make it free for use forever.

3. How to extend music on YouTube Shorts?

Even though the typical duration for YouTube Shorts music is 15 seconds, you can make them longer up to 60 seconds. Just record multiple clips at 15 seconds intervals that add up to 60 seconds.

4. Can I use my own audio in YouTube Shorts?

Yes, you can use your audio in YouTube Shorts. Several converter apps are available for downloading and converting music to playable formats. Filmora is one available tool that will provide free music and let you edit your videos with minimal effort. More so, you can import and export your music in any format to make stunning YouTube Shorts videos.

Key Features of Filmora
  • Edit and export your videos at a high resolution of up to 4K
  • Use it to add animated messages from the titles and text library
  • Easily adjust the audio of each music track on your timeline
  • Add any mood with its royalty-free songs and sound effects to YouTube Shorts videos
How to add a music track to your video with Filmora

1. First, open up Filmora and go to “Project Settings” and select the “Change project aspect ratio” option.

2. From the aspect ratio, select “9:16” portrait.

how to use your own music on youtube shorts

3. Then set the resolution according to your preference.

4. Next, select the “Frame rate” according to your existing video that you wish to convert into Shorts. Hit the “OK” button to save the settings.

5. Drag and drop your footage onto the timeline. Ensure you keep the project settings.

6. You can add text or music to your footage. To add music, first, download music from YouTube or other sources into your computer.

7. Then click on the “Audio” option from the “Menu” bar and choose music that’s already available on your PC.

choose audio to add to video

8. Next, import the music to the video. Just click on the “File” > “Import File” > “Import Video Files” option.

add audio to youtube shorts

9. Click on the “+” icon to add the music to your video.

10. You’ll then have the song onto your project.

Try It Free

For Win 7 or later (64-bit)

Try It Free

For macOS 10.12 or later

5. Do artists earn royalties from Shorts?

Yes. Artists do receive some revenue from their music if creators use their songs in YouTube Short videos. Royalties come from ad revenue but it will depend on the type of ad on the video. So, more popular videos get higher rates than non-popular ones.

6. What to post on YouTube Shorts?

You can post several videos to YouTube Shorts which include:

  • Tutorials: teach your viewers via YouTube Shorts.
  • Confessional videos: This is when you speak to your viewers about what you are passionate about.
  • Entertainment videos: You can also entertain your viewers with funny videos.

7. Can I promote my music on YouTube Shorts?

YouTube Shorts is a perfect platform to promote your music if you are an artist. You can either hire an influencer or do it yourself as an artist. These tips will help you to successfully promote your brand.

Be precise: Condense all the important details in your video and ensure the background music aligns with the theme.

Think widely: Check at what others are adding to their Shorts. You can include memes and other entertaining clips.

Post videos more often: Since YouTube Shorts are short videos that can’t accommodate so much information, try to post your videos more often so that your viewers follow up closely on what you are putting across.

Use catchy music: It doesn’t mean that the latest singles are more catchy or viral. Songs from a few years ago can also be equally catchy.

8. How are YouTube Shorts different from other short-form videos?

YouTube streaming service is already a popular platform that provides tones of music and video clips. Encompassing Shorts just pushed it at the forefront. The userbase is readily available and any Shorts you post will be widely viewed in over 100 countries. More so, you can extract music from the platform for use on your Shorts videos.

Conclusion

You can make a great milestone with YouTube Shorts music than if you didn’t use any. Music makes your videos catchy and interesting to viewers. Several platforms are available for sourcing music to use on your Shorts. More so, you can use the recommended app, Filmora, to add free music to your videos.

Try It Free Try It Free

The entertainment industry is continually taking the world by storm. Lots of improvements are on the rise, especially online. Several apps are now at your fingertip, and you can access lots of videos and music right from your mobile phone. The social media platform has made it easy for millions of users to access information from other creators and editors. From Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and the new kid in the block YouTube Shorts. And being that YouTube streaming service already harbors many users, Shorts has just come at the right time, with ready users at hand. Additionally, YouTube shorts music will spice up your listening experience like never before.

what is youtube shorts

In this article

01 What are YouTube Shorts?

02 Which role does music play in YouTube Shorts?

03 YouTube Shorts Music - Things You Need to Know

What are YouTube Shorts?

YouTube Shorts is an app feature in YouTube that was introduced in 2020. It has so far rolled out in more than 100 countries. It enables both artists and creators to compose short videos to express any feeling. It could be for entertainment or educational purposes. However, the videos are short, not exceeding 60 seconds, with a default length of 15 seconds. You also have the option to record your videos with music to add value to your video.

YouTube Shorts has two main features; a platform to watch short videos and a tool you can use to compose your own short-form videos. To watch the clip, just go to the “Homepage” and find several thumbnails for popular Shorts. Then click on a video and land on the vertical video player to watch the video. Likewise, you can use the thumbs up or down to like or dislike the video. Additionally, you can pause the video and post a comment or share the Shorts with other fans.

Which role does music play in YouTube Shorts?

Music is always soothing to the soul. And using YouTube shorts music is a quick way to boost your video performance. Check below the importance of using music in your Shorts.

- Generates important emotions

Music creates a good mood, giving your audience a positive feeling towards your YouTube Shorts. Any sound will touch the listener, making the videos more interesting and beautiful.

- Music is memorable

If you use a particular tune, then there is a way your listeners will think directly of you when they hear the tune. It gives more value to the Shorts. Choosing the right music for your Shorts video is also important .

- Music represents who you are

You may put across your message via Shorts but adding some music will help the viewer directly imagine your identity.

- For effective message

Music can stimulate actions, causing immediate attraction to the listener. Use YouTube Shorts music to emphasize the overall story.

YouTube Shorts Music - Things You Need to Know

1. How to add music to your YouTube Shorts video?

As a creator, it is ideal to know how to add music to your YouTube Shorts video. Follow these steps to add music using the YouTube Shorts creator tool camera.

Step 1. First, select the Shorts video that you want to add music to.

Step 2. Then click on the “YouTube Shorts creator camera” tool.

Step 3. You’ll then be directed to your camera where you’ll find the “Add Music” option.

Step 4. Then find a “Library of songs” from popular artists that you can use. Select the song you wish to use.

Step 5. Finally, tap the “Use This Sound” option found at the bottom of the screen. Then just cue up what part of the song to use on your Shorts and go-ahead to record and upload the video.

2. The sources of music for YouTube Shorts?

You can use any music clip as long as it is not a copyrighted piece of music. Bellow are common sources where to find background music for YouTube Shorts video.

YouTube Audio Library: This is the first place to source YouTube Shorts music. YouTube is free and contains tons of free songs. You can sort your selection by duration, genre, instrument, mood, etc. To access music, go to the “Creator Studio” > “Create” > “Audio Library” and select which music to use.

Free Music Archive: This is another free site where you can discover an array of curated background music for any type of content. You’ll get more than 1,500 tracks at the tap of a button.

SoundCloud: SoundCloud streaming music service lets you use its “Creative Commons” music as long as you follow the guidelines that are laid down by the artist.

Converted music from your computer: You can also download and convert available songs from Spotify, Amazon Music, Tidal, among other streaming services. Just get a music converter tool that will remove encryption from the tracks to make it free for use forever.

3. How to extend music on YouTube Shorts?

Even though the typical duration for YouTube Shorts music is 15 seconds, you can make them longer up to 60 seconds. Just record multiple clips at 15 seconds intervals that add up to 60 seconds.

4. Can I use my own audio in YouTube Shorts?

Yes, you can use your audio in YouTube Shorts. Several converter apps are available for downloading and converting music to playable formats. Filmora is one available tool that will provide free music and let you edit your videos with minimal effort. More so, you can import and export your music in any format to make stunning YouTube Shorts videos.

Key Features of Filmora
  • Edit and export your videos at a high resolution of up to 4K
  • Use it to add animated messages from the titles and text library
  • Easily adjust the audio of each music track on your timeline
  • Add any mood with its royalty-free songs and sound effects to YouTube Shorts videos
How to add a music track to your video with Filmora

1. First, open up Filmora and go to “Project Settings” and select the “Change project aspect ratio” option.

2. From the aspect ratio, select “9:16” portrait.

how to use your own music on youtube shorts

3. Then set the resolution according to your preference.

4. Next, select the “Frame rate” according to your existing video that you wish to convert into Shorts. Hit the “OK” button to save the settings.

5. Drag and drop your footage onto the timeline. Ensure you keep the project settings.

6. You can add text or music to your footage. To add music, first, download music from YouTube or other sources into your computer.

7. Then click on the “Audio” option from the “Menu” bar and choose music that’s already available on your PC.

choose audio to add to video

8. Next, import the music to the video. Just click on the “File” > “Import File” > “Import Video Files” option.

add audio to youtube shorts

9. Click on the “+” icon to add the music to your video.

10. You’ll then have the song onto your project.

Try It Free

For Win 7 or later (64-bit)

Try It Free

For macOS 10.12 or later

5. Do artists earn royalties from Shorts?

Yes. Artists do receive some revenue from their music if creators use their songs in YouTube Short videos. Royalties come from ad revenue but it will depend on the type of ad on the video. So, more popular videos get higher rates than non-popular ones.

6. What to post on YouTube Shorts?

You can post several videos to YouTube Shorts which include:

  • Tutorials: teach your viewers via YouTube Shorts.
  • Confessional videos: This is when you speak to your viewers about what you are passionate about.
  • Entertainment videos: You can also entertain your viewers with funny videos.

7. Can I promote my music on YouTube Shorts?

YouTube Shorts is a perfect platform to promote your music if you are an artist. You can either hire an influencer or do it yourself as an artist. These tips will help you to successfully promote your brand.

Be precise: Condense all the important details in your video and ensure the background music aligns with the theme.

Think widely: Check at what others are adding to their Shorts. You can include memes and other entertaining clips.

Post videos more often: Since YouTube Shorts are short videos that can’t accommodate so much information, try to post your videos more often so that your viewers follow up closely on what you are putting across.

Use catchy music: It doesn’t mean that the latest singles are more catchy or viral. Songs from a few years ago can also be equally catchy.

8. How are YouTube Shorts different from other short-form videos?

YouTube streaming service is already a popular platform that provides tones of music and video clips. Encompassing Shorts just pushed it at the forefront. The userbase is readily available and any Shorts you post will be widely viewed in over 100 countries. More so, you can extract music from the platform for use on your Shorts videos.

Conclusion

You can make a great milestone with YouTube Shorts music than if you didn’t use any. Music makes your videos catchy and interesting to viewers. Several platforms are available for sourcing music to use on your Shorts. More so, you can use the recommended app, Filmora, to add free music to your videos.

Also read:

  • Title: "A Complete Guide to Crafting Best-in-Class YT Thumbnails for 2024"
  • Author: Steven
  • Created at : 2024-05-25 18:42:45
  • Updated at : 2024-05-26 18:42:45
  • Link: https://youtube-clips.techidaily.com/a-complete-guide-to-crafting-best-in-class-yt-thumbnails-for-2024/
  • License: This work is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.
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"A Complete Guide to Crafting Best-in-Class YT Thumbnails for 2024"