Changing the thumbnail of a video on LinkedIn can help make your video stand out in the feed and attract more views. The thumbnail acts as a preview image that gives viewers a glimpse into what the video is about. Having an eye-catching and relevant thumbnail is key to getting people to click and watch your video.
Fortunately, LinkedIn makes it easy to customize the thumbnail for your videos. When you share a video on LinkedIn, you have the option to upload a custom thumbnail, rather than use the default thumbnail that is automatically generated from the video file.
In this detailed guide, we will walk through the step-by-step process of changing the thumbnail image for videos shared on LinkedIn. We will cover:
- The benefits of customizing video thumbnails on LinkedIn
- Recommended thumbnail sizes and dimensions
- How to create a custom thumbnail image using Canva or other editing tools
- Step-by-step instructions to upload and change the thumbnail image on LinkedIn
- Tips for creating effective and optimized thumbnails
Whether you want to make your video stand out more in the LinkedIn feed or test different thumbnails to see which one generates more engagement, learning how to change the thumbnail is a valuable skill for maximizing your LinkedIn video strategy.
Benefits of Custom Thumbnails on LinkedIn
Here are some of the key advantages of taking the time to create and upload custom thumbnails for your LinkedIn videos:
Increased Click-Through Rate
The thumbnail acts as a preview of your video and entices viewers to click and watch. An eye-catching and relevant custom thumbnail that represents your video well will get more people to click through and watch your full video. Using the default thumbnail from LinkedIn often does not communicate enough about what the video is about.
On-Brand Visuals
A custom thumbnail lets you incorporate visuals, graphics, text, and colors that are on-brand for your company or align with the specific video content. This creates a more seamless experience for viewers.
Improved Brand Recognition
Using consistent branding, logo, fonts, and visual style in your custom thumbnails makes your videos more recognizable in the LinkedIn feed. Viewers will begin to associate your style of thumbnails with your brand.
Better Video Previews
LinkedIn’s algorithm automatically selects a frame from the video to use as the default thumbnail. But this frame may not always represent the full content or subject of the video very well. A custom thumbnail ensures viewers see exactly what the video is about before clicking.
Higher Engagement
Videos with customized thumbnails tend to get higher view counts, more reactions, and more comments. The thumbnail gets people intrigued enough to watch and engage with the video.
A/B Testing Options
Custom thumbnails allow you to test out multiple variations to see which thumbnails perform the best in terms of views and engagement. You can iterate and improve over time.
More Professional Appearance
A high-quality customized thumbnail lends a polished, professional sheen to your videos in the LinkedIn feed compared to using the default preview image.
Ideal Thumbnail Size and Dimensions
When designing custom thumbnails for LinkedIn, there are recommended specifications you should follow:
160 x 114 Pixels
This is the minimum size for thumbnails on LinkedIn. Anything smaller may appear blurry or pixelated. The maximum file size LinkedIn allows for thumbnails is 5MB.
1.91:1 Aspect Ratio
LinkedIn recommends using a wide rectangular thumbnail with a 1.91:1 aspect ratio. This works well with the dimensions of the LinkedIn video player.
Landscape Orientation
Thumbnails must be in landscape orientation, which means the width is larger than the height. Portrait oriented images will not work properly.
High Resolution
Aim for the highest resolution possible for crisp, clear thumbnails. While the minimum is 160 x 114 pixels, if you can make the thumbnail at resolutions like 640 x 360 or 1280 x 720, it will display even better on high resolution screens.
Minimal Text
You can include some text on the thumbnails but keep it minimal. Too much text can appear cluttered and busy at the small thumbnail size. The focus should be on eye-catching visuals.
Creating Custom Thumbnails with Canva
One of the easiest ways to create stunning custom thumbnails for LinkedIn videos is by using the Canva design platform. Here is an overview of using Canva:
Select the LinkedIn Video Thumbnail Template
Canva has preset templates sized specifically for LinkedIn thumbnails. Just search for “LinkedIn” in templates and select the LinkedIn Video Thumbnail template.
Customize the Design
Add your own brand colors, logos, graphics, and text. Search Canva’s library of photos and illustrations if you need images.
Export as JPG or PNG
Once finalized, download the thumbnail from Canva as a high-quality JPG or PNG file at the 160 x 114 pixels size.
Bulk Resize Tool
Alternatively, you can create a bigger thumbnail in Canva at higher resolutions like 1280 x 720 then use Canva’s bulk resize tool to resize them all to 160 x 114 pixels at once.
Quick and Easy to Use
With Canva’s drag-and-drop interface and tons of templates, creating amazing thumbnails for LinkedIn videos takes just minutes.
Step-by-Step: Changing the Thumbnail on LinkedIn
Follow these steps to upload and change the custom thumbnail on a LinkedIn video post:
Step 1: Create and Save the Custom Thumbnail
Use an image editing tool like Canva to create your custom thumbnail file in the recommended 160 x 114 pixels size and aspect ratio. Save the file on your computer. JPEG or PNG formats tend to work best.
Step 2: Upload the LinkedIn Video
Upload your video when creating a new post in LinkedIn’s post composer, the same way you normally add a video to LinkedIn.
Step 3: Click the Pencil Icon to Edit
After your video is uploaded, you will preview it in the post composer. Click on the pencil edit icon that appears on the top right corner of the video thumbnail when you hover over it.
Step 4: Select Change Thumbnail
This will open editing options for the video. Click on the “Change thumbnail” option.
Step 5: Upload and Select Your Custom Thumbnail
A window will open allowing you to upload your saved custom thumbnail file from your computer. Choose the file and select Open. This will change the thumbnail to your custom image.
Step 6: Preview and Post
Preview how your custom thumbnail looks in the post. Make any other edits to the post caption or description. When ready, click the blue Share button to post the video with your new thumbnail to LinkedIn.
And that’s all there is to it! It just takes a few simple steps to upload and change the thumbnail image for your LinkedIn videos.
Tips for Creating Effective LinkedIn Video Thumbnails
Here are some tips to design custom thumbnails that maximize views and engagement for your LinkedIn video content:
Show Subject Clearly
It should be immediately obvious what the video will be about based on the thumbnail visuals. Featuring people or products prominently works well.
Use Eye-Catching Graphics
Elements like logos, text overlays, arrows, emojis, and icons help grab attention. Contrasting colors also make things stand out.
Incorporate Branding
Include your brand logo, fonts, color palette to make your thumbnails instantly recognizable. Maintain consistency across videos.
Text Sparingly
Avoid overloading the thumbnail with lots of text. A few key words or phrases are okay but keep it brief.
Try Different Options
A/B test multiple thumbnail variations—with text, without text, different graphics, etc.—to see what resonates most with your audience.
Keep it Simple
Too many distracting elements can make the subject unclear. Have a clear focal point and don’t clutter the design.
Make it Relevant
The thumbnail should represent the actual content and tone of the video accurately. Don’t use exaggerated or misleading imagery.
Focus on Faces
For videos with people, zoom in on their faces. Facial expressions tend to capture attention on small thumbnails.
Use High-Quality Images
Avoid pixelated or blurry images. Invest in professional stock photos if needed.
Align with Your Goals
What do you want viewers to do after watching the video? Incorporate relevant CTAs into the thumbnail.
Taking the time to create custom thumbnails can have a big impact when it comes to driving more video views, engagement, and conversions with your LinkedIn video marketing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the ideal dimensions for a LinkedIn video thumbnail?
The recommended size is 160 x 114 pixels with a 1.91:1 aspect ratio. Minimum is 160 x 114 but you can go as high as 640 x 360 or 1280 x 720 for better quality.
What file format should I use to upload a custom thumbnail?
JPG or PNG file formats work best. The maximum file size is 5MB.
Can I edit the thumbnail after posting a video on LinkedIn?
Yes, you can change the thumbnail of a video even after posting it on LinkedIn. Just edit the post, click on the thumbnail edit icon, and upload a new thumbnail image.
Does LinkedIn charge anything for uploading custom thumbnails?
No, LinkedIn does not charge any fees or require any premium account to upload custom video thumbnails. This feature is free for all users and accounts.
What are some tips for creating click-worthy custom thumbnails?
Some best practices include using high-quality eye-catching imagery, incorporating text and graphics, making the subject immediately recognizable, using colors and style consistent with your brand, and focusing on faces or products prominently.
Can I use the same thumbnail across multiple videos?
It’s recommended to create a custom thumbnail for each video. Using identical thumbnails can appear spammy to viewers in the LinkedIn feed. Unique thumbnails help showcase the specific focus of each video.
What are the benefits of custom LinkedIn video thumbnails?
Benefits include higher click-through rates, improved brand recognition, more professional appearance, increased engagement, better video previews, and opportunities for A/B testing different variations.
Is there an automated way to create thumbnails for LinkedIn videos?
Yes, some apps like Biteable and Animoto have tools that can auto-generate customized LinkedIn thumbnails for your videos using branding, templates, and customization options.
Do thumbnail images need to exactly match the video content?
Not necessarily, but the thumbnail should accurately represent the overall topic and theme of the video content. Using misleading or unrelated thumbnails can result in lower retention.
How much time should I spend creating the perfect thumbnail for one video?
Spending at least 15-30 minutes per thumbnail to brainstorm ideas, try out different options, add graphics and text, and refine the final design tends to yield the best results in terms of engagement.
What are some commonly used colors and styles for LinkedIn video thumbnails?
Bold colors like blue, green, red, and yellow work well. Sans-serif fonts and minimalist, flat designs are popular. Incorporating brand colors is recommended. Stay away from busy, complex designs.