Instagram is well known for being the “pretty pictures” app, where creators and influencers post photos and videos of their travels, fashion choices, foodie creations, concert experiences, and more. It’s a visually driven platform where first impressions matter, and where a well-crafted Instagram video thumbnail can dramatically improve the visibility and engagement of your Instagram videos and posts.
Thumbnails matter on Instagram! A great thumbnail cover image and relevant text captions can get you many more views on your Instagram video posts.
Think of video thumbnails as the cover image for your content - kind of like the cover artwork on a Spotify song release - intriguing viewers to click on the image and look further. So let’s learn how to create Instagram video thumbnails that showcase your profile, encourage engagement, and make your Instagram account really stand out!
Compelling Instagram video thumbnails help you attract viewers, getting them to click on your content and interact, improving that all-important engagement. Great thumbnails and cover images can also boost your overall profile aesthetic, making your Instagram feed look sleek and professional. Unlike casual viewers, who may only briefly flip through your profile and content, engaged viewers and followers are more likely to stick around and watch your videos.
Well designed Instagram video thumbnails also help Reels, Stories, and other Instagram posts stand out in feeds and on profiles, making your content more appealing even just at a glance.
You can rely on auto-generated thumbnails (the thumbnails that Instagram automatically makes for your posts), but those may not always capture the best moment of your video. Custom thumbnails give you full control over how your post or video is presented. Promotional content also benefits greatly from custom thumbnails and cover images, so you can highlight the brand’s messaging effectively.
Using vibrant, colorful, high quality thumbnails can help you draw more people in, and aligning the style of your video thumbnails with your own brand identity can help your followers recognize your posts across the platform. Attention to thumbnail and cover image detail can really elevate the reach of your Instagram content!
Creating a great video thumbnail involves several specific elements. Successful Instagram video thumbnails combine all of these elements to attract viewers and represent your brand and your content!
Pro Tip: Make Use of Color Psychology! Different colors can create different vibes or emotions around your posts, so alongside the colors of your own branding, put some thought into the color palettes you’re using for your thumbnails on Instagram. Just as a general guide, vibrant reds and oranges communicate energy; greens evoke nature; and blues feel calm. Trending colors should also be considered, like Millennial Pink or Pantone’s yearly color choice (2025’s is “Mocha Mousse,” a rich coffee brown.) And of course brighter colors can make your thumbnails and cover images really pop, especially in Instagram’s dark mode!
If you’re already familiar with designing, then tools like Adobe Photoshop are perfect for creating quick and professional-looking Instagram video thumbnails. If you’re less experienced, don’t worry - online platforms like Canva and Snappa are beginner-friendly (Adobe also offers Adobe Express), and have predesigned templates tailored for Instagram. Choose a tool that suits your experience level and design requirements to streamline the creation of your Instagram video thumbnails.
Ensure that your thumbnails fit Instagram’s recommended dimensions (in pixels.) Proper dimensions ensure your thumbnail looks great across all devices and formats. For Instagram Reels and Stories, the recommended size for both posts and thumbnails is 1080x1920 px; both should have an aspect ratio of 9:16. Sizing on Instagram can get a little tricky, so don’t hesitate to use the Instagram Help Center if you’re unsure.
To make a great thumbnail, start with a visually appealing still from your video, or upload a related image from your camera roll or desktop folder. Make sure that the cover image highlights the most engaging aspect of your video, drawing viewers in to click on the thumbnail.
Sometimes the thumbnail image itself is interesting enough - but other times you might want to add a little something extra to your Instagram video thumbnail. You can choose overlays, icons, text, or bold shapes to make your thumbnails even more visually striking - keep the colors complimentary, and balance your design elements carefully to keep the cover image itself uncluttered and easily identifiable.
If you use text on an Instagram video thumbnail, keep it short - 3 to 5 words - and make it bold and readable. Position the text strategically within Instagram’s “safe zones” (see Insta’s Help Center for more specific directives) to avoid cropping.
Save your custom thumbnail as a PNG or JPEG file for optimal quality, then upload the thumbnail as the cover image for your Instagram video. The custom thumbnail will represent your post and will give potential viewers a sneak peek at your video content!
With customizable templates and ecommerce integration, Fourthwall offers plenty of options and opportunities to expand your Instagram audience and really put the spotlight on your Instagram profile. Give your new Insta fans another place to hang out by launching your own Fourthwall website and merchandise shop full of your custom merch. Offer memberships to your most loyal Instagram followers, with lots of extra exclusive perks, and enable tipping so you can accept support for your content creation.
You can also connect your Instagram account directly to your Fourthwall shop, so you can easily sell your branded Fourthwall merch to your Instagram followers! Get started on Fourthwall today!
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If a t-shirt is listed in our catalog at a $10 cost, we will automatically deduct that amount from your profits whenever you make a sale. You can sell products for any price you want.
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Be sure to browse our product catalog to find products that are fulfilled out of your target regions to provide the fastest & cheapest shipping for your community.
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If you need help finding an artist or designer, check out our design community.
This is a vetted network of exceptional designers that can help you make great quality designs for your audience. We also recommend tools like Canva or Kittl.
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From answering general order questions to making address changes, our team is there to ensure that your buyers are treated with the same level of care that you would personally give them. We have a 12-hour or less average reply time, including nights and weekends.
For any items that you source on your own and ship from home, however, you'll need to do customer support.
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