YouTube is a very competitive platform: the only way to get ahead here is to create content that is interesting and of high quality in every sense of the word. Developing charisma, using modern video and audio equipment, improving editing skills, of course, is necessary, because in many ways it is the key to success. Nevertheless, you should not forget about the visual design of your channel, in particular the cover: it is the main source of information about the project, its direction and mission.
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Go to Logo MakerPotential viewers first study and evaluate the “cover”, and then they understand whether it is necessary to continue exploring the channel, whether this content is really interesting and useful. If the cover catches on, the user will probably want to subscribe or, at least for a while, follow the development of the project as an outside observer. Both are good (though not equally so), because attention is exactly what any blogger needs.
Can we call a cover for a YouTube channel a visual reflection of the essence, the meaning of the work? Yes! The main picture is a kind of “announcement” of each publication, so you should be responsible and careful when creating it.
There are three main tasks that a YouTube channel cover should fulfill:
Table of Contents
Besides the main purposes of informing and attracting attention.
An account cover can be used to:
Regardless of the task, the cover should be created carefully, because it is the “core” of the channel (contrary to the popular opinion about the teaser: the cover is noticeable immediately, while the teaser should be watched on purpose – many people just don’t get to this stage).
Technical requirements. The site has restrictions on the parameters of the background “pictures”:
To work correctly on different devices, the main elements of the cover (text and/or graphics) must be placed in a “safe area”.
Its minimum size is 1546 x 423 pixels for smartphones, and its maximum size is 2560 x 423 pixels for desktops.
By the way, the cover is displayed differently on different electronics. You can find out exactly how by logging in to your YouTube (Google) account, selecting “My Channel” from the menu on the right, and clicking on “Customize Channel View”. The next step is to select the “Branding” tab at the top left, then go to the “Banner” section and click on “Edit.”
YouTube will then prompt you to upload an image. As a test case, take any picture with text. Once uploaded, an additional window will open with a visual example of how such a cover will look on your TV, computer and mobile devices of different types.
Note: The gadgets display a central, horizontally stretched rectangle.
Anything beyond that, the user can't see on the YouTube channel from the phone. YouTube has no other technical requirements for the cover.
Every blogger wants the eye of both a guest and a regular channel viewer to be literally hooked on the channel cap. It is possible to achieve such an effect: you need an interesting idea. Of course, no one forbids to be inspired by the work of your colleagues – to wander through various YouTube channels of your focus or other topics and see how others solved the problem.
As you start working on your channel header, think about the main themes of your content and answer the questions: What, about what, what are you doing? What is your value, what is unique about you? Of course, if it’s about blogging rather than brand promotion, a good option would be to feature yourself on the cover. If different employees of the company periodically appear on the channel, it might be worth uploading a photo of the staff.
You can make a high-quality, stylish “hat” in programs:
As a rule, the algorithm for working on online services is similar – you need to create an account and choose what you want to design (in our case, a cover for the YouTube channel). The next step is to select templates and/or individual components of the future cover. The third step is to use the functions for transforming the elements: filters, effects, etc.
An alternative option is to make the cover in “Google Presentations”. After opening the title slide, click on “Page Settings”, then choose the size “Other”, then specify the format “Pixels” and write the desired resolution. The rest is the same as in the usual presentation – focus on the “safe area” and follow the above rules.
By the way, a good solution for those who are new to using graphics editors is minimalism. Develop a cap in this style is relatively easy, the main thing is to rely on the concept of the project and the tactics of presenting the material.
Remember that many of the images from the Internet are protected by copyright. Do not take the first picture you like from a search engine: we recommend using stock images without copyrights.
Creating a stylish, original, memorable cover for your YouTube channel is real, you just need to think through the concept, give the development time and effort. Approach the matter carefully and attentively, put your heart and soul into it, and the audience will appreciate the result!
I’m a product and graphic designer with 10-years background. Writing about branding, logo creation and business.
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