Why Thumbnails Matter for SEO and Clicks
People judge content by its cover — and for video posts, that cover is your thumbnail. An eye-catching thumbnail increases click-through rates, while an SEO-optimized image helps Google understand your content better.
Let’s make thumbnails that grab attention and please Googlebots at the same time.
Step 1: Use a Custom Thumbnail Instead of Default
YouTube automatically generates 3 thumbnails, but they’re usually blurry or awkward. Instead, design your own thumbnail with tools like Canva, Photopea, or Adobe Express.
Recommended size: 1280 x 720 pixels, JPG or PNG format, under 2MB.
Step 2: Include a Clear Title or Keyword in the Image
Use bold, readable text in your thumbnail image. For example:
- “Start a Blog in 5 Minutes”
- “SEO for Beginners – 2025 Guide”
This helps users instantly understand what your video is about — especially when it appears as a suggested video or on social media.
Step 3: Add the Thumbnail to Your Blogspot Post
Upload the thumbnail to your post and place it just above your embedded video. Example:
<img src="https://yourblog.com/images/start-blog-thumbnail.jpg"
alt="Start a blog in 5 minutes - tutorial video"
title="Blogspot tutorial video thumbnail">Make sure the filename is descriptive, like start-blogspot-tutorial-thumbnail.jpg.
Step 4: Use Relevant ALT and TITLE Attributes
This is key for SEO. Google can’t “see” your images — it reads the alt and title to understand the picture. Avoid leaving them blank.
Good example:
alt="How to optimize blogspot videos for search"
title="Video thumbnail for SEO tutorial on Blogspot"Step 5: Make the Thumbnail Clickable (Optional)
You can wrap your thumbnail in a link to the video post or embed. Example:
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yourVideoID">
<img src="your-thumbnail.jpg" alt="..." title="...">
</a>This creates a second entry point and is especially useful on listing pages.
Step 6: Keep Design Consistent Across Videos
Use a similar layout, font, and color scheme across all your video thumbnails. This builds brand recognition and trust. Viewers will start to associate that style with your content.
It also helps your blog look professional and polished, even to bots.
Step 7: Upload Thumbnail to a Fast-Loading Host
If you're not uploading it inside the Blogspot post, use a fast and reliable image host. Avoid overly slow CDNs or expired links.
Broken thumbnails don’t just look bad — they waste your SEO potential.
Bonus Tip: A/B Test Your Thumbnails
Try swapping thumbnails over time to see which one gets more clicks. Keep track of CTR (click-through rate) from Blogger stats or connected Google Search Console data.
What grabs attention better — faces or icons? Text on the left or right? Test and adapt.
Conclusion: Make Thumbnails That Work for You and Google
A great thumbnail is more than just pretty graphics — it's your video’s invitation. Combine visual appeal with smart SEO practices like descriptive filenames and attributes, and you’ll gain more visibility both in search and with human viewers.
Blogspot may be a simple platform, but with smart thumbnails, your videos can go head-to-head with pro-level sites.