A great custom video thumbnail can make all the difference when it comes to a viewer clicking through to your video.

And it’s a super-easy way to give your video a professional look.

If you’ve spent any time on YouTube, you’ve likely seen dozens if not hundreds of cool thumbnails. Exciting graphics, people smiling or just looking cool and inviting.

A good thumbnail makes you want to watch the video.

And, conversely, you’ve probably seen a ton of other videos that seem to have given no thought to it at all. It’s probably just some random still image from the video.

There’s a reason for that.

By default, if you don’t choose and upload a thumbnail for your video, YouTube (and other video hosts) will pick one for you from various still shots from your video. And, I’m here to tell you it’s almost certainly going to be unflattering.

If you have a person speaking in your video, it’s almost a given that the default thumbnail will include a weird or awkward facial expression.