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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You’ve heard it a dozen times—“thumbnails don’t matter for Shorts, they autoplay anyway!”
But if you want real growth on YouTube, that mindset is costing you views, clicks, and subscribers.
In today’s episode, I break down the truth behind YouTube Shorts thumbnails—where they still show up, how they drive engagement, and exactly how to design them for mobile-first success.
Key Takeaways:
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction: Do Thumbnails Matter for Shorts?
00:25 The Importance of Thumbnails in YouTube Shorts
01:19 Creating Effective Thumbnails
02:57 Design Essentials for Thumbnails
04:42 Testing and Optimizing Thumbnails
06:27 Common Thumbnail Mistakes to Avoid
06:57 Conclusion: Boost Your Channel with Better Thumbnails
If you're serious about growing your brand on YouTube, your thumbnail can’t be an afterthought—it’s your handshake, your mini billboard, and your best shot at stopping the scroll.
Need a thumbnail workflow that saves time and boosts views? Let's map it out together at Next Step Social & Podcasting.
Learn more about Katie and Next Step Social & Podcasting:
Speaking: https://katiebrinkley.com/
Website: https://yournextstep.agency/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katiebrinkley
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MarketingTrendsNow
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamkatiebrinkley/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/marketingtrendsnow/
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