Thumbnails
Enhance your video campaigns with dynamic, personalized thumbnails. Add variables, customize design, and auto-generate unique previews for every viewer.
What is a personalized thumbnail?
Personalized thumbnails serve as customized previews of your video content, designed specifically for each recipient. They display a short, attention-grabbing snapshot of the video that can include the viewer’s name or a personalized message. Thus, making it far more engaging than a static image.
You can easily copy these thumbnails and paste them directly into your email editor, WhatsApp, or Slack to share personalized video previews seamlessly.
Why Use Personalized Thumbnails?
Personalized thumbnails attract attention: A thumbnail that includes the viewer’s name or company creates a sense of “this is for me,” which drives higher click-through rates.
They improve consistency across your campaign: When thumbnails match the personalization in the video itself (name, company, dynamic visuals), it strengthens the message and credibility.
They reduce manual work: Instead of creating dozens or hundreds of static thumbnail images per recipient, the system lets you use variables and generate customized versions automatically.
How to Set Up Personalized Thumbnails?
Step 1: Navigate to the Thumbnails Section
In your personalized project, go to the “Settings” tab and select the "Thumbnail" option.
Step 2: Select the Thumbnail Preview type
Studio by Gan.AI supports multiple thumbnail types for flexibility:
Static: A still image from your video or a custom image upload (JPG/PNG).
Animated: A short, silent GIF extracted from your video (movement can increase engagement).
Custom Upload: Upload your own designed image (JPG/PNG) to act as the thumbnail.
You can also select a specific part of the video to use as the preview.
If you choose an animated preview, the selected segment will be generated as a GIF.
Step 3: Personalized Thumbnail Text
In the “Thumbnail Text” field (or editable area), type your default text. For example: “@FirstName from @Company – Your personalized video is here”
To insert a variable: type @, then select from the drop-down list (or type the exact variable name).
You may use multiple variables in one thumbnail line if needed (e.g., @FirstName, @ProductName, @City).
If you’re already using variables for subtitles or landing pages, you can reuse the same variable names here for consistency.
Step 4: Edit Thumbnail Design
Click “Edit Thumbnail Design” to open the design editor.
Text Size: Select an appropriate size for the text.
Text Color: Choose contrast colours for readability (e.g., white text on dark background).
Text Transparency: Adjust the Transparency for better readability.
Text Background / Padding: Adjust padding or background colour/transparency for clarity. Text background can also be disabled here.
Positioning: Drag and position the text box so it doesn’t overlap critical parts of the image or avatar. After editing, click Save Changes.
Best Practices for Thumbnail Personalized Setup
Use short and impactful text — lengthy sentences may become unreadable in thumbnail format.
Place your variable text in the top third or centre of the image so it remains visible in preview snippets across email clients or mobile devices.
When using multiple variables, test examples with long values (e.g., long names or company names) to ensure the design accommodates all variations.
Avoid placing the variable text near image edges or over busy backgrounds; ensure readability across devices.
Maintain brand consistency — use your brand colours, logo, or fonts in the thumbnail design.
Troubleshooting Thumbnail Issues
Issue
Possible Fix
Thumbnail image appears blurry or low quality
Use high resolution image for custom uploads. For GIFs, ensure source video quality is sufficient.
Multiple variables overlap or text becomes unreadable
Reduce number of variables, shorten text, increase font size or redesign layout to allow more space.
Animated thumbnail doesn’t play / appears as static
Confirm GIF format is supported; re-upload as animated type; test in your email client or landing page.
Thumbnail image appears blurry or low quality
Use high resolution image for custom uploads. For GIFs, ensure source video quality is sufficient.
Personalized thumbnails are a simple but powerful way to boost engagement, making each viewer feel the content was created just for them. By combining variables, clean design, and consistent branding, you can generate high-impact thumbnail previews at scale—without manual editing. A well-designed personalized thumbnail not only increases click-through rates but also strengthens the overall experience across your personalized video campaign.
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