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il. They are clicking because they want to read the story based on the headline and what it’s about.”</i></p><p id="0a3d">While ^this method of thinking^ is correct in a sense, I’m here to say it’s also wrong. Way wrong.</p><p id="b39a">One thing I learned while producing and <a href="https://amzn.to/3upF6PT"><b>publishing my books</b></a> is that readers actually <b>DO judge books by their covers</b>. In fact, many successful authors have say cover designs for a book are the most essential part of <i>selling</i> a book.</p><p id="2cb5">The same goes for your Medium stories — the headline and thumbnail are what drive readers to click on a story, and the actual body and information make them stay.</p><p id="4030">With all that said, I’ve got a couple quick tips for making your thumbnail articles stand out. Or at least how I do it.</p><h1 id="6c82">Search for adjectives and feelings</h1><p id="af03">For your next article, instead of getting on Unsplash and searching for an image based on the topic of an article, search for an adjective or feeling instead.</p><p id="ecaa">What does this mean you ask? Type in words like:</p><ul><li>Magical</li><li>Distorted</li><li>Up</li><li>Down</li><li>Adorable</li><li>Hated</li></ul><p id="1c81">You’ll be surprised how many of those images will relate to your story. Even if you’re writing about business or technology, those images will be unique and fit with your article.</p><h1 id="dc22">More color is better</h1><p id="6a7a">Color catches attention. Researchers say many companies use red in their logos because it stands out from the rest and captures the eye.</p><p id="7b21">Do the same with your stories. Blast the thumbnail full of color.</p><p id="7b70">For some of my stories, I literally type in the words ‘color explosion’ and get some amazing results that aren’t just painted splattered on a canvas.</p><p id="618f">I suggest starting by typing in ‘red’ and then seeing where it takes you!</p><h1 id="5834">Get off Unsplash</h1><p id="177c">I only do this occasionally if it’s really necessary, but you can use other

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pictures that aren’t from Unsplash. You’re more likely to use a duplicate thumbnail if you only rely on Unsplash because that’s what everyone else is doing too.</p><p id="36e9">Mix it up by using:</p><ul><li>Pexels</li><li>Creating a thumbnail on Canva</li><li>Using a personal image from your phone</li></ul><h1 id="863c">Conclusion: Different is good</h1><p id="cba7">Readers get tired of seeing the same images and articles over and over again. I know I do. Change your images so they stand out and it’ll give your articles a similar kind of style and vibe. Trust me!</p><p id="71ff">🔴 I hope you enjoyed reading this. If you’d like to support me as a writer, consider <a href="https://marxd.medium.com/membership"><b>signing up to become a Medium member</b></a>. It’s just $5 a month and you get unlimited access to Medium.</p><div id="b150" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/3-key-lessons-learned-after-self-publishing-3-books-f35ceab33abb"> <div> <div> <h2>3 Key Lessons Learned After Self-Publishing 3 Books</h2> <div><h3>Takeaways for anyone thinking about writing a book.</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/0*sRNBa_LiuKMjiqtm)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><div id="d321" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/passive-income-stream-built-side-hustles-9bc427888280"> <div> <div> <h2>Revealing Every Passive Income Stream I’ve Built From Side Hustles</h2> <div><h3>And how much I earn from each one</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/0*cB_VkkF4f-6K8awl)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div></article></body>

How I Find Eye-Catching Thumbnails for My Medium Articles

I’m so tired of seeing the same images used for stories

I’m going to say it: I’m so sick of seeing the same thumbnail images used in articles on Medium.

I run a publication on Medium. In that publication, I sift through dozens of stories every week and publish the ones I like. The publication is centered around side hustles and I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen this thumbnail used in the article:

Don’t get me wrong, it’s a great photo. So great that it’s used not just in my publication, but all over Medium. It’s likely because when you type in ‘side hustle’ on Unsplash, that image pops up on page 1.

After telling dozens of writers to choose a new thumbnail image, I came to a realization that most of us don’t put much thought into choosing our thumbnails. We type in one word, click on the first thing that pops up and hit publish.

As a seasoned writer on Medium — and in general — I’m going to have to advise against that method. There are so many great thumbnails you could be using to attract readers, but you’re not.

Now I know what you’re thinking: “Readers aren’t clicking on stories because of the thumbnail. They are clicking because they want to read the story based on the headline and what it’s about.”

While ^this method of thinking^ is correct in a sense, I’m here to say it’s also wrong. Way wrong.

One thing I learned while producing and publishing my books is that readers actually DO judge books by their covers. In fact, many successful authors have say cover designs for a book are the most essential part of selling a book.

The same goes for your Medium stories — the headline and thumbnail are what drive readers to click on a story, and the actual body and information make them stay.

With all that said, I’ve got a couple quick tips for making your thumbnail articles stand out. Or at least how I do it.

Search for adjectives and feelings

For your next article, instead of getting on Unsplash and searching for an image based on the topic of an article, search for an adjective or feeling instead.

What does this mean you ask? Type in words like:

Magical
Distorted
Up
Down
Adorable
Hated

You’ll be surprised how many of those images will relate to your story. Even if you’re writing about business or technology, those images will be unique and fit with your article.

More color is better

Color catches attention. Researchers say many companies use red in their logos because it stands out from the rest and captures the eye.

Do the same with your stories. Blast the thumbnail full of color.

For some of my stories, I literally type in the words ‘color explosion’ and get some amazing results that aren’t just painted splattered on a canvas.

I suggest starting by typing in ‘red’ and then seeing where it takes you!

Get off Unsplash

I only do this occasionally if it’s really necessary, but you can use other pictures that aren’t from Unsplash. You’re more likely to use a duplicate thumbnail if you only rely on Unsplash because that’s what everyone else is doing too.

Mix it up by using:

Pexels
Creating a thumbnail on Canva
Using a personal image from your phone

Conclusion: Different is good

Readers get tired of seeing the same images and articles over and over again. I know I do. Change your images so they stand out and it’ll give your articles a similar kind of style and vibe. Trust me!

🔴 I hope you enjoyed reading this. If you’d like to support me as a writer, consider signing up to become a Medium member. It’s just $5 a month and you get unlimited access to Medium.