The thumbnail of a TikTok is the image that appears on the grid, and which precedes the start of the video on a follower or users’ feed.
It should typically capture a moment from the TikTok that gives context to the video, with many creators selecting a still that has either a caption or heading visible on screen.
In this blog, we’re looking at why thumbnails are important, and discovering whether or not you can edit them after a TikTok has been posted.
Why Are TikTok Thumbnails Important?
Your TikTok thumbnail is most important when a TikTok post is sat on your profile grid. Because videos start automatically on the For You feed, these thumbnails are not usually seen for any length of time by users who are scrolling – meaning that many creators overlook the thumbnail as an afterthought.
However, when looking to boost your profile, good thumbnails are a crucial part of giving potential new followers and fans an overview of the kind of content you share. When users visit your profile, they will use these thumbnails to assess the kind of content you post and whether it is something they want to follow and engage with.
It is, in the simplest possible terms, a cover image for each and every TikTok video you post.
Here’s how to edit and select the best thumbnail to represent each video.
How to Choose a TikTok Thumbnail
Once you have filmed or uploaded your video to TikTok, the thumbnail selection process takes place on the last page of the editing sequence.
As well as adding your caption and any relevant tags, clicking on ‘Select Cover’ will allow you to scroll through your video and capture / select the best still to act as the thumbnail cover. This can be any single moment or frame from your video.
You can even add additional text to the cover, if you choose a still moment that doesn’t already have text or words attached to it. To do this, simply drag a text box to the position where you want it on the screen and keep all words and characters within the crop boundary.
Once you’re happy with both the video edit and the thumbnail, you can post your TikTok to your profile.
Editing the Thumbnail of an Existing TikTok Video
While selecting a thumbnail is relatively easy, unfortunately it is not possible to edit the thumbnail of an existing TikTok post – that is, unless you delete and repost it!
As such, following the advice above to help choose a great TikTok thumbnail is important to consider before you post your video.
NOTE: If you do have to delete the video and repost it in order to perfect the thumbnail and control how the video is presented on your TikTok profile, don’t forget to save the final post to your device camera roll for quick and easy reuploading!
We hope this helps! The thumbnail of any TikTok post is an important part of its look on your profile and can make or break the interest of potential new followers and fans. Remember to look at and choose the perfect thumbnail before saving and sharing your TikTok post.
