7 thumbnail text rules that get more clicks

1. Three words or fewer

The title does the search work; the thumbnail does the click work. Thumbnail text should not repeat the title. It throws one emotion or one result the title could not fit. '10kg in 3 days', 'It failed', 'This works?' — three words is plenty.

2. At least half the canvas width

In the mobile feed a thumbnail is barely 3cm wide. If the text does not span at least half the canvas, it will not read at that size. If it looks too big in the editor, it is about right.

3. White with a black outline is the default

Only two combinations read on both light and dark backgrounds: white with a black outline, and yellow with a black outline. Outline thickness around one fifth of the stroke weight. A little shadow on top of the outline, not instead of it.

4. Text never over the face

Text on a face kills both. Face on one side, text on the other. Tucking text slightly behind a cutout is fine, but never cover the eyes or the mouth.

5. Background box only for long text

Two or more lines read better in a box (black on yellow, white on red) than with an outline. One line: outline only, no box.

6. Digits, not words

'10 ways' beats 'ten ways', '3 days' beats 'three days'. Digits are read faster than words and stop the eye.

7. Check it in the home grid after saving

The editor shows the canvas large, which fools you. After saving, look at the small tile on the home screen. If it does not read there, the only fixes are bigger text and fewer words.

• In Thumbly's Text tab pick the white/black-outline style
• Drag the size slider to about half the canvas width
• Save, check the home grid, and use 'Edit again' if it does not read