The way your video looks really matters. An attractive poster frame – the image viewers can see before they click play – can make the difference between a popular video and a viral video. Curious? Keep reading to understand how custom poster frames can engage your audience.
Support for Custom Poster Frames
You can now upload your own image for your video instead of selecting an option from the ones we supply for you. To change the image, or upload your own:
- Select a video from the Videos page
- On the “Basics” tab, scroll until you see the “Poster Frame” options
- Select a poster frame from the ones we automatically generated for you
- Or, click “Upload Your Own” to pick a custom image from your computer
- Click “Save” at the bottom of the page when finished
Your video should now be displayed with the poster frame that you’ve uploaded. The new poster frame will appear wherever your video is located, whether it’s on your SproutVideo website, or embedded on another website you own.
Poster Frame Best Practices
For best results, choose an image that is the same aspect ratio as your video. This will ensure that your video will display the new image without any black bars to either side of it.
A poster frame should convey the essence of the video, and intrigue viewers. For instance, consider using an image featuring a smiling person. The human eye is naturally attracted to faces, especially happy ones.
Of course, you have to consider the context for your video. You’ll want the image and the video player to match the rest of the page on which it’s located. This will help bring a cohesive look to the landing page.
Want to customize your video’s pre-play images? Open a free two week trial of SproutVideo’s hosting platform today. If you have any questions, please let us know in the comments, or reach out to our support team!
