Your show thumbnail is the first thing a buyer sees in the feed, and it decides whether they tap in. The best thumbnails are real photos of what you're selling, not designed posters. This guide covers what works, what to avoid, and how to size your image.
Where your thumbnail appears: the For You feed, category feeds, search, and your show's lobby before you go live. Your show title, category, and live status already appear on or under the tile, so the image doesn't need to repeat them.
Thumbnail Do’s
Here’s what helps attract new buyers.
Use real photos of real products
Buyers want to see what they’ll be purchasing.
↗ Up to 10% more engagement
Use natural light when photographing
Bright, sharp photos do better than dark or blurry ones.
↗ Up to 7% more engagement
Show your breadth of inventory
A wall or shelf of products signals there’s plenty to buy.
↗ Up to 5% more engagement
Show accurate branding
Include real logos, box art, or branding to entice buyers.
↗ Up to 4% more engagement
Keep text concise
Stick to key details that influence a purchasing decision.
Make your product the focus
Pick a hero object to anchor your thumbnail.
Thumbnail Don’ts
Avoid doing these things when building out your show.
Don’t use AI-only images
Generative AI pictures get fewer taps than real photos.
↘ Up to 10% less engagement
Don’t overload it with text
Image-only thumbnails outperform those with words.
↘ Up to 7% less engagement
Don’t show something you’re not selling
Stock images and unavailable products confuse buyers.
↘ Up to 5% less engagement
Don’t use designed or templated graphics
Poster layouts, collages, and templates don’t stand out.
Don’t add your watermark or handle
Your username and photo are visible on the show’s tile.
Sizes and safe zones
Keep your product near the center of the frame. The edges of the tile can be covered by your live or upcoming status, your username and profile photo, badges, and the show title. Use the preview in the show scheduler to check what buyers will see before you save.
| Media | Aspect ratio | Where it shows |
|---|---|---|
| Thumbnail | 11:17 | Feeds, search, and show tiles |
| Lobby Preview | 9:16 | Your show lobby before you go live |
Thumbnail
Lobby Preview
Before you publish
- ☐ It's a real photo of products in this show
- ☐ One clear hero product or brand is easy to spot on a phone
- ☐ Text is a few words or none
- ☐ It's bright and sharp, with no large dark areas
- ☐ The product isn't hidden under the tile's badges or title
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