How To Make Animated Graphics For Your YouTube Videos

If you aren't in a place to outsource a video editor to create your YouTube graphics, don't worry. 

Canva is an AH-MAZING resource for small businesses owners just like you. With it, you can access all the tools needed to make professional-looking graphics for your videos. It's a content creation tool I use in my business every single day, and it has helped me streamline so much of my work, making the editing process a breeze. 

Anyone can create an account for free, but I recommend purchasing a pro account ($13/mo). With it, you can get access to THOUSANDS of pre-made templates, fonts, animated elements, and add all of your colors into a handy brand kit that can be accessed at any time — something you won't be able to do on the free version.

I use Canva for EVERYTHING in my business  — Pinterest graphics, social media graphics, YouTube, worksheets — so it really pays for itself! 

If you want to try it out, click here!*

Why You Need Graphics in Your Videos

Simply put: you want people to go to your channel and know it's you! Your fonts and brand colors are more than just visuals that catch your eye — they create a cohesive environment that helps nail in what your biz is all about.

Branded graphics in your video also help break up your content. Think about them like headings and subheadings in a body of text. Your eyes are more at ease when the content you're reading is visually appealing. It's the same with using title screens and buttons. 

Not everyone learns by audio alone. By breaking down the information into sections and offering added visuals in your videos, more people in your audience will be able to track what you're talking about.

Thumbnails

Thumbnails are one of the most important parts of your YouTube videos. They draw people in and give them an idea of what they'll learn. Because they are such an efficient way to get more eyes on your video, creating something that will stand out while staying on brand is crucial!

I love creating thumbnails in Canva because I can turn my designs into templates, using them over and over for every video I make without having to put any extra work on my plate. All you have to do is create a thumbnail, set it as a template, and swap out the text!

To create a thumbnail, open up Canva, click on the “create a design” button, and search for “YouTube thumbnails.” This will automatically give you the appropriate thumbnail size.

Set a background color that will be easy to see. If you have Canva Pro, you can set your colors in a brand kit so they're easily accessible EVERY TIME you create a graphic!

Next, add the text you want in your thumbnail. Make sure that you choose a color for your text that is easy to read against your background color. Avoid colors with similar saturation levels to keep things readable. 

To add animated elements, head over to the left side of the screen and click “elements.” From there, you can search for whatever you want to add! I like to use "doodle" elements, so that's the term I search for.

Once you've found something you like, click on it to add it to your canvas. Play around with the visuals by titling it or changing the stacking order until you find the perfect spot. 

Keep in mind that some elements, even in the pro version, are not editable, so make sure you pick one that matches your brand colors or find one you can edit.

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Subscribe Buttons

The subscribe button is a standard part of any YouTube video. To create your own, make a new canvas the same way you did for the thumbnail. 

This time, keep your background white so the canvas can be exported with a transparent background. You won't be able to access this feature unless you have the pro version, but I have a secret trick if you prefer to stay on the free plan!

Make your background green (I recommend using HEX #29CF61), so you use the green screen effect when editing your video.

To add a button to your design, search "button" in the elements search bar and find one you like. You can play around with the colors and overlay text that says "subscribe!" in your branded, easy-to-read fonts.

Remember, this canvas represents your screen, so don't make your visual elements too big or too small. No one wants to watch a video where the subscribe button is taking up the entire screen.

Since the YouTube subscribe button is on the right, place the button on the bottom right corner of your canvas. 

When animating, select both the text in the button and the button itself to group the elements together and animate as one (you can do this for any elements on your canvas).

Social Media Handles

You always want to drive your viewers to action when the video is coming to a close. That's where Instagram, Facebook, and other key icons come in. 

To add your social media icons, head over to the elements search bar and type "Instagram" (or whatever platform you use). You can choose from several different icons to match your brand. 

Keep them big enough to read when placing them on your canvas. Include your handle (mine is @trena_little). If you want to take it a step farther, you can talk about what you share over on your social media accounts and create a graphic like this:

Animating Your Graphics

Animating graphics in Canva* is SUPER simple. Once you have your final design, play around with animation on the different elements or animate the canvas as a whole. 

If you want to animate separate elements, click on each one, and you'll see options at the top. You can change the amount of time they stay animated, make them pop, or fade them in and out. It’s the same with your entire canvas — instead, click the background to activate this feature. The possibilities are endless!

When you're done creating your animated graphic, hit the download button (don't forget to name your file first!) and select MP4 video as the file type. 

Now you've got professional-looking graphics to tie your videos together! Create these designs to use for every video. You'll save LOTS of time by templating thumbnail graphics and using the same subscribe buttons and social media handle designs.

How I Batch 6 Weeks of Content in Just 5 Hours

Batch creating my content, both video AND social media, has been a lifesaver. It's added more time back to my schedule, allowing me to focus on other areas of my biz that require me to put my CEO hat on. It's my #1 strategy for productivity.

If you want to learn how to start batching like a pro, check out how I get six weeks' worth of content done in just a few hours!

*DISCLAIMER: Links included in this description might be affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service with the links that I provide I may receive a small commission. There is no additional charge to you! Thank you for supporting my channel so I can continue to provide you with free content each week!