"With Picmaker, I get my YouTube thumbnails in 5 mins," says Shady Shae, a YouTuber with half a million subs

"Just go boom, boom-boom, boom, boom-boom! That's it, my YouTube thumbnail is ready. It doesn't take more than 5 minutes," says Shady Shae, a popular UK-based YouTuber.

His YouTube channel is Shady Shae, and has about 510k subscribers (as on date of this blog going live).

But, that was not the case when Shady began actively producing videos for his channel around 2019 December. "Imagine from having 140,000 subscribers last year to having 440,000 subscribers," he says proudly.

We were astonished when we heard those numbers, because not a lot of people can boast about them.

So, we sat down with Shady to try and understand what did he do to grow his channel so quickly.

Here is a quick video that captures our conversation:

And, here are excerpts from his interview. Don't miss the part below where Shady explains how custom YouTube thumbnails have helped him and how he gets them ready in 5 minutes.

Shady: "Well, about me, my full name is Shadrach, but, a lot of people can't pronounce it, because it's a very old English name. So, my dad,  and my uncle started calling me Shady.

And, then, people called me Shady so I took that up growing up. I'm originally from Nigeria, studied there, then came to the UK, studied, I have family that lives in the UK as well...um, so like now I'm from southeast London.

Yes, that's where I'm based at the moment, um...I've always loved editing videos, I used to do it for fun.

I used to work before Covid struck so...my YouTube channel was just on the side, was just a hobby. I just uploaded videos, and it picked up, got really good. Yeah, and I love music, I love dancing, I'm just an adventurous guy, I like challenges. So, I just keep trying.

So, whatever my fans and followers tell me to do, I just get to do it and that's how I grew so that's basically about me" (smiles).

I do what my fans and followers tell me to do.

Shady: "Usually I wake up about 7 O'Clock, so I can plan my day ahead, sometimes I wake up later. But, yeah 7 O'Clock I plan the videos I'm gonna do, I check the requests I get from people, I check the ones that are highly recommended.

Because that's the ones that get more traction, so I do what is highly recommended, because, it's more like a democracy. You know people choose what they want and I do it. So, I get up, make a few videos, um...usually I'm done by like 1-2 pm.

Depending on how early I wake up 1 or 2 pm UK time and after that, that's it! The rest of the day I just freestyle it, just meet my friends, and do whatever." (smiles).

It is a democracy - I do what my fans tell me to do

Shady: "I think was it was last year actually, yeah, I think it was last year when because I had an account with TubeBuddy.

I don't know if you know about TubeBuddy. So I mean a lot of YouTubers use TubeBuddy so I got that, I was using it they have this um...really clever option, where you can just click, and just screenshot a snapshot from your video for the screensaver, so that's what I used to use.

But the only issue that I noticed with that was that the graphics were not too nice. So, they've got this text graphics and a few things you can add on.

I've tried it, when I look at my thumbnail, I don't feel like watching my videos because I'm like 'Nah, I need something more catchy.' So, I tried doing my uh thumbnails manually, it was taking too much time.

And then I think I was Googling, or was I, saw an article, I can't remember. Someone mentioned that you get good thumbnails, and there are some sites that offer free thumbnail options, some are paid. So I just searched on Google, and I saw many, I saw Picmonkey, I saw Canva, I saw Picmaker, just saw them all.

I think I just randomly, I clicked Picmonkey, I clicked Canva, I saw I'm going to pay. I clicked Picmaker, I was like 'Okay, well, let's try and see how it looks, how it's going to look,' you know.

But, what I really liked about it was that on the side, I saw themes. I saw lots of themes. I was scrolling, scrolling I was like I definitely want thumbnails like this. That's how it started."

What I really liked about it was that on the side, I saw themes I saw lots of themes. I was like I definitely want thumbnails like this. That's how it started.

Shady: "Well, when it started in the beginning, it was the themes, the templates I loved them. The fact that I'll just go in, click a thumbnail, click one of the templates.

Just remove the pictures, obviously not me, put my pictures in, just edit the text a bit. Yeah, so that functionality was so amazing.

The fact that I can just I can see what I want already, how I want it to look like, and all I need to do is just click on that, edit the text, and that's what the ease of use is. One of the most favorite features that I like is the ease of use, it's really worth it, really good."

The fact that I can just I can see what I want already, how I want it to look like, and all I need to do is just click on that, edit the text.

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Alex: I have to imagine it has. I have no real data around where it has helped, in what sense, but, for me, like I know I get a lot of feedback from people on my thumbnails, and that they're good, and they're clean.

Shady: "I'll try to remember exactly when I started using Picmaker's YouTube thumbnail maker. Last year, by December last year, I had 140,000 subscribers by December last year (2019).

But at that time, I think umm...it was around that time I started using Picmaker, either that time or only this year (2020), I can't remember but I've used it I know from January 2020.

Anyway, yeah but imagine from having 140,000 subscribers as of last year to having 440,000 subscribers in 12 months, yeah, like you just skyrocketed, so I'm not going to say it was just the thumbnail.

But the thumbnail played the part because the reason why I know the thumbnail played the part was that in my comments section, someone mentioned, 'To get views, make sure you have great thumbnails and Shady knows it,' something like that.

So, they made a comment that they like my thumbnails, in other words, so I know you played a big part, very big part."

Imagine having 140,000 subscribers as of last year to having 440,000 subscribers in 12 months, it just skyrocketed. The thumbnail played the part because, in my comments section, someone mentioned, 'To get views, make sure you have great thumbnails and Shady knows how to do it.'

Shady: "Actually it's not even a thing of would I? I already have! I did already, like I recommended to some YouTubers already, yeah some time ago, yeah so yeah, because I think I think it's worth it because it's easy to use.

I go on Picmaker, in um, let's say one, two, three, in less than five minutes I'm done, just go boom, boom-boom, boom, boom-boom, that's it I'm out.

I go on Picmaker, in um, let's say one, two, three, in less than five minutes I'm done, just go boom, boom-boom, boom, boom-boom, that's it, I'm out.

Shady: "So, something I want to say something to say to you and your team, it's a very big thank you. Because, because, you really you have no idea how you guys helped me out.

Because, one it is actually free, so I'm like who makes things like that leaves it there for free. Like it is free, yeah, it's amazing really good, yeah.

I mean with TubeBuddy, I have to pay all that monthly fee, you know to use all their functionality, but I don't see that with you, it is free, I'm like okay, really, really good!

And, the graphics and the YouTube banner maker. It comes out so nice, so I don't know if you can extend my thank you to your whole team, that is doing a really amazing job, and you should keep it up!

You really have no idea how you guys helped me out.

Here’s a very popular video Shady’s YouTube channel. In fact, there's a treat in here for anybody who gives the right answer :)

If you liked Shady's story, remember that you could create awesome thumbnails too. So, what are you waiting for? Go ahead, log in to Picmaker and start creating awesome thumbnails for your videos.

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It's not Shady alone who loves using Picmaker, we have quite a few users around the globe who are big fans. Listen to their stories, their fears, and what made them successful over the years.

• A passionate board game YouTube explains why YouTube thumbnails are the most important element for your channel
• An electronics prof. explains how to make stunning YouTube thumbnails that get thousands of clicks. Learn how!
• "Picmaker is the best background remover," says a DIY gadget guru, who can't resist using it for his YouTube thumbnails
• "We Used To Get Stressed Over Design For Our YouTube Channel. But Picmaker Made it Fun," Say Travel Vloggers Beth And Paul

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Loved this interview? Awesome! If you're looking to start your Youtube journey, remember that it begins with the perfect YouTube banner. Here're the best YouTube banner ideas for your channel. And here are YouTube banner examples for some inspiration.

Besides, here's a detailed guide to creating awesome YouTube thumbnails that attract tons of subscribers.

Moreover, don't forget to check out this blog if you're looking to design your custom 2048 x 1152 YouTube banner from scratch.

Finally, here's how a good 2560 x 1440 YouTube banner can take your channel from 'OKAY' to 'WOW'.