9 Ways to Use Pixabay for Your YouTube Videos & Channel

Pixabay has a lot of royalty-free images and videos you can use to help build your YouTube channel. In fact, it’s one of my most visited websites when I want stock images and such. So, how can you use Pixabay to give your videos a bit more “meat” for the viewer to enjoy?

Today, I’ll show you several ways you can get the most out of your videos using Pixabay’s royalty-free platform.

How to Boost YouTube Engagement with Pixabay

One of the things that makes Pixabay such a great choice, especially for new YouTubers, is that it’s free to use. That means you can get some decent artwork and video content without spending a ton of money each month.

However, stock photos and videos can only take you so far. It’s always best to use your own graphics when possible. Still, Pixabay can help you take videos to a whole new level.

Like everything else on YouTube, though, it really depends on the type of content you create and your target audience.

1. Creating Video Thumbnails

Thumbnails are one of the most important aspects of getting views and watch time on YouTube. The image needs to help tempt someone to click or tap your video. And with thousands of free photos, illustrations, and vector graphics, Pixabay can help you entice YouTube viewers.

Of course, it takes more than just a fancy image. Facial expressions, bright-colored graphics, and more are rolled into creating a great thumbnail.

The success of a thumbnail really comes down to what engages your specific audience. As every audience is different, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer. Do the best you can while trying different formats.

Keep track of the data and see what helps you boost the video click-through rate.

2. Building Your YouTube Channel Art

There are a lot of things you can do to create YouTube channel art and banners. Like the thumbnail, it mostly comes down to what engages viewers and tempts them to subscribe to the channel.

With Pixabay’s ever-growing library of images, you can find something that you can edit to fit your channel’s needs quite well.

Simply download the background image you want for your channel banner, use your favorite editing program to promote yourself, and upload it to YouTube.

3. Using In-Video B-Roll

As a way to further engage an audience, a lot of people will use B-roll on YouTube. In a nutshell, this is often a video that is overlayed to show another element that is relevant to your script.

It’s exceptionally useful if you don’t have the most stunning background while recording.

In any case, there are several video components for YouTube in Pixabay that you can easily add to your recording. Just make sure the b-roll you’re using is relevant to the content and topic of your video.

4. In-Video Images

One strategy that a lot of YouTubers incorporate is using still images to act as separators for segments or to add flair, much like using a B-roll. In fact, it’s not all that difficult to make a still image appear to move if you know your editing software.

For instance, I often use a slow zoom effect while showing an image on the screen.

Not every creator can successfully keep the audiences attention without having something in the video to mix up the flow. Using images from Pixabay for this purpose may help boost your average view duration.

5. Outros and End Screens

There are quite a few outro and end-screen graphics in Pixabay. Think of these as kind of like a B-roll that highlights your YouTube end-screen elements, such as showing what video to watch next or the channel’s subscribe link.

However, not every successful creator uses all of the end-screen elements YouTube provides. The actual success of using an outro is dependent on the content you create and your audience.

Nonetheless, there are quite a few downloadable files from Pixabay that can spruce up the outro of your content.

6. On-Screen Subscribe Buttons

Although you can always ask your viewers to subscribe on camera, a lot of creators like to use animated subscribe buttons. It’s a visual element that reminds people to subscribe whether they’re on a desktop or a smartphone.

Pixabay has several YouTube subscribe videos and images that you can freely use in your content. However, some act as an outro or part of your end-screen information.

A few of these videos also leave blank spaces on the video that you can use to add your channel’s logo and other information. Again, that will depend on your prowess with your editing software.

7. On-Screen Social Sharing

I stumbled across social animations while taking screenshots of Pixabay for this article. In fact, I plan on using one of them to highlight my social accounts in case someone wants to follow me on Instagram, Facebook, or subscribe to the channel.

Anyway, Pixabay has social videos and images perfect for showing off your other accounts outside of YouTube. It’s a quick and simple way to promote your social profiles in the hopes to boost engagement outside of videos.

That’s because you shouldn’t focus merely on YouTube content as a creator. Expand your audience to incorporate other platforms to reach a wider audience.

8. Background Music for Videos

Pixabay has a growing selection of music you can use on YouTube. Just remember to download the Content ID Certificate if the song you want has been registered. It’ll save you a lot of headaches.

Overall, I’m not entirely sure Pixabay is a good system for getting background music. If Content ID claims trigger, then you have to take steps to dispute the claim on YouTube.

Now, Content ID claims are not the same as a Copyright strike. In other words, it’s not harmful to your channel, but it could stop you from collecting ad revenue.

Still, I think I’d rather just pay for music or use YouTube’s audio library.

9. Some Sound Effects

Pixabay boasts of having nearly 86,000 royalty-free sound effects you can add to your YouTube videos. And although the library isn’t as extensive as other premium platforms like Epidemic Sound, there are quite a few available to get you started.

That is as long as you want to add sound effects.

One effect I’ve added in the past year was a wooshing sound that plays when my intro image appears and disappears. It’s quite basic, but I thought it came out quite nice.

Editing Tools for YouTube and Pixabay Images

There are a lot of free tools you can use to edit images for YouTube. For instance, I’m quite partial to using Canva. It’s perhaps one of the best graphic design apps perfect for beginners.

Regardless of where you download images, you can upload them to Canva and make everything from thumbnails to banner art.

You’ll also find that a lot of free images on Pixabay are available on Canva. So, it just makes setting up your YouTube graphics that much easier.

When you create a free account on Pixabay, you’ll find that you can download a variety of image sizes available. Choose the one that will best work for your needs and what you’re editing app can support.

Another great graphic design alternative is Photopea. This design app works similarly to Photoshop and even supports PSD files. The best part is that you can start using it immediately without creating an account.

As for video content, I use Adobe Premiere. Yes, I pay $21 per month for the subscription, but it comes loaded with a wide range of additions. For instance, I have access to all of the premium images and backgrounds in Adobe Express, which I use to remove backgrounds for my thumbnails.

Stock Images vs Your Own

When you’re just starting your YouTube channel, you might not have the money for premium stock photos or have any skill in taking pictures of your own. And although there isn’t anything inherently wrong with stock photos, they are often less effective than original imagery.

When you provide a unique experience in every sense of the word, it further helps you to engage your audience. This means it’s better to use your own images, photos, and B-roll when at all possible.

However, that might not be an option depending on your specific needs or abilities.

Just keep in mind that people are often more receptive to elements and visuals that have never been used on another channel. It’s just another way to make the topic and niche all yours.

Nonetheless, don’t feel that you have to stress about unique videos and images, especially in the beginning. Use sites like Pixabay for YouTube videos until you can either afford the extras or develop the skills to do it yourself.

With a little imagination in a graphic app like Canva or Snappa, you can turn the most commonly used image into something that is more unique.

How Do You Use Pixabay for YouTube Videos?

As I’ve said, Pixabay is often one of my go-to sites whether I need a blog image or a thumbnail. I have come across some very interesting artwork, photos, and vector images for a wide range of projects.

I’m looking forward to seeing what developers create next on the platform.

Have you used Pixabay for anything other than YouTube content? What’s you’re favorite design app for videos?