Hey CC peeps! Welcome back to the social media corner of our monthly newsletter. Here, we work hard to keep you updated on all the social media trends. Next up, news about YouTube!
Did you know? YouTube is rolling out an exciting new feature that allows all channels to engage in thumbnail A/B testing. This “Thumbnail Test & Compare” tool lets creators upload up to three different thumbnails for a single video. YouTube then analyzes which thumbnail attracts the most watch time and automatically sets the best-performing one as the default. This innovation promises to help creators boost their video’s visibility and engagement, and maximizes video performance. Additionally, by understanding which visual elements appeal most to their audience, creators can refine their branding and marketing strategies. This tool ultimately drives more effective content promotion and viewer retention.
After about two weeks of data collection, YouTube evaluates which thumbnail garnered the highest “watch time share” from viewers. The outcomes are:
- Winner: A clear winner is identified based on superior watch time, and the winning thumbnail is automatically applied.
- Preferred: One thumbnail shows better performance, but the results aren’t statistically definitive.
- None: No clear winner, and the original thumbnail remains.
Creators can manually choose their preferred thumbnail even if it isn’t the winning one.
And here are some Thumbnail Design Tips for YouTube Creators
Balance & Focal Point: Ensure your images are well-balanced with a focal point to direct viewers’ attention.
High Contrast: Use high contrast to make your subject stand out against the background, effective in both Light and Dark modes.
Facial Expressions: If a face is featured, use expressive emotions to convey how you want viewers to feel.
Concise Text: Keep text minimal and impactful, avoiding too much text that can be hard to read while scrolling.
Depth & Blank Space: Consider the depth of field and use blank space effectively to enhance your design.
What a neat new way to maximize YouTube exposure!
For more info, take a peek at this article- YouTube Rolls Out Thumbnail A/B Testing To All Channels.
Happy creating!
Source:
https://www.searchenginejournal.com/youtube-rolls-out-thumbnail-a-b-testing-to-all-channels/519281/#:~:text=higher%20watch%20time.-,YouTube%20is%20rolling%20out%20thumbnail%20A%2FB%20testing%20to%20all,by%20the%20highest%20watch%20time.
