How important is Zach Choi's YouTube thumbnail for getting views?

Did you know that every minute, 500 hours of video are uploaded to YouTube? In this sea of visual content, one creator has managed to stand out, armed with nothing but food, silence, and killer YouTube video thumbnails. Meet Zach Choi, the ASMR sensation who's racked up 9 billion views and 28.9 million subscribers on his YouTube channel in just five years.

But here's the kicker: Zach doesn't say a word in his YouTube videos. So, how did he capture the attention of millions? The secret lies in his custom thumbnails and YouTube thumbnail design.

In this post, we're going to dissect the visual magic of creating YouTube thumbnails that's helped Zach Choi dominate the ASMR scene. We'll explore how his thumbnail designs have evolved, what makes them work as eye-catching YouTube thumbnails, and most importantly, what you can learn from his YouTube thumbnail best practices.

By the end of this deep dive into YouTube thumbnail practices, you'll see video thumbnails in a whole new light - and you might just have the tools to create your own scroll-stopping thumbnails using a YouTube thumbnail maker or thumbnail creator.

Who is Zach Choi?

Before we analyze the thumbnails, let's get to know our ASMR star and his approach to YouTube thumbnail design.

Zach Choi is a YouTube sensation known for his ASMR (Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response) content. His videos primarily feature mukbang and food-related themes, where he eats various dishes quietly, highlighting the sounds of eating and food preparation. This provides a relaxing sensory experience for his viewers, all packaged with eye-catching thumbnails.

Here's a quick snapshot of Zach Choi's YouTube empire and his mastery of video thumbnails:

The Evolution of Zach Choi's Thumbnails

Zach's thumbnails aren't just random images slapped onto his videos. They're carefully designed YouTube thumbnail templates that convey the essence of his content and make viewers want to click. Let's break down his thumbnail evolution and YouTube thumbnail best practices:

Phase 1: The Early Days (2018-2019)

When Zach started his YouTube channel, he needed to stand out in a sea of content. Here's how his early YouTube thumbnail designs looked:

1. Key Elements:
   • Text: "ASMR" is prominently displayed as a key design element
   • Image: Zach's face on the right or center of the thumbnail image
   • Food: Prominently displayed, taking up a large portion of the video thumbnail
   • Background: Bright solid colors (green or yellow) to create visual appeal
   • Logos: Fast food chain logos included in the custom thumbnails

These early thumbnails helped Zach establish his brand and create good YouTube thumbnails. When viewers saw these distinctive thumbnail designs, they immediately knew it was a Zach Choi ASMR video.

Phase 2: The Year of Experiment  (2019-2020)

Zach started experimenting with his YouTube thumbnail templates as his channel grew. He introduced a new style to his thumbnail designs:

1. Key Elements:
   • Background: Switched to dark, solid backgrounds in his YouTube thumbnail images
   • Text Placement: "ASMR" moved to the bottom left or slanted on the right of the video thumbnails
   • Image: Zach centered in the thumbnail, eating or holding food
   • Food Focus: The majority of thumbnail space is occupied by food, enhancing visual content

This phase marked a significant shift in Zach's visual strategy for creating YouTube thumbnails. The dark backgrounds created more contrast, making the food and text pop even more in his custom thumbnails.

Phase 3: The Split Screen Era (2018-2019)

Zach's next evolution brought a new level of sophistication to his YouTube thumbnail design:

1. Key Element:
   • Layout: Split design with Zach on the left, food on the right of the video thumbnail
   • Text: "ASMR" consistently on the bottom left of the YouTube thumbnail image
   • Background: Continued use of dark backgrounds in his thumbnail templates
   • Engagement: Zach looking directly into the camera, increasing the thumbnail's ability to grab attention

This split-screen approach in his YouTube thumbnails allowed Zach to showcase himself and the food equally, giving viewers a clear idea of what to expect in the video content.

Phase 4: Food, Glorious Food (2020-2023)

The longest pattern followed by Zach would be making food the star of his YouTube video thumbnails:

1. Key Element:
   • Focus: Extreme close-up on food in the thumbnail image
   • Text: "ASMR" moved to the top right of the YouTube thumbnails
   • Color Palette: Emphasis on yellow and orange foods for high-quality thumbnails
   • Zach's Presence: Subtle, often just hands or partial face in the video thumbnails

By zooming in on the food, Zach creates thumbnails that are almost tactile in their appeal. You can almost hear the crunch or feel the texture just by looking at the thumbnail image.

Phase 4: The Current Recipe (2023-Present)

In his most recent evolution, Zach has mastered the art of high-quality thumbnails. Here is the breakdown of his eye-catching YouTube thumbnail images:

1. Key Element:
   • Text: "ASMR" moved to the top right of the YouTube thumbnails
   • Image placement: The design is split into three segments, with Zach in the center, eating food. The other two sides are images of food served or when being cut.

What Makes Zach's Thumbnails Work?

Now that we've seen how Zach's YouTube thumbnails have evolved, let's break down what makes them so effective for his video content:

1. Consistency: Throughout all phases, Zach maintained certain elements (like the "ASMR" text) that made his thumbnails instantly recognizable.
2. Color Psychology: Bright colors, especially yellow and orange, stimulate appetite, making them perfect for food-related content in video thumbnails.
3. Facial Expressions: When Zach's face is featured in the thumbnail image, he's often mid-bite or showing clear enjoyment, triggering a mirroring response in viewers.
4. Simplicity: Zach's YouTube thumbnails are never cluttered. They focus on one or two key elements, making them easy to understand at a glance.
5. Contrast: Whether it's bright food against a dark background or bold text against a solid color, Zach's thumbnails always pop, following YouTube thumbnail best practices.
6. Intrigue: Close-ups of food or partially obscured images in the video thumbnails create curiosity and encouraging clicks.

Lessons for Content Creators

If you're looking to up your YouTube thumbnail game, here are some key takeaways from Zach's strategy:

1. Find Your Signature: Develop a consistent element that makes your YouTube thumbnails instantly recognizable.
2. Evolve Gradually: Notice how Zach didn't completely change his thumbnail style overnight. Make small changes over time to keep your audience engaged.
3. Know Your Niche: Zach's food close-ups work because they're relevant to his content. What's the equivalent for your niche when creating YouTube thumbnails?
4. Use Contrast: Bright colors and high contrast make thumbnails pop on both desktop and mobile devices.
5. Experiment and Analyze: Zach clearly tested different styles. Don't be afraid to try new thumbnail designs and see what works best for your audience.

Leveling Up Your Thumbnail Game with Rizzle

Speaking of creating great YouTube thumbnails, have you heard of Rizzle? It's a user-friendly thumbnail maker app that can help you create eye-catching thumbnails in minutes, perfect for aspiring ASMR stars or content creators looking to improve their YouTube thumbnail practices.

Rizzle's AI-powered tool analyzes your video, selects the best frames, and customizes a thumbnail optimized for both desktop and mobile devices. Here's what you can do with this YouTube thumbnail maker:

Premium Stock Images from Getty

Rizzle gives you access to millions of royalty-free images from Getty Images. Stand out with high-quality, professional visuals that make your thumbnails pop on any platform.

AI Predicts the Best Thumbnail

No more guessing! Rizzle’s AI analyzes your options and predicts which thumbnail will get the most clicks and views, helping you choose the top performer.

AI Speaker Detection

Automatically highlight key moments in your video. Rizzle’s AI identifies and features the speaker, ensuring your thumbnail captures the most important parts.

Smart AI Layouts

Rizzle’s AI Dynamic Layouts select the best frames and elements from your video to create striking thumbnails. Choose from multiple options that are designed to stand out.

Thousands of Templates

Need variety? Rizzle offers thousands of pre-designed templates tailored to different video styles, so you’re never short on fresh ideas.

Unlimited Regeneration

Keep tweaking until it’s perfect! Rizzle allows unlimited regeneration, giving you fresh thumbnails with new layouts and action shots every time.

Whether you're creating mukbang videos like Zach, gaming content, or anything in between, Rizzle has tools to help you create custom thumbnails that stand out and grab attention.

Your Thumbnails, Your Success

Zach Choi's journey from a new channel to a 9-billion-view phenomenon is truly impressive. While his ASMR content is undoubtedly top-notch, we can't overlook the role his eye-catching YouTube thumbnails played in attracting viewers.

Remember, your thumbnail is like a mini-poster for your video. It's often the first (and sometimes only) chance you have to grab someone's attention. So take a page from Zach's book: be consistent, be bold, and don't be afraid to evolve your thumbnail designs.

Now, if you'll excuse me, all this talk about food thumbnails has made me hungry. I'm off to watch some Zach Choi ASMR videos - for research purposes, of course!