How to Use Seasonal YouTube Thumbnails to Improve Your Click Through Rate with Rizzle

When it comes to YouTube, first impressions are everything, and nothing speaks louder than a thumbnail. But here’s the thing: regular thumbnails can only get you so far. If you really want to boost your YouTube thumbnail click-through rate (CTR) and intrigue people, seasonal thumbnails are the way to go.

In this blog, we’re going to focus on seasonal thumbnails and how the holiday season can supercharge your thumbnail click through rate. We'll also look at some YouTubers who absolutely crush the seasonal thumbnail game. So, grab your hot chocolate, and let's dive in.

Why Seasonal Thumbnails Work Like Magic

Before we dive into specifics, let’s discuss why seasonal thumbnails, particularly Christmas ones, are so effective. It all boils down to psychology and emotion. People are naturally drawn to things that feel relevant and timely.

During certain times of the year, like Christmas, viewers are looking for content that matches the season’s vibe. They're instantly hooked when they see a festive thumbnail because it resonates with their current mood and interests. This interest significantly boosts your YouTube thumbnail click through rate (CTR).

Here’s why seasonal thumbnails are a CTR goldmine:

Relevance

During holidays like Christmas, viewers are naturally seeking out holiday-themed content. A seasonal thumbnail makes your video relevant to what they're already thinking about.

Emotional Connection

Holidays evoke strong emotions, joy, nostalgia, and excitement. Viewers are likelier to click when your thumbnail taps into these emotions.

FOMO (Fear of Missing Out)

Source: Mia Maples A woman holding a Dior's advent calendar, with a bold text that reads "DIOR"

A seasonal thumbnail gives viewers the feeling that this content is time-sensitive and they shouldn’t miss out on it. This boosts your YouTube thumbnail CTR.

Curiosity

Source: Kristen McGowan A spilt screen with a bow and a Christmas tree and a woman posing with bold text.

A well-designed Christmas thumbnail with festive elements like snowflakes, Santa hats, or Christmas lights can pique curiosity and significantly boost your click through rate (CTR), making viewers want to know more.

How Christmas YouTube Thumbnails Drive Higher CTR

The word "CTR" written on white blocks with a red arrow pointing upwards on a yellow background.

Now, let’s get a little more specific. Christmas is the prime time for YouTube creators to tap into the festive season and drive a higher click-through rate (CTR). Whether it's holiday gift guides, festive recipes, or Christmas vlogs, a Christmas-themed YouTube thumbnail makes your video stand out.

Here are the key elements of a killer Christmas thumbnail:

Festive Colors

A spilt screen showcasing a woman decorating her living room with fall colors

Red, green, white, and gold are synonymous with Christmas. Using these colors immediately signals to viewers that your content is related to the holiday season.

Holiday Symbols

Incorporate icons like Christmas trees, Santa hats, snowflakes, or even reindeer to boost your click-through rate (CTR). These festive elements instantly make your thumbnail scream "holiday content!"

Warm Lighting

Christmas is a cozy time, so using warm, soft lighting in your thumbnail can evoke that holiday spirit.

Holiday Text and Fonts

Source: Howcast An image featuring a family of seven posing behind a decorated Hanukkah table with fun text and design

You can get playful with your text by using Christmas-related fonts or phrases like "Christmas Gift Ideas" or "Festive Vlog."

Holiday Outfits or Props

If your thumbnail features you or anyone else, make sure they’re decked out in holiday gear like Santa hats or ugly Christmas sweaters.

Snow Effects

Adding a subtle snow effect or winter background can instantly make your YouTube thumbnail images feel festive.

YouTubers Who Nail Christmas Thumbnails

Some YouTubers have mastered the art of using seasonal thumbnails to significantly boost their click-through rate (CTR), especially around Christmas. Let’s take a look at some creators who do it best:

Zoella (Zoe Sugg)

Woman holding a stocking with a Christmas tree in the background. — Source: Zoe Sugg's YouTube thumbnail

If there’s one YouTuber who knows how to do Christmas, it’s Zoella. She launches her highly anticipated Vlogmas series every December, where she vlogs every day leading up to Christmas. And her thumbnails? They’re a perfect blend of festive, cozy, and clickable just like her YouTube videos.

What Zoella does well:

Festive Colors: Zoella consistently uses reds, greens, and gold in her thumbnails during Vlogmas, immediately giving off a Christmassy vibe.
Holiday Props: She’s often seen holding Christmas gifts, wearing a Santa hat, or showcasing a festive backdrop, making it clear that her content is holiday-themed.
Warm and Cozy Aesthetic: Her thumbnails have a warm, homely feel, with soft lighting, and often include candles, Christmas trees, or stockings in the background.

Why it works: Viewers know that Zoella’s Vlogmas is a Christmas tradition, and her thumbnails perfectly encapsulate the warm and cozy vibes of the holiday season, making them irresistible.

Alisha Marie

Alisha Marie is another YouTuber who has mastered the art of creating seasonal thumbnails that boost click-through rates (CTR), especially during the holiday season. From gift guides to DIY decorations and holiday-themed vlogs, her thumbnails perfectly capture the festive spirit, making her content irresistible to viewers.

What Alisha does well:

Bold Text: Alisha often includes bold, eye-catching text in her thumbnails, such as "Holiday Gift Guide" or "Christmas Room Decor Ideas."
Festive Outfits: She’s often dressed in Christmas sweaters or wearing holiday-themed accessories, instantly signaling that the
video is Christmas-related.
Holiday Colors: Her thumbnails often feature bright, festive colors like red and green, making them stand out in the feed.

Why it works: Alisha’s vibrant and festive thumbnails make her content a go-to for anyone looking for Christmas inspiration. The bold text also clarifies what the video is about, which helps drive clicks.

MrBeast

MrBeast is famous for his wild stunts and jaw-dropping giveaways, but during Christmas, he takes it to the next level with festive-themed videos and attention-grabbing thumbnails. His legendary Christmas giveaways are made even more irresistible by thumbnails designed to boost click-through rates (CTR) and ensure you don’t miss the holiday excitement.

What MrBeast does well:

Big Reactions: MrBeast’s thumbnails always feature big, exaggerated reactions, often with Santa hats or other Christmas-themed props.
Holiday Symbols: Whether it's Christmas trees, gifts, or even snow, his thumbnails are packed with holiday visuals.
Bold Text: MrBeast often uses text like "INSANE Christmas Giveaway" to generate excitement and FOMO.

Why it works: MrBeast’s thumbnails are larger than life, just like his content. The combination of Christmas elements and his signature exaggerated reactions makes them highly clickable.

Nikkie Tutorials

NikkieTutorials is a beauty guru who crushes it with her Christmas-themed makeup looks, and her thumbnails are just as festive as her content. She creates holiday makeup tutorials every year, and her thumbnails are full of glitz and glamour.

What NikkieTutorials does well:

Festive Makeup: Her thumbnails always showcase her stunning holiday makeup looks, often with lots of glitter and festive colors like red and gold.
Holiday Props: Nikkie sometimes incorporates holiday props like Christmas lights or ornaments into her thumbnails to enhance the festive feel.
Glamorous Vibe: Her thumbnails are high-quality and polished, making them stand out in the beauty niche.

Why it works: Nikkie’s audience is always looking for holiday makeup inspiration, and her thumbnails deliver exactly what they’re looking for: glam, glitz, and Christmas spirit.

James Charles

James Charles is another beauty YouTuber who fully embraces the holiday spirit. From festive makeup challenges to exciting holiday collaborations, his thumbnails are designed to stand out, packed with vibrant holiday cheer, and crafted to boost his click-through rate (CTR).

What James Charles does well:

Holiday Colors: James often uses red, green, and gold in his thumbnails to match the festive theme.
Big Reactions: His thumbnails often feature exaggerated facial expressions, which grab attention.
Festive Props: James includes holiday-themed props like Christmas lights or ornaments to enhance the festive vibe.

Why it works: James’ YouTube video thumbnails are vibrant and attention-grabbing, making them perfect for the holiday season. His audience knows they’re in for festive fun just by looking at the thumbnail.

How to Create Your Own Festive Thumbnails That Boost CTR

Now that we’ve seen some examples of YouTubers who kill it with Christmas thumbnails let’s break down how you can create festive thumbnails that will improve your CTR.

Use Festive Colors

Stick to a Christmas color palette. Think reds, greens, whites, and golds. These colors instantly signal to viewers that your content is Christmas-themed.

Add Holiday Icons

Incorporate Christmas trees, Santa hats, snowflakes, or even gifts into your thumbnail design. These small touches can make a huge difference in capturing that holiday spirit.

Include Text

While not always necessary, adding text like "Christmas Vlog" or "Holiday Gift Ideas" can help clarify the content of your video. Make sure the text is bold and easy to read.

Go Cozy or Glam

Depending on your content, you can evoke a warm, cozy Christmas vibe (think fireplaces and fuzzy blankets) or go for something more glamorous (glittery decorations and festive makeup). Either way, make sure your thumbnail evokes emotion.

Use Holiday Props

If your video features you, wear something festive, like a Santa hat or Christmas sweater. You can also use props like Christmas lights or gifts to enhance the thumbnail.

Test and Iterate

Don’t be afraid to test different thumbnail designs. Try various colors, text placements, and props to see what works best for your audience.

When it comes to YouTube, thumbnails are your first impression, and seasonal ones, especially Christmas-themed, are like the holiday lights that make everything pop. They tap into viewers' emotions, create a sense of urgency, and bring that cozy vibe we all love.

From Zoella's warm vibes to MrBeast's wild Christmas giveaways, nailing those festive thumbnails can seriously boost your click-through rate (CTR). One way to create these custom thumbnails is use AI.

Using Rizzle AI to create Christmas-themed custom thumbnails can be a game-changer for your YouTube channel and boost your click-through rates.

With the help of Rizzle AI, creating high-quality seasonal YouTube thumbnails can be easier than ever.

Rizzle offers the best YouTube thumbnail templates, a thumbnail maker, and a user-friendly interface. It also ensures that you follow YouTube thumbnail best practices to create eye-catching thumbnails quickly.

When it comes to Best YouTube thumbnail practices, it's all about nailing that first impression. Using a solid YouTube thumbnail template from Rizzle can streamline the process and help you maintain consistency across your channel.

Why Rizzle's AI Thumbnail Generator is a Game-Changer for Custom Thumbnails

Colorful graphic with the text "Let All Choose! Rizzle it

Optimized Image Balance and User-friendly interface

Rizzle applies the Rule of Thirds and advanced compositing techniques to make your custom YouTube thumbnails visually balanced and compelling.

Eye-Catching Color Contrast

With a focus on color theory, Rizzle ensures the perfect contrast between foreground and background, so you can create YouTube thumbnails that stand out even in crowded feeds.

Emotional Impact

Expressive facial recognition technology helps Rizzle pick the best emotions for your thumbnails, engaging viewers at first glance.

Text Readability

Rizzle’s YouTube thumbnail maker ensures the text on your thumbnail is always clear and easy to read, even on smaller screens.

High Flexibility

Whether you're creating thumbnails for vlogs or tutorials, Rizzle's YouTube thumbnail templates adapt to any content type, ensuring brand consistency.

Rizzle focuses on creating a YouTube thumbnail design that is clean, engaging, and speaks to your content. An eye-catching YouTube thumbnail is essential for grabbing viewers’ attention as they scroll.

The thumbnail maker app can be frustrating to use, with a confusing interface that makes creating custom designs more complicated than necessary. However, Rizzle AI always aims to balance creativity and clarity to create eye-catching YouTube thumbnails.

Make Your Thumbnails Shine This Holiday Season

In a nutshell, seasonal thumbnails are your ticket to skyrocketing your CTR and making your content stand out.

By embracing the festive vibes and using tools like Rizzle AI, you can whip up eye-catching designs that resonate with viewers. So, get those creative juices flowing and let your Christmas spirit shine through your thumbnails. It’s time to grab those clicks and spread some holiday cheer.