Your thumbnail is your content’s first impression—the difference between a click and a scroll. A well-designed thumbnail grabs attention, sets the right expectations, and boosts engagement.
Whether you’re creating thumbnails for Instagram Reels, TikTok, YouTube shorts or even LinkedIn, small design tweaks can have a big impact. This guide covers the best practices for vlog thumbnail optimization, from text overlays to color contrast and placement, to help you drive more clicks and maximize engagement.
Text Overlays vs. No Text on Vlog Thumbnails: What Works Best?
The research around using text overlays on thumbnails shows mixed results. A study by Agorapulse Social Media Lab found that Instagram posts without text overlays achieved higher reach and engagement compared to those with text overlays.
However, text overlays can be useful in specific contexts. Media publishers and educational content creators often benefit from adding brief text to convey key information at a glance.
A 2025 Journal of Marketing study by King’s College in London concluded that while text helps posts stand out, overly large, centered text can make the thumbnail less visually appealing, reducing engagement.
Key Takeaways for Vlog Thumbnail Optimization
- Use text sparingly and strategically: Highlight a key message or call to action rather than covering the image.
- Avoid oversized, centered text: These make the thumbnail look cluttered.
- Consider the platform and audience: for Instagram Stories and Reels, less text is often better, while YouTube-style vlogs may benefit from short, compelling phrases.
Influence of Text Color on Vlog Thumbnail Engagement
The color of your text can greatly impact readability and engagement. A high-contrast text-to-background ratio ensures the text is legible, making your vlog thumbnail stand out in a crowded feed.
Keywordio’s article, Master Text Overlays: Boost Ad Engagement, found that white or bright-colored text on a darker background (or vice versa) catches the viewer’s eye more effectively. Additionally, color psychology plays a role in how users perceive thumbnails:
- Red & Orange: Energizing, urgent, attention-grabbing.
- Blue: Trustworthy, calming, often receives higher engagement.
- Green: Associated with health, nature, and balance.
A study by social media marketing platform Emplifi found that Instagram images with a blue-dominated color scheme received 24% more likes than those with red or orange tones. Similarly, bright and well-lit thumbnails saw 24% higher engagement than dark images.
Best Practices for Text Color in Vlog Thumbnails
- Use high-contrast colors to ensure readability.
- Align text colors with your brand while ensuring they stand out from the background.
- Utilize color psychology to evoke the right emotions from viewers.
Best Placement for Text in Vlog Thumbnails
Where you position text on your thumbnail matters. The same King’s College study found placing text in the center of an image – especially if it’s large – reduces engagement.
Instead, text should complement the image rather than dominate it. Placing text at the top, bottom, or in an empty space ensures it remains readable while preserving the visual appeal of the thumbnail.
Best Practices for Text Placement
- Avoid covering the main subject of the image.
- Position text at the top or bottom for better readability.
- Stay within “safe zones” to prevent text from being cropped in Instagram’s grid or previews (source: Fourthwall Blog).
Other Design Factors That Affect Vlog Thumbnail Engagement
Four factors to consider:
1. Human Faces in Thumbnails
People are naturally drawn to faces, making thumbnails featuring expressive human faces highly effective in increasing engagement. A 2024 study by Fanpage Karma found that:
- Fashion and beauty content with faces received 10% more engagement.
- Tech and product-focused content often performed better without human faces.
2. Image Quality & Clarity
- Use high-resolution images to maintain a professional look.
- Avoid blurry or pixelated thumbnails, as they can appear untrustworthy.
- For video thumbnails, select a compelling still frame rather than relying on an auto-generated one.
3. Use of Brightness & Contrast
- Bright, vibrant thumbnails attract more engagement than dark, muted ones
(source: Instagram Engagement: Emplifi). - Thumbnails with bold, high-contrast colors stand out in Instagram’s feed.
- A consistent color palette can strengthen brand identity (source: Brandwatch).
4. Context & Content Relevance
If your thumbnail represents a vlog or video, a brief text snippet or icon can increase click-through rates. However, misleading thumbnails may gain initial clicks but hurt engagement in the long run. Authenticity is key.
Final Thoughts on Vlog Thumbnail Optimization
A well-designed vlog thumbnail should grab attention, be easy to read, and clearly represent your content.
To improve vlog thumbnail engagement:
- Use text overlays sparingly to highlight key messages.
- Select high-contrast colors to improve readability.
- Place text strategically to avoid covering important visuals.
- Use high-quality images that stand out in feeds.
- Ensure consistency in branding across all thumbnails.
By following these data-backed strategies, you can optimize your vlog thumbnails to boost engagement, improve visibility, and ultimately grow your audience.
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Sources
- Agorapulse Social Media Lab – “Should Instagram Images Contain Text?”
- Farace et al., Journal of Marketing (2025) – “Standing Out while Fitting In: Visual Rightness of Text Overlays…” (King’s College London)
- Keywordio Blog – “Master Text Overlays: Boost Ad Engagement” (Keywordio)
- Fourthwall Blog – “How to Create Instagram Thumbnails That Attract Views” (Fourthwall)
- Brandwatch – “Boost Engagement with Instagram Carousel Tips” (Brandwatch)
- Fanpage Karma Study (2024) – “Do posts with faces perform better on Instagram?” (Fanpage Karma Insights)
- Emplifi – “Instagram Engagement: Stats” (Emplifi)
