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Rishabh leads the content strategy at Content Beta, a creative video and design agency for Tech & SaaS companies.
YouTube is not just a platform for sharing and watching videos anymore. It is also a powerful marketing tool. The power lies in YouTube ads, which take advantage of the site’s extensive reach and user engagement.
If you answered yes to any of these questions, this blog post is for you!
In this guide, we will explore various types of YouTube ads and provide information on YouTube ad specs. The knowledge of YouTube ad formats, along with the youtube video specs, it will be easier for you to decide on a suitable one. It can help you create more engaging content that captures your target audience’s attention.
The types of YouTube ads include –
Display ads show up on the top right of the video screen, above the suggested videos on YouTube. It can be a static post or a video.
To effectively use this YouTube ad format, your content should be relevant to the audience. You should also consider the quality of the ad and the YouTube video advertising strategy.
These make your video ad more appealing to viewers and increase their chances of watching them. Including a strong call to action encourages viewers to click on your ad.
The YouTube Ad specs for Image Display Ads are –
Aspect ratio:
Image dimensions:
Image formats:
Maximum file size:
Placement:
Bidding Strategies:
The YouTube Ad specs for Video Display Ads are –
Aspect ratio:
Video dimensions:
Note: For optimal quality, we don’t recommend using SD
Video formats:
Maximum file size:
≤256 GB
Placement:
Top right of the video screen, above the suggested videos
Bidding Strategies:
YouTube often runs ads at various points during a video – at the start, somewhere in the middle, or at the end. The ads that let you skip ahead after 5 seconds are known as skippable in-stream ads. If you’re not interested in the ad, you can simply click the ‘skip ad’ button that appears at the bottom corner of the video.
The YouTube Ad specs for Skippable in-stream ads are –
Aspect ratio:
Note: For optimal quality, we don’t recommend using SD
Video Dimensions:
Note: For optimal quality, we don’t recommend using SD
Video formats:
Video length:
Maximum file size:
≤256 GB
Placement:
Before, during, and after a video plays on YouTube
Headline/Description:
≤15 characters
Note: If you have a CTA, ≤10 characters
Bidding Strategies:
Non-skippable in-stream ads are similar to the skippable YouTube ads. They can pop up at the beginning, middle, or end of a video. The only difference is that you can’t skip through these YouTube ads – you have to watch them all the way through.
The YouTube Ad specs for Non-skippable in-stream ads are –
Aspect ratio:
Note: For optimal quality, we don’t recommend using SD
Video Dimensions:
Note: For optimal quality, we don’t recommend using SD
Video formats:
Video length:
Maximum file size:
≤256 GB
Placement:
Before, during, and after a video plays on YouTube
Headline/Description:
≤15 characters
Note: If you have a CTA, ≤10 characters
Bidding Strategies:
Ad extension:
you can add website links, lead forms, or product/service listings to the ad campaign
In-feed video ads pop up when you’re looking for something new to watch on YouTube. They can appear in the search results, next to similar videos, or on the mobile homepage. Each video ad features a thumbnail image from the video and some descriptive text.
They’re designed to match the look and feel of the videos around them. It makes them less intrusive and more engaging for viewers. They might vary in size and appearance based on where they show up.
Above relevant search results on desktop, mobile, and TV
On a video’s watch page on desktop and mobile
In the YouTube app on mobile and TV
The YouTube Ad specs for In-feed video ads are –
Aspect ratio:
Note: For optimal quality, we don’t recommend using SD
Video Dimensions:
Note: For optimal quality, we don’t recommend using SD
Video formats:
Video length:
Maximum file size:
≤256 GB
Placement:
In the search results, next to similar videos, or on the mobile homepage
Headline/Description:
Note:
Bidding Strategies:
Ad extension:
you can add website links, lead forms, or product/service listings to the ad campaign
Bumper ads are quick YouTube ads that play before, during, or after videos. They last only 6 seconds or less. The catch is, you can’t skip them. They’re perfect for delivering a mini message.
The YouTube Ad specs for Bumper ads are –
Aspect ratio:
Note: For optimal quality, we don’t recommend using SD
Video Dimensions:
Note: For optimal quality, we don’t recommend using SD
Video formats:
Video length:
Max file size:
≤256 GB
Placement:
Before, during, and after a video plays on YouTube
Headline/Description:
≤15 characters
Note: If you have a CTA, ≤10 characters
Bidding Strategies:
With YouTube Masthead, you can promote your business, product, or service in a video ad. It is featured on the YouTube home feed across all devices. It’s a great way for drawing attention to a new product or reaching a large audience quickly.
A selected video silently auto-plays for up to 30 seconds at the top of YouTube’s homepage. Viewers can click on the mute icon to enable sound.
The ad can be in a widescreen or 16:9 aspect ratio. It also has a side panel that features details from your YouTube channel. Optionally, you can include up to 2 more videos in this panel.
After autoplay, the main video turns into its thumbnail. Clicking on the video or thumbnail takes viewers to the video’s YouTube watch page.
A selected video silently auto-plays for its full duration at the top of the home page. The ad includes
It also features the advertiser’s channel name and icon. Clicking on the ad takes users to the YouTube watch page for that video.
A selected video silently auto-plays for its full length at the top of the screen. Users can interact with it using their TV remote.
The ad is displayed in a widescreen or 16:9 format. After playing, the video changes back to its thumbnail.
Clicking the video or thumbnail will take viewers to a full-screen viewing page. However, you can’t add a call-to-action to these TV screen Masthead ads.
The YouTube Ad specs for Masthead ads are –
Aspect ratio:
Video Dimensions:
at least 1920 x 1080
Headline:
Up to 26 characters
Description:
Up to 62 character
CTA:
Up to 10 character
Bidding Strategies:
Outstream ads are mobile-only video ads. These types of YouTube ads don’t actually appear on YouTube.
You can find them on websites and apps running on Google video partners. They can appear as banners, pop-ups, in your feeds, as portrait or full-screen.
The YouTube Ad specs for Outstream ads are –
Placement:
Only on mobiles:
Bidding Strategies:
Vertical videos can significantly improve your mobile engagement for your YouTube ad campaigns. They work great across all YouTube ad types. They can potentially increase your conversions by 10-20%.
You can reach more audiences by opting for Google’s video partners as vertical video content is high in demand.
We know how to sell your story using your product UI
The YouTube Ad specs for Thumbnails are –
Aspect ratio:
16:9
Dimensions:
Format:
.JPG, .GIF or .PNG
Maximum File Size:
The YouTube Ad specs for Companion Banners (for desktop only) are –
Dimensions:
300 x 60
Format:
.JPG, .GIF or .PNG
Maximum File Size:
150kb
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Understanding the various types of YouTube ads and their specifications can significantly enhance your marketing strategy. YouTube is a powerful tool to showcase your brand, introduce new products, or simply tell your story.
The different types of YouTube ads serve a distinct purpose. They offer unique ways to capture your target audience’s attention. By using the right youtube ad specs, you can optimize your ads to engage viewers more effectively.
Always keep in mind –
Adhering to these will ensure that your content is professional, polished, and aligned with your brand image.
To conclude, mastering the types of YouTube ads can maximize your reach and improve engagement rate and conversions. So, dive in, experiment with different youtube ad formats, and discover the potential of YouTube advertising.
The different types of YouTube Ads are –
YouTube video ad specifications, also known as specs, are the guidelines of creating YouTube ads. These specs can change depending on the specific type of YouTube ad you’re creating.
Here are some basic specs you should know:
The length of a YouTube video ad can vary depending on the type of ad:
YouTube offers various ad formats for advertisers, such as –
Google Display Ad specs for YouTube include the following:
Yes, you can. If you are not a part of the program already, there are 2 ways –
YouTube shorts are in vertical orientation. The aspect ratio is 9:16 and the dimension is 1080 x 1920 px
Branding guidelines for YouTube ads generally refer to the rules that advertisers must follow when creating content that will be shown on YouTube. These guidelines include:
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