TrueView Discovery ads can show up throughout the YouTube search results, video watch pages, and mobile app. These ads show a video thumbnail along with up to 3 lines of text. Unlike most other YouTube ads, users have to actually click on a TrueView ad in order to watch the video — hence, the name “TrueView”.
Because viewers have to click on the ad to begin the video, advertisers know that they actually watched the ad, or truly viewed it. That’s a much better guarantee than the passive viewing that occurs with many YouTube ads, where a person may just forget to click the skip button, or may have walked away from their screen entirely.
Read on to learn more about TrueView video discovery ads.
Sections
Where on YouTube Can TrueView Video Discovery Ads Run?
TrueView video discovery ads can show up in a number of places on YouTube, including the YouTube search results, on a video watch page, and in the YouTube mobile app. The placement of a TrueView video discovery ad determines how it appears. Here are a few examples.
YouTube Search Results
TrueView video discovery ads can appear in the search results on both desktop and mobile. They can include a thumbnail, headline, channel name, description, and view count. The ad in the first spot can actually appear twice, as it may be shown again at the bottom of the organic search results.
Video Watch Page
When TrueView ads are on a video watch page, they can appear as an overlay on the video (desktop only), or as the top video in the related video section on the right. Video overlays will include a headline, description, and URL. Related videos include a thumbnail, headline, channel name, and video view count.
YouTube Mobile App
In the YouTube mobile app, TrueView video discovery ads show up on the homepage. They can include a thumbnail, headline, channel name, and description. Here are examples from the iOS and Android apps:
LIke all Google ads, TrueView discovery ads have their own video requirements. For each ad, you’ll need to upload a video URL, select an image thumbnail, and add a headline of up to 25 characters and two lines of description up to 35 characters each. You can review more specific technical requirements here.
Reach Your Goals With YouTube TrueView Discovery Ads
YouTube ads are useful for a variety of goals, from boosting conversions to growing awareness. YouTube TrueView video ads are especially effective for driving consideration and action. Here’s why.
With a TrueView video discovery ad, a viewer has to click to watch. Simply by clicking to watch, the viewer has already expressed a certain level of interest in your ad. And since they’re interested, they’re more likely to keep watching the ad. As a result, these ads tend to drive significantly more qualified conversions. In fact, according to Google, TrueView discovery ads generate 5 times more clicks on CTAs than TrueView in-stream ads.
TrueView video discovery ads also drive more video views in general. The average user will watch at least 1 other video from a brand within 24 hours of watching the original TrueView discovery ad. That makes this ad format an excellent option for less advertorial content, like testimonials or how-to videos.
TrueView video discovery ads provide a better experience for the user, which can improve brand awareness and favorability. They’re way less intrusive than in-stream ads, since they don’t interrupt or delay the video the person is currently watching. They’re simply there as a suggestion.
Best of all, you only pay when a person clicks on your ad and begins watching the video!
Are you ready to take advantage of TrueView discovery ads? Contact the YouTube advertising experts at Your Marketing People.
