YouTube’s massive user base — over 2.6 billion people access the platform each month — makes it an excellent place for businesses of all sizes to reach potential customers. The right ad formats can help increase brand awareness, drive traffic to websites and online storefronts, and boost product sales. However, it’s important to understand the different YouTube ad formats before creating an ad campaign. Using the latest ad specs and dimensions will ensure that your ads look great on all devices and can be seen by as many users as possible.

Video is one of the most effective YouTube ad formats, providing an opportunity to convey your message in a captivating and engaging way. This can be done through animated explainer videos or how-to content that helps educate your audience on the benefits and use cases of your products. These video ads can help you drive more qualified leads and conversions.

Variety and Versatility: Exploring YouTube Ads Formats

Several YouTube ad formats run on the YouTube and Google video partner networks. Some are mobile-only, while others are available on both desktop and mobile devices.

Skippable TrueView in-stream ads play before, during, or after videos on YouTube and partner sites/apps. They offer viewers the option to skip the ad after 5 seconds, and advertisers are only charged if the ad is watched for at least 30 seconds or in full.

Non-skippable video ads on YouTube can be up to 15 seconds long, and they’re perfect for promoting short, memorable messages. For example, a kitchen knife manufacturer could promote a new line of knives by running a non-skippable ad before popular cooking tutorial videos on YouTube.