How and Why You Should Use Google Ads For Video

Quantazone blog: How and why you should use Google ads for video

Google AdWords began in 2000, only two years after the launch of the search engine. It functions as a pay-per-click marketing strategy targeting digital consumers. In 2018, it was rebranded to Google Ads.

While the Google market runs rife with potential leads, its popularity makes it a competitive atmosphere. Ads on the platform are viewed by 90% of the internet population. Costs for keywords are rising, making these campaigns more expensive. This leads to questions like, “what can I do to avoid overspending and still meet the demands of an oversaturated market?”

Google Ads may be deluged with business owners making their mark, but there are avenues yet to be conquered. Video is a perfect example of an untapped resource with plenty of potential for growth.

Throughout this article, you’ll get a closer look at the ways Google Ads feature in videos and how to make them work for you.

Understanding Google Ads for Video

The most commonly used YouTube video ads are called TrueView ads, and they come in 3 formats. These include:

  1. In-Stream: As the title suggests, an in-stream ad is one that plays during a YouTube video stream. The host of the video, also known as a YouTube partner, agrees to have ads play in exchange for monetary compensation. They normally appear at the beginning, middle, or end of the stream. In-stream ads are beneficial because they provide the viewer with the option to skip the ad after 5-seconds and return to their video. Unlike other types of PPC content, these ads don’t charge you unless a viewer watches your ad for 30-seconds or more.
  2. In-Search: Unlike in-stream content, in-search ads are linked to keywords. When a YouTube user searches for your keyword, your ad appears in the results window. If the ad video is clicked, you’re charged for it. This method lacks the safety net of the 5-second skip rule but has merits of its own. For example, your ad is more likely to reach its target audience if it’s delivered by a search term.
  3. In-Display: Finally, in-display ads are those which appear in the sidebar or search results. They’re marked with an “ad” indicator. Once clicked, you’re charged for the ad. These ads are extremely precise, guaranteeing the viewer wanted to see your content. Unlike other ad formats which self-populate, the viewer chooses this ad of their own accord.

A fourth option used to be available and It offered the viewer the choice of three ads to watch during a video of 10-minutes or more. This format has since been retired in favor of the alternative TrueView styles.

Connecting Your Ads to Video

Before you begin with the intricacies of linking ads to streaming video, you need a Google and YouTube account. Once set up, create your Google Ads account. Now, you’re ready to get connected and start your campaign with these easy steps:

Link Accounts

From your Google Ads page, select the setup option, and proceed to link your accounts. YouTube should be one of the options listed in the account panel. If you have multiple YouTube channels, you can choose the ones relevant to your advertisement.

Create and Specify Campaign Conditions

From the Ads panel select “campaigns,” “add campaign,” and then “video.” The tool will prompt you to specify whether you want to increase brand awareness or brand consideration with your video. After a campaign is chosen, title it and determine how much you’ll spend daily. Campaign conditions you’re required to specify are:

  • The launch and close date
  • The language and countries to stream in
  • Whether the video is in-search, in-stream, or in-display
  • Your bidding strategy
  • A schedule of appearance
Pinpoint an Audience and Ad Placement

An advantage of this ad strategy is targeting your audience by demographics and interests. This breakdown appears under the “people” tab, and lets you zero in on your target consumers through:

  • Age
  • Gender
  • Family-size
  • Income
  • Life event celebrations
  • Interests or affinity
  • Past interactions
  • Similar interests
  • Habits

With your audience chosen, you can now select placement by clicking websites or YouTube channels you want your ad to run through. You may also select keywords and categories which relate to your target audience.

Run and Monitor Your Ad

The ad creation processes complete, all that’s left to do is publish and maintain. Ad metrics reports will show you how your ad is succeeding and where it needs to be improved.

5 Tips for Successful Video Google Ads

Now that you know how Google ads and YouTube work together, here are five tips for a successful campaign:

1. Make an Ad They Want to See

Rather than designing an ad your consumers don’t mind pausing a video for, design an ad they want to watch start to finish. Consider your target audience and the videos they’re attracted to. The key to a successful video ad is making your audience forget it’s an ad.

A unique way to showcase a brand and reduce its appearance as an advertisement is turning it into something interactive. For example, a shoe company launching a new sneaker might be tempted to create a commercial-style ad. Instead of showing viewers something they’ve seen, design the ad as a how-to video for running.

2. Show Real Consumer Opinions

Nine out of ten consumers read reviews before purchasing a product or service. It’s become second nature to see what others are saying before trying something for ourselves. As a marketer, you can profit from this fact by including real customer opinions in your video ad.

An example of this is the Hello Fresh video campaign, which shows a couple named Tre and Rich. The video opens with Tre explaining why she started using the service and how it benefits their home. This marketing style is relatable and evokes an emotional response – two things that equal success in an advertisement.

3. Keep It Short and Sweet

This is an especially helpful tip for ads running in the middle of another video. You’re taking the consumer’s attention off the original link they clicked on. Keeping your content short and sweet improves the chances that a viewer will let it run to completion.

4. Research Before You Write

Understanding what your target demographic wants to see is crucial to a successful video ad campaign. Research which ads on YouTube are doing well within your industry and what types of videos they feature in.

You can also ask your audience outright what kind of ads they’d like to see and where. Use a poll in your social media feed to gather intel.

5. Draw Inspiration from Past Content

You’ve done your research; you know your audience. You probably have plenty of content already posted to blogs and social media feeds to prove it. Rather than trying to create brand-new ads from scratch, draw on the inspiration of past content. Recycling your own content to form something new as a video is a brilliant way to give your audience something you already know was a hit.

Overcome Google Ad Traffic Jams with Video

They call it the information highway, so it’s no surprise that digital marketing feels like driving in rush hour. With PPC ads showing a 50% higher conversion rate than organic search and an ROI of 200%, it’s an attractive market.

There may be no reprieve for cars stuck in a 5 p.m. traffic jam, but marketers are far luckier. Video marketing uses tried-and-true PPC ads in a less congested environment.

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