How TrueView in-display ads work
In-display ads can run across YouTube and Google Display Network. On YouTube they can run on the search and watch pages for both desktop and m.youtube.com, as well as the home pages for desktop and YouTube mobile apps. The ad unit consists of an image thumbnail and up to three lines of text. Clicking the ad will deliver a user to the YouTube watch or channel page to view the video rather than playing the video within the ad unit itself. It’s recommended to use CTA overlays on the videos to drive the users to the advertiser site.
TrueView in-display comes in a variety of formats:
YouTube search results
TrueView in-display ads appear on YouTube search results in the related video section. The ad contains a thumbnail, headline, channel name and video view count.
The top-ranked ad may also be repeated below the organic search results
YouTube video watch page
In-display ad can appear on watch pages in these different positions:
- As an overlay on the video. Overlays look the same on the YT watch page and on embedded players.
- As an overlay on the video with an additional 300×250 companion
- In the related video section as a unit that contains a thumbnail, headline, channel name and video view count
- In the related video section as a 300×250 unit that contains a large thumbnail, channel avatar name, headline, description and video length
YouTube home page
In-display ads can appear on the YouTube home page when there is no Masthead running.
YouTube mobile apps home page
In-display ads can appear in the home page of the Android and iOS YT App on days when the mobile video masthead is not sold.
Android (Portrait)
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Android (Landscape)
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iOS (Portrait)
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YouTube Mobile Web search and watch pages
In-display ads can appear on the YouTube mobile search and watch pages as a promoted video in the top related video slot for high end devices.
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Google Display Network
Video ads will run in the following placements on sites that are part of the GDN:
- 728×90
- 336×280
- 300×250
- 250×250
- 200×200
Assets overview
| Asset name | Description |
|---|---|
| Video URL | Video must be uploaded to YouTube |
| Image | Choose from 4 auto-generated thumbnails
To implement custom thumbnails, contact your Google representative |
| Headline text | 25 characters max |
| Description | Two lines 35 characters max each
Description is not shown in Suggestions |
In order to create an in-display ad, videos must be public or unlisted. All ads must must comply with the YouTube Advertising Policies.
Reporting metrics
- Impressions
- Clicks
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