The Ultimate Beginner's Guide to YouTube Ad Targeting (2024)

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ARTICLE AD BOX

Have you ever wondered however immoderate brands look successful beforehand of conscionable the close assemblage connected YouTube, arsenic if by magic?

The concealed isn't magic astatine all—it's YouTube advertisement targeting.

Use YouTube targeted ads to pinpoint your advertisements. This strategy tin assistance you scope the viewers astir apt to beryllium funny successful your merchandise oregon service. So you tin crook views into invaluable engagement. And, ultimately, summation customers.

This usher shows you however YouTube advertisement targeting works, its benefits, and however to usage it for your business. 

With YouTube advertisement targeting, you nonstop wherever your ads are displayed based connected circumstantial spectator demographics (like location), viewing times, interests, and contented types. 

Focusing your ads utilizing targeting options makes them a amended acceptable for your desired people audience. Imagine you're shooting an arrow. YouTube advertisement targeting increases the chances that the arrow (your ad) lands connected the bullseye (the viewers astir apt to attraction astir your offer). 

This targeted advertizing is important for the occurrence of your campaign. Associating your advertisement with contented your people assemblage already likes increases your offer’s relevance. That tin construe into higher engagement rates, accrued likelihood of conversion, and a amended instrumentality connected concern (ROI).

But however are YouTube ads targeted successful practice?

YouTube advertisement targeting uses information from Google Ads. When mounting up a run successful your Google Ads account, the level allows you to specify your people assemblage precisely based connected criteria that lucifer your perfect lawsuit profile. 

For example: You tin people your assemblage by location. Like this:

Google Ads assemblage  targeting by location

You tin people your assemblage by language:

Select the languages your customers talk  successful  Google Ads

And you person the enactment to people by assemblage segment:

Audience segments conception  successful  Google Ads

Then, YouTube's algorithm uses these criteria to spot your ads successful beforehand of users who acceptable your desired profile.

For example, let’s accidental you person a North American business.You privation to merchantability a caller enactment of eco-friendly h2o bottles. You mightiness usage Google Ads to people viewers successful your portion funny successful outdoor activities. Or wellness and wellness. That way, your advertisement connects with radical already inclined to attraction astir your product.

YouTube advertisement targeting helps you:

  • Specify your audience based connected their demographics, interests, and adjacent online behaviors. Like the types of videos they ticker connected YouTube. And things they hunt for connected Google.
  • Measure occurrence successful existent time by tracking your ads’ show against your selling goals. Like expanding marque consciousness and driving conversions.
  • Re-engage with viewers who person antecedently interacted with your brand. This tin importantly summation your chances of conversion. Since these individuals person shown involvement successful your marque before.
  • Target highest viewing times by specifying erstwhile Google should amusement your ads. This helps you find your assemblage better. And bounds vulnerability to debar advertisement fatigue. (That happens erstwhile an assemblage sees the aforesaid advertisement excessively often.)

How to Target Ads connected YouTube

There are 2 types of YouTube advertisement targeting methods:

  • YouTube Ads assemblage targeting: Focuses connected who is viewing the ad
  • YouTube Ads contented targeting: Focuses connected where your advertisement is shown

Let’s look astatine each.

Audience Targeting Methods for YouTube Ads

Audience targeting methods assistance your ads scope the people astir apt to beryllium funny successful your offering.

Audience targeting methods include:

  • Demographic groups: Specify the basal demographics of your people audience. Like their age, gender, whether they person children, and however overmuch they earn.
  • Detailed demographics: Target users based connected beingness stages oregon statuses. Like assemblage students oregon homeowners.
  • Interests: Target viewers based connected their interests. This shows your ads to radical funny successful topics related to your business. Even if they spot the advertisement erstwhile they're watching videos astir thing else.
    • Affinity segments: Target video ads astatine radical with a beardown involvement successful topics related to your brand
    • Custom affinity segments: Customize your assemblage segments adjacent much precisely. For example, alternatively of targeting each "chocolate lovers," a gourmet cocoa institution mightiness people "artisanal acheronian cocoa connoisseurs." 
    • Life events: Target assemblage based connected beingness events. Like moving, graduating, oregon getting married.
    • In-market segments: Target radical who are actively researching products oregon services similar yours 
    • Custom segments: Tailor your assemblage based connected their Google searches
  • Your information segments: If radical person interacted with your brand—through your YouTube videos, ads, channel, website, oregon app—you tin people your ads to them again. This is called retargeting.
  • Customer Match: Use your first-party information to reconnect with your customers crossed YouTube. Whether they've shopped with you online oregon in-store, usage what you cognize astir them to bring your marque backmost into their view. You tin besides usage Customer Match to pull caller customers who are akin to your existing ones.

There are 2 ways to usage Customer Match:

Demonstration of the Customer Match diagnostic   successful  Google Ads, which tin  beryllium  utilized  to people     existing and new, lookalike customers.

Content Targeting Methods for YouTube Ads

With content targeting methods, you absorption connected choosing specific integer spaces. These are places—like definite videos, channels, oregon websites—where you privation your ads to appear.

Content targeting methods include:

  • Placements: Think of placements arsenic choosing the nonstop integer existent property for your ads. You prime circumstantial YouTube channels and idiosyncratic YouTube videos wherever you privation your ads to appear. You besides person the enactment to take full websites—or adjacent circumstantial pages wrong websites—through the Google Display Network (GDN).
  • Topics: Target YouTube videos, channels, and websites related to circumstantial subjects. For example, if your concern involves outdoor adventure, targeting the "Travel & Adventure'' taxable means your ads should look connected related content. Like videos with backpacking tips connected YouTube. Or question blogs connected the GDN.
  • Keywords: With YouTube Ads keyword targeting, you prime circumstantial words oregon phrases to lucifer your ads with YouTube content. Let’s accidental you're promoting a caller cookbook. Targeting keywords similar "cooking tutorials" oregon "recipe reviews" tin assistance your ads look alongside related cooking videos oregon nutrient channels.
  • Devices: Choose the benignant of instrumentality you privation your ads to look on. For example, mobile phones, computers, oregon adjacent TV surface devices similar Chromecast.

Types of YouTube Ads

There are respective types of YouTube targeted ads to prime from.

Here’s a speedy overview:

Types of YouTube Ads

Ad Type

Where They Can Appear

Max Video Length

Skippable?

Ideal for

Skippable In-Stream

Before, during, oregon aft videos connected YouTube and Google video partners (GVP)

None, but Google recommends little than 3 minutes

Yes, aft 5 seconds

Brand awareness, merchandise consideration

Non-Skippable In-Stream 

Before, during, oregon aft videos connected YouTube and GVP

15-30 seconds

No

Messages that you request users to spot successful full

In-Feed Video

YouTube hunt results, homepage, oregon adjacent to related videos

None

N/A 

(viewer chooses to click and watch)

Engaging viewers actively searching oregon browsing

Bumper

Before, during, oregon aft videos connected YouTube and GVP

Six seconds

No

Short, memorable marque messages

Outstream

On spouse sites and apps extracurricular of YouTube

None

N/A 

(ad is the lone video displayed successful the space)

Extending scope beyond YouTube, mobile-focused

Masthead

At the apical of YouTube's homepage

30 seconds

N/A

(ad is the lone video displayed successful the space)

Major merchandise launches, marque events

Let’s look astatine each enactment successful much detail.

Skippable In-Stream Ads

Skippable in-stream ads are communal connected YouTube. They play before, during, oregon aft the user’s chosen video.

Skippable in-stream advertisement  connected  YouTube

These ads connection a flexible viewing experience. Viewers tin skip aft 5 seconds. And you lone wage erstwhile a spectator watches your advertisement for astatine slightest 30 seconds, until the extremity of the video, oregon if they prosecute with the ad, similar clicking connected a telephone to enactment (CTA).

Skippable in-stream ads are effectual erstwhile you person engaging video contented you privation to beforehand connected YouTube oregon crossed the GDN. They're perfect for capturing attraction quickly. You tin customize them with CTAs. And overlay substance to promote spectator interaction.

Imagine you're launching a caller fittingness app and privation to dispersed the word. You mightiness make a skippable in-stream ad. It could commencement with a captivating question: "Looking to alteration your fittingness journey?" Within the archetypal 5 seconds, your advertisement shows large visuals. It features existent radical achieving their fittingness goals. It intrigues viewers, expanding the likelihood they’ll ticker the remainder of the ad. Or click done to larn much astir your app.

Non-Skippable In-Stream Ads

Non-skippable in-stream ads are video ads. Viewers indispensable ticker them earlier the main video.

Non-skippable in-stream advertisement  connected  YouTube

These ads tin beryllium up to 30 seconds long. Google Ads tin spot them before, during, oregon aft the YouTube video the spectator is watching. They present your full message. Viewers can't skip them. This ensures your assemblage sees your implicit ad.

Non-skippable in-stream ads are astir effectual erstwhile you person a concise, almighty message. Because viewers cannot skip these ads, they're perfect for making a swift, coagulated impact. They enactment good for announcements oregon merchandise launches.

Let’s accidental you're launching a caller smartphone with unsocial features. A non-skippable in-stream advertisement could beryllium the cleanable format to showcase this product. You person a captive assemblage for 15-30 seconds. Enough clip to item the phone's astir innovative features. And extremity with a CTA encouraging viewers to larn much connected your website.

For non-skippable in-stream ads, it’s important to see its imaginable interaction connected the viewer. Because they can’t beryllium skipped, these ads tin frustrate viewers if they aren’t relevant. 

Non-skippable in-stream ads mightiness beryllium close if:

  • Your connection is compelling and concise, delivering worth wrong a abbreviated play of time
  • Your contented is engaging capable to clasp viewers' attraction for the full duration
  • You person circumstantial goals similar raising marque consciousness oregon driving income of a caller product

In-Feed Video Ads

In-feed video ads look wherever viewers find content. They amusement adjacent to YouTube hunt results, successful the database of related videos connected a ticker page, oregon connected the YouTube mobile homepage. Like this:

In-feed video advertisement  connected  YouTube from Shopify

These ads dwell of a thumbnail representation from your video and immoderate text. Viewers person to click to ticker more. When they click, the video plays connected its dedicated YouTube leafage oregon channel.

In-feed video ads enactment good for attracting customers who are already funny successful contented similar yours. They blend seamlessly into the user's browsing experience, making them little intrusive and much apt to beryllium clicked. This makes in-feed video ads perfect for promoting your contented straight to users looking to observe thing caller oregon applicable to them.

For example, you tally a cooking transmission astir steadfast eating. Your in-feed video advertisement whitethorn amusement your series' trailer wherever nutrient enthusiasts are apt to spot it. In hunt results for "healthy eating recipes" oregon arsenic a related video connected fashionable cooking tutorials.

Bumper Ads

Bumper ads are quick, impactful snippets that play close before, during, oregon aft a YouTube video. They are six seconds agelong and determination is nary enactment to skip them. This ensures your assemblage sees your full message.

Bumper advertisement  from McDonalds connected  YouTube

These ads are applicable erstwhile you privation to present a short, memorable connection to a wide audience. Use them to reenforce oregon complement a larger advertizing campaign. Like for a caller merchandise motorboat oregon an upcoming event.

Let's accidental you're launching a caller enactment of customized sneakers. Your bumper advertisement could diagnostic quick, dynamic shots of the sneakers successful action, and adjacent with your logo and a simple, catchy slogan. This little glimpse tin spark viewers' interest. And complement a much elaborate run elsewhere.

Outstream Ads

Outstream ads are a mobile-specific advertizing format. It helps you broaden your video ad's scope beyond YouTube. These ads people viewers connected websites and apps wrong the Google Video Partners (GVP) network.

Outstream advertisement  from Emirates connected  CNN Business's site

These ads automatically commencement playing without sound. Viewers tin pat the advertisement to unmute it. This attack makes outstream ads non-intrusive. They springiness users power implicit their experience.

Outstream ads are astir effectual successful connecting with mobile users who often devour contented connected apps and websites beyond YouTube. This strategy is invaluable for reaching a broader assemblage apt to person an involvement successful your contented oregon offerings.

Imagine you're promoting a caller mobile game. Using outstream ads, you spot a short, soundless teaser of your crippled successful banners crossed a assortment of apps and mobile websites. Interested viewers tin pat to unmute and ticker the full ad, perchance starring to a caller app download.

Masthead Ads

Masthead ads look astatine the apical of YouTube's homepage. Like this: 

Masthead advertisement  from Whatsapp astatine  the apical  of YouTube's homepage

They instantly drawback the oculus of anyone who visits the site, car playing without dependable for up to 30 seconds. They connection a premier spot to showcase your marque oregon merchandise successful a widescreen oregon 16:9 facet ratio format.

Masthead ads are effectual for important selling campaigns. Like erstwhile you privation to make consciousness astir a caller merchandise launch, service, oregon an important event, similar a sale. Use them erstwhile you privation to marque a large announcement and seizure tons of attraction successful a abbreviated magnitude of time.

Let’s accidental your institution is launching a caller merchandise feature, and you privation to make the biggest imaginable interaction connected motorboat day. A masthead advertisement could diagnostic a 30-second teaser showing the benefits of the caller feature.

You request a Google Ads account and a YouTube transmission to acceptable up your archetypal YouTube Ad campaign.

Link the accounts truthful they stock data. This provides much advertizing opportunities seamlessly.

Start successful your YouTube Studio account. Click “Settings” successful the left-hand menu.

"Settings" fastener  successful  the YouTube Studio account

Click connected “Channel.”

"Channel" enactment    selected nether  YouTube Studio settings

Click connected the “Advanced settings” tab.

Then, click “LINK ACCOUNT” astatine the bottom. Next to “Google Ads relationship linking.”

“Google Ads relationship  linking" conception  successful  YouTube Studio precocious  settings

Enter the indispensable information. Click “DONE.”

Google Ads relationship  linking settings

Next, log successful to your Google Ads relationship to o.k. the request. This should successfully nexus your accounts.

Make definite you person uploaded your advertisement arsenic a video connected YouTube. This measurement is crucial. It’s the lone mode to designate that video contented arsenic a YouTube ad.

Now you’re acceptable to make that YouTube advertisement campaign.

1. Create a New Campaign

On your Google Ads relationship page, click connected the “+ Create” fastener astatine the apical of the navigation barroom connected the left.

"Create" fastener  highlighted connected  the Google Ads relationship  page

Select “Campaign.”

"Campaign" enactment    selected from the drop-down menu

2. Select Your Campaign Objective

"What's your run  objective" conception  successful  Google Ads run  page

The run nonsubjective you prime volition dictate which advertisement types volition beryllium disposable to you. 

For example:

  • Skippable in-stream ads are disposable for sales, leads, website traffic, and consciousness and information objectives
  • Non-skippable in-stream, in-feed video, and bumper ads are disposable for consciousness and information objectives

For this workflow, we chose the “Awareness and consideration” objective.

Next, nether "Select a run type,” take “Video.” 

"Video" enactment    selected nether  "Select a run  type" section

A paper of run subtypes volition appear. Select one. Then click the “Continue” button.

"Video views" enactment    selected nether  run  subtypes section

Consider the pursuing tips erstwhile selecting a run subtype:

  • Video views: An thought prime if privation heavy engagement with those astir apt to beryllium funny successful your offerings
  • Video reach: Best for maximizing visibility oregon reinforcing your connection by showing it to the aforesaid radical repeatedly
  • Ad sequence: Perfect for storytelling oregon analyzable messages that unfold implicit aggregate interactions
  • Audio: Suited for reaching users listening connected YouTube Music
  • YouTube engagements: Ideal to turn your channel's assemblage and summation enactment with your content

If you take objectives similar Sales, Leads, oregon Website traffic, you person to adhd a conversion extremity to way that objective.

Let’s accidental you prime the “Sales” objective. Click connected “Add goal” nether “Use these conversion goals to amended Sales.”

add extremity   nether  the selected income  objective

Select your conversion goal.

"Engagements" selected for the conversion goal

Then, click “Continue.”

"Continue" fastener  highlighted

Set your run benignant arsenic "Video," and click "Continue."

"Video" acceptable   arsenic  the run  benignant   successful  Google Ads

3. Define Your Campaign Settings

Name your campaign. 

"Video advertisement  targeting" sanction  added to the campaign

Next, you’ll prime your fund benignant and total. 

Choose betwixt the “Daily” and “Campaign total” fund types.

  • Daily: Offers day-to-day spending power to accommodate to regular viewership fluctuations. You whitethorn walk little than your regular fund connected immoderate days and much connected others. However, you won’t walk much than your regular fund times the days successful the month. This flexibility is perfect for achieving accordant visibility without overspending.
  • Campaign total: A set-it-and-forget-it attack wherever you allocate a full walk for the full run duration.YouTube strategically paces your spending based connected your campaign's commencement and extremity dates. It evenly distributes advertisement vulnerability implicit that period.
Campaign fund  and day  conception  successful  Google Ads

Next, prime your networks. And your people audience’s geographic location.

add web  and audience’s geographic determination  into Google Ads run  settings

Select the languages your people assemblage speaks. And adhd related videos for amended engagement. 

Then, tick the “Get much views with multi-format video ads” checkbox. This allows Google to find the close premix of advertisement types for your campaign.

“Get much  views with multi-format video ads” checkbox

Click connected “Additional settings” if you privation to:

  • Target circumstantial devices
  • Set however galore times Google Ads shows your YouTube advertisement to a user
  • Schedule erstwhile your targeted ads connected YouTube tin run
  • Add third-party vendors to fto them spot measurement information for your campaign
Google Ads further  settings

4. Create Your Ad Group and Ad Content

Name your advertisement group. 

"Video advertisement  targeting radical  1" sanction  added to the run  group

Scroll down to the “People” conception to set people assemblage criteria. Expand the “Demographics” enactment to unfastened a paper of selectable options.

Icon to grow  the demographics assemblage  option

Use the checkboxes to specify your people audience’s age, gender, parental status, and household income.

Audience's demographics options for Google Ads campaign

Expand the “Audience segments” paper to make circumstantial groups. These groups are the radical you privation Google Ads to people with your YouTube ads based connected factors similar demographics and interests.

Audience segments paper   successful  Google Ads

Scroll down to the “Content” conception to acceptable preferences astir the benignant of contented that volition trigger your ads to display. Expand the “Keywords” menu. 

Keywords paper   nether  the Content section

Add keywords that picture your merchandise oregon service. And the contented you privation your ads to look on. 

For example, if you're selling handmade bracelets, usage keywords similar "handmade jewelry," "artisan bracelets," and "unique accessories." 

add your keywords to Google Ads

Select “Topics” to specify the contented subjects for your ads.

Topics are broader contented themes. They disagree from keywords, which people circumstantial terms. 

To physique connected our erstwhile example, if you’re advertizing handmade bracelets, you mightiness prime topics similar "Fashion & Beauty" oregon "Arts & Crafts." 

specify the contented  subjects for your ads nether  the "Topics" section

Expand the “Placements” paper to specify wherever connected GDN oregon YouTube you privation your ads to go.

Placements conception  successful  Google Ads settings

Under the “Create your video ads” section, hunt for the video you privation to beryllium your ad. Or adhd it via YouTube URL.

“Create your video ads” conception  successful  Google Ads

After adding your video, input the last URL wherever you privation users to onshore erstwhile they click your ad.

YouTube video added to the Google Ads campaign

Scroll down to edit different settings similar your Display URL (so users recognize what to expect erstwhile they participate your landing page), CTA (if you tick the option), agelong headline, and description.

Display URL, CTA, agelong  headline, and statement  settings successful  Google Ads

Set your bid. 

The people cost-per-view (CPV) bid tells Google Ads however overmuch you privation to pay, connected average, erstwhile a idiosyncratic views your ads.

You mightiness brushwood different bidding strategies like:

  • Target CPM (cost per 1000 impressions): Tells Google Ads however overmuch you privation to pay, connected average, for each 1000 views (impressions) of your ads
  • Target CPA (cost per action): Tells Google Ads however overmuch you’re consenting to pay, connected average, for a conversion. Like a signup, signifier fill, purchase, oregon different action.
  • Maximize conversions bidding: Automatically sets your bids to get the astir conversions for your run without overspending your budget
target cost-per-view (CPV) bid successful  Google Ads

5. Review and Launch Your Ads

Review your Ad Group, Ad Content, and Bid. Then, deed the “Create campaign” button.

“Create campaign” fastener  successful  Google Ads

A summary of your run settings volition look successful a container connected screen. Review them to guarantee everything is the mode you want. Then click “Continue to overview.”

summary of Google Ads run  settings

Your ads are present live.

Advanced YouTube advertisement targeting strategies supply experienced marketers with blase tools to fine-tune their campaigns. 

These much circumstantial settings fto you absorption connected precise assemblage segmentation. This tin assistance thrust engagement and heighten run performance.

Here are 3 to see using:

Custom Segments

Custom segments let you to people YouTube viewers based connected their caller Google searches. This tin assistance you scope users who intelligibly mean to acquisition something. Or larn much astir a circumstantial topic.

When you usage customized segments, your ads are shown to your antecedently selected assemblage and the new, intent-based segments. This expands your scope to see users actively seeking related accusation oregon products.

Start by identifying your YouTube channel’s halfway theme. Let’s accidental your transmission is each astir steadfast eating. This taxable becomes your foundation.

Next, place keywords and phrases that imaginable viewers mightiness usage connected YouTube erstwhile searching for contented related to your theme. YouTube probe tools tin help.

Keyword Analytics for YouTube from Semrush helps you to find fashionable keywords that users hunt for connected YouTube. It adjacent helps you place YouTube hunt trends.

Open the instrumentality and successful the “Keywords Research” column, click “Get started.”

Keyword Analytics for YouTube tool

You’ll spot a dashboard that provides an overview of the astir fashionable keywords connected YouTube for a circumstantial determination and clip period.

Keyword Analytics for YouTube dashboard showing the astir   fashionable  keywords connected  YouTube

Enter the wide hunt word that describes your YouTube channel’s cardinal taxable successful the box. Then deed “Search.”

searching for "food recipes" successful  Keyword Analytics for YouTube

You’ll get information from a circumstantial play of time. Like the past day, week, and month. 

Toggle betwixt these periods and the “Top Keywords” and “Fast increasing keywords” tabs to find the astir applicable keywords for your channel.

“Top Keywords” and “Fast increasing  keywords” tabs successful  Keyword Analytics for YouTube

Click connected a keyword to get much insights. Like competitory rate, hunt volume, and related keywords.

"italian nutrient  recipes" competitory  rate, hunt  volume, and related keywords

Create a database to support way of imaginable keywords. On it, grounds those astir applicable to your ads. 

Next, make a customized assemblage conception successful your Google Ads account.

Select “Tools” > “Shared library.” Then take “Audience manager.”

navigating to “Audience manager" successful  Google Ads account

Go to the “Custom segments” tab. Click the “+” motion successful the precocious near to make your customized segment.

Custom segments tab successful  Google Ads

Name your segment. 

And take to target:

  • People with immoderate of these interests oregon acquisition intentions. Use this enactment erstwhile your keywords lucifer your audience's hobbies, oregon the products and services they're considering. This volition people users based connected their demonstrated interests oregon their progressive probe into circumstantial purchases.
  • People who searched for immoderate of these presumption connected Google. This method focuses connected users based connected their hunt queries, capturing those with a nonstop intent related to your keywords.
adding "people funny   successful  purchasing puppy food" customized  segment

Enter applicable keywords from your keyword database into the substance container wherever it says “Add interests oregon acquisition intentions.”

If you’d like, grow your customized assemblage conception by targeting radical who browse definite websites oregon apps.

"Expand conception   by besides  including" suggestions

Click the “Segment insights” paper connected the right-hand broadside to presumption and adhd your people audience’s location, language, and run type.

add your people     audience’s location, language, and run  benignant   nether  “Segment insights” section

To specify YouTube advertisement targeting, click “Campaign type” and prime “Video.”

"Video" selected nether  run  benignant   nether  “Segment insights” section

You'll spot estimates of your assemblage size based connected gender, age, and parental status. Click “Save” to finish.

estimates of assemblage  size based connected  gender, age, and parental status

Go to “Campaigns” > “Audiences, keywords, and content.” Then prime “Audiences.” 

navigating to "Audiences" successful  Google Ads account

Click “Add assemblage segments.”

“Add assemblage  segments" fastener  highlighted

Select “Ad group.”

"Ad group" enactment    highlighted

Select your campaign. And the advertisement radical that you privation to adhd the customized conception to.

"Video advertisement  targeting" run  and ""Video advertisement  targeting radical  1" selected from the dashboard

Tick the checkboxes adjacent to the segments to prime them. Then, click “Save.”

"Dog Food" and "Raw Dog Food" segments selected

You've present added the customized segments to your YouTube advertisement group. Your ads should present scope viewers wrong that segment.

Remarketing allows you to reconnect with individuals who person interacted with your videos, channel, oregon website before. Targeting these past viewers oregon visitors with your ads tin summation the likelihood of re-engaging them, since they've already shown involvement successful your brand.

In your Google Ads account, click “Tools” > “Shared library.” Then click “Audience manager.” 

navigating to “Audience manager" successful  Google Ads account

Click connected the “+” motion nether the “Your information segments” tab.

“+” motion   nether  the “Your information  segments” tab

Select “YouTube users.”

“YouTube users" selected nether  information  segments section

In the respective input box, adhd your conception name. Then, take your YouTube channel. Describe the erstwhile actions of the radical you mean to retarget. 

For example, you whitethorn privation to retarget radical who person viewed immoderate video successful your transmission successful the past 30 days.

Click “Continue.”

retarget radical   who person  viewed immoderate  video successful  your transmission  successful  the past   30 days

You’ll spot a notification that you’ve created a caller YouTube users segment. Click “Done.”

a notification that you’ve created a caller   YouTube users segment

Then, adhd the database to your YouTube advertisement group.

On the “Your information segments” table, cheque the container adjacent to your caller remarketing list. Click the “Add to…” drop-down menu.

“Add to…” drop-down paper   connected  the “Your information  segments” page

Select “Ad groups.”

"Ad groups" enactment    selected nether  “Add to…” drop-down menu

Select your run and advertisement group. Then, click “Add assemblage segments.”

“Add assemblage  segments" to "Video advertisement  targeting" campaign

At this point, Google Ads volition instrumentality you to the “Audience manager” screen.

“Audience manager” surface  successful  Google Ads

Video Placement Targeting

Video placement targeting lets you specify precisely wherever your ads look connected YouTube. You tin prime circumstantial videos, channels, oregon categories that align intimately with your marque and assemblage interests.

This benignant of targeting asks Google Ads to amusement your ads successful contexts highly applicable to your people audience.

Start by researching YouTube channels and videos that are fashionable with your people audience. Or subordinate straight to your merchandise oregon service. Consider channels oregon videos with contented that complements oregon is straight associated with your brand.

Have your database ready?

From your Google Ads account, spell to “Campaigns” > “Campaigns.” Then take “Ad groups.” 

navigating to “Ad groups" successful  Google Ads account

Click connected the advertisement radical wherever you privation to adhd circumstantial placements.

"Video advertisement  targeting radical  1" selected from the dashboard

On the left-hand sidebar nether “Audiences, keywords, and content,” click “Content.”

“Content" selected nether  “Audiences, keywords, and content" conception  successful  Google Ads menu

Scroll down and click connected “+ Add content.”

“+ Add content" fastener  highlighted

Select your YouTube advertisement run and advertisement group.

"Video advertisement  targeting" run  and ""Video advertisement  targeting radical  1" selected from the dashboard

Expand the Placements tab. 

You’re going to prime the circumstantial YouTube transmission video, oregon different placement you privation your advertisement to look on. 

To find your desired placement, either:

  • Search for the placements you privation utilizing the “Browse” tab
  • Enter the URLs for those placements you privation utilizing the “Enter” tab 
"Browse" and "Enter" tabs highlighted nether  "Edit content" model   successful  Google Ads

Click the “Save” fastener to finish.

“Save” fastener  highlighted

How to Measure and Optimize Your YouTube Ads

To marque definite your YouTube advertizing efforts are working, measurement advertisement show and optimize based connected the information you collect.

Use these tools to show the show of your YouTube ads.

Google Ads gives you entree to indispensable numbers. Like however galore radical saw your ad, clicked connected it, and took an enactment specified arsenic making a purchase.

Click “Campaigns” nether “Campaigns” > “Campaigns.”

navigating to "Campaigns" successful  Google Ads account

On the “Campaigns” table, click connected the circumstantial YouTube advertisement run you privation to analyze.

"Video advertisement  targeting" run  selected from the “Campaigns” table

This volition unfastened the campaign's show dashboard.

On the run dashboard, you'll spot respective cardinal show metrics, specified as:

  • Impressions: The fig of times Google Ads showed your ads
  • View rate: The percent of viewers who watched your ad
  • Clicks: How galore times viewers clicked connected your ad
  • Cost-per-view (CPV): The mean outgo for each view

These metrics springiness you an overview of however good your advertisement is performing regarding visibility, engagement, and outgo efficiency. Use the information to set your people audience, alteration your bid strategy, oregon tweak your advertisement creative.

Here are immoderate applicable tips to follow:

Review the demographics and interests of the viewers engaging with your ads. If you announcement trends, specified arsenic a peculiar property radical showing much interest, refine your assemblage settings successful Google Ads to people this radical much intentionally.

Look astatine your ads’ cost-per-click (CPC) oregon CPV. If you're spending excessively overmuch without seeing results, see lowering your bid. However, if you’re getting results and person country successful your fund to summation visibility, effort raising your bid slightly.

Analyze which ads are performing good and which aren’t. Look for patterns successful the messaging, visuals, oregon CTA that mightiness explicate the difference. Use these insights to modify underperforming ads.

Here’s an illustration of metric-based advertisement optimization: 

Let’s accidental you're moving a YouTube advertisement run for customized bracelets. After reviewing your advertisement data, you announcement that:

  • Your ads are mostly viewed by 25-34 twelvemonth olds, but initially, you targeted a broader property range
  • The CPC is higher than you'd like, indicating your bid mightiness beryllium excessively aggressive
  • Ads with a clear, concise CTA ("Shop Now!") are outperforming those with a vague CTA ("Learn More")

Based connected this data, you mightiness determine to:

  • Narrow your people assemblage to absorption exclusively connected the 25-34 property group
  • Lower your bid somewhat to trim the CPC portion monitoring the interaction connected advertisement visibility
  • Update each ads to see a nonstop and wide CTA, aiming to summation conversions

YouTube Analytics

YouTube Analytics tin besides assistance you recognize however viewers interact with your ads connected YouTube. It provides elaborate insights into your advertisement performance, enabling you to marque informed decisions to optimize your campaigns.

On the near broadside of your YouTube Studio’s homepage, click “Analytics.”

“Analytics" selected from the paper   connected  YouTube Studio’s homepage

The default “Overview” tab gives a snapshot of your ad’s performance. Including views, ticker time, and engagement metrics specified arsenic likes, shares, and comments.

a snapshot of ad’s show  successful  YouTube Studio

The different tabs:

  • “Content” shows you what your assemblage likes astir your channel. It tells you which videos they're watching and however they're engaging with them, similar commenting oregon liking.
  • “Audience” shows you who's watching your videos. It summarizes your viewers, including accusation connected their interests and demographics.
  • “Research” provides insights into your audience’s and different viewers’ hunt queries connected YouTube. This helps you align your contented with spectator trends and demands.

Here’s what you tin bash with the accusation from these tabs:

  • “Content”: Look for patterns successful the videos that person much engagement (likes, comments) and views. Create much contented akin to these palmy videos. If you announcement precocious engagement rates connected circumstantial topics oregon formats, make bid oregon follow-up videos related to these topics.
  • “Audience”: Tailor your aboriginal contented and posting docket based connected your audience’s demographics. If your viewers are chiefly successful a circumstantial property radical oregon geographic location, make contented that resonates with their interests oregon taste references. Use the involvement information to research caller contented themes oregon video ideas that align with what your assemblage enjoys extracurricular of your channel.
  • “Research”: Discover what topics oregon questions your imaginable assemblage is actively searching for connected YouTube. If you find recurring themes oregon circumstantial queries related to your niche, see producing contented that straight answers these questions oregon covers these topics.

Take it a measurement further by:

  • Using the insights from the “Content” and “Audience” tabs to program your contented calendar. Include videos that lucifer your audience’s preferences and engagement patterns.
  • Using the “Research” tab information to refine your SEO strategy for YouTube. Focus connected related topics and questions your assemblage and different viewers actively hunt for. 
  • Encouraging enactment successful your videos by asking viewers to remark connected topics that thrust engagement. Or by creating polls based connected fashionable contented themes.
  • Collaborating with creators oregon channels that stock a akin assemblage demographic oregon involvement profile. Tap into each other’s assemblage and grow.

Navigating YouTube advertisement targeting tin contiguous respective challenges. But you tin flooded them with the close strategies.

Reaching the Wrong Audience?

Use your knowing of your viewers’ behaviors, interests, and hunt habits to place the close audience. Two things help: 

  1. Outline your perfect customer’s characteristics. Consider factors similar age, gender, interests, and lifestyle. For example, if you're selling fittingness equipment, your perfect lawsuit mightiness beryllium fittingness enthusiasts, 20-40 years old. This demographic should beryllium searching for, oregon watching wellness and wellness content.
  2. Use tools similar Google Ads to recognize who’s visiting your transmission and watching your videos and ads. Look for trends successful the “Demographics” tab and the “Interests” conception to recognize who is presently funny successful your products oregon services.

Revisit these exercises often. Use the insights to update your targeting. You tin besides make and usage customized segments to people users based connected their hunt behavior.

Further reading: How to Find Your Target Audience

Low Engagement Rates?

Sometimes your ads neglect to prosecute viewers contempt reaching the close audience. Solve debased engagement rates by optimizing your advertisement contented and format. 

Implement these YouTube ads targeting champion practices:

  • Use a tiny information of your disposable advertisement fund to trial antithetic advertisement formats wrong a campaign. Identify the astir engaging 1 utilizing YouTube Analytics. Put the remainder of your wealth down it.
  • Use compelling visuals and stories that link with your audience's interests oregon challenges
  • In some your ocular contented and your narration, see a clear, salient CTA similar “Sign Up,” “Learn More,” oregon “Buy”

Further reading: Growth Hacking Examples to Boost Engagement and Revenue

Ad Fatigue?

Over time, adjacent the champion ads tin go little effectual if the assemblage becomes bushed of seeing them repeatedly. This is advertisement fatigue.

Regularly update your advertisement creatives to support your contented caller by:

  • Introducing caller visuals, messages, oregon offers
  • Using assemblage segmentation to present tailored ads to antithetic groups

Keep way of trends to capitalize connected opportunities to compete. 

Two trends to watch: 

  1. Personalized ads are getting adjacent much tailored, adapting to each viewer's preferences and behaviors
  2. Interactive and shoppable ads connected YouTube are acceptable to amended engagement by offering a seamless travel from viewing to purchasing

As contention intensifies, optimizing video contented for hunt volition beryllium important to support visibility and basal out. Stay up to day by:

  • Regularly speechmaking manufacture blogs (like the Semrush blog), attending webinars, and participating successful integer selling forums to perceive astir the latest YouTube advertisement innovations
  • Experimenting with caller YouTube advertizing features and formats to observe what works champion for your marque earlier they go mainstream
  • Using analytics tools to show your ads’ performance

Keep your strategies effective. Use Semrush tools to accommodate to the shifts successful YouTube advertising. 

Use Keyword Analytics for YouTube to observe trending keywords for caller video ideas. And to amended your video titles and descriptions. Use Rank Tracker for YouTube to show your channel's hunt rankings and analyse competitors to summation insights that pass your contented strategy.

Sign up for a escaped trial to entree a full suite of tools from Semrush that tin assistance your YouTube ads seizure your people audience’s attention.