Homepage Video Ads
How Homepage Video Ads Work
YouTube Homepage Video Ads run on the front page. The 300x35 companion banner is the topmost component of the ad and is clickable to an advertiser's external site.
The main portion of the YouTube Video Ad is YouTube's Flash player. This is a click-to play-unit. The video must be uploaded and hosted on YouTube. The 300x225 custom titlecard image is optional and can display an image that is provided by the advertiser.
The 300x250 companion banner that is offered with the homepage unit is scheduled to run on the video's watch page and is also clickable to an advertiser's external site.
The InVideo unit is an optional value-added placement that runs on the watch page for the duration of the roadblock. This placement is contingent upon receiving creative in time (minimum 4 days lead time).
Creative Submission
Submissions should include advertiser and agency, IO number, campaign name, and detailed trafficking instructions.
Turnaround Time
Assets for these units should be received by YouTube no later than FOUR business days prior to campaign start date and sent to both Account Coordinator and Media Coordinator.
Required Assets
- URL of YouTube-hosted Video Ad
- Homepage Companion Banner
- Watchpage Companion Banner
Optional Assets
- Custom Titlecard Image
- Watch Page InVideo Value Add Assets
Click-to-Play Video Ad
Technical Specifications
- Video Format: H.264, MPEG-2 or MPEG-4 preferred
- Aspect Ratio: Native aspect ratio without letterboxing (examples: 4:3, 16:9)
- Resolution: 640x360 (16:9) or 480x360 (4:3) recommended
- Audio Format: MP3 or AAC preferred
- Frames per second: 30
- Maximum length: 10 minutes (we recommend 2-3 minutes)
- Maximum file size: 1 GB
- Video must allow embedding and be set to "public", not private. If not, we'll automatically change the settings to allow both.
- The video will remain public and embeddable after the run. User will need to manually change these settings, if necessary.
Resizing your video to these specifications before uploading will help your videos look better on YouTube.
Additional Details
- User-initiated
- Video must be uploaded to and hosted on YouTube
- YouTube will render the player and community metrics at the bottom based on video ID that is provided
Tracking Elements
- Element may not be served via a third party.
- We can accept a third-party pixel for click-to-play tracking.
- We cannot accept a third-party pixel for tracking impression data.
Reporting Metrics
Clicks to play, click-to-play rate, and quartile reporting (25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% of video watched)
Community metrics including clicks to channel page, clicks to comments, and clicks to rate.
Additional Details
Although maximum length is 10 minutes, we highly recommend a maximum of 3 minutes for video ads.
Videos must NOT be modified after 3PM (Pacific Standard Time) the day before a launch date.
Homepage Companion Ad
Technical Specifications
- Dimensions accepted: 300x35 pixels
- Formats accepted: JPG, static GIF, SWF
- Flash files must contain a background layer, not use the color of the stage
- Flash versions accepted: 5/6/7/8/9
- Maximum Flash frame rate: 20
- Maximum file size (SWF): 50 KB
- Maximum file size (JPG/GIF): 50 KB
- Maximum animation: 15 seconds
Tracking Elements
- Element may not be served via a third party.
- We can accept a third-party pixel for tracking impression data.
- We can accept a third-party pixel for tracking click data.
Reporting Metrics
YouTube reports will list clicks to this element as well as impression data for the overall unit.
Additional Details
Be sure to include a compelling call to action.
This element can click through to an advertiser's external website.
Watchpage Companion Ad
Technical Specifications
- Dimensions accepted: 300x250 pixels
- Formats accepted: GIF/JPG/PNG OR SWF with backup GIF/JPG/PNG
- Flash versions accepted: 5/6/7/8/9
- Maximum Flash frame rate: 20
- Maximum file size (SWF): 50 KB
- Maximum file size (JPG/GIF/PNG): 50 KB
- Maximum animation: 15 seconds
Tracking Elements
- We can accept a third-party tag for this unit
- We can accept Flash creative with third-party click tracking for this unit
Reporting Metrics
- Impressions, clicks, and click-through rate
Additional Details
Be sure to include a compelling call to action.
This element can click through to an advertiser's external website.
Custom Titlecard Image
Technical Specifications
- Dimensions accepted: 300x225 pixels
- Formats accepted: static GIF/JPG/PNG
- Maximum file size: 50 KB
Tracking Elements
- This element may not be third-party served.
- We cannot accept third-party tracking on this element.
Reporting Metrics
YouTube reports will not list this element.
Additional Details
This is an optional component. When submitting the titlecard, please keep in mind that the button graphic will be added on top of your graphic. This is added by YouTube.
The "Click to Play" button is 75 x 55 pixels.