Skip to content 
Video advertising is when companies show videos to sell things. You see these videos a lot in digital marketing. Videos catch your eye very fast. Businesses use video advertisement to reach you. They also use it to share their stories. Videos can do this better than just words or pictures. Almost 91% of companies use video marketing now. Most marketers say video ads help them a lot. You can see how fast this is growing. Look at the chart below. It shows big jumps in money spent on video ads.
Key Takeaways
-
Video advertising uses moving pictures and sound to get attention fast. It helps brands talk to people quickly.
-
There are many kinds of video ads, like pre-roll, social media, and native ads. Each type reaches people in its own way.
-
Video ads work in four steps. First, you make the video. Next, you find the right people to watch it. Then, you show the ad on many devices. Last, you check results to make things better.
-
Short videos with easy stories and strong calls to action help people remember the message. They also help people do what the ad asks.
-
Using technology like AI and automation makes video ads smarter. It also makes them work better and easier to handle.
What Is Video Advertising
Definition
You see video advertising when you watch videos online. These are short ads that show up on the internet. They can play before, during, or after your main video. You might see them on social media, websites, or in apps. Video advertising lets brands share messages that grab your attention fast.
A lot of companies use video advertising because it works. Reports say almost every business uses video ads in digital marketing. You find these ads on YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram. They show up on your phone, tablet, computer, or smart TV. Digital video is growing, so video advertising is now very important for brands.
Note: Market research says video advertising is growing quickly everywhere. Companies use it to reach people in North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and more. New technology like AI and automation helps brands make and show video ads to the right people.
Key Features
Video advertising is different from other digital marketing because of its special features. Here are some things that make video ads stand out:
-
You remember videos better than just words or pictures. Video advertising uses sound, movement, and images to tell stories. This helps brands connect with you in a strong way.
-
Video ads can help more people visit a website. Google and other search engines rank pages with videos higher, so brands get more visitors.
-
Watching a video ad makes you more likely to buy something. Video advertising shows products in action and explains how they work, which helps you decide.
-
Many video ads use AI tools to make creating and targeting easier. These tools help brands make better videos and reach the right people.
-
Video advertising works on many devices. You see video ads on your phone, computer, and even on smart TVs.
-
Most video ads today use programmatic buying. This means computers help brands buy and show ads to the right people at the right time.
Here is a table that shows some key features of video advertising:
| Key Feature | Description / Example |
|---|---|
| Rapid Growth in Video Ad Spend | Digital video ad spending goes up every year, showing video ads are important. |
| Mobile Video Ads Dominance | Most video ad money comes from phones and tablets. |
| Video Ad Formats | You see pre-roll, mid-roll, post-roll, overlay, and companion ads in digital video. |
| AdTech Platforms | Brands use special platforms to buy and show video ads automatically. |
| Video Ad Placement | Video ads show up in browsers, apps, and on smart TVs. |
| Programmatic Buying | Computers help brands target and show video ads better. |
You see video content in many forms. Live action videos are most common, but there are also animated and screen-recorded videos. Social media like TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook use video advertising to help brands reach you with better targeting.
Video advertising keeps changing as new technology comes out. AI helps brands make better video ads and check how well they work. Privacy rules mean brands must be careful with your data, so they use safer ways to target ads. Video ad spending is expected to go even higher, so video advertising will stay important in digital marketing.
Types of Video Ads
You see many types of video ads when you watch video content online. Each type works in a different way to reach you. Knowing these types of video ads helps you understand how brands connect with viewers during video consumption.
In-Stream
In-stream video ads play before, during, or after the main video content. You often see these on platforms like YouTube. Here are some common examples:
-
Pre-roll ads: These play before your chosen video starts. For example, Lyft’s #HowtoHuman campaign used short, funny pre-roll ads to grab attention. The General’s six-second pre-roll ad also delivered a clear message quickly.
-
Mid-roll ads: These appear in the middle of video content, often during longer videos.
-
Post-roll ads: These show up after the main video ends.
Studies show pre-roll ads keep their impact even if the following video content is intense or controversial. Brands like Skechers use pre-roll ads to boost brand awareness and purchase intent. You remember these ads because they appear right before the video you want to watch.
Out-Stream
Out-stream video ads do not need existing video content. You find these ads in articles, news feeds, or between paragraphs on websites. They start playing when you scroll to them. Out-stream video ads help brands reach you even when you are not watching streaming content. These ads increase video consumption by showing up in places you might not expect.
Social Media
Social media video ads appear on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. You see these ads in your feed, stories, or as sponsored posts. Brands use social media video ads to share promotional videos and connect with you where you spend time online. These ads often use short, catchy video content to boost engagement.
Native
Native video ads blend into the video content you watch. They match the style and feel of the platform. For example, you might see a native ad inside a news video or as part of a video series. Native video ads feel less like ads and more like regular content, so you pay more attention.
Programmatic video advertising uses smart technology to show you the right video ads at the right time. Programmatic video ad spend keeps growing, especially on connected TV and streaming platforms. This approach helps brands target high-intent viewers and improve the results of their promotional videos.
You can find both standalone video ads, like pre-roll, and integrated ads, like native formats. Each type of video ad offers unique ways for brands to reach you during your video consumption.
How Video Advertising Works
When you know how video advertising works, you see why it is strong in digital marketing. There are four main steps: creation, targeting, delivery, and measurement. Each step uses technology and data. This helps your ads reach the right people and get good results.
Creation
First, you make your video ad. You plan, write, film, and edit the video. You pick the message you want to share. You also choose how your brand should look. Many brands hire creative teams or agencies for this. You can use live-action, animation, or screen recordings. The goal is to make your video ad special and connect with viewers.
Today, AI tools can help with editing and writing scripts. These tools save time and help you make more videos quickly. You can use templates and stock footage to work faster. Good video ads have clear pictures, strong sound, and a message that fits your brand.
Targeting
After making your video ad, you pick who should see it. Targeting is very important in video advertising. You use data to find the best audience. You can target by age, location, interests, or what people search for online. This makes your ads more useful and helps you reach people who care about your message.
Programmatic video advertising uses smart technology to make targeting better. You can use Demand Side Platforms and Data Management Platforms to sort people by behavior, interests, and age groups. AI-driven automation helps guess what viewers want to see. For example, a big data solution on an OTT platform used real-time user actions to show targeted ads. This led to a 58% jump in click-through rates. This shows how data and technology make video ads work better.
Delivery
When you know your audience, you show your video ad on different platforms. You can show ads on desktop, mobile, connected TV, or streaming services. Video ads work on many devices, so you reach people wherever they watch videos.
Automation and programmatic buying are important here. You use real-time bidding to buy ad space at the best price. This means your ad shows up for the right person at the right time. Automation cuts down mistakes and lets you change your campaign while it runs. You can reach more people on many websites, apps, and streaming platforms. Programmatic video advertising gives you access to top ad spots, even with a small budget. Almost 90% of connected TV ad spending is now programmatic, showing how important automation is.
Tip: Automation saves time and resources. It also helps keep your brand message the same everywhere.
Measurement
After your video ad runs, you check how well it did. Measurement is the last step in video advertising. You track views, clicks, and conversions to see if your ad met your goals. You use analytics tools to get real-time data and insights.
AI and big data help you understand your results better. You can see which ads did best and why. This helps you make your next campaign better. For example, scalable adtech analytics can handle lots of data and give you useful tips. You can also use tools to keep your brand safe from fraud and make sure your ads show up in safe places.
Programmatic video advertising gives you detailed reports on spending, placements, and audience engagement. You get clear information and control over your campaigns. Studies show automation helps media companies make more money and work faster. Most ad professionals think automation makes their business better and speeds up revenue.
Note: Using standard protocols like IAB OpenRTB helps everyone in digital video speak the same language. This makes real-time bidding faster and clearer.
By following these steps—creation, targeting, delivery, and measurement—you can run good video advertising campaigns. You use technology and data at every step to reach your audience and get the best results. Digital video advertising keeps growing because it changes with new devices, platforms, and how people watch videos. When you use these tools and strategies, your video advertising becomes more successful and efficient.
Benefits of Video Advertisement
Engagement
Video ads help you feel close to brands. They make things seem real and fun. When you watch a short video, you see and hear the message together. This helps you remember it better. People remember almost all of a message from a video. They remember much less from just reading. Short videos, under 60 seconds, keep your focus. Most marketers like these short videos because they work well. You also do more with video ads. Many social media marketers say video is the best for getting people involved. You are more likely to like, share, or comment on a video ad than on a picture or words.
| Metric Description | Statistic |
|---|---|
| ~70% | |
| Audience retention for videos under 90 seconds | 50% |
| Social media marketers find video most engaging content | 74% |
Brand Awareness
Video advertisement helps brands get noticed. When you see a video ad, you learn about what a brand does. Videos help you know and remember a brand. Studies show video ads make it easier to recognize brands. Most people like learning about products through video. This means you trust and remember brands more after watching a video ad. Video ads reach lots of people because they work on many devices. By 2025, most internet traffic will be video content. This shows video advertisement is very important for brands.
Conversions
Video ads do more than just get your attention. They help you do things, like sign up or buy something. Pages with video ads get more people to take action than pages with only words. Watching a product video helps you understand it better. You feel more sure about buying after seeing a video. Most people are more likely to buy after watching a video. Businesses using video ads get more good leads and grow faster. Video ads help turn viewers into customers and help brands grow.
Tip: Put a video ad on your website or social media to get more people interested and boost sales.
Effective Video Ads
Storytelling
Telling a story in your video advertising makes it special. People remember stories better than just facts. Stories help you connect with viewers’ feelings. Start with something interesting in the first few seconds. Show people and a problem they face. Use pictures and sounds to set the mood. Add captions so people can understand without sound. Stories help you share your message fast. They also make your brand easy to remember.
Tip: Make your video advertising fit your campaign goal. If you want people to know your brand, keep your video short. Videos under 30 seconds work best.
Optimization
To get the best results, you need to improve your video advertising. Try out different video ads to see which one works better. Change the headline, pictures, or how long the video is. Use A/B testing to compare which ad does best. Watch important numbers like click-through rates and how many finish the video. Shorter video ads usually get watched more, especially for brand awareness. Use different shapes, like vertical or square videos, for each platform. Update your video advertising often so it stays new and interesting.
-
Make a few video ads for each campaign.
-
Add subtitles for people who watch with no sound.
-
Check your results and change your plan if needed.
Calls to Action
A good video ad always has a clear call to action. Tell viewers what you want them to do next. Use easy words like “subscribe now” or “shop now.” Make your call to action sound important and helpful. Put your call to action where people can see it, during or at the end of your video advertising. Try different calls to action to see which one works best. Look at your data to see what works and make your next campaign better.
Note: Clear calls to action help turn viewers into customers. This makes your video advertising work better.
You have learned that video advertising helps brands grow and connect with people. This way uses stories, smart targeting, and new technology to get better results. If you want to do well with video advertising, follow these steps:
| What to Do | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Know your audience | Find people who care about your message |
| Keep videos short | Keep attention and get more people interested |
| Use strong calls to action | Help viewers know what to do next |
Try these ideas to make your video advertising work better and keep up as things change.
FAQ
What makes video ads different from image ads?
Video ads use sound and motion. You see products in action. This helps you remember the message better. Video ads can show more details than images. You often feel more connected to brands through video.
How long should a video ad be?
Most video ads work best under 30 seconds. Short videos keep your attention. You remember the message more easily. Try to share your main idea in the first few seconds.
Where do you see video ads online?
You find video ads on social media, streaming platforms, websites, and apps. You see them before, during, or after videos. Some video ads appear in your news feed or between articles.
How do you know if a video ad works?
You check views, clicks, and conversions. Analytics tools show you how people react. You can see which ads get the most attention. This helps you improve your next campaign.
Tip: Always test different video ads. You learn what works best for your audience.
