Can YouTube Ads drive website traffic?

Yes — YouTube Ads can absolutely drive website traffic, and when done right, they can bring in highly qualified visitors who are already interested in what you're offering.

Here's how it works and how to make it effective:

🚀 How YouTube Ads Drive Traffic
You run a video ad through Google Ads, and include:

A clickable call-to-action (CTA) in the video (e.g., "Shop Now," "Learn More")

A companion banner or overlay that links to your website

A final URL that takes viewers directly to a landing page

When people watch your ad — especially if it's engaging and relevant — they can click and land on your site, just like with search or display ads.

✅ Best Ad Formats for Website Traffic
If traffic is your main goal, go with:

1. Skippable In-Stream Ads
Play before/during YouTube videos

Include a CTA button and link to your site

Pay only when someone watches 30+ seconds or clicks

2. In-Feed Video Ads (formerly Discovery Ads)
Appear in search results or sidebar

Viewers click to watch, then can click through to your site

3. YouTube Shorts Ads
Great for mobile traffic

Now include click-through CTAs

🎯 Tips to Maximize Website Clicks
Strong Hook: Grab attention in the first 5 seconds

Clear CTA: "Click the link," "Visit us now," "Go to [yourdomain.com]"

Show the site in the video to tease what they'll find

Target with intent: Use Custom Segments to reach users who recently searched for related terms

Use Companion Banners: Adds another clickable visual on desktop

📈 Track the Traffic
Set up UTM parameters to see YouTube traffic in Google Analytics

Enable conversion tracking in Google Ads to monitor clicks + conversions

Review metrics like:

Click-through rate (CTR)

Cost-per-click (CPC)

Bounce rate and conversion rate on your site

🧠 Pro Tip:
Don't just aim for any clicks. Make sure the ad matches the intent of your landing page — so people who click are more likely to stay, engage, and convert.