What are YouTube ad placement options?

YouTube offers various ad placement options to accommodate different advertising goals, formats, and targeting strategies. Here are the primary ad placement options available on YouTube:

### 1. In-Stream Ads
- **Skippable In-Stream Ads (TrueView)**: These ads play before, during, or after other YouTube videos. Viewers have the option to skip the ad after 5 seconds. Advertisers are charged when viewers watch at least 30 seconds of the ad (or the entire duration if it's shorter) or engage with the ad.
- **Non-Skippable In-Stream Ads**: These ads are non-skippable and play before, during, or after other YouTube videos. Viewers must watch the entire ad, typically up to 15-20 seconds. Advertisers are charged on a CPM (cost per thousand impressions) basis.

### 2. Video Discovery Ads (formerly known as In-Display Ads)
- **Thumbnail Ads**: These ads appear alongside other YouTube videos in search results, on the YouTube homepage, or as related videos on the watch page. They consist of a thumbnail image and text, and advertisers are charged when viewers click to watch the ad.
- **Sponsored Cards**: These ads display content recommendations, such as related products or videos, within the video player. Viewers can click on the card to view additional content or information.

### 3. Bumper Ads
- **Bumper Ads**: These are short, non-skippable ads that play before, during, or after other YouTube videos. They are typically up to 6 seconds in length and are designed for quick, impactful messaging. Advertisers are charged on a CPM basis.

### 4. Masthead Ads
- **Masthead Ads**: These premium ad placements appear prominently at the top of the YouTube homepage for a 24-hour period. They autoplay without sound and can include a video or static image. Masthead ads are often used for major product launches, events, or branding campaigns and are typically sold on a fixed-cost basis.

### 5. Outstream Ads
- **Outstream Ads**: These ads are designed for mobile devices and appear on partner sites and apps within the Google Display Network. They autoplay with sound off and expand to full screen when tapped by the viewer. Advertisers are charged on a viewable CPM (vCPM) basis.

### 6. Overlay Ads
- **Overlay Ads**: These semi-transparent ads appear overlaid on top of YouTube videos. They can include text and images and are typically displayed for a few seconds before automatically closing. Advertisers are charged on a CPM basis.

### 7. Mid-Roll Ads
- **Mid-Roll Ads**: These ads are inserted into the middle of longer YouTube videos, similar to traditional TV commercial breaks. They can be skippable or non-skippable, and advertisers are charged based on impressions or views.

### 8. Sponsored Product Placements
- **Sponsored Product Placements**: These are integrations of products or brands within YouTube videos themselves. Creators feature products or brands in their content in exchange for compensation or other incentives.

Advertisers can choose from these ad placement options based on their campaign objectives, target audience, budget, and creative assets. Each placement offers unique advantages and considerations, allowing advertisers to reach their audience effectively across different touchpoints on YouTube.

YouTube offers various ad placement options that allow advertisers to reach their target audience with video ads across different parts of the platform. Here are some of the main ad placement options available on YouTube:

1. **Before Video**: Ads can appear before a viewer's selected video starts playing. These pre-roll ads are typically skippable or non-skippable and can vary in length, ranging from a few seconds to a minute or longer.

2. **During Video**: Ads can appear while a viewer is watching a video. These mid-roll ads can interrupt the video playback and typically appear at natural breaks or transitions within the content. Mid-roll ads can be skippable or non-skippable, depending on the ad format and placement.

3. **After Video**: Ads can appear after a viewer has finished watching a video. These post-roll ads can play immediately after the video content ends and can be skippable or non-skippable.

4. **In-Stream Ads**: In-stream ads are video ads that play before, during, or after other YouTube videos. These ads can be skippable or non-skippable and offer advertisers the opportunity to reach viewers while they are actively engaged with video content.

5. **Discovery Ads**: Discovery ads appear as suggested videos in YouTube search results, next to related videos, or on the YouTube homepage. These ads consist of a thumbnail image and headline, and viewers can click to watch the ad if they're interested.

6. **Masthead Ads**: Masthead ads appear at the top of the YouTube homepage for desktop and mobile users. These high-impact ads provide advertisers with maximum reach and exposure to YouTube's vast audience for a set period.

7. **Overlay Ads**: Overlay ads are semi-transparent banner ads that appear at the bottom of videos. They can include text, images, or a combination of both and are clickable, directing viewers to the advertiser's website or landing page.

8. **Sponsored Cards**: Sponsored cards display content that may be relevant to the video, such as products or related videos, and appear as small, rectangular cards that viewers can click to access additional information.

These are some of the main ad placement options available on YouTube, each offering different formats, targeting options, and objectives to help advertisers reach their target audience and achieve their marketing goals on the platform.