What is a TrueView discovery ad?

A TrueView discovery ad is a type of advertisement format offered by Google through its advertising platform, Google Ads. These ads are designed to promote video content on YouTube. Unlike traditional TrueView in-stream ads that appear before or during a YouTube video, TrueView discovery ads appear in various places across YouTube, such as the YouTube search results, the YouTube homepage, and as related videos on the YouTube watch page.

TrueView discovery ads typically consist of a thumbnail image from the video, a headline, and a brief description. When users click on the ad, they are taken to the advertiser's YouTube video or channel, where they can watch the content and engage further with the creator or brand.

Advertisers only pay when users interact with TrueView discovery ads, such as clicking on the thumbnail to view the video. This pay-per-engagement model makes TrueView discovery ads a cost-effective way for advertisers to promote their video content on YouTube and attract relevant viewers.

A TrueView Discovery ad is a type of YouTube ad format that allows advertisers to promote their videos across various placements on the YouTube platform. These ads appear in places where users discover content, such as search results, the YouTube homepage, and alongside related videos.

Here's how TrueView Discovery ads work:

1. **Thumbnail Display**: TrueView Discovery ads are displayed as thumbnail images alongside organic search results, on the YouTube homepage, and on the "Up Next" section of watch pages. These thumbnails are labeled as "Ad" to distinguish them from organic content.

2. **User Initiated**: Unlike TrueView in-stream ads, which play before, during, or after other YouTube videos, TrueView Discovery ads are user-initiated. This means that viewers must actively click on the ad thumbnail to watch the video ad.

3. **Cost-Per-Click (CPC) Pricing**: Advertisers are charged on a cost-per-click (CPC) basis when viewers click on the thumbnail image of the TrueView Discovery ad to watch the video. Advertisers are not charged for impressions or ad placements; they only pay when viewers engage with the ad by clicking on it.

4. **Engagement Opportunities**: TrueView Discovery ads provide advertisers with opportunities to engage viewers with compelling video content and drive actions such as views, likes, comments, shares, and subscriptions. Advertisers can optimize their video content and call-to-action overlays to encourage viewer engagement and interaction.

5. **Targeting Options**: Advertisers can target TrueView Discovery ads based on factors such as demographics, interests, keywords, and remarketing lists. This allows advertisers to reach specific audience segments with relevant ad content and maximize the effectiveness of their ad campaigns.

Overall, TrueView Discovery ads offer advertisers a highly effective way to promote their videos on YouTube and reach their target audience across various placements on the platform. These ads provide opportunities for engagement and interaction with ad content, driving views, engagement, and conversions for advertisers.