Google Ads YouTube Video Views Campaign
If you want more people to watch your videos, discover your brand, or engage with your content on YouTube, a YouTube Video Views Campaign is the best option in Google Ads. These campaigns are created specifically to maximize video views at the lowest cost.
What Is a YouTube Video Views Campaign?
A YouTube Video Views Campaign is a Google Ads campaign designed to increase the number of people who watch your YouTube videos. Google automatically shows your videos to people most likely to:
- Watch your video
- Engage with your content
- Stay longer on your channel
- Interact with CTAs, cards, or end screens
This is ideal for:
- Branding
- Product promotion
- Influencers
- Business storytelling
- Awareness campaigns
- App or service education
- Launch videos
Your ads appear in:
- YouTube search results
- YouTube Home feed
- YouTube Watch page
- YouTube Shorts
YouTube partner apps/sites
Why Run a YouTube Video Views Campaign?
✔ Get More Views at Low Cost
YouTube views often cost less than ₹0.20–₹1.00 in India.
✔ Build Brand Awareness
Perfect for businesses that want recognition using video.
✔ Powerful For Product Launches
Video performs far better than text and images.
✔ Reach the Right Audience
Google identifies people who watch similar content.
✔ Boost Engagement
More likes, shares, comments, and subscribers.
✔ Works for All Businesses
Startups, agencies, local services, SaaS, eCommerce — everyone benefits.
How a YouTube Views Campaign Works
- You upload your YouTube video
- Set your campaign goal to Video Views
- Google shows your video to people likely to watch it
- You pay only when a user:
- Watches 30 seconds (or full video if shorter)
- Clicks on your ad
- Engages with CTA
- Google optimizes your views based on performance
These campaigns maximize views at the lowest possible cost.
Types of Ad Formats You Can Use
YouTube Views Campaigns support several effective formats:
1. Skippable In-Stream Ads
Plays before/during other videos
Viewers can skip after 5 seconds
Best for views and awareness2. In-Feed Video Ads (formerly Discovery Ads)
Appear in:
- YouTube search results
- Home feed
- Watch next feed
Great for users who actively choose to watch your video.
3. YouTube Shorts Ads
Vertical, short-form ads
Great for brand awareness & engagement
Works well for younger audiences4. Non-Skippable Ads (optional)
6–15 second ads
Viewer cannot skip
Good for powerful, short messages
How to Set Up a YouTube Video Views Campaign
Step 1: Create a New Campaign
- Go to Google Ads
- Click New Campaign
- Choose Create a campaign without a goal’s guidance (recommended)
- Select Video
- Choose Drive Video Views
Step 2: Set Campaign Settings
- Campaign name
- Budget (Daily or Total)
- Bidding strategy → Maximum CPV or Target CPM
- Networks:
- YouTube Search results
- YouTube Videos
- YouTube Shorts (optional)
Step 3: Choose Your Target Audience
Google provides many targeting options:
- Demographics
- Interests
- In-market audiences
- Custom keywords
- People searching for similar topics
- Remarketing (your past viewers)
- Lookalike audiences
Use combinations based on your goals.
Step 4: Add Your YouTube Video
Paste the URL of the video you want to promote.
Choose where it appears:
- In-stream
- In-feed
- Shorts
Step 5: Write Your Ad Copy
For In-feed ads, you need:
- Headline
- Description
Keep them simple and appealing.
Step 6: Add a Strong CTA
Example CTAs:
- Watch Now
- Learn More
- Discover
- Explore Video
Step 7: Publish Your Campaign
Your video starts appearing to relevant audiences within hours.
Real-Life Example
Example: “Bliss Organic Skincare – Product Launch”
Business goal: Promote a new organic face cream video.
Setup:
- Campaign Type: Video – Drive Video Views
- Video Used: 45-second product demo
- Audience:
- Women aged 18–35
- Skin care & beauty interest
- In-market: Beauty products
- Custom: People watching “skincare routine” videos
- Ad Formats:
- Skippable in-stream ad
- Shorts ad
- CTA: “Learn More”
- Landing Page: Product page
Results:
- More views at low cost
- High brand awareness
- Increased Instagram followers
- More traffic to product page
- YouTube engagement increases
This is how brands use YouTube campaigns successfully.
Best Practices for High-Performing YouTube View Campaigns
✔ Hook the audience in the first 3–5 seconds
✔ Keep videos short (15–45 seconds)
✔ Add subtitles
✔ Show your product or message early
✔ Add a strong CTA
✔ Use eye-catching thumbnails
✔ Test multiple audiences
✔ Run remarketing for users who watched your video
Final Notes
A YouTube Video Views Campaign is one of the best ways to grow your visibility, build your brand, and get more people to watch your content. Whether you’re promoting a product launch, educating customers, or growing your YouTube channel, this campaign type delivers highly cost-effective results.
If you want attention and engagement video is the most powerful format.