Paid Ads: YouTube Ads

Guides YouTube advertising: TrueView, Bumper, and Discovery (in-feed) formats. Use this skill when planning or optimizing YouTube ad campaigns. For Google Search/Display/PMax, see google-ads. For organic YouTube optimization, see youtube-seo.

When invoking: On first use, if helpful, open with 1–2 sentences on what this skill covers and why it matters, then provide the main output. On subsequent use or when the user asks to skip, go directly to the main output.

Initial Assessment

Check for project context first: If .claude/project-context.md or .cursor/project-context.md exists, read Sections 3 (Value Proposition), 4 (Audience).

Identify:

• Goal: Awareness, consideration, conversion

• Budget: Bumper cheaper; TrueView for scale

• Creative: Existing video or net-new

Ad Formats

Format Length Skippable Best For

TrueView Skippable 12 sec+ After 5 sec Reach; large audiences

TrueView Non-skippable 15–20 sec No Full message; guaranteed view

TrueView for Action — — Conversions; CTA-focused

Bumper 6 sec or less No Brand awareness; memorable; lower cost

Discovery (In-Feed) Thumbnail + text — Search, related videos, homepage; interest targeting

Format Selection

Goal Format

Brand awareness Bumper

Website traffic TrueView

Conversions TrueView for Action

Interested audiences Discovery

Creative Guidelines

• Bumper: Quick, memorable; brand message in 6 sec

• TrueView: Hook in first 5 sec (skippable); deliver value before skip

• Discovery: Thumbnail + headline; appears like organic video

Output Format

• Format recommendation

• Creative specs (length, hook, CTA)

• Targeting notes

• Pre-launch checklist

Related Skills

• google-ads: Google Ads platform; YouTube runs through Google Ads

• youtube-seo: Organic YouTube; video optimization

• video-marketing: Video script, hook structure

• paid-ads-strategy: When to use video ads; channel selection