You can serve audio creatives by assigning them to audio line items. Review best practices and common requirements for audio creatives to serve on Display & Video 360’s supported exchanges.
Best practices for audio creatives
Creative considerations
1. Understand your audience
Research shows a personalized message is more engaging across mediums.
2. Consider the context
- Understand platform specs and which ones support companions.
- Consider how people listen to content on different platforms.
3. Keep it brief and memorable
- Shorter clips have higher recall.
- Include a clear call to action.
- Repeat the brand name 2–3 times.
4. Be thoughtful with sound
- Balance the mixing between voiceover, music, and other sound effects.
- Use storytelling techniques for engagement and recall.
Audio best practices
1. Use a consistent tone and tempo
- For 30 second ads, aim for 55-75 words
- For 15 second ads, aim for 40 words
2. Be conversational
A friendly tone transitions listeners between entertainment content and ads.
3. Include a call to action
Give listeners a chance to engage. A direct call to action drives higher clickthrough rates.
4. Tell a story
Transport the listener through the use of subtle effects and environmental sounds that create imagery in the mind.
5. Create multiple versions
Develop a variety of audio ads tailored to unique audience preferences.
Dos & Don'ts
Do |
Don't |
|---|---|
| Use simple background music that sets an emotional tone and doesn’t compete with the voiceover. | Incorporate jarring sounds effects (alarms, air horns) or cheesy jingles which could annoy listeners. |
| Use a balanced mix of sound elements. | Use multiple voices, which can confuse listeners. |
| Incorporate music only if it complements the message. | Be intrusive, consider audio goes directly into a listener’s ears. |
| Consider using music similar to your audience’s preferences. | Try to explain every benefit your product or service provides — stick to what’s most relevant for the audience. |
| Incorporate audio elements and storytelling techniques that transport the listener through sound. |
Companion best practices
Use a companion to reinforce your message
- A visual companion is the strongest connection back to the brand.
- Use the brand logo, repeat the call to action, and other elements that reference the audio ad.
Save time by uploading companions with audio
- Upload a companion display creative while you're uploading your audio ad.
Content requirements
Asset requirements
Audio file
| File types | .ogg, .mp3 |
|---|---|
| File size | Up to 1 GB if hosted on Display & Video 360. To meet specs across exchanges, always upload a source file with the highest possible quality. Individual exchanges may have different maximum file sizes, so plan accordingly. |
| Landing page URL | Required. |
| Duration | Audio creatives support a variety of durations. For access to most inventory, use a duration of 15 or 30 seconds. |
Companion asset
Requirements and supported companion types vary by publisher, check publisher ad specs for the most up-to-date information.
| File types | .jpg, .png, .zip |
|---|---|
| File size | You can upload image creatives with a maximum file size of 10 MB. There's no file size limit for HTML5 .zip files, but keep in mind that publisher specifications may require smaller file sizes. |
| Dimensions | Vary by publisher Maximum dimensions 4096 × 4096 |
| Display & Video 360-hosted | If you upload and host audio creatives in Display & Video 360, you can assign display creatives with image or HTML5 assets as companions. |
| Campaign Manager 360-hosted | If you upload audio creatives to Campaign Manager 360 and sync them to Display & Video 360, you can add companion creatives in Campaign Manager 360. The companion will sync to Display & Video 360 along with the creative. |