Video creatives

Video creatives are video ads that are shown in a publisher video player before, during, or after publisher video content. You can also include companion creatives, which are display ads that are shown outside the video player.

Display & Video 360 supports direct upload of standard video files only. Interactive VPAID creatives (containing elements such as timers or multiple landing pages) must be uploaded to Studio.

Add a video creative

You can upload video creatives up to 10 MB in size to Display & Video 360 in the following file formats: .avi, .mov, .mp4, .m4v, .mpeg, .mpg, .webm, .wmv.

1. Open an advertiser, then click Creatives in the left menu. The list of creatives in your advertiser loads on a new page.

2. Click New. If you don’t see the New button, your advertiser’s creatives are managed in Campaign Manager 360. Upload creatives to your linked advertiser in Campaign Manager 360 instead.
3. Click Upload, then Video file.
4. Enter a name for the creative in Display & Video 360.

5. Drag a video file from your computer and drop it over "Drag file here". Or, click Upload, then select the source file from your computer. Guidelines for video creatives

   After you add a source file, you’ll see information under Serving files section as Display & Video 360 generates different versions of your video for serving, called transcodes. You can leave the page while the transcodes are processing.

6. After all transcodes are processed, review the files in the "Serving Files" section. If these requirements aren't met, your creative might be rejected during the review process.

   • Make sure each of the transcoded files are 10 MB or less
     Open the "Serving Files" section and check the size under the "File size" column. If the transcoded file sizes are all larger than 10 MB, work with your creative developer to upload a smaller source video file that can be transcoded into servable file sizes. (The source file can be larger than 10 MB, but the serving files can't. Serving files larger than 10 MB will be removed when you save.)

   • Make sure at least one of the transcoded files is a servable file type (.avi, .mov, .mp4, .m4v, .mpeg, .mpg, .webm, .wmv).

7. Enter a landing page URL, beginning with http:// or https://. Or, enter a click tracker URL that redirects to your landing page.
8. Save your creative. You'll see a preview of your video.

Display & Video 360 manually and automatically reviews your creatives to make sure they work. Creatives are also checked to make sure they comply with Google's ad policies and the policies of exchanges they can serve on. You can check the status of your creatives in the Creative status tab.

  Advanced settings

The following settings are optional.

Skip button

Skip buttons are overlays on your video that users can click to skip your ad content. This setting is available only for VAST 3.0 and VAST 4.0 compliant publishers with skippable inventory and will only display for videos that are longer than 7 seconds.

To add a skip button to the video, under video options select Include skip button. This adds skip tracking into your creative's tags. The publisher's video player is responsible for overlaying the button.

You can also choose the following skip settings:

• Skip offset: The amount of time to play the video before the skip button appears. Select and enter either a specific number of seconds or a percentage of the total video duration. This value is only used when "Include skip button" is enabled.
• Progress offset: The amount of time before a video view event occurs. Select and either use the default value of 30 seconds, enter a specific number of seconds, or enter a percentage of the total video duration.

Universal ad ID

To add a registered universal ad ID, under video options, enter it in Universal Ad ID. This industry-wide identifier is included in VAST tags. You can add IDs from Ad-ID, ARPP, Clearcast, another provider, or use a Campaign Manager 360-generated ID.

Ad badging, transparency, and reporting

If ad badging, transparency, and reporting is turned on in your advertiser settings, Display & Video 360 automatically adds advertiser transparency and reporting information through Google's "About this ad".

If you're not using Google's "About this ad" or you want to use a different compliance solution, you can add it to the creative. Under video options, find "Ad badging, transparency, and reporting", then select Use custom solution. Evidon is currently the only compliance provider supported.

Enter the compliance icon details provided by Evidon:

• Resource URL: Link to the icon file.
• Program: The name of the compliance program, for example, "AdChoices".
• Width and height of the icon, in pixels.
• Choose where to position the icon in the ad: Upper right, upper left, lower right, or lower left.
• Landing page URL: The page that opens after clicking the icon.
• Click tracking URL: A URL for tracking clicks on the icon.
• View tracking URL: A URL for tracking icon views.

Companion creative

Companion creatives are display creatives (with image or HTML5 assets) that serve around the publisher’s video player. Companions display around the video player while the video is playing and remain after the video has completed.

Limitations

• Companion creatives must be hosted by Display & Video 360 (you can't assign a creative synced from Campaign Manager 360 as a companion).
• Responsive, data-driven, and rich media creatives cannot be assigned as companions.

To add a companion display ad to show alongside your video, click Companion creatives. Assign display creatives that you've already uploaded to Display & Video 360. You can add more than one companion creative, but only one of each size.

Tracking URLs

To add tracking URLs from your measurement provider, click Serving properties. Click Add URL and then select the type of URL you want to include. You can enter multiple versions of each type of URL. Don’t include any HTML tags in the third-party URL field.

Available third-party tracking URLs

• Impression: Tracks impressions. 
• Click tracking: Tracks clicks. This URL is for tracking only. If you're using a click tracker URL that redirects to your final landing page URL, enter this as the landing page URL in the "Assets" section of the creative. 
• Start: Tracks the number of times a user starts playing content.
• Frst quartile: Tracks the number of times the content plays to 25% of its length.
• Midpoint: Tracks the number of times the content plays to 50% of its length.
• Third quartile: Tracks the number of times the content plays to 75% of its length.
• Complete: Tracks the number of times the content plays to the end.
• Mute: Tracks the number of times a user mutes the content.
• Pause: Tracks the number of times a user pauses the content.
• Rewind: Tracks the number of times a user rewinds the content.
• Full screen: Tracks the number of times a user expands the player to full-screen size.
• Stop: Tracks the number of times a user stops the content.
• Custom: Tracks the number of times a user performs a custom click, such as clicking on a hot spot.
• Skip: Tracks the number of times a user skips the content.
• Progress: Tracks an optional time marker agreed upon with the publisher.

Integration code and notes

To add an integration code or notes, click Additional details.

Frequently asked questions

What formats does Display & Video 360 transcode my source file into?

Google Marketing Platform uses Video Ad Serving Template (VAST) specifications to format video creatives.

Note: Google Marketing Platform transcodes video assets while keeping the same aspect ratio and orientation. For example, if you upload a horizontal source file with a 4:3 aspect ratio, the file is transcoded into several smaller horizontal sizes with a 4:3 aspect ratio. Files are also transcoded in a range of video and audio bit rates.

Horizontal transcodes 

File type	Resolution	Video bit rate (kbps)	Audio bit rate (kbps)
3GPP	176 × 144	56	24
3GPP	320 × 240	192	32
MP4	480 × 270	400	64
MP4	640 × 360	400	96
MP4	640 × 360	1000	64
MP4	640 × 360	1500	128
MP4	640 × 480	400	96
MP4	720 × 600	720	96
MP4	854 × 480	720	128
MP4	1024 × 576	1500	96
MP4	1280 × 720	2000	128
MP4	1920 × 1080	4000	128
MP4	Matches source video	20000	192
M3U8	Varies with connection speed	Varies with connection speed	Varies with connection speed

Vertical transcodes 

File type	Resolution	Video bit rate (kbps)	Audio bit rate (kbps)
3GPP	144 × 176	56	24
3GPP	240 × 320	192	32
MP4	270 × 480	400	64
MP4	360 × 640	400	96
MP4	360 × 640	1000	64
MP4	360 × 640	1500	128
MP4	480 × 640	400	96
MP4	600 × 720	720	96
MP4	480 × 854	720	128
MP4	576 × 1024	1500	96
MP4	720 × 1280	2000	128
MP4	1080 × 1920	4000	128
MP4	Matches source video	20000	192
M3U8	Varies with connection speed	Varies with connection speed	Varies with connection speed

Square transcodes 

File type	Resolution	Video bit rate (kbps)	Audio bit rate (kbps)
3GPP	176 × 176	42	24
3GPP	240 × 240	144	32
MP4	480 × 480	383	64
MP4	640 × 640	386	96
MP4	640 × 640	619	96
MP4	640 × 640	948	64
MP4	640 × 640	1459	128
MP4	720 × 720	695	96
MP4	854 × 854	1170	128
MP4	1024 × 1024	1470	96
MP4	1080 × 1080	3076	128
MP4	1080 × 1080	19299	128
MP4	1920 × 1920	4096	128
M3U8	Varies with connection speed	Varies with connection speed	Varies with connection speed

 

How does a publisher know where to position my companion creatives?

The spaces around your primary asset are all different sizes. The publisher's system matches each companion creative to the space it fits. No two spaces are the same size, so each creative has its own particular place to go.

What happens if a publisher doesn’t accept a companion size?

If a publisher doesn’t accept a companion size, the publisher will not serve the companion creative. The publisher must accept the companion size for it to serve.

How does the companion affect serving of the primary audio or video asset?

Your video or audio file is the primary asset. Even if a companion is unable to serve due to a publisher’s restriction, the primary asset should still be able to serve.

What is OBA and the YourAdChoices Icon?

As part of the online ad industry's commitment to protecting consumer privacy, Display & Video 360 supports adding the YourAdChoices Icon to ads that protect consumer privacy in compliance with the Digital Advertising Alliance (DAA)'s Self-Regulatory Program for Online Behavioral Advertising.

If ad badging, transparency, and reporting is turned on in your advertiser settings, Display & Video 360 automatically adds advertiser transparency and reporting information through Google's "About this ad".

If it's turned off and you partner with an approved compliance service provider who can ensure your ads are in compliance with the DAA's program, you can add the YourAdChoices Icon to your creatives. Currently Display & Video 360 only supports Evidon as a provider.

Do I need to add a custom compliance icon if ad badging, transparency, and reporting is already turned on in my advertiser settings?

No. You only need to add a custom compliance solution to your creative if you turn off ad badging, transparency, and reporting. If it's turned on and you add a custom icon, both icons are shown in different locations to avoid overlap.

How does a publisher know where to position my companion creatives?

The spaces around your primary asset are all different sizes. The publisher's system matches each companion creative to the space it fits. No two spaces are the same size, so each creative has its own particular place to go.

What happens if a publisher doesn’t accept a companion size?

If a publisher doesn’t accept a companion size, the publisher will not serve the companion creative. The publisher must accept the companion size for it to serve.

How does the companion affect serving of the primary audio or video asset?

Your video or audio file is the primary asset. Even if a companion is unable to serve due to a publisher’s restriction, the primary asset should still be able to serve.