YouTube, the popular video streaming site owned by tech giant Google, has announced that starting from April 6th, 2023, the “Overlay ads” ad format will no longer appear on the platform. This decision was made to enhance the viewer experience and move engagement to higher-performing ad formats on desktop and mobile devices. Overlay ads, a legacy ad format that is disruptive for viewers, only appear on desktops.
Google clarified that this change will have limited impact on most Creators as engagement shifts to other ad formats. Additionally, YouTube noted that there will be no changes to any of their other ad formats. Earlier this month, YouTube disabled new posts and comments on its English Help forum to prepare for upcoming improvements in the next few months.
Many forum topics are not appropriate for user-based conversation, and a sizable portion of questions are left unanswered, claims the YouTube Help website. The platform will use the time and its experiments to shape its long-term plan for the forum in order to ensure that it can be a helpful environment for all users. In the future, more information on this plan will be shared.
What are YouTube Overlay Ads?
YouTube overlay ads are a type of advertisement format that appears as a semi-transparent overlay on the lower portion of a video while it’s playing. These ads typically feature a small banner or pop-up ad that promotes a product, service, or brand.
What are the other forms of Ads on YouTube?
1.TrueView ads: These ads can be skippable or non-skippable and appear before, during, or after a video. Advertisers are only charged when viewers watch the ad for at least 30 seconds or until the end, whichever comes first.
2.Bumper ads: These non-skippable ads are 6 seconds long and appear before a video. Advertisers are charged on a CPM basis (cost per thousand impressions) for bumper ads.
3.Display ads: These ads appear in the right-hand sidebar of the YouTube desktop website and above the video suggestions list. They can be in the form of text or banner ads.
4.Sponsored cards: These are displayed during a video and promote a product or service with a teaser for the brand or product. Sponsored cards appear on both desktop and mobile devices.
5.Masthead ads: These are premium ad placements that appear at the top of the YouTube home feed on all devices. Masthead ads are typically booked as a reservation up to 7 days in advance and are sold on a CPM basis.
