Youtube has become one of the top platforms for advertising, with millions of people watching and interacting with ads daily. Unskippable ads are a great way to reach your target audience and get your message across in an impactful way.
These ads cannot be skipped by viewers, making them ideal for delivering key messages, raising brand awareness, and driving conversions.
However, designing unskippable ads is not just about putting together a 30-second video and hoping for the best. There are several key factors to consider in order to create ads that are engaging, effective, and drive results.
14 Tips to Design Unskippable Ads
So, how can you design unskippable YouTube ads that attract attention and drive action from your target audience? Let’s have a look at a few tricks you can easily apply to your business.
Table of Contents:
- Introduce a Hook
- Be Concise
- Tell a Story
- Address Pain Points
- Use Visuals
- Test and Refine
- Focus On the Message
- Make It Visually Appealing
- Use Humor
- Keep It Simple
- Use Music
- Make It Memorable
- Keep It Professional
- Integrate With Data Tools
1. Introduce a Hook
An effective hook sets the tone for your entire ad, so it’s important to choose something attention-grabbing, memorable, and relevant to your target audience.
Start your video with an attention-grabbing image, headline, or teaser that draws the viewer in and makes them want to watch more.
For example, a bold statement like “Say Goodbye to Dry Skin for Good” can grab the viewer’s attention and make them want to know more about the advertised product. A surprising image can also become an eye-grabbing element of a pre-roll video. An image of a person drinking water upside down, for example, can drive curiosity and spark interest.
A hook should make the viewer want to continue watching, so think carefully about what will grab their attention and keep them engaged.
2. Be Concise
Concise ads are more likely to be watched to the end, as viewers are less likely to get bored or distracted. Creating concise and intriguing videos is one of the tricks YouTube creators use to make money on YouTube. The more people watch their videos, the more revenue they can generate. So what’s their secret?
When it comes to unskippable ads, shorter is better, as the viewer is forced to watch the ad in full. Creators usually keep a video message clear and focused, and don’t try to pack too much information into their video material.
For example, if you’re advertising a new smartphone, focus on a few key features that will make the viewer want to buy it, rather than trying to cover everything the phone can do.
3. Tell a Story
Use a compelling story to engage the viewer and convey the message of your ad. People are naturally drawn to stories, so using one to convey your message can be an effective way to engage the viewer and keep them interested.
Imagine you are advertising a new energy drink. You could tell the story of an athlete who used the drink to perform at their best. By showing the viewer how the product can help them, you can make the ad more relevant and memorable.
Remember, the story should be relevant to your target audience while demonstrating the benefits of your product or service.
4. Address Pain Points
Your ad should be relevant to your target audience, addressing their pain points, needs, or interests. For example, if you’re advertising a new mattress, you could focus on the importance of a good night’s sleep and how your mattress can help people to get a better night’s sleep.
By making the ad relevant to your target audience, you can connect with them on a personal level and make your ad more memorable.
5. Use Visuals
Visuals can be incredibly powerful in reinforcing your message and keeping the viewer interested. That’s why it’s worth using high-quality images and graphics to reinforce your message and keep the viewer interested.
If you’re advertising a new kitchen appliance, you could use high-quality images to demonstrate how easy and convenient it is to use. Or, if you’re advertising a new car, you could use video footage to show the car in action, highlighting its speed and agility.
The goal is to use visuals to engage the viewer and make your ad more memorable. Remember to choose visuals that are high-quality, and effective in reinforcing your message.
6. Test and Refine
Continuously testing and refining your ad is crucial for improving its performance and achieving your goals. Metrics such as view rate, completion rate, and conversion rate can help you determine how well the ad is resonating with your target audience.
Based on this data, you can make changes to the ad to make it more effective. For example, if you notice that the completion rate is low, you might want to make the ad shorter or more engaging.
Don’t be afraid to experiment with different videos to achieve a higher conversion rate. You can even set up A/B tests to learn what material performs better. Once you get the results of an A/B test, you can draw some conclusions on what video type is the best fit for your audience.
7. Focus On the Message
The message of your ad should be the primary focus. It should be clear, easy to understand, and concise. You should also ensure that your message addresses the needs and interests of your buyer. No one wants to watch a video that doesn’t relate to them in any way!
To create an engaging video, your message should emphasize the benefits and features of the product and how it can solve the problems of your target audience. By keeping the message clear and focused on the needs of the target audience, you can effectively convey the value of your product and drive engagement and conversions.
8. Make It Visually Appealing
Creating visually appealing content is one of the most effective ways for monetizing your YouTube channel. To achieve this, video producers use color, contrast, and design elements to capture the viewer’s attention and make the ad stand out from the rest. For example, using bold, bright colors can help make the ad eye-catching and memorable, while combining images and text can create a more engaging visual experience.
Additionally, using visual hierarchy, such as a larger font size for the headline and a smaller font size for the body text, can guide the viewer’s eye through the ad. High contrast can also make the ad stand out and be more easily remembered, and experimenting with different visual styles can help you find what works best for your brand and target audience.
9. Use Humor
If appropriate, humor can be an effective way to make your ad more memorable and engaging. It is important to use humor in a way that fits with the tone and message of the ad, and to make sure it does not detract from the overall message.
For instance, incorporating a funny tagline or lighthearted illustration into your ad can help to break up the monotony of traditional ads and make them more memorable. By adding humor to your ad, you can increase the likelihood that viewers will remember your brand and message long after they have watched the ad.
10. Keep It Simple
Simple, straightforward language is often the most effective in advertising. Avoid using complex language or concepts that might confuse or bore the viewer. Instead, use clear, concise language to convey your message and engage your user. For example, a simple tagline that summarizes the message of your ad can be more effective than a long, detailed explanation.
11. Use Music
Music can have a powerful impact on the emotion and effectiveness of your ad. Choose a music track that fits the tone and message of your ad and helps to reinforce the overall message.
For example, you might choose an uplifting, energetic track for an ad promoting an active lifestyle product, or a more somber, emotional track for an ad promoting a charitable cause.
12. Make It Memorable
To ensure that your ad stays in the viewer’s mind long after they have watched it, use memorable images, slogans, or other elements.
For example, you might create a catchy tagline that summarizes the message of your ad, or use a memorable image or character to help the viewer associate your brand with the ad.
13. Keep It Professional
A well-produced ad with clear sound and good lighting gives a professional image of your brand and helps to build trust with the viewer.
Make sure that the production quality of your ad is high and that the ad is well-lit, with clear sound and good resolution. This will help to reinforce your brand’s image and create a more favorable impression on the viewer.
14. Integrate With Data Tools
Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems allow businesses to collect and analyze customer data to improve customer engagement and relationships. Marketing automation, on the other hand, streamlines and automates marketing processes to increase efficiency and effectiveness.
By integrating pre-roll videos into both CRM and marketing automation strategies, businesses can create personalized, targeted, and effective advertising campaigns.
For example, pre-roll videos can be personalized based on customer data collected through a CRM system, such as customer location, demographic data, and purchase history.
Additionally, pre-roll videos can be used as a lead generation tool and integrated into marketing automation platforms to streamline the creation, publishing, and measurement of video advertisements. Not sure where to start? Begin by identifying the main differences between CRM and Marketing Automation.
Examples of Unskippable Ads
There are lots of examples of unskippable ads that can inspire your YouTube commercial. Let’s check a few pre-roll videos that can give you a few ideas for how to approach the ad creation process.
1. Apple
This YouTube commercial showcases the features of the latest iPhone model, especially the Action Mode. The ad captures a series of beautiful, high-quality images, highlighting the phone’s ability to catch stunning photos and videos with a stable image.
2. Old Spice
Old Spice features a humorous and offbeat approach, with a quirky, tongue-in-cheek tone that is sure to get viewers’ attention. The ad showcases the company’s products and the benefits they offer, all while making the viewer smile.
3. Adidas
Adidas features a series of fast-paced, action-packed scenes of women of different backgrounds and appearances. The commercial shows how they overcome challenges and push their limits. The video’s goal is to inspire viewers to do the same.
4. Brooklinen
This ad showcases the high-quality bedding products offered by Brooklinen. Brooklinen uses a lighthearted and playful tone, highlighting the comfort and softness of its bedding.
5. Dollar Shave Club
This ad uses humor to showcase the company’s monthly subscription service for razors and grooming products. The ad takes a lighthearted approach, making the viewer laugh while also highlighting the convenience and affordability of the service.
6. Blue Apron
Blue Apron is a meal delivery company that provides pre-portioned ingredients and recipes for home-cooked meals. In their commercial, Blue Apron shows the convenience and benefits of using their service, including fresh ingredients, easy-to-follow recipes, and the ability to save time and effort on meal planning and grocery shopping.
7. Away
Away is a luggage brand that creates durable and stylish travel bags for customers. Their YouTube video ad campaign features the quality and functionality of their products, showcasing the different sizes and styles of luggage available. Away highlights the features of their bags; they are lightweight, have a built-in battery for charging devices, and are easy to maneuver.
Conclusion
Unskippable ads can be a highly effective way to reach your target audience and deliver your message. By following these tips, you can create ads that are engaging, memorable, and drive results.
However, it’s important to remember that advertising is not just about putting together a video — it’s about understanding your target audience, delivering your message in a way that resonates with them, and continually refining and improving your approach based on your results.
