Guide
Launch your first YouTube video ad
YouTube ads on a $10/day budget: setup, script, and creative.
Create the campaign in Google Ads
Google Ads, New campaign, Sales/Leads/Traffic objective, Video type. Skip 'Efficient reach', pick 'Drive conversions'. Set up conversion tracking in Google Ads before launching.
Write a 60-second script
Structure: hook (0 to 5s), problem (5 to 20s), solution (20 to 45s), call to action (45 to 60s). Say what you sell in the first 5 seconds, viewers who wait 5s often watch the whole thing.
Shoot on phone, in natural light
Polished ads underperform on YouTube. Founder talking to camera, natural light from a window, decent phone camera. That's it. Fancy production feels like a commercial, which people skip.
Add captions/subtitles
40% of YouTube viewers watch with sound off (or on autoplay in a feed). Burn captions into the video, or upload a .srt subtitle file when publishing.
Skip-optimise: don't hide the pitch
TrueView skippable ads only charge you when viewers watch 30 seconds OR click. Tell viewers who this is for in the first 5s so wrong audiences skip (free for you) and right audiences stay.
Target 'custom intent' audiences
Instead of demographics, target people who've searched specific Google keywords or visited specific sites recently. Google Ads, Audiences, Custom intent. Way more precise than age/gender targeting.
Budget: $10/day for 5 days minimum
Video ads take 2 to 3 days to calibrate. Under $50 total, you won't have enough data. If after $50 the view rate is under 20%, kill the ad and try a different hook.
That’s the whole thing.
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