Bumper Ads, Captivate Your Audience in 6 Seconds!

Since its launch in 2017, the Bumper Ads format has become a staple of marketing strategies! But how do they work? What are the advantages and inspirations? Find out in this guide everything you need to know about using Bumper Ads!

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Understanding How Bumper Ads Work

What is a Bumper Ad?

Bumper Ads are one of the video advertising formats offered by YouTube. They are very short videos, 6 seconds or less, that allow you to reach YouTube viewers. They are displayed in YouTube videos, as well as on Google’s video partner sites and apps. Bumper Ads must be hosted on YouTube and cannot be skipped by users, so the viewer is sure to come across your advert. It’s important to make the most of this powerful format that improves your visibility, because you have only 6 seconds to deliver the right message and pique viewers’ curiosity. These ads are based on a Cost Per Mille (CPM) bidding system. When creating the campaign, you will select your target CPM, which indicates the amount you are willing to pay for your ad to be displayed a thousand times.

The Challenge of Bumper Ads: Creativity

The biggest challenge of Bumper Ads facing advertisers is creativity. In just six seconds, you need to find the right words and images to capture the viewer’s attention.

With Bumper Ads, you can enhance your brand storytelling and reinvent your universe. It’s also an ideal format for evoking emotions. Whether you want to surprise, intrigue, or tease your audience, with the right creative agency, you’ll see the results.

Capturing users' attention on mobile
1Bn hours of video are watched every day on YouTube
70% of views come from mobile devices
90% of YouTube users discover new brands and products

Our tips for successful Bumper Ads

With just six seconds to make yourself stand out, you need to get straight to the point. When creating your ads, think of your videos as a series of 3 or 4 ads with different messages, rather than just a single video. Focus on a message, be it teasing, launching a product, or highlighting a benefit. There should be a striking element to grab the viewer’s attention in the first few seconds of the video.

What are the benefits of the Bumper Ads format?

Our tips for successful Bumper Ads

With just six seconds to make yourself stand out, you need to get straight to the point. When creating your ads, think of your videos as a series of 3 or 4 ads with different messages, rather than just a single video. Focus on a message, be it teasing, launching a product, or highlighting a benefit. There should be a striking element to grab the viewer’s attention in the first few seconds of the video. For effective results, you should combine the Bumper Ads format with other YouTube formats.

Visibility

As the ad cannot be skipped, you have almost guaranteed visibility.

Mobile-first

More and more content is consumed via mobile phones, especially videos, and this format is perfectly suited to smartphones.

Voice

This format allows you to have an impact on viewers with a powerful message in a very short time.

Amplification

Bumper Ads are an excellent way to extend the reach of an advertising campaign through teasing.

Curiosity

You don’t need to sell your product directly, just make sure people remember you.

Complementarity

For maximum reach, this format can be used alongside other, related YouTube ads.

How to use Bumper Ads?

  • Do the groundwork

    Step 1

    You will need to either create an insertion order or duplicate an existing one. You may also copy a previous insertion order and just modify the elements. Next, click on the 'New line item' button and choose 'YouTube and partners'.

  • Create a campaign

    Step 2

    You have two options, create a campaign with the u0022brand awareness and reachu0022 objective or choose a u0022without goal's guidanceu0022 campaign. Here, you can choose the ad format, namely Bumper Ads.

  • Configure your elements

    Step 3

    Select the broadcast period, indicate budget and broadcast rate parameters, and specify an auction adjustment according to the device used. You can also select the exposure frequency limit of the ad.

  • Create the ad group

    Step 4

    First, choose the name of the ad group, then configure its target audience. Next, pick your target CPM bid.

  • Create the ad

    Step 5

    After naming your ad, you will need to add the YouTube video URL. You will also need to select or add an associated banner and insert a CTA overlay on your video. If you want to create multiple ads, simply repeat the different steps to broadcast your ads.

Relevant Examples of Bumper Ads!

YouTube Sets a Challenge for Professionals

During the Sundance Film Festival, YouTube challenged directors and creative agencies to tell a story through a 6-second video, the maximum length of a Bumper Ad, which can become very difficult to master.

Examples of Successful Videos

Maud Deitch managed to rise to the challenge. Her advice? “Create your story like a joke.” Her six-second video is relevant and simple, and shows the evolution of Los Angeles over the years, with a fairly dramatic edge that speaks to everyone. We end up being almost fearful to see the diver reach the bottom of the pool…

On the other hand, director Alexandre Engel started with a six-second video that we can all relate to: a delivery person rings the bell and then disappears just as quickly, leaving a “Sorry we missed you” note, even though you’re there.

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The High Diver – YouTube Advertisers

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Deliverance – YouTube Advertisers

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