Running YouTube ads can be a highly effective way to reach your target audience and grow your business. Here is a step-by-step tutorial for beginners on how to run YouTube ads in 2024.

Step 1: Create a Google Ads Account
YouTube ads are managed through Google Ads, so the first thing you need is an account. If you already have a Google account, you can sign up for Google Ads. It is recommended that you use the same Google account for your Google Ads and your YouTube channel to make the linking process easier.

Step 2: Set Up Your YouTube Channel and Upload Your Video
You must have a video ready to be used as an ad. The video must be uploaded to your YouTube channel before you can use it in a campaign.

Create Your Channel: If you don't have one, create a YouTube channel for your business.

Upload Your Video: Upload the video you want to use as an ad to your channel. For privacy, you can set the video to "Unlisted" so it doesn't appear on your public channel page but is still accessible for your ad campaign.

Step 3: Link Your YouTube Channel to Your Google Ads Account
This is a crucial step to ensure that your campaign data is properly connected.

In your Google Ads account, go to Tools & Settings.

Click on Linked accounts.

Find YouTube and click Details or Manage and link.

Follow the prompts to link your YouTube channel. If you are signed into the same Google account, the process should be straightforward.

Step 4: Create a New Campaign in Google Ads
This is where you'll begin building your ad campaign.

In your Google Ads dashboard, click the blue + New campaign button.

Google Ads will ask you to choose a campaign goal. For beginners, it's often best to select a goal that aligns with your business objectives, such as "Sales," "Leads," or "Website traffic." Alternatively, for maximum control, you can choose Create a campaign without a goal's guidance.

Select Video as your campaign type.

Step 5: Choose Your Campaign Subtype and Set a Budget
After selecting the "Video" campaign type, you'll be prompted to choose a subtype. Your choice will depend on your goal.

Custom video campaign: This is a good option for beginners as it offers a lot of control over targeting and bidding.

Video reach campaign: Ideal for maximizing impressions and brand awareness.

Video action campaign: Best for driving conversions, such as website visits or sign-ups.

Next, set your budget. You can choose a Daily budget or a Campaign total. Starting with a smaller daily budget (e.g., $10-$20) is a good way to test the waters before committing a larger amount.

Step 6: Define Your Targeting
This is the most critical part of the process, as it ensures your ad is seen by the right people. YouTube and Google's data allow for extremely precise targeting. You'll have two main options:

People: Target users based on who they are.

Demographics: Age, gender, parental status, and household income.

Audience segments: This includes "Affinity" audiences (people with a specific interest), "In-Market" audiences (people actively researching products), and "Custom segments" based on keywords, websites, or apps.

Remarketing: Target people who have previously interacted with your website or YouTube channel.

Content: Target users based on what they are watching.

Keywords: Show your ads on videos related to specific keywords.

Topics: Target videos on a broader topic (e.g., "Sports," "Cooking," "Technology").

Placements: Manually select specific YouTube channels, videos, or websites where you want your ad to appear. This is a great strategy if you know your ideal audience watches a particular channel.

Step 7: Create Your Ad
Now it's time to connect your video and ad creatives.

In the ad creation section, paste the URL of the YouTube video you uploaded earlier.

Choose your ad format. Common formats include:

Skippable in-stream ads: Play before, during, or after a video and can be skipped after five seconds. You pay when a viewer watches 30 seconds or the entire ad (whichever is shorter) or interacts with it.

Non-skippable in-stream ads: Up to 15 seconds long and cannot be skipped. They are best for brand awareness.

Bumper ads: Short, non-skippable ads up to 6 seconds long, also great for quick brand messaging.

In-feed video ads: Appear on the YouTube homepage, search results, or alongside other videos.

Add your ad copy, including a compelling headline, a description, and a clear Call-to-Action (CTA) button. The CTA should encourage viewers to take the next step, such as "Learn More," "Shop Now," or "Subscribe."

Step 8: Launch and Monitor Your Campaign
Once everything is set up, you can launch your campaign. The work isn't over yet!

Monitor Performance: Regularly check your Google Ads dashboard. Pay attention to key metrics like views, impressions, clicks, and conversions.

Optimize Your Campaign: Based on your data, make adjustments. If a specific audience segment is performing well, consider allocating more of your budget to it. If your ad has a high view rate but a low click-through rate, consider changing your CTA or your ad copy.

Test and Iterate: A/B test different versions of your ad, different headlines, and different targeting methods to continuously improve your results.