This article discusses the creative guidelines to run a YouTube campaign
Requirements
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Must be uploaded to YouTube (send Video URL, shortened URL not allowed)
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Must allow embedding
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Must be public or unlisted
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True streaming is not allowed
Recommended Resolution & Aspect Ratios
YouTube does not set a minimum resolution but recommends a resolution of at least 1280x720 for videos that have a 16:9 aspect ratio and a resolution of at least 640x480 for videos that have a 4:3 aspect ratio.
If you cannot encode your videos using the preferred specifications, you can still submit your video in WMV, AVI, MOV, and FLV formats. In this case, we recommend uploading the highest quality video possible. YouTube will still accept your video content and re-encode your files as necessary. However, the quality of your videos may not be optimal and could make your videos ineligible for HQ encoding.
Video Lengths
SKIPPABLE IN-STREAM ADS
Ads that are ideally 15-30 seconds long that play before, during, or after other videos. After 5 seconds, the viewer has the option to skip the ad. Advertisers will not be charged if the viewer skips the ad.
BUMPER ADS
Ads that are 6 seconds (or shorter) and play before, during, or after another video. Viewers do not have the option to skip the ad.
Recommended File Formats
YouTube prefers the original 1080p HD broadcast format that you have in your digital content library, as well as DVD-compliant MPEG-2 program streams saved with an MPG extension. If you cannot submit videos in MPEG-2 format, then MPEG-4 is the preferred format. The following specifications provide optimal playback of MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 videos:
MPEG-2
- Audio codec: MPEG Layer II or Dolby AC-3
- Audio bitrate: 128 kbps or better
MPEG-4
- Video codec: H.264
- Audio codec: AAC
- Audio bitrate: 128 kbps or better