Yes, monetized videos on platforms like YouTube do have ads. When a video is “monetized,” it means the creator has enabled ads on that video in order to earn revenue from the views. So by definition, a monetized video will have ads running on it.
The way video monetization works is that platforms like YouTube place ads on videos and the video creator gets a cut of the ad revenue. So for a video to be monetized, ads must be running on it so that revenue can be generated. The ads show up in various forms – before, during, or after the main video content.
Why do monetized videos have ads?
Monetized videos have ads because that’s how the creators generate income from their videos. Here’s a quick breakdown:
– Creators produce videos and upload them to platforms like YouTube. This by itself does not generate any revenue.
– Creators can choose to monetize eligible videos through YouTube’s Partner Program. This places ads on the videos.
– When viewers watch those ads on monetized videos, advertisers pay YouTube.
– YouTube takes a cut and passes the rest of the ad revenue onto the video creator.
So the ads on monetized videos essentially allow the creator to earn money from their content. Without the ads, there would be no monetization and no revenue for creators.
What types of ads are shown on monetized videos?
There are several different types of ads that can appear on monetized YouTube and other platform videos:
Display Ads
These are banner ads that show up beside, below, or overlayed on top of the video player. They are static images or text ads.
Non-Skippable Video Ads
These are 5-30 second video ads that play before or during the main video. Viewers are unable to skip over them.
Skippable Video Ads
These are 5-30 second video ads that play before the main video, but viewers can choose to skip them after 5 seconds. This format tends to have higher engagement.
Overlay Ads
These are semi-transparent ads that appear directly overlaid on the lower portion of a playing video. Viewers can still see the main video content underneath.
Sponsorships
This is when a creator gets paid directly by a brand to promote their product or service in the video. The sponsor may be announced verbally or through overlays/banners.
So in summary, various types of video and display ads can run on monetized YouTube and social media videos to generate revenue for creators.
Do all monetized videos have multiple ads?
No, not necessarily. Just because a video is monetized does not mean it will have multiple ads. Here are some factors that determine how many ads show up on monetized videos:
Video length
Longer videos can accommodate more ad breaks than shorter videos. Videos over 10 minutes may have multiple ad inserts, while sub-2 minute videos may only have a pre-roll ad.
Ad frequency settings
Creators can actually restrict how often ads show up in their YouTube videos. The default is to allow an ad break every 7-12 minutes. But this can be adjusted.
Viewer history
Frequent repeat views of the same ad-supported video can lead to fewer mid-roll ads on that video for specific viewers.
Video content
Videos deemed “advertiser-friendly” by YouTube tend to carry more ads than other types of content. Certain topics like politics or adult content may have limited ads.
So while multiple ads are certainly possible on monetized videos, there are factors that weigh in. Many short videos may only contain 1 ad, or creators can limit ad frequency. But generally, longer monetized videos will run multiple ads.
Do ads only run before the video starts?
No, ads on monetized videos are not limited to just playing before the video starts. Here are the possible ad placements on monetized YouTube videos:
– **Pre-roll ads:** These play before the video begins.
– **Mid-roll ads:** These play in the middle of the video, interrupting the content.
– **Post-roll ads:** These play after the video ends, either beside the replay button or before display of the next video.
– **Overlay ads:** As discussed earlier, these display over the lower portion of the playing video.
So while pre-roll ads are common, mid-roll and overlay ads allow advertisers to reach viewers after they have started watching as well. Post-roll ads catch people who have already watched the full video. Having ads during the video or at the end increases the overall viewership and results in more revenue for creators.
Are all monetized videos also eligible to show companion ads?
No, companion ads may not always appear alongside monetized videos. Companion ads refer to the display ads shown beside or near the main video player.
Factors that determine whether companion ads will show up include:
Video length
Videos have to be at least 10 minutes long to qualify for companion ads. Shorter videos will not have companion ads.
Content suitability
If YouTube deems the video content not advertiser-friendly, it may not serve companion ads. This includes sensitive topics like politics.
Viewer location
Companion ads are only available in certain countries, so viewers outside those regions will not see them.
Competing ads
If a video already has overlay or mid-roll ads, YouTube may opt to not serve companion ads to avoid overwhelming viewers.
So while many long, advertiser-friendly videos do feature companion ads, there are situations where monetized videos will not have companion ads running alongside them. They are not guaranteed to appear across the board.
Do creators have control over which ads appear?
For the most part, creators do not have direct control over the specific ads that run on their monetized videos. However, they do have some influence over the types of ads served:
AdSense filters
Creators can block ad categories like gambling or alcohol using AdSense preferences. This filters out ads that are objectionable or irrelevant to the video.
Video content
Creating content around topics that tend to attract high-rate ads gives creators indirect input over ads. For example, a makeup tutorial may feature more cosmetic product ads.
Advertiser outreach
Creators can do direct outreach to advertisers in their niche and pursue sponsorships. This allows for full control and negotiated placement.
However, creators cannot hand-pick specific ads through the general YouTube Partner Program monetization. Overall, creators have fairly limited influence over which actual ads show up on monetized videos. But they do have some tools to target higher advertising rates.
Can creators remove ads from individual videos?
Yes, creators have the ability to remove ads from individual videos, even if they are monetized. Some reasons creators may want to do this include:
– Video is not generating much revenue but distracting viewers
– Video contains sponsorship or affiliate revenue instead
– Testing engagement difference when ads are removed
– Video is more for building audience than monetization
To remove ads on a per-video basis, creators simply have to go into YouTube Studio settings for that video and toggle monetization off. The ads will stop running immediately.
Of course, the creator loses out on any potential ad revenue when disabling monetization. But they still maintain control over whether ads display, regardless of the overall account monetization status.
Do some topics attract more ads than others?
Yes, certain topics tend to attract higher ad rates and more ads than others on YouTube monetized videos. Some topics that brands flock to include:
| Topic | Reasons Why Popular for Advertisers |
|---|---|
| Beauty & Fashion | – Attracts cosmetics, clothing, and accessory ads |
| Technology | – High advertiser demand in consumer tech space |
| Business & Finance | – Valuable audience for B2B products and services |
| Comedy & Entertainment | – Broad appeal across demographics |
| Food | – Allows for natural integrations of food and appliance brands |
Meanwhile, some topics attract fewer or lower-paying ads:
– Controversial subjects like politics or adult content
– Niche topics with smaller audiences
– Non-English content with limited ad demand
So creators looking to maximize monetization tend to optimize around popular topics that bring in the ad revenue. This incentive ends up influencing the landscape of trending YouTube content.
Do ads affect viewer experience?
Yes, the presence of advertisements on monetized YouTube videos can definitely impact the viewer experience:
Interruption
Ads break up the flow of the video content. This can be disruptive or annoying to viewers who just want to watch the main video uninterrupted.
Length
Ads add length to videos. Pre-roll and mid-roll ads increase the total duration viewers have to watch for a given video.
Relevance
Viewers may feel the video ads are not relevant to their interests. This reduces engagement with the ads.
Clutter
Too many ads clustered together can feel overwhelming and make it hard to focus on video content.
However, YouTube has introduced some optimizations to improve viewer experience of ads:
– Allowing skippable video ads
– Limiting mid-roll ads to once every 7-12 minutes
– Contextual ads based on video content vs general inventory
But fundamentally, viewers come for the main video content first – not the ads. Creators have to strike a careful balance between monetization and keeping viewers engaged.
Conclusion
In summary, monetized videos do indeed contain ads – that’s how revenue is generated for creators. Ads can appear before, during, and after the main video in various formats. While creators don’t control specific ads served, they can optimize content to attract lucrative ad categories. The presence of ads has tradeoffs, improving monetization but also potentially interrupting the viewer experience.
Ultimately, ads are the driver of income for creators producing videos as a business. Managing the right volume and placement of ads requires balancing revenue goals with audience retention. The ad-supported model has enabled new creative jobs and careers for content producers. But it also fundamentally impacts how video platforms operate and how people watch and engage with video content online.