Creating a YouTube Campaign
Step-by-step guide to creating and launching a YouTube Campaign.
Step-by-step guide to creating and launching a YouTube Campaign.
Step-by-step guide to creating and launching a YouTube Campaign.
YouTube Campaigns promote a specific video from your channel to new audiences. This guide walks through each step of the campaign creation process.
Verify these requirements before creating a campaign:
| Requirement | Where to Check |
|---|---|
| YouTube connected | Platform Connections shows Connected |
| Ads link accepted | YouTube Studio has accepted Google Ads linking |
| Billing active | Billing shows an active subscription |
If YouTube is not connected, go to Platform Connections and complete the YouTube setup first. The Google Ads DataLink must be accepted in YouTube Studio before campaigns can run.
Go to Marketing and expand YouTube Campaigns, then select Create Campaign.
Paste a YouTube URL for the video you want to promote. Supported formats include watch URLs with v=..., short links like youtu.be/..., and Shorts links.
Select Global to target all countries, or choose specific countries from the list. Targeting fewer high-value countries (US, UK, Canada, Australia) often yields better results for monetized channels.
Choose Daily or Total budget type. Daily budgets have a $10/day minimum. Total budgets require an end date and have a minimum based on duration.
Write your own description or use Generate with AI to create ad copy automatically. Good ad copy highlights what makes your video unique and encourages clicks.
Click Create Campaign to submit. The campaign enters Deploying status while being created in Google Ads, then becomes Active once approved.
Once your campaign is active:
| What Happens | Details |
|---|---|
| Learning period | The campaign shows a Learning badge for the first 7 days while Google optimizes targeting |
| View accumulation | Views start appearing in analytics within 24-48 hours |
| Budget spend | Daily budget is spent throughout the day, not all at once |
Avoid making changes during the first 7 days. Let the campaign complete its learning period before adjusting budget or targeting.
| Issue | Solution |
|---|---|
| Campaign stuck in Deploying | Check that YouTube connection is active and DataLink is accepted |
| No views after 48 hours | Verify billing is active and budget is sufficient |
| Campaign rejected | Review video content for policy compliance, then resubmit |
YouTube Campaigns promote a specific video from your channel to new audiences. This guide walks through each step of the campaign creation process.
Verify these requirements before creating a campaign:
| Requirement | Where to Check |
|---|---|
| YouTube connected | Platform Connections shows Connected |
| Ads link accepted | YouTube Studio has accepted Google Ads linking |
| Billing active | Billing shows an active subscription |
If YouTube is not connected, go to Platform Connections and complete the YouTube setup first. The Google Ads DataLink must be accepted in YouTube Studio before campaigns can run.
Go to Marketing and expand YouTube Campaigns, then select Create Campaign.
Paste a YouTube URL for the video you want to promote. Supported formats include watch URLs with v=..., short links like youtu.be/..., and Shorts links.
Select Global to target all countries, or choose specific countries from the list. Targeting fewer high-value countries (US, UK, Canada, Australia) often yields better results for monetized channels.
Choose Daily or Total budget type. Daily budgets have a $10/day minimum. Total budgets require an end date and have a minimum based on duration.
Write your own description or use Generate with AI to create ad copy automatically. Good ad copy highlights what makes your video unique and encourages clicks.
Click Create Campaign to submit. The campaign enters Deploying status while being created in Google Ads, then becomes Active once approved.
Once your campaign is active:
| What Happens | Details |
|---|---|
| Learning period | The campaign shows a Learning badge for the first 7 days while Google optimizes targeting |
| View accumulation | Views start appearing in analytics within 24-48 hours |
| Budget spend | Daily budget is spent throughout the day, not all at once |
Avoid making changes during the first 7 days. Let the campaign complete its learning period before adjusting budget or targeting.
| Issue | Solution |
|---|---|
| Campaign stuck in Deploying | Check that YouTube connection is active and DataLink is accepted |
| No views after 48 hours | Verify billing is active and budget is sufficient |
| Campaign rejected | Review video content for policy compliance, then resubmit |