The importance of In-stream Video Ad

In-stream video ads have fantastic potential for digital advertisers in 2024. They should adapt to the trend of users watching video content on their mobile devices.

What is in-stream video?

IAB describes this ad placement as allowing advertisers to show pre-, mid-, or post-roll video advertising to users already watching videos on their devices. These video ads function as a kind of commercial break for the main video.

Advertisers can select the target audiences for in-stream video advertising. Because it is audience-based, viewers of the same video may see different ads depending on their interests.

Here’s an example of an in-stream video ad from Ampliffy TV that popped up approximately one minute into a Hero Warns video ad:

In-stream video can appear on hundreds of publisher sites and applications. Both mobile and desktop users can access in-stream advertisements.

Why Should Advertisers Use In-stream Video Ads?
Advertisers should use in-stream video placement to boost reach, engagement, visibility, or brand awareness.

More Visibility

In terms of visibility, in-stream ads are placed directly within the video content viewers are already watching, making them highly noticeable. Since they appear before, during, or after the video, they capture the audience’s attention in a context where users are already engaged with the media. This increased visibility ensures that the ad gets seen rather than skipped over, compared to other less immersive ad formats. Moreover, the full-screen nature of many in-stream ads, especially on mobile devices, enhances the visual impact, making the ad content stand out and be remembered. This combination of placement, engagement, and full-screen visibility makes in-stream ads a powerful tool for advertisers looking to maximize brand exposure.

Brand Awareness

For brand awareness, in-stream video ads offer a highly effective way to introduce or reinforce a brand message. Since these ads are placed within relevant video content, they are more likely to be watched completely, increasing the chances that viewers will absorb and remember the brand's message. In-stream ads often reach targeted audiences, helping advertisers present their brand to the right people, which enhances brand recall and recognition over time. Additionally, with the ability to use captivating visuals, audio, and storytelling, advertisers can create memorable experiences that strengthen brand identity and leave a lasting impression. This makes in-stream video ads a key strategy for building and increasing brand awareness.

Increased Reach

When customers complain about advertisements, they’re just complaining about poor ads – the disruptive, irrelevant, and poorly performed ones. Ads that are native, appropriate, and optimized are considered good ads. They could increase the audience they reach. An engaging, funny, and helpful advertisement generates a lot of shares and attracts more potential viewers.

Boosted Engagement

Many platforms don’t offer in-stream video ad inventories, so some advertisers think they have fewer options. However, with fewer competitors using this format, your ads can stand out and get more attention. Additionally, because in-stream video ads appear alongside trusted content from publishers, they offer a unique opportunity to create campaigns that feel relevant and increase user engagement. Depending on your goals and target audience, you can use in-stream ads alone or combine them with other ad types. The more video formats you incorporate, the stronger and more effective your campaigns will be.

How Gen Z and Millennials Consume Video Content

In an age where digital consumption dominates leisure time, Gen Z and Millennials stand out as the most significant consumers of video content. Research indicates that young people aged 16-34 spend an average of four hours per day on their mobile devices. Specifically, about 20% of this screen time—approximately 48 minutes daily—occurs outside social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook. This article delves into how these demographics engage with video content beyond social media and provides actionable strategies for advertisers seeking to capture their attention.

Video Consumption Habits of Gen Z and Millennials

1. Short-Form Video Content

While longer formats are still popular, short-form video content has surged among young audiences. These bite-sized videos cater to the fast-paced lifestyle of younger viewers, offering quick consumption that fits into their daily routines. Advertisers must recognize that content needs to capture attention within seconds and deliver the message effectively.

3. On-Demand Information and Learning

Younger audiences also utilize video for educational purposes. This creates an opportunity for brands to associate themselves with informative content, positioning themselves as thought leaders rather than mere advertisers.

4. User-Generated Content (UGC)

Gen Z and Millennials trust their peers more than traditional advertisements. They engage with brands through UGC. They prefer authentic stories and experiences over polished marketing campaigns, making UGC a potent tool in any brand's strategy.

Recommendations for Advertisers

To effectively connect with Gen Z and Millennial audiences who spend a significant portion of their video consumption outside of social media, advertisers can adopt the following strategies:

1. Embrace Short-Form Content

Brands should produce engaging, under-60-second video content that directly conveys their message.

2. Create Immersive Experiences

Experiment with interactive video formats—such as 360-degree videos or augmented reality (AR) experiences—that enable users to engage directly with the content. Such formats foster deeper connections and encourage sharing among peers.

3. Partner with Influencers and Creators

Brands should collaborate with influencers who align with their values to produce authentic campaign content. These influencers can create organic connections with their audience, acting as trusted voices rather than traditional advertisements. Campaigns built on the foundation of influencer relationships often convert better due to their authenticity.

4. Offer Educational Content

Producing value-driven video content that educates or informs consumers can enhance brand perception. Helpful tutorials or insightful discussions about your industry can be shared for knowledge and experiences that align with personal growth.

5. Focus on Authenticity

Highlighting real users, testimonials, and genuine experiences can resonate deeply with younger audiences. Remove the characteristics of traditional advertising and focus on relatable stories that humanize the brand. Authentic marketing campaigns build trust and foster loyalty.

6. Optimize for Mobile

With most video consumption happening on mobile devices, brands must prioritize mobile optimization. This means ensuring videos load quickly, are playable without buffering and are formatted correctly for mobile viewing. Keep user experience to maintain engagement.

As Gen Z and Millennials continue to redefine how video content is consumed, advertisers must remain responsive to these changing preferences. By focusing on brevity, authenticity, and value, brands can effectively capture the attention of younger audiences, creating meaningful connections that lead to lasting loyalty. The landscape is evolving, and those who adapt will thrive in the fierce competition for viewer engagement.

Achieving In-Stream Video Ad Income on Your Own Video Platform

Before we get into how you can use programmatic Instream video advertisements to boost your page revenue, let's take a moment to discuss why programmatic advertising is such a hot topic among brands and advertisers. The following are the main advantages of programmatic video advertising:

Data-Based Optimization

Programmatic video advertising gathers and evaluates real-time data to determine campaign performance and opportunities for improvement. By making real-time adjustments, the campaign is continuously optimized and improved.

Cost- Effective

The programmatic video approach is a good option if you're searching for low-cost marketing strategies.

Because automation frequently leads to decreased media costs, programmatic video advertising is an affordable choice for companies of all kinds. Concerning automation, this also leads us to the following justification: time savings.

Time Savings

The effectiveness of programmatic video advertising can be advantageous to both publishers and advertisers. Programmatic video advertising removes the need for manual negotiations and matchmaking by automating the advertising process. As a result, publishers and marketers can free up time to concentrate on other crucial duties that might need more attention.

Enhanced Engagement

Video is a captivating medium that can help viewers pay attention and stay focused, enhancing the overall effect of such advertising initiatives.

Enhanced Accuracy

By lowering the possibility of human error, automation guarantees that commercials are shown to the appropriate people, in the right context, and with the intended message. Programmatic advertising is a more practical and efficient choice for companies because of the better outcomes and increased engagement from this increased accuracy.

When creating your campaign strategy, it is wise to consider different types of programmatic video ads. There are four different classifications of video ads, which you can read about here.

One of their definition is Instream. Users are shown advertisements within the player when they watch instream video commercials. It is anticipated that these advertisements will appear either before to, during, or following the actual video content. These are linear video advertisements that pause the playing of video content at different moments. further divided into post-, mid-, and pre-roll categories.

White-Label Video Site: Instream Video Ad Inventory on Your Own Platform

Instream video advertising has become a cornerstone strategy for digital publishers seeking to maximize their content monetization potential. In our independent survey, 80% of our followers believe that Instream ad is the most potential ad format to drive engagement and conversion.

Ampliffy offers a powerful solution through our white-label video site, enabling publishers to seamlessly tap into the possibilities of instream video ad inventories.

We take instream advertising to the next level by providing publishers with a fully customizable white-label video website for desktop and mobile platforms. This solution boosts site revenue and grows your video streaming audience with a branded, user-friendly experience. Here's why you should trust Ampliffy as your white-label video site provider:

• Seamless Video Monetization: We integrate instream advertisements into your video content, allowing you to monetize effectively without sacrificing the user experience. Our ads are strategically placed based on user behavior, ensuring the highest possible viewability, video completion rate, click-through rate (CTR), and effective cost per thousand impressions (CPM).

• Customizable White Label Video Sites: Publishers can create a video site tailored to their brand's look and feel. From colors and fonts to overall site design, the customization options ensure that your video site reflects your brand’s character while providing a smooth, engaging user experience.

• Content Variety and Flexibility: We offer a vast video content library covering diverse topics—such as business, entertainment, sports, technology, cooking, and more—aligning with your brand’s niche. You can also request specific video topics, and our team will work to accommodate these needs, further personalizing your video site.

• User-Friendly Content Management System (CMS): Managing your content and ads has never been easier. Our CMS is intuitive and easy to use, allowing publishers to upload, organize, and manage video content as they see fit. This hassle-free approach allows you to focus on growth rather than dealing with complex content management.

• Enhanced User Experience with Infinite Scroll: Our white-label video site has infinite scroll feature, which is designed to keep users engaged by delivering a continuous stream of videos without interruptions. This reduces bounce rates by 20-25% and increases daily page views by up to 30%. Users no longer need to click through pages, enhancing their experience and encouraging them to stay on your site longer.

Why Choose Ampliffy for Instream Video Advertising?

• Grow Your Audience and Revenue: Seamless integration of instream ads within your video content enhances user engagement and increases your ad revenue potential. With higher viewability and CTRs, your ads reach the right audience at the right time.

• Hassle-Free Setup and Management: We provide a comprehensive solution that includes content and monetization strategies managed through our user-friendly CMS. You don’t have to worry about sourcing content or technical management, instead, you will have more time to focus on building your brand and audience.

• Optimized for Young, Content-Hungry Audiences: Today’s audiences, especially younger demographics, continuously seek fresh, engaging video content. As Ampliffy focuses on young audiences, you can cater to this demand effectively while monetizing your content in an appropriate manner that maximizes revenue without driving users away.