Pre-Roll Video Advertising

What is Pre-Roll Video Advertising?

Pre-roll advertising refers to a type of digital video advertising that plays before the main video content a viewer intends to watch. It’s commonly used on various online platforms, including streaming services, social media, and websites. When a user clicks to watch a video, a short advertisement, typically around 15 to 30 seconds long, is shown before the chosen video starts playing.

Since pre-roll ads are shown at the beginning of a viewer’s chosen video, they tend to have high visibility and engagement rates. A 2017 study found that pre-roll video advertising is the most memorable, engaging, and least disruptive form of video advertising. 

Types of Pre-Roll Video Advertising

Non-Skippable Ads

Pre-roll video ads, typically 15 to 30 seconds long that cannot be skipped.

Skippable Ads

Pre-roll video ads, typically 15 to 30 seconds long that can be skipped after the first few seconds, if a viewer chooses.

Bumper Ads

Pre-roll video ads that play before the main content, typically 6 seconds in length and cannot be skipped.

Mid- or Post-Roll Ads

Video ads that play during the middle or at the end of the content.

Interested in learning more about using pre-roll video advertising as part of your digital marketing strategy? Contact our experts today!

Effectiveness of Pre-Roll Advertising

Pre-roll ads bring benefits even if you skip them. A Nielsen study commissioned by Facebook found that short video ads, even if viewed for less than a second, still make a valuable impression. 

The results of this study demonstrated that lift in ad recall, brand awareness, and purchase consideration was observed from the moment a video ad was viewed, even if only for a second. This implies that individuals who caught a glimpse of the video’s initial impression still experienced the ad’s impact. Unsurprisingly, this lift increased with longer view durations.


Where Will My Ad Show?

Pre-roll video ads are one of the most popular and effective video ad formats, appearing across a wide array of video content platforms. You will likely encounter pre-roll ads on:

Various Websites: Instream ads, including pre-rolls, can appear on websites featuring video content. Whether you’re catching up on news, participating in online courses, or browsing other content, pre-roll ads may catch your attention.

Live Streams: Pre-roll video ads offer an effective way to monetize live streams. They provide streamers with a brief pause to prepare, offering a less intrusive alternative to mid-roll ads, for instance.

Video-Sharing Platforms: Platforms like YouTube and other video-sharing websites are prime spots for ad-driven monetization. These platforms are often the first that come to mind when discussing instream video advertising.

Video ads can also play during the middle or at the end of the content, called mid-, or post-roll video ads. 

Although mid-roll and post-roll video ads are not as effective as pre-roll ads, they still offer a great option for advertisers to deliver their message.

Curious about pre-roll advertising and how you can make an impact for your business? Click the button below to speak with our team and develop a strategic pre-roll video advertising plan for your business today!

FAQ’S

Pre-Roll Video
Advertising FAQs:

Pre-roll ads are short video advertisements that play before the main video content on platforms like YouTube or streaming services.

Pre-roll ads typically last between 15 to 30 seconds, but some platforms also offer shorter formats called bumper ads, which are around 6 seconds.

Pre-roll ads can be effective in capturing viewers’ attention and conveying your message in a short time. Studies have shown increased brand awareness and engagement from pre-roll ads.

Pre-Roll Video Advertising Case Study

Goal: Use Pre-roll Video for Awareness

The Law Brothers have been entering new markets so we supplemented traditonal campaigns by running programatic online video campaigns using only pre-roll video. Our goal was to get the most reach possible with our pre-rollvideo campaigns 

About The
Campaign:
Results: