YouTube Expands Shorts Ad Options

12/10/25
Source: Social Media Today – Latest News by Andrew Hutchinson. Read the original article

TL;DR Summary of YouTube Expands Shorts Ad Features for Holiday Campaigns

YouTube has introduced new Shorts ad options including comments on ads and creator links to brand websites, enhancing engagement and direct shopping. Shorts ads are now available on mobile web and TV, broadening ad placement opportunities. Brands are encouraged to use vertical, short, and natural-looking videos with audio to maximize impact. These updates aim to boost consumer intent and offer creators better performance tracking.

Optimixed’s Overview: How YouTube’s Enhanced Shorts Ads Can Boost Your Brand Engagement and Sales

Expanded Interaction and Link Integration

YouTube now allows comments on Shorts ads for channels linked to Google Ads or 360 accounts, providing brands with new ways to engage audiences similarly to organic Shorts content. Additionally, creators can embed direct links to brand websites within their Shorts, facilitating seamless shopping experiences and better conversion tracking beyond traditional metrics like views and likes.

Broader Ad Placement Across Devices

The rollout of Shorts ads to mobile web and TV screens significantly expands potential ad impressions. This multi-platform availability ensures brands reach viewers wherever they consume Shorts content, increasing visibility during critical campaign periods such as the holidays.

Best Practices to Maximize Shorts Ad Performance

  • Set clear marketing goals: Tailor campaigns to objectives such as app installs, brand awareness, or driving sales.
  • Use vertical videos (9:16 ratio): These perform best and are prioritized in Shorts ads.
  • Keep videos under 60 seconds: Align with user behavior as only the first 60 seconds play in the Shorts feed.
  • Create natural, social-friendly ads: Blend ads with organic content, use audio and text overlays to increase engagement and conversions.
  • Leverage creator content: Collaborate with creators for authentic promotion and drive traffic using free Shorts content links.

By adopting these new features and guidelines, brands can enhance their holiday campaigns, increase purchase intent, and better measure the impact of their Shorts advertising efforts.