YouTube offers channel owners Fan Finder ads – for free

If you want to attract new fans to your YouTube channel then now is the time to get onto it. YouTube has launched the new Fan Finder ad creation tool that allows trailers, or ads, to be created and distributed via pre-roll, free of charge.

YouTube will take your advertising trailer and turn it into a TrueView video ad – a format that allows viewers to skip the ad after 5 seconds. For this reason alone, channel owners will need to think carefully about their trailer’s content and engagement.

Of course, just using an existing video from your channel will not suffice and, to help produce quality and engaging trailers YouTube has provided some helpful advice.

The most important consideration is length – keep the channel ads short and sweet and ensure you get as much information about your channel across as possible – don’t assume they will already have heard of you. Ads must also entertain and provide a strong message with a clear call to action.

And finally – branding matters. Make sure viewers remember both your message and your branding by keeping it in-view as much as possible and reiterating the values and message behind it.

Need inspiration? YouTube has provided a short video containing some of the best channel ads.