How to add your products to a YouTube campaign

By: Jyll Saskin Gales, Google Ads Coach

If you run an ecommerce store, adding a product catalog to your video ad campaigns is a no-brainer. By showcasing your products directly within your video ads, you can create a more engaging and interactive experience for viewers. Let me walk you through the process of adding your product catalog to a Google Ads video campaign. We'll cover:

• Why use product catalogs in video ads?
• 3 steps you need to get started
• How to Product Catalog to a Google Ads Video Campaign
• Tips for Success with Products in YouTube Ads

Why Use Product Catalogs in Video Ads?

Integrating your product catalog from Google Merchant Center with your video ads on YouTube offers several benefits:

• Increased Visibility: Showcase your products directly within your video ads, capturing viewers' attention and driving product discovery.
• Enhanced Engagement: Make your ads more interactive by allowing viewers to explore your products without leaving the video.
• Improved Conversion Rates: Drive traffic to your product pages and increase sales by providing a seamless path to purchase.

3 steps you need to get started

Before you can add your product catalog to a video campaign, you'll need to have a few things in place:

• Google Merchant Center: A Google Merchant Center account is essential for managing your product feed. You can set this up for free, and then you'll need to connect it to your online story.
• Product Feed: Your product feed contains all the relevant information about your products, such as titles, descriptions, images, and prices. This feed must be uploaded and approved in Google Merchant Center. Many online store platforms, like Shopify, do this automatically for you.
• Linked Accounts: Ensure your Google Merchant Center account is linked to your Google Ads account. This connection allows your product data to flow seamlessly into your video campaigns.

How to add your Product Catalog to a Google Ads Video Campaign

Follow these steps to add your product catalog to your video campaign:

1. Create a New Video Campaign: In your Google Ads account, click the "+ " button, select "Start a campaign without a goal's guidance" and select "Video" as your campaign type.

2. Choose a Compatible Campaign Subtype: Select a video campaign subtype that supports product catalogs. These subtypes include:

   • Video Views: Maximize views and engagement with your video ads.
   • Efficient Reach: Reach a large audience cost-effectively.
   • Target Frequency: Control how often your target audience sees your ads.
   • Ad Sequence: Show a series of videos in a specific order.

3. Configure Campaign Settings: Set your budget, target locations, languages, and other campaign parameters according to your needs.

4. Select "Product Feed": In the campaign settings, locate the "Product Feed" option and expand it.

5. Choose Your Product Feed: Select the relevant product feed from your linked Google Merchant Center account.

That's it! Once you've completed these steps, your product catalog will be integrated with your video campaign, and your products will start appearing in your video ads.

Tips for Success with Products in YouTube Ads

• Optimize Your Product Feed: Ensure your product feed is accurate, complete, and up-to-date. High-quality product data will improve the performance of your video ads.
• Use Relevant Targeting: Target your video ads to audiences who are most likely to be interested in your products, using audience targeting and/or content targeting.
• Create Engaging Video Content: Develop video ads that showcase your products in an appealing and informative way.
• Monitor and Optimize: Track your campaign performance and make adjustments as needed to improve your results.

Adding your product catalog to your video campaigns can significantly enhance your advertising efforts. By following the steps outlined here, you can create more engaging and effective video ads that drive product discovery, increase conversions, and boost your overall ROI.