How to Run Google Ads Video Campaigns Only on YouTube

google ads video Mar 20, 2025

By: Jyll Saskin Gales, Google Ads Coach

Want to make sure your video ads only appear on YouTube? While Google Ads video campaigns can run on various platforms, you can easily restrict them to YouTube. Let me guide you through the process step-by-step.

Why focus your Google Ads on YouTube?

YouTube is the world's second-largest search engine and a massive video-sharing platform with billions of users. By focusing your video ads exclusively on YouTube, you can:

Reach a highly engaged audience: YouTube users are actively seeking out video content, making them more receptive to your message.
Target specific interests: YouTube offers robust targeting options, allowing you to reach viewers based on their interests, demographics, and viewing habits.
Maximize your budget: By restricting your ads to YouTube, you can ensure your budget is spent on reaching the most relevant audience.

How to Create a YouTube-Only Campaign in Google Ads

Here's how to create a Google Ads video campaign that runs exclusively on YouTube:

Start a New Campaign: In your Google Ads account, click the "+" button to begin creating your video campaign.
Choose "Video" as Your Campaign Type: Select "Video" from the list of campaign types. This indicates that you want to create a campaign specifically for video ads.
Select Your Campaign Subtype: Choose the video campaign subtype that best aligns with your advertising goals. If you're unsure, start with the "Video views" subtype, or check out this article How to Choose the Right Google Ads Video Campaign Subtype
Uncheck "Video partners" in Campaign Settings: This is the crucial step! In your campaign settings, you'll find an option to include "Video partners." Uncheck this box to ensure your ads only run on YouTube.

That's it! By following these simple steps, you can guarantee that your video ads are only shown to your target audience on YouTube.

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Ready to master Google Ads once and for all?

I’m Jyll Saskin Gales, your Google Ads Coach. I worked at Google for 6 years, bringing the best of Google's insights and ad products to the world's largest and most sophisticated advertisers. Now, I’m a Google Ads coach, consultant and teacher, working with business owners, marketers, agencies and freelancers.

I founded Learn with Jyll to make Google Ads training accessible for aspiring and experienced practitioners. My signature Google Ads training program, Inside Google Ads, is the right fit for most business owners and marketers. If you have zero marketing experience and want to ensure you understand all the jargon and terminology first, Google Ads for Beginners will get you ready in just a few hours.

Feel free to contact me with questions.

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