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YouTube Ads Integration

Run video ads across YouTube’s 2+ billion monthly users. Create campaigns that show on In-Feed, In-Stream, and Shorts placements — all managed through natural language.

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Prerequisites

  • Google Ads account with an active YouTube channel (create one here)
  • At least one YouTube video (public or unlisted) to use as ad creative
  • Admin or Standard access to the Google Ads account
  • Adspirer account connected via Claude Code, Cursor, or any supported AI client

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Connecting YouTube Ads

YouTube Ads runs through Google Ads — if you’ve already connected Google Ads, you’re ready. No separate connection needed.
  1. Open your AI assistant (ChatGPT, Claude, Claude Code, etc.)
  2. Say: “Connect my Google Ads account”
  3. Adspirer opens your browser for OAuth authorization
  4. Sign in to your Google account and select the ad account
  5. Approve permissions
Verify the connection: 
Check my connected ad platforms
You should see your Google Ads account listed. YouTube campaign tools are available through the same connection.

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What You Can Do

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Video Validation

  • validate_video — Verify your YouTube video meets campaign requirements (privacy, duration, embeddable status)

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Campaign Creation

  • create_youtube_campaign — Create YouTube video campaigns with In-Feed, In-Stream, and Shorts placements (created PAUSED)
  • select_google_campaign_type — Choose between Search, PMax, or YouTube when the campaign type isn’t specified

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Asset Management

  • discover_existing_assets — Find existing logos and images in your Google Ads account for reuse
  • validate_and_prepare_assets — Upload and validate new logo images for your campaign

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Performance & Optimization

  • get_campaign_performance — Pull metrics for YouTube campaigns (views, engagement, conversions, cost)
  • list_campaigns — View all campaigns including YouTube
  • add_sitelinks / add_callout_extensions / add_structured_snippets — Add extensions after campaign creation

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Campaign Placements

YouTube campaigns use Google Ads Demand Gen format with YouTube-only channel controls:
PlacementWhere It ShowsFormat
In-FeedYouTube search results and related videos sidebarThumbnail + text, plays on click
In-StreamBefore, during, or after YouTube videosSkippable after 5 seconds
ShortsYouTube Shorts feedFull-screen vertical video
Gmail, Discover, and Display placements are disabled for YouTube campaigns. Your ads only show on YouTube.

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Campaign Creation Workflow

YouTube campaigns follow a 6-step workflow: 
1. validate_video
   -> (verify YouTube video is public/unlisted and meets requirements)
2. discover_existing_assets
   -> (check for existing logos in your Google Ads account)
3. validate_and_prepare_assets (if no logo found)
   -> (upload a square logo image)
4. create_youtube_campaign
   -> (campaign created PAUSED — you review before launching)
5. add_sitelinks + add_callout_extensions + add_structured_snippets
   -> (extensions increase ad visibility by 15-25%)
6. list_campaign_extensions
   -> (verify all extensions are attached)

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Example Prompts

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Create a YouTube Campaign

YouTube video campaign with asset discovery and extensions.

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Brand Awareness Campaign

YouTube awareness campaign targeting broad audience with multiple videos.

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Check Performance

YouTube campaign performance with engagement metrics.

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Validate a Video

Validate a YouTube video before campaign creation.

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Video Requirements

YouTube campaigns require video creative hosted on YouTube.
Adspirer does NOT generate videos. You provide your own YouTube video (public or unlisted). The validate_video tool checks that your video meets all requirements before campaign creation.

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Video Specifications

The validate_video tool checks these automatically:
RequirementDetails
HostingMust be on YouTube (not Vimeo, Google Drive, etc.)
PrivacyPublic or Unlisted (NOT Private)
DurationMinimum 10 seconds (no maximum)
EmbeddableMust be enabled in YouTube video settings
MaximumUp to 5 videos per campaign (1 primary + 4 additional)

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Accepted URL Formats

  • https://youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ
  • https://youtu.be/dQw4w9WgXcQ
  • https://youtube.com/shorts/dQw4w9WgXcQ
  • Direct video ID: dQw4w9WgXcQ (11 characters)

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Ad Copy Requirements

YouTube campaigns require headlines, descriptions, and a logo.
ElementLimitRequired
Headlines40 characters max1-5 required
Descriptions90 characters max1-5 required
Long headlines90 characters maxOptional (1-5)
Business name25 characters maxRequired
LogoSquare (1:1) imageRequired
Call-to-actionPredefined optionsOptional (defaults to “Learn More”)

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Call-to-Action Options

LEARN_MORE (default), SHOP_NOW, SIGN_UP, SUBSCRIBE, DOWNLOAD, BOOK_NOW, CONTACT_US, GET_QUOTE, APPLY_NOW, WATCH_NOW, ORDER_NOW, BUY_NOW, SEE_MORE, START_NOW, VISIT_SITE, REGISTER

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Bidding Strategies

StrategyBest ForRequires Conversion Tracking
Maximize Clicks (default)Most campaigns, driving trafficNo
Maximize ConversionsOptimizing for signups/purchasesYes
Target CPAControlling cost per acquisitionYes

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Budget Guidelines

  • Minimum: $15/day (YouTube campaign requirement)
  • Recommended: $50+/day for meaningful data collection
  • Testing: Start with $50/day on a single video to gauge performance before scaling
  • CPV range: $0.01-0.30 per view (varies by targeting and competition)
  • CPM range: $4-10 per thousand impressions

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Best Use Cases for YouTube Ads

  • Product demos: Show your product in action with explainer or tutorial videos
  • Brand storytelling: Build brand awareness with longer-form video content
  • Retargeting: Re-engage website visitors with video ads on YouTube
  • App installs: Drive mobile app downloads with video creative
  • Course/SaaS promotion: Showcase features and benefits with walkthrough videos
  • E-commerce: Product showcases, unboxings, and customer testimonials
Not ideal for: High-intent search capture (use Google Search Ads), B2B lead generation with precise targeting (use LinkedIn Ads), short-form social engagement (use TikTok Ads).

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YouTube vs Other Platforms

FeatureYouTube AdsTikTok AdsMeta Video Ads
Audience size2B+ monthly users1B+ monthly users3B+ monthly users
Video formatAny length (10s+)5-60 secondsAny length
Best forDemos, tutorials, brandViral, native, impulseRetargeting, full-funnel
TargetingGoogle Ads targetingInterest-basedCustom audiences, lookalikes
PlacementsIn-Feed, In-Stream, ShortsIn-Feed onlyFeed, Stories, Reels
SkippableYes (after 5s for In-Stream)No (swipe to skip)No (scroll to skip)

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Troubleshooting

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”Video validation failed” error

Common causes:
  • Video is set to Private — change to Public or Unlisted in YouTube Studio
  • Video is shorter than 10 seconds — YouTube campaigns require minimum 10s duration
  • Embedding is disabled — enable embedding in YouTube video settings
  • Invalid URL format — use a standard YouTube URL or 11-character video ID
Run validation separately to diagnose: 
Validate this YouTube video for ads: [your YouTube URL]

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“Logo required” error

YouTube campaigns require a square logo image. Solutions:
  1. Run discover_existing_assets to check if your Google Ads account already has logos
  2. If no logos found, provide a square logo image URL and run validate_and_prepare_assets
  3. Logo must be 1:1 aspect ratio (square)

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“Campaign creation failed” error

Most common reasons:
  • Skipping video validation — always run validate_video before create_youtube_campaign
  • Headlines exceeding 40 characters — character limits are strictly enforced
  • Budget below $15/day minimum
  • Landing page domain not verified in Google Ads
If you’re using agent skills, the workflow handles validation automatically.

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Low view rates

Your video may not be engaging enough. Common fixes:
  • Stronger hook in the first 5 seconds (before users can skip)
  • Clear value proposition early in the video
  • Professional audio quality (viewers skip videos with poor sound)
  • Add captions — many viewers watch without sound
  • Test different video lengths (15s, 30s, 60s) to find what works

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FAQ

YouTube Ads show exclusively on YouTube (In-Feed, In-Stream, Shorts). You control the placements and the campaign focuses on video engagement.Performance Max runs across all Google channels including YouTube, Search, Display, Gmail, Maps, and Discover. Google’s AI decides where to show your ads. PMax is broader; YouTube Ads are more targeted.If you want maximum reach, use PMax. If you want YouTube-specific control, use YouTube Ads.
YouTube Ads require the video to be hosted on YouTube (public or unlisted). TikTok Ads require a separate video file hosted on Google Drive, Dropbox, or S3.You can use the same video content, but it needs to be uploaded to both platforms separately. Also note that TikTok prefers 9:16 vertical video (5-60 seconds), while YouTube supports any aspect ratio (minimum 10 seconds).
No. Adspirer manages campaigns, not video production. You create videos using your preferred tools (CapCut, Canva, Adobe Premiere, Descript, or your phone) and upload them to YouTube. Then provide the YouTube URL to Adspirer for campaign creation.
Yes. YouTube campaigns created through Adspirer automatically include Shorts placements alongside In-Feed and In-Stream. Vertical videos (9:16) perform best in the Shorts feed, but any video format will serve across all placements.
Adspirer pricing is based on tool calls, not ad spend. Free tier: 15 calls/month. Plus: 49/mofor150calls.Pro:49/mo for 150 calls. Pro: 99/mo for 600 calls. Max: $199/mo for 3,000 calls. A typical YouTube campaign creation uses 5-8 tool calls (validate video + discover assets + create campaign + add extensions). See full pricing.
Last modified on March 4, 2026