This article is specific to Display & Video 360 YouTube reservation line items (YouTube Programmatic Guaranteed and Non-Guaranteed via instant deals) that utilize in-stream video ads where the ad source is “Display & Video 360 creatives”.
These campaigns use VAST tags, and creating these tags correctly is important to ensure there are no serving issues or delays in campaign launches.
Refer to the following guidelines to make sure your VAST tags are properly set up for trafficking.
- Innovid tag compliance: Make sure Innovid tags have a Universal Ad ID and are YouTube compliant. YouTube requires Universal Ad ID for Innovid tags. Standard Display & Video 360 VAST tags don't include the Universal Ad ID object within the XML.
- Click tracker placement: The click tracker must be added on a separate click tracking node. Click tags for Innovid and Campaign Manager 360 must be separated, as Innovid tags are set to "click tracking" and Campaign Manager 360 tags are set to "click through".
- Asset limitations: Confirm the VAST tag uses an MP4 or WebM asset and doesn’t contain geo blockers. VAST tags can't use YouTube video links as a creative and can't contain geo blockers. This can cause an "Unacceptable video" error.
- Media file size: Confirm the media file size doesn’t exceed 1 GB.
- Partner pixel compatibility: Remove all non-approved partner pixels from the VAST tag. Only Display & Video 360 or Campaign Manager 360 tracking pixels are allowed within the VAST tag. If you’re tracking impressions or clicks with third-party providers, you must activate the Ads Data Hub integration with the respective vendor to receive reporting. Learn how to Link accounts to Ads Data Hub.
- Creative updates: Alert the client when a creative refresh occurs. If the creative is updated in the VAST tag, it can take 24 hours for the ad to be reviewed and to start serving. As such, a drop in spend may result.
- VAST tag validity: Re-traffic the creative if a VAST tag is detected as "Invalid".
- VAST tag status: Use the YouTube VAST Validator Tool to check your tag's status before trafficking.
- VPAID compatibility: Remove VPAID creatives. VPAID isn’t supported on YouTube.
If your YouTube ad sourced from a Display & Video 360 creative remains in pending state 24 hours after creation, contact us.