Subscribe now to our weekly marketing newsletter, where top experts share their top-notch strategies.
Subscribe to our weekly newsletter
You can unsubscribe at any time!
We've sent you a confirmation email. Don't forget to check your inbox to complete your subscription!
There’s a growing shift towards more seamless and engaging advertising experiences.
In fact, 85% of users find native ads more trustworthy than traditional ones.
There’s a problem: many brands struggle to leverage native video advertising effectively.
Without the right strategy, your efforts can fall flat, and you might not see the results you're hoping for.
We have the solution: our guide will walk you through the complete process.
This includes:
P.S.: Want consistent expert advice to guide your native ad strategies? Growthnotes Newsletter can help. We deliver monthly insights tailored for the modern marketer, with each issue providing data-driven analysis and tips to help you boost engagement. Use it to stay ahead in native advertising.
Sounds interesting? Join us now!
Native video ads are a type of advertising format that integrates video content within a platform’s feed by matching the style and format of surrounding content.
These ads are designed to appear as a natural part of the user’s experience.
Basically, they’re a non-intrusive way to deliver relevant messages.
The following figures showcase the rising effectiveness of native video ads:
There are different types of native ads.
Each one offers unique opportunities to engage your audience:
Pre-roll video ads are short clips that play before users watch their chosen content.
They blend seamlessly into the video experience and don’t disrupt the flow, so people can watch content without feeling overwhelmed.
As a result, they get you high CTR and conversion rates if, of course, your content is compelling and relevant.
In-feed video ads appear directly in a user’s social media or news feed.
These ads also mimic the appearance of regular posts and blend well with organic content.
The fact that they feel more natural to the user is what leads to a higher chance of engagement and completion rate.
Facebook’s native video ads take full advantage of the platform’s social media feed.
These videos automatically start playing as users scroll to create an immersive experience.
They are tailored to fit the interests and browsing habits of potential audiences and have a massive CTR of 8%.
Integrated directly within articles on news websites or blog posts, in-article ads are designed to appear as part of the editorial content.
These ads also tend to have high CTR, especially when placed within content that is already highly engaging and relevant.
In-game ads appear during the course of gameplay, usually in mobile or computer games.
They can take various forms, such as:
They are particularly effective for targeting younger audiences.
Insider Tip: inBeat experts recommend incorporating rewarded in-game ads to boost engagement and enhance user satisfaction. A study by TapJoy found that 72% of mobile gamers actively engage with rewarded in-app ads, and 64% of players prefer them over sponsored social media posts.
Outstream ads are video ads that automatically play as people scroll through content on websites.
However, they’re usually outside the typical video player.
This way, the viewer remains engaged with the content while being subtly exposed to the brand.
They might appear within text, images, or other content.
This tactic is also great for Gen Z’s fragmented attention span.
Slider ads, also referred to as floating ads or catfish ads, are a type of banner ad that uses a sliding animation to display multiple images or messages within a single ad unit.
These ads typically appear on the edges of a web page or app and slide in from the side to capture the user’s attention.
While both Native Video Ads and Pre-Roll Ads have their unique advantages, choosing the right ad format depends on your goals, target audience, and desired user experience.
That’s why we made the table below to explore the key differences that set native video ads apart from pre-roll ads.
Now, let’s have a look at some major advantages of native video ads:
Native advertising campaigns require a comprehensive strategy to drive desired results.
inBeat experts have shared some major tips to help you create winning native video ads:
To create effective native ads, understanding your audience’s behavior is crucial. For this, focus on their:
For example, knowing that your audience is between the ages of 25 and 34 is helpful, but deeper insights will provide better direction.
Consider whether they prefer short clips during work breaks or longer, more detailed videos in the evening when they have more free time.
It's also essential to segment your audience into smaller, more specific groups or micro-niches.
For instance, in a fitness campaign, separate "casual gym-goers" from "competitive athletes." This allows you to tailor your video content to each group’s specific needs, motivations, and goals
Insider tip: Leverage contextual targeting, one of the most powerful tools in native advertising. Instead of focusing on user demographics, it places your video ads within relevant content that aligns with the viewer’s current interests or activity. You can master it by thoroughly analyzing data from different keywords, topics, and themes.
When creating native video ads, defining a clear goal is essential to guiding your strategy.
However, a broad goal like "increase sales" isn’t enough.
Instead, break it down into specific objectives that align with different stages of the customer journey.
Let’s see how:
Effective native video ads captivate audiences by combining creativity with strategic execution.
The following proven techniques can make your ads more engaging and impactful:
I do think that a significant portion of the population of developed countries, and eventually all countries, will have AR experiences every day, almost like eating three meals a day. It will become that much a part of you.” — Tim Cook (CEO of Apple)
Insider’s tip: To fully leverage UGC, consider partnering with agencies that specialize in UGC marketing. For example, inBeat.co’s sister platform, inBeat Agency, has extensive expertise in UGC marketing and can help you maximize its potential for your brand.
Each platform has specific guidelines that affect how native video ads perform.
inBeat experts have shared some of the best practices to ensure your content is optimized for maximum engagement.
Let’s explore them:
Both platforms favor vertical (9:16) video formats for mobile users.
This takes up more screen space, which helps capture attention effectively.
In addition, autoplay is essential here.
Since users scroll quickly, the video should start playing automatically (without sound initially) to grab attention.
Also, keep them short and snappy, about 15 seconds, to maintain viewer interest in the fast-paced social feeds.
For pre-roll ads, aim for content that gets straight to the point within the first few seconds.
People get the option to skip in-stream ads after 5 seconds, so it’s important to grab attention quickly with a compelling hook.
Moreover, keep it relevant to the content that the viewer is already watching, and include a clear CTA at the end to drive high engagement rates and conversions.
This platform caters to a more professional audience, which makes it ideal for B2B marketing.
Therefore, your content should focus on educational and informative video material that speaks directly to industry challenges.
For instance, showcasing case studies or sharing industry insights adds value and builds trust.
We advise you to keep the tone professional as well as entertaining.
People watching these videos are interested in career growth and business development, but they also want to be entertained.
Here’s a good example of leveraging humor and pets:
To ensure your native video ads are performing optimally, it’s essential to analyze the right metrics.
Some important key performance indicators (KPIs) to track are:
Insider tip: Leverage tools that help you easily measure key metrics and optimize your campaigns. For example, inBeat.co offers free marketing calculators to track crucial KPIs such as bounce rates, CTR, return on ad spend, etc.
Native video advertising continues to evolve, driven by new technologies and shifting consumer behaviors.
Some key trends that will drive its future include:
As native video ads become more integrated into content feeds, ethical concerns regarding transparency and deceptive advertising have surfaced.
To maintain consumer trust and avoid misleading users, you must prioritize clarity and honesty in your advertising practices.
Key points to consider are:
“Good products can be sold by honest advertising. If you don't think the product is good, you have no business to be advertising it.” — David Ogilvy
Big names like Taco Bell, Shopify, and Oreo have successfully used native ads by maintaining top-notch transparency in their campaigns.
The below-mentioned case studies highlight how different platforms can be leveraged to create effective native video ads:
Soylent, one of the clients of inBeat Agency, effectively engaged its audience using TikTok's in-feed placement.
They shared a fun and easy pancake recipe using their original powder products.
The UGC style of the video made it feel native to the platform, which helped the brand connect with its audience in a natural and engaging way.
Square, a leading payment solutions provider, used a 30-second native video ad on LinkedIn to introduce its brand and products.
The ad didn’t use audio but relied on strong design and editing that fit perfectly within the platform’s format.
This native video ad resonated with busy entrepreneurs and promoted Square as the ultimate all-in-one banking solution for small businesses.
Coca-Cola used a clever native video ad on Facebook and Instagram to reach eco-conscious consumers.
It featured an animated sequence that begins with leaves blowing in the wind, eventually revealing a message about the brand’s plans to produce plant-based bottles.
This progressive animation grabbed attention and served as a hook to draw users in.
Native video advertising is transforming how brands engage with their audience.
These ads blend seamlessly with content to boost engagement and trust.
The above-mentioned strategies can effectively drive visibility and increase conversions through this powerful advertising approach.
Key takeaways:
Tracking the KPIs of your campaigns is one of the most crucial steps in optimizing your strategy and achieving the desired results.
To simplify this process, you can use inBeat.co's free marketing calculators.
These tools help you calculate important metrics like cost-per-action, cost-per-mile, CTR, ROAS, and bounce rates, through which you make data-driven decisions.
Native video ads stand out because they use dynamic video content to seamlessly blend into the user’s feed. Unlike static image ads, native video ads capture attention through movement and storytelling. This makes them more likely to drive higher engagement and conversions.
Native video ads generally see much higher engagement compared to traditional display ads. This is because they appear as a natural part of the content the user is already consuming, making them feel less intrusive.
The visual and emotional appeal of video increases the chances that users will watch the ad and interact with it, which in turn results in higher click-through rates (CTR) and better conversion outcomes.
Personalizing native video ads improves relevance, which makes them more likely to resonate with viewers. Leveraging data such as user behavior, preferences, and browsing habits, you can tailor your messaging and offer to meet the specific needs of each audience segment. This increased relevance boosts engagement, trust, and, ultimately conversion rates, as users feel the content speaks directly to them.
Common mistakes with native video ads include ignoring platform specs, unclear messaging, lack of a strong CTA, making the content feel too promotional, using poor targeting, and not optimizing for mobile devices. To avoid these, ensure the video meets platform specifications, delivers a clear and compelling message, includes a strong call to action, targets the right audience, and is optimized for mobile viewing.
