How to Create Google Ads Video Campaigns on YouTube

YouTube isn’t just for cat videos or watching highlights of the Brisbane Lions; it’s the second-largest search engine in the world. For Australian small business owners, YouTube Ads (run through Google Ads) offer a powerful way to get your brand in front of local customers for a fraction of the cost of traditional TV or radio.

Whether you want to drive traffic to your website, increase brand awareness in your local suburb, or get more leads, video ads allow you to tell your story in a way that static images simply can’t. This guide will walk you through the entire process of setting up your first campaign, from picking your video to hitting 'publish'.

Before You Start: The Essentials

Don’t jump into the Google Ads dashboard just yet. To make this process smooth, you’ll need a few things ready to go:

• A YouTube Channel: Your ad video must be uploaded to a YouTube channel (it can be 'Unlisted' if you don't want it on your public feed).
• A Google Ads Account: Linked to your business email or Gmail.
• Your Video Asset: Ideally 15–60 seconds. Make sure it has a clear call to action (CTA).
• Conversion Tracking: Ideally, you’ve already set up your 'Thank You' page tracking so you know if the ads are actually making you money.
• Your ABN & Billing Details: Google will require your Australian Business Number for tax purposes and a valid credit card.

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Step 1: Link Your YouTube Channel to Google Ads

This is a step many people skip, but it’s vital for seeing detailed stats like how many people watched 50% of your video versus 100%.

• Log into your Google Ads account.
• Click on Tools and Settings (the wrench icon in the top menu).
• Under the 'Setup' column, select Linked accounts.
• Find 'YouTube' and click Details, then click the plus (+) button to add your channel.
• Follow the prompts to search for your channel and confirm the link.

Step 2: Create a New Campaign

Now for the fun part. Head back to the main dashboard.

• Click the blue plus (+) button or Create and select Campaign.
• Choose your objective: Google will ask what you want to achieve. For most local businesses, I recommend 'Sales' or 'Leads'. If you just want to get your name out there in a specific Brisbane postcode, choose 'Brand awareness and reach'.
• Select a campaign type: Choose Video.
• Select a campaign subtype: Usually, 'Efficient Reach' or 'Drive Conversions' is the way to go. If you're new to this, stick with the 'Drive Conversions' option—it lets Google's AI do the heavy lifting of finding people likely to click.

Step 3: Set Your Budget and Dates

This is where the interface gets a bit 'busy'. Take a breath; we’ll get through it.

• Campaign Name: Give it a clear name like "Summer Sale - Brisbane North - Jan 2024". Trust me, you’ll thank yourself later when you have ten campaigns running.
• Bid Strategy: If you chose 'Conversions', this will likely be set to Maximize Conversions. Leave it there for now.
• Budget Type: You can choose 'Daily' or 'Campaign Total'. I personally prefer Daily. Start small—maybe $10 or $20 a day while you test the waters.
• Dates: Set a start date and, if you're worried about forgetting to turn it off, set an end date.

Step 4: Locations, Languages, and Content Settings

This is the most important step for Australian local businesses. You don't want to pay for views in Sydney if you only service the Gold Coast!

• Locations: Select 'Enter another location'. Type in your target city (e.g., 'Brisbane') or specific postcodes. You can even use 'Radius targeting' to target 20km around your shopfront.
• Languages: Set this to English.
• Inventory type: Leave this on Standard inventory. This ensures your ads don't show up next to 'sensitive' or weird content.
• Excluded types: I usually check the box for 'Embedded YouTube videos' and 'Live streaming videos'. People watching a live stream are often too distracted to click an ad.

Step 5: Define Your Audience (Who sees the ad?)

This is where most people get stuck, and honestly, the interface doesn't help because there are so many options.

• Demographics: You can filter by Age, Gender, and Parental Status. If you sell baby clothes, uncheck 'Not a parent'.
• Audience Segments: This is the 'secret sauce'. You can target:

Step 6: Create Your Ad (The Creative)

Now we pull in your video.

• Search for your video: Paste the URL of your YouTube video into the search box.
• Ad Format: Usually, this will be an 'In-stream ad' (the ones people can skip after 5 seconds).
• Final URL: This is where people go when they click. Make sure it's a mobile-friendly page! (Skip the homepage; send them to a specific service or landing page).
• Call to Action (CTA): Choose something punchy like 'Book Now', 'Learn More', or 'Get Quote'.
• Headline: You only get 15 characters here. It’s annoyingly short. Be direct: "Best CBD Plumber" or "Free Yoga Class".
• Companion Banner: Select 'Autogenerate using your channel banner'. It’s the easiest way to make the ad look professional on desktop.

Step 7: Review and Launch

Google will show you a summary. Check your location settings one last time—it’s the most common mistake! If everything looks good, hit Create Campaign.

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Common Mistakes to Avoid

• The 'Australia-wide' Trap: Forgetting to change the location from 'All countries' or 'Australia' to your specific local area. You’ll burn through your budget in minutes.
• No Call to Action: Expecting people to just 'know' what to do. Tell them exactly what the next step is.
• Ignoring Mobile: 70% of YouTube views are on mobile. If your website looks terrible on a phone, your ads will fail regardless of how good the video is.
• Vertical vs. Horizontal: While horizontal (16:9) is traditional, YouTube 'Shorts' ads are vertical (9:16). Make sure your video fits the format you've chosen.

Troubleshooting

• "My ad says 'Approved' but I have 0 views": Check your bid. If your 'Target CPA' or 'Max Bid' is too low, Google won't show your ad because it can't compete with other advertisers. Try raising your bid by 20%.
• "I'm getting views but no clicks": Your 'Hook' (the first 5 seconds) might be weak, or your offer isn't clear enough. Review the video—does it solve a problem immediately?
• "The video quality looks blurry": YouTube takes time to process HD versions of videos. If you just uploaded it, wait an hour before linking it to your ad.

Next Steps

Once your campaign has been running for at least 7 days, it's time to look at the data. Check which age groups are clicking most and which locations are performing best. You can then 'trim the fat' by turning off the underperforming segments.

Setting up YouTube ads can feel like learning a new language, but once you've done it twice, it becomes second nature. If you find yourself staring at the screen wondering why your ABN isn't validating or why your 'Custom Segment' isn't saving, we're here to help.

Ready to scale your Brisbane business with professional video management? Contact the team at Local Marketing Group and let’s get your brand on the big screen (or the small phone screen).