Video Advertising: How to Maximize ROI on Campaigns

You’ve been throwing cash at video advertising, expecting magic to happen. The views are there, but sales? Meh. The engagement? A couple of sad comments and a handful of likes from bots.

Sounds familiar? Why your video ads are bleeding money?

Here’s the truth: video ads don’t automatically mean sales. Running an advertising video without a solid strategy is like filming a blockbuster movie but forgetting to promote it.

No one’s watching. No one’s buying.

But don’t worry—you’re about to learn how to turn those views into dollars and finally make digital video advertising work for you.

Best Practices for Video Advertising

The internet is drowning in bad ads. Don’t contribute to the chaos.

Follow these best practices to ensure your video ads don’t just get views but actually drive results:

1. Keep it short and punchy – Attention spans are shrinking. If your advertising video is longer than 15-30 seconds, it better be damn engaging.
2. Front-load the value – Hit the audience with something exciting in the first 3 seconds. No slow intros, no fluff.
3. Make it look native – Your ad should blend seamlessly into the platform. A TikTok ad should feel like a TikTok post, not a forced commercial.
4. Storytelling over selling – People hate being sold to, but they love stories. Make them feel something, and they’ll stick around.
5. Clear call to action (CTA) – What do you want viewers to do? Click? Buy? Subscribe? Spell it out loud and clear.

Let’s discuss which videos will fit you the most.

Choosing the Right Video Format

Different types of video advertising work for different goals. It doesn’t matter if you’re trying to promote how to turn VHS to digital or a new fashion line, there’s a video format for each purpose. Here’s a cheat sheet 🤩:

• Explainer Videos – Great for educating and building trust. Best for B2B, SaaS, and new product launches.
• Short Video Ads (5-15 sec) – Perfect for TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts. Quick, engaging, and great for brand awareness.
• Testimonial Videos – Nothing sells better than real customers vouching for your brand.
• Behind-the-Scenes – People love authenticity. Show how your product is made, your team in action, or your brand story.
• Live Video Ads – Advertising on Facebook Live, Twitch, and YouTube Live can drive serious engagement when done right.

Pro Tip: Mix and match formats. A fun short ad for social media marketing purposes + a longer YouTube video = full-funnel domination.

How to Do Video Advertising in a Better Way?

Now to the most important part. Here are some natural steps you need to take to see any kind of result.

Step 1: Know Your Audience (Or Keep Wasting Money)

The biggest mistake? Trying to sell to everyone. Spoiler alert: Everyone is not your customer.

Before launching a single advert, ask yourself:

• Who is actually buying your product?
• What’s their biggest problem?
• Where do they hang out online?

In other words, create a buying persona.

If you’re selling luxury watches, running video ads on TikTok for teenagers is a spectacular waste of money. But a slick short video on Instagram Reels? Now we’re talking.

Pro Tip: Stalk your competitors. See where their best commercials are running and who’s engaging with them. Then, do it better.

Step 2: Pick the Right Type of Video Advertising

Not all types of video advertising are created equal. Choosing the wrong one is like bringing a spoon to a sword fight—totally useless.

Here’s the breakdown:

• In-Feed Video Ads (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn) → Great for awareness and engagement.
• YouTube Ads (Skippable & Non-Skippable) → Best for branding and in-depth storytelling.
• Ecommerce Product Videos → Show off your product in action. People need to see it before they buy it.
• Social Media Stories → Fast, casual, and works well for impulse buys.
• Connected TV Ads → Expensive, but if you’re selling high-ticket items, worth every penny.

Pro Tip: Combine different ad types. Run a short video on Instagram, retarget with a longer YouTube ad, and finish with an exclusive offer in an email. Boom—full funnel marketing.

Step 3: Hook Viewers (Or Lose Them Forever)

Your audience is scrolling faster than a caffeine-fueled raccoon. If your advertising video doesn’t slap them in the face (figuratively) within three seconds, they’re gone. You need to find your USP.

• Start with something unexpected. A bold statement, a weird visual, or even a joke. Just don’t be boring.
• Make it visually striking. Think bold colors, fast cuts, and movement.
• Forget slow intros. No one cares about your logo animation.

Example: Remember that Old Spice commercial where the guy is on a horse? Instant attention-grabber. That’s what you need.

Step 4: Optimize for Silent Watchers (Because Sound Is Overrated)

There is statistics that about 85% of videos on social media are watched on mute. If your digital video advertising only relies on people listening—you’re already losing.

• Use captions. Most people won’t turn on sound, so spell it out for them.
• Tell the story visually. The best video ads work even if they’re completely silent.
• Use on-screen text for key points. Bold, fast, and punchy.

Pro Tip: Watch some TikTok vids 😀. Even the biggest creators put text on their videos because they know no one’s listening (and plenty of times it looks cool as heck).

Step 5: Call to Action (Tell People What to Do Next, Duh)

You can make the best video ads in the world, but if you don’t tell people what to do next, they’ll just watch and do nothing after.

• Want them to buy? Say “Click the link and grab yours now.”
• Want them to sign up? Say “Hit the button below and get started today.”
• Want them to follow? Say “Follow for more game-changing tips.”

Example: Look at Dollar Shave Club’s first YouTube ad. The whole thing builds up to a simple, clear CTA: ‘Join now.’ That’s why it worked.

Step 6: Test, Track, and Tweak (Or Keep Guessing Forever)

If you’re not analyzing your ads, you’re just setting money on fire.

• Look at engagement rates. Are people watching past the first 3 seconds?
• Track conversions. Are views turning into sales?
• A/B Test everything. Different hooks, different CTAs, different platforms.

Key metrics to watch:

• View-Through Rate (VTR) – How many people actually watched your video?
• Click-Through Rate (CTR) – Did people click your ad?
• Conversion Rate – The ultimate test—did they buy, sign up, or take the desired action?
• Engagement (Likes, Comments, Shares) – If people aren’t interacting, your ad might be boring.
• Cost Per Click (CPC) & Cost Per Acquisition (CPA) – Are you spending more than you’re making?

Pro Tip: “Ugly” ads. Sometimes, less polished, more authentic works better than the fancy one. Test it.

Takeaways

So, keep spending on ads and wasting money on crap that doesn’t work. Jokesss.

Now you have the know-how to rock your video advertising game. Here’s what you need to remember:

Be bold, fast, and don’t bore people. Be where your audience is.

Remember, you’re not just selling a product, you’re telling a story and creating an experience for your audience.

Now go fix your ads and make that money.