We talked about the ongoing importance of YouTube for dealerships and why video is still a major driver of engagement and sales here: Why YouTube Is Still a Dealer’s Secret Weapon. Now, let’s dig into one of YouTube’s most valuable tools that many dealers overlook: non-skippable ads.
Why Non-Skippable Ads Work So Well
Unlike skippable ads, which risk losing your audience after five seconds, non-skippable ads hold a viewer’s full attention for 15–30 seconds. That’s just enough time to:
- Showcase your latest incentives or promotions
- Highlight a specific model with a unique selling point
- Reinforce your brand’s personality and trustworthiness
Where do I get Content?
The most challenging part of doing video ads is maintaining fresh video content without breaking the bank. Some large dealership groups have a video/social team that is churning out content weekly. That’s not in everyone’s budget, and sometimes those resources are limited to what can be done on a smartphone.
This is where AI Video can be your solution to keeping content fresh and affordable. sMedia’s AI Dealership Video, for instance, offers the ability to have 6 videos created every month for only $299. We build it for you using our AI-powered tool. Options include Model Branding Videos, Dealership Branding Videos, Testimonial Videos, and B-Roll Model Videos.
In addition to YouTube, this content could be used wherever you need it:
- On Your Website
- On Meta
- On TikTok
- On Google
Magic happens when you combine video’s engagement power with smart distribution across multiple platforms.
The Bottom Line
Non-skippable YouTube ads are a rare opportunity: you get guaranteed attention in a space where most ads are ignored. When you combine them with high-intent creative and a multi-channel ad strategy, you’re not just keeping up—you’re owning the conversation in your market.
Non-skippable ads can come with a higher bidding cost and are best suited to medium content length, 15 to 30 seconds or slightly longer. If going the skippable route to reduce bidding costs, pair it with high-intent, AI-powered inventory videos. These videos are an additional solution available to our dealers and are only 6 seconds in length, meaning the viewer would have watched 80% of the content before they can skip.
If you’re not running campaigns on YouTube yet, it’s time to look at options. Dealers are underutilizing YouTube today, but that won’t last. You can be sure your competitors are more than happy to take that screen time for themselves if you don’t get there first.Reach out to sales@smedia.io to learn more about AI Video solutions. From branding and model-focused videos to dynamic inventory videos for every unit you have in stock, we have you covered.
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