In today's episode of "Behind the Numbers," we're talking about out-stream video ads that might not get viewed. How concerned should advertisers be?

The most significant differentiator between video ad formats on YouTube is whether ads are skippable (can be skipped after 5 seconds) or nonskippable (must be watched in their entirety). This has the greatest impact on the user experience on the platform. Skippable or nonskippable, advertisers need their video ad creative to be compelling.

Ads are more likely to be 15 seconds long and skippable. Over 90% of video ads served by Smaato—a mobile ad server and exchange with a wide range of clients—have a skip button, according to chief product officer Freddy Friedman. This includes native formats, such as rewarded video. Longer ads lose viewers if they pass a certain length.

With viewers, content and ad dollars continuing to flow to digital platforms, it is more important than ever to adopt best practices in video and TV advertising, and to coordinate them across the entire device spectrum.

Lastly, OTT video services are exploding. We expect that the average US adult will watch 42.6 minutes of subscription-based OTT video per day in 2020 across all devices. Many of these services, such as Hulu and Vudu, have shoppable ads. Although CTV is the prime location for viewing OTT videos, the interactivity of these ads works best in mobile environments.

CTV’s premium and non-skippable ad environment result in high completion rates, and viewers find these ads more relevant and informative, which in turn drives action. Magnite’s research found that 70% of survey respondents took an average of two actions after seeing a digital video political ad. These actions include visiting a candidate’s website and watching more videos on a candidate.

YouTube has been the OG for video creators for years, but now the social properties are making bigger inroads into this popular content format. That’s bringing new ways for marketers to work with creators on Facebook, Snapchat, TikTok and more.