YouTube lately has been using non-skippable ads to advertise to its viewers online.
This is a big way that most advertising companies can perform to customers who very rarely have basic cable anymore.
With hosting sites like Netflix and Hulu, it is harder and harder to get ads in front of younger generations.
Why is YouTube not letting me skip ads?
This is YouTube’s way of encouraging content creators to choose non-skippable ads into their content. YouTube wants content creators and advertisers to use non-skippable ads that allow content creators to increase revenue, as advertisers reach their target audience.
Add to the fact that Google owns the video platform and enjoys integrating user searches into its ad-targeting algorithms.
When Did YouTube Start Showing Non-Skippable Ads?
Before, YouTube only allowed select partners to have non-skippable ads.
Later, it announced the availability of non-skippable ads for all content creators and advertisers towards the end of August 2018. This announcement changed the game in advertising for all content producers and advertisers.
This advertising plan looks like another revenue-generating machine for YouTube and Google, but non-skippable ads motivate advertisers to publish more engaging commercials.
The more interesting the ad is the better chances for a viewer to finish an ad. This results in higher revenue for the content creators and higher brand awareness for the advertiser.
To be clear, advertisers and content creators can still choose skippable ads, but granting options on whether an ad is skippable or not gives them flexibility on how to push commercials to YouTube viewers.
Why Can I Not Skip Ads that Should be Skippable?
If you are not able to click the “skip ad” button on your YouTube video, it could be a problem with your browser.
Chances are, you could not skip ads that are skippable because of a plugin extension in your browser that affects YouTube ads.
Turn off your browser extensions and check if the skip button will appear.
You may have to check other videos as well to see if the skip ad button appears at the lower right corner of the video screen.
Where Did the “Skip Ad” Button Go?
If there is no skip ad button on the video, chances are, you cannot skip these videos.
Videos that cannot be skipped have a timer at the lower right corner, indicating how many seconds until your video starts.
This was done in order to create non-skippable ads or those with timers before your YouTube video in order to help pay content creators. Your favorite channel may just use it as monetary income to keep themselves afloat.
It might be annoying to see ads all the time, but know that you are supporting your favorite channels!
Differences Between Skippable and Non-Skippable Youtube Ads:
We have explained a few differences between skippable and non-skippable ads:
Skippable ads:
Usually, these ads appear at the beginning of videos.
This is an excellent way to jumpstart YouTube advertising for beginners, owing to their versatility.
These are low-risk investments for advertisers because charges occur when the ad meets any of the following conditions:
- The ad plays for over 30 seconds.
- A viewer allows the ad to finish.
- When a viewer takes action and clicks on the ad and redirected to the product page
These ads also reach a wider audience, thanks to YouTube’s search engine algorithms, which the video platform links with its mother company, Google.
When it comes to duration, skippable ads can run for minutes, unlike its non-skippable counterpart, which has an upper limit.
Non-Skippable Ads:
These ads will have a time limit and started with 30-second durations.
This has since been revised to 20 seconds in order to limit the advertisements.
There are three kinds of non-skippable ads on YouTube:
- Pre-Roll Ads
- These ads play before the actual video. They are short clips with a quick message and tagline to try and entice viewers.
- Mid-Roll Ads
- These ads will play during the video and are usually in videos that play for over ten minutes. You can have more than one Mid-roll ad in a very long video.
- Bumper Ads
- These ads play at the end of the video and are meant to catch viewers on their phones. This is used to recycle longer ads and convert them into 6-second promotions.
From a cost perspective, non-skippable ads are effective in creating higher brand awareness to your target market.
These ads are also charged on a cost per mile basis, which gives flexible options for ad spending.
Have a look at our article which talks about Should I Watch Youtube Ads? (See Who Benefits From It!)
Do YouTubers Get Paid if You Skip the Ad?
If YouTube viewers do not watch the non-skippable ad, advertisers and content creators lose revenue.
Less revenue means content creators would have a hard time sustaining their shows and may lead to the eventual discontinuation of their channels.
In the long run, this would also mean depriving other viewers of sources of information for any interest they may have.
Should You Skip the YouTube Ad That Appears?
You should not!
Consider watching YouTube ads as your contribution to keeping your favorite channel online. They will appreciate it in the long run!
Watching ads will not cost you anything, and it only takes a few minutes of your day. In exchange, your content creators will continue to keep you entertained or informed.
So, the next time an advertisement interrupts your viewing, think about how content creators do their best to provide you with quality videos, and the costs of doing so.
Sources:
You may not be able to skip pesky YouTube ads anymore.
What “Skip Ad” Option? Now Anyone Can Use YouTube’s Non-Skippable Ads
Does Skipping Ads Hurt Youtubers? So Long, Skip Button: YouTube Ads Can Now Be Unskippable