What Are Native Video Ads?

Published on
November 22, 2019
Contributors
Katie Pray
katiepray@vicimediainc.com

Katie has hands on marketing experience and creating all-inclusive marketing campaigns for clients utilizing traditional media, new media, and event marketing. She has worked with media agencies and clients of various sizes, in all different industries. She has been on the sales side of operations as a salesperson and Sales Manager for a group of radio stations. Katie loves creating, building, and maintaining relationships with clients, media, and teaching, so being able to teach media to sales teams is the best of both worlds.

Subscribe to our newsletter
Read about our privacy policy.
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Alright, so a Native Ad walks into a bar and sees a Video Adand says “hey there, video; you sure do make quite the impression” and 9 monthslater we have the newest addition to our digital toolbox- Native Video ads! 

When we talk about Native ads, we explain that they match the look, feel, and visual context of whatever website or app that they are appearing on, and on any device. These ads don’t necessarily look like ads, which allows for them to have a higher click through rate and bypass some ad blocking software that a user might have installed on their web browser. The best way to think of Native ads, is to compare them to a chameleon; they blend in with their surroundings and take on the natural environment of where they are being seen.

So how does adding video into the native format make it an even more effective form of advertising? Because video ads are more captivating than text ads:

  • 80% of viewers can recall a video they’ve seenin the past 30 days (the highest of any type of digital advertising)
  • 95% of viewers are more likely to remember acall to action after watching a video, compared to 10% when reading it in text
  • 90% of customers report that product videos helpthem make purchasing decisions

Native Video ads (also referred to as Branded Video) matchthe unique look and feel of each publisher site that they appear on, and theydrive higher brand awareness and engagement. They include a headline, acaption, a disclosure, and the name of client. These ads are auto-start whichmeans that the video will start to play once it comes into view. The video willbegin playing without sound, but the viewer can click on the ad to activate sound,or the client also has the option to have the ad be captioned.

Native Video ads are different than Outstream Video orPre-Roll Video. Outstream Video is when a video ad is embedded in the content,but there’s no branding or matching to the format of the page, and nocustomization. This type of video ad can disrupt the user experience. Pre-RollVideo is the ad that you must watch before the content of what the user wasinterested in begins to play, and it can interrupt the user’s attention.

In an eye tracking study, it was found that less than half the users took their eyes to a video ad on a website that contained an outstream video ad:

But when done with a Native Branded Video ad, the amount of people that saw the ad increased to 75%:

With digital ads being around for over 20 years, asconsumers we’re programmed to NOT click on ads because we don’t want those adsto follow us, or let it be known that we are engaging with the ad. With Nativeads being subtle, less invasive, and looking less like an ad, it allows formore engagement from consumers. When you add video to the native format, you getthat one-two punch of higher engagement, higher click through rates, and higherrecall and call to action with ads.   

Related Posts

Tips, guides, industry best practices, and news.
Category Link
YouTube+: The Branding and Awareness Machine
In today’s digital landscape, attention is everything and YouTube is where that attention lives. With billions of users, laser-sharp targeting, flexible budgets, and measurable performance, advertising on YouTube isn’t just a trend it’s a strategic advantage.
Dan Charon
June 25, 2025
Category Link
From Pitch to Performance: Selling Smarter with Digital Media
The best digital salespeople aren’t just selling—they’re guiding. With the right materials, mindset and momentum, your pitch becomes a performance your client won’t forget.
Tracey Geary
June 9, 2025
Category Link
Are You Missing Out on the Marketing Power of the Theatre of the Mind? Online Audio!
Online Audio is a great tool to enhance a digital campaign and falls within the branding and awareness part of the sales funnel. Audio reaches consumers while they're engaging in other things like commuting, working out, or cooking...
Katie Pray
June 3, 2025