Check inventory forecasts and book inventory for YouTube CPM masthead campaigns

You can instantly view available inventory and impression forecasts and book the inventory by confirming the campaign reservation, allowing you to launch your ads on time. In this article, you’ll learn how to check inventory forecasts and choose to book or hold the inventory of your YouTube CPM masthead campaigns.

On this page

Before you begin

If you're not familiar with YouTube CPM masthead campaigns, learn more about how to create a YouTube CPM masthead campaign.

Instructions

Follow the steps below to instantly check the available inventory and impression forecasts of your YouTube CPM masthead campaign and directly book or hold and then launch your campaign.

Set up campaigns

  1. On the 'Setup' tab of the 'Create YouTube CPM masthead campaigns' page, log in to your Google Ads account and confirm the email address shown.
    • Note: You can click Switch account if you want to use a different account.
  2. When confirmed, click Continue.
  3. Search for and select your customer ID (CID) then click Continue.
    • Note: Make sure that you have the required permissions from your account manager to create YouTube masthead campaigns.
  4. Enter the details of your campaigns.
    • Title
    • Advertiser or client name
    • Agency name
    • Google account manager’s email address
  5. When finished, click Continue.

Check the inventory forecast for selected dates

  1. On the 'Forecast' tab of the 'Create YouTube CPM masthead campaigns' page, click Download campaign-spreadsheet template.
  2. Fill in the campaign template with the details of your campaign.
  3. Click Choose file and select your filled-in campaign template.
  4. Click Continue to create an inventory forecast based on the details of your template.
Note: If there’s no inventory, you’ll get suggestions for dates. If you get an error, check the template and upload an updated file.

Book or hold eligible campaigns

The forecast impressions shown in the inventory aren’t guaranteed until campaigns are booked. When you’re satisfied with the estimated impressions, you can put the inventory on hold for your selected campaigns. This locks in the impressions and the cost. Take some time or consult before you book. You’ll get an email with a link to continue booking later or you may follow the steps below.

  1. In the inventory forecast, tick the boxes next to the campaigns that you want to book or hold.
  2. In the 'How would you like to proceed?' section, select Book selected campaigns to confirm the reservation or select Hold selected campaigns to lock in the impressions and price.
  3. Click Continue.
  4. On the 'Book' tab of the 'Create YouTube CPM masthead campaigns' page, review the selected campaigns that you want to hold under the 'Review campaigns to hold' section.
  5. When finished, click Continue. A summary of the campaigns on hold will be displayed on the next page.
  6. Click Continue.
  7. Review the selected campaigns that you want to book under the 'Review campaigns to book' section.
  8. When finished, click Continue. A summary of the campaigns to book will be displayed on the next page.
  9. Tick the boxes to acknowledge the billing account and accept the terms for your Instant reserve campaign.
  10. Click Continue. An email will be sent to your account to confirm the completed booking request.
Note: Different campaigns will have different hold times. Check the hold expiry date and take action.

Submit ads and launch your campaign

After you book the campaigns, you can start uploading your creative assets.

  1. On the 'Launch ads' tab of the 'Create YouTube CPM masthead campaigns' page, click Download creatives-spreadsheet template.
  2. Fill in the creatives template and the important details, such as 'Ad name', the 'YouTube masthead preview page URL', 'Associated ad group' and 'Campaign name'.
    • Note: You can check the booking email sent to your account and copy the details there.
  3. Click Choose file and upload the filled-in creatives template.
  4. Your ads will be reviewed to make sure that they comply with the ad requirements for YouTube and the Discover feed and Google Ads policies.
  5. Review the ads for launch in the 'Review ads to traffic' section.
  6. If you have policy violations, you can tick the 'Appeal for policy exemption' box then click Continue.
  7. After your ads are verified, a confirmation message that your ads have been submitted will be displayed on the next page.
  8. Your ads will automatically serve on the date and time you set if they pass verification.

Here are some things to remember when you submit your ads:

  • When you upload an ad, it doesn’t mean that it’s ready to serve.
  • We recommend that you submit your ads at least 3 days before the serving date so there’s no delay.
  • If you leave out or incorrectly input details in the creatives template, you might get an error. Fix the error and upload the template again.
You can create and preview your ad on different devices on the YouTube masthead preview page. Copy the page URL into the template when you’re satisfied.

Get help

If you encounter issues at any stage, you can always get help from a support specialist. Click Get assistance from a support specialist under 'Resources'. A campaign specialist will contact you within 24 hours.


Related links

Was this helpful?

How can we improve it?
Search
Clear search
Close search
Main menu
8171501779756114294
true
Search Help Centre
true
true
true
true
true
73067
false
false
false
false
false