The Dynamic Brand Segments (DBS) allow you to dynamically insert custom branded segments into YouTube creators’ long-form videos. This helps unlock the full scale of a creator’s reach, so you can capture views from both new uploads and high-traffic back catalog videos.
This article explains Dynamic Brand Segments and its implementation process, and shares frequently asked questions with answers.
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Benefits
- Scalable reach: Creators can place brand segments within content that has a proven track record to help ensure that your message gains immediate scale.
- Evergreen content: Tap into the sustained traffic of back-catalog and viral videos. This allows creators to keep their content relevant and earn revenue by integrating a brand's message into their own videos, which they can update or swap to match active campaigns.
- Precision country targeting: Ensure your brand message reaches the right viewers in the right locations. Integrated geo-targeting allows a creator to deliver localized brand segments that resonate with specific regional audiences. This helps maximize the impact of every impression.
- Integrated reporting: Access precise reporting on your brand segments directly within Google Ads to accurately measure reach and engagement. This includes views and impressions.
- Boostable content: Brand segments link automatically to your Google Ads account. This enables amplification through Creator partnerships boost. Brands can further refine these segments using powerful built-in video editing tools in Asset Studio.
- Dynamic and authentic content: A creator’s branded content is designed to feel like organic creator content that’s capable of targeting specific audiences. In an Ipsos survey, users were 98% more likely to trust the recommendations of creators on YouTube vs. Social platforms.*
*Google/Ipsos, Video & Social Ad Impact Study, July 2023-August 2023, online survey, n=13328 US, UK, BR, FR, DE, IT, JP online users 18-54 who use social apps/sites monthly or more often (social apps/sites: Discover, YouTube, YouTube Shorts, Gmail, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, Snapchat).
How it works
Dynamic Brand Segments (DBS) are a new format that upgrades traditional, permanent sponsorships into flexible, dynamic inventory. This helps creators integrate creator-branded content into their entire long-form video assets through YouTube Studio. The new format also allows you to access authentic, host-read endorsements combined with programmatic-level measurement and flexibility.
Get started with Dynamic Brand Segments
Creators develop their Brand Segments and set up campaign parameters before they submit the integration to brands for approval through Creator Partnerships.
When live, the segment plays naturally within the creator’s content. All performance data flows directly into your Google Ads account, so you can monitor the segment. If you’ve secured usage rights, you can amplify the segment's reach through Creator Partnerships Boost.
Implementation process
- Begin creator integration: Your Creator Partner sets up the Brand Segment by inserting it into their videos for the selected dates and target countries in YouTube Studio.
- Review and approve: You will receive an inbound request in your Google Ads account. Go to Creator Partnerships within the Tools menu and then review the inbound request, which includes the specific Brand Segment and video, before you approve.
- Go live: After your approval, the Brand Segment will be eligible to run after it clears policy review and the creator sets the main video to “Public”. Learn more about Google Ads policies.
- Track progress: Monitor your results directly in Google Ads. Beginning in April 2026, organic and paid views, along with engagement metrics from the brand segment, are automatically synced from YouTube into your Google Ads account.
- Amplify: Use your Google Ads asset library to transform approved Brand Segments into Creator Partnerships Boost, to help scale the creator’s authentic voice and reach with the precision of your existing ad targeting.
- Note: Use data segments to boost content to viewers who have already viewed your Brand Segment. Scale your impact with Lookalike segments to find similar users, then fine-tune your reach with advanced demographics, in-market segments, and precise geographic targeting.
FAQs
Is this just a programmatic ad? Will it feel like a generic commercial?
Does this replace standard mid-roll ads?
What if the creator's video is controversial?
Can we target only the US?
What reporting can I review for Dynamic Brand Segments (DBS)?
DBS will offer impressions and views specifically for the brand segment video, viewable within the main campaigns table and the Creator Partnerships in Google Ads. Applicable metrics for the DBS segment include the following:
- In-stream ad impressions
- TrueView views for skippable in-stream
- YouTube public views
- Engaged-views
- Trueview View Rate
Learn more About YouTube ads and view metrics.
Note that because Google isn’t involved in the payment between creators and advertisers for DBS, many of the metrics in the campaigns table related to cost will be broken such as cost, budget, and bidding strategy.
Can I turn on Brand Lift or third-party measurement for Dynamic Brand Segments (DBS)?
How can I view my Dynamic Brand Segments (DBS) campaigns within the Google Ads campaigns table?
Why aren’t the Dynamic Brand Segments (DBS) and main video views the same?
DBS segment views are views on the segment specifically. If the viewer watches the main video but fast forwards through the segment video, a main video view will be counted while a segment view won’t.
