Similar to television advertising, the most effective lengths for in-stream online video ads are 15 and 30-second spots. However, the advantage online video advertising has over TV is that it can be delivered in the form of a pre-roll video ad targeted and personally relevant to a consumer based on his individual shopping behavior.

The marriage of retargeting and video advertising is a match made in marketing heaven. With the help of pre-roll video ads, brands are able to interact with and convert consumers on a deeper, more intimate level, as the ad content is tailored to the viewer based on previous website actions. These engaging video ad experiences also increase site traffic and foster brand loyalty as shoppers visit the site more frequently.

Now that you understand why targeted pre-roll video ads are beneficial to online brands, let’s explore when to use a 15-second versus 30-second video ad to aquire customers.

How to Use 15 Second vs. 30 Second Pre Roll Video Ads for Ecommerce

Retargeting“Shop-a-lot” customers have a high impression value because they visit your site and purchase more frequently than any other segment of customer, such as first-time buyers or non-customers. Therefore, a 15-second ad is enough to re-engage the repeat customer, either by showcasing the last product viewed or a related item of a recent purchase.

Let’s use Mrs. Baker as an example. Mrs. Baker spends a good portion of her day in the kitchen, and therefore, spends another large portion of her time on the hunt for new supplies and cooking devices. Having visited your site more than once, Mrs. Baker knows her way around your product pages and already has an idea of what she is looking for before even typing in the URL. She doesn’t require a song and dance to make a purchase; she might need 15-seconds or so to be attracted to a new product or a familiar item. These high-value shoppers are also more inclined to subscribe to a one-click checkout option.

Since a shop-a-lot customer is familiar with your brand, you can save those extra 15-seconds for a prospect that is not.

Use 30-Second Video Ads for Visitors and First-Time Buyers

These customers have a lower impression value because they are less familiar with your brand and thus, less likely to convert. On the contrary; first-time buyers are more likely to abandon ship, or shopping cart, than they are to become loyal customers. Whether it is a prospect browsing your site, or a non-committal shopper abandoning his cart, target them with a 30-second ad to deliver your brand message, the last product viewed and perhaps a promo code, to drive them back to your site and make that purchase.

Remember Mrs. Baker from earlier? Well, this time, she is on the hunt for office supplies, something she doesn’t browse for as frequently. So she bounces around from site to site, comparing prices and spending more time reading product descriptions. Since she does not visit the office supply site as frequently as a high-value shopper, such as an office manager, she takes more time to browse the goods in order to become more familiar with the catalog. Enter a longer, more engaging and impactful, 30-second video ad to engage Mrs. Baker and encourage her to make a more well-informed purchase.

It’s simple, really. Today online shoppers have a stronger hand in the marketing thumb war between brand and consumer. Whether it is a frequent shopper or a first-time visitor, every shopper will approach an online site with a selective hand. Retargeted pre-roll ads present each individual consumer with what they want, when they want it, and use the video length best suited for each targeted shopper.

via How to Use 15 vs 30-Second Pre-Roll Ads for Ecommerce Retargeting.