Controversial street interviews reached the right audience —815K views, 28.62% completion rate, and a 11.7X lift with targeted YouTube ads.

 

Client: Anonymous
Service: YouTube Ads
Industry: Nonprofit Organization

 

 

The Challenge: Increasing Watch Hours

Our client was creating bold, street-interview-style videos built around sensitive and controversial questions like:

  • “Rats vs Humans: Who Has More Value?”
  • “Are Baby Eagles More Protected Than Baby Humans?”

The content was eye-catching and designed to make people think—but it wasn’t getting the traction it deserved. Most viewers were dropping off around the 30-second mark. Since YouTube Ads only count a view after 30 seconds or an interaction, these videos were getting the impression but not the full view credit, resulting in poor watch time performance and low engagement.

The average video completion rate was just 2.45%, with less targeted YouTube advertising being run in the beginning.

 

The Strategy: Targeted Views

To solve the watch time issue, we optimized YouTube Ads—but not just any ads. We built a smart, highly targeted campaign strategy designed to put the videos in front of viewers who would actually stick around.

Here’s what we focused on:

  • Carefully defined interest-based targeting—especially users already engaging with social issues, street interviews, and debate-style content
  • Optimized placements to ensure ads were shown in the right context and format
  • Excluded cold audiences are less likely to engage past the 30-second mark

The campaign included 10 videos in total, and we used detailed audience insights and placement strategies to make sure they landed in front of the right viewers.

 

The Results: 11X More Video Completions

The turnaround was dramatic:

  • Video completion rate (100% watch time) increased from 2.45% to 28.62%
  • Over 815,000 views across all 10 videos
  • Average cost per view: just $0.018

 

Ads BEFORE Optimization: 

 

 

Ads AFTER Optimization:

 

These weren’t just views—they were full-length watches that boosted total watch time, helped deliver the message, and increased engagement across the board. By narrowing our focus and using YouTube advertising more strategically, we ensured the videos weren’t just seen—they were completed.

 

Final Thoughts

If your YouTube ads are bringing in views but not real engagement, you might not need new content—you might just need a smarter strategy. At Search Pros, we make sure the right audience is watching your message all the way through. Contact Search Pros today for a free consultation.