How do I run a YouTube PPC campaign?

by | Aug 17, 2025 | Blog

How Do I Run a YouTube PPC Campaign? A Complete Guide for Local Businesses in Milton Keynes

Maximising Your Reach with YouTube PPC Advertising

Running a successful Pay-Per-Click (PPC) campaign on YouTube can significantly boost your local business’s visibility and drive targeted traffic to your website. As part of Milton Keynes Marketing’s specialised digital marketing services, we recognise the importance of a well-structured YouTube advertising strategy. This guide will walk you through the essential steps to launch and optimise your YouTube PPC campaign effectively.

Understanding YouTube PPC Advertising

YouTube PPC, primarily through Google Ads, allows businesses to display video ads before, during, or after YouTube videos, or across the Google Display Network. These ads can be tailored to specific audiences based on demographics, interests, or search behaviour. Proper targeting ensures your advertisements reach potential customers in Milton Keynes and surrounding areas.

Benefits of YouTube PPC for Local Businesses

  • Increases local brand awareness effectively
  • Engages users with compelling video content
  • Delivers measurable results and insights
  • Allows precise demographic and geographic targeting
  • Provides flexible budgeting options

Step-by-Step Guide to Running a YouTube PPC Campaign

1. Define Your Campaign Goals

Before launching any campaign, clarify your objectives. Are you aiming to drive local sales, increase brand awareness, or promote a specific event? Clear goals guide your ad format, targeting options, and budget.

Common Campaign Goals

  • Website traffic
  • Brand awareness in Milton Keynes
  • Lead generation
  • Promoting special offers or events

2. Identify Your Target Audience

Understand who your ideal customers are. Use demographics, interests, behaviour, and location targeting to refine your audience parameters in Google Ads.

Targeting Options Include:

  • Geographic targeting down to postcode level
  • Age, gender, and household income
  • Interests related to your products/services
  • Remarketing to website visitors

3. Choose the Right Ad Format

YouTube offers various ad formats suitable for different campaign goals:

Skippable In-Stream Ads

These ads play before, during, or after other videos, and viewers can skip after 5 seconds. They’re ideal for storytelling and engagement.

Non-Skippable In-Stream Ads

Shorter ads that viewers must watch before their chosen video. Suitable for concise messaging.

Bumper Ads

Six-second non-skippable ads effective for brand reinforcement.

Video Discovery Ads

Appear alongside related YouTube videos or in search results, driving interested viewers to your content.

Overlay & Banner Ads

Text or image overlay ads on videos to promote your products or offers, often used for remarketing.

4. Create Engaging Video Content

Content quality matters. Your videos should be clear, brief, and compelling, with a strong call-to-action (CTA). Localising content with Milton Keynes references can increase relevance.

Tips for Effective Video Content

  • Highlight what makes your local business unique
  • Use clear visuals and professional audio
  • Include a clear CTA, like visiting your store or calling
  • Keep videos short — ideally under 2 minutes

5. Setting Up Your Campaign in Google Ads

Navigate to Google Ads and create a new campaign.

Campaign Settings to Configure

  • Select “Video” as your campaign goal
  • Define your campaign name (e.g., Milton Keynes Local PPC)
  • Set your budget (daily or total)
  • Choose your bidding strategy (e.g., CPM, CPV, CPA)
  • Define targeting options like location (Milton Keynes) and demographics

Ad Group and Ad Creation

  • Create ad groups focused on specific audiences or services
  • Upload your video ads and include compelling headlines and descriptions
  • Set your bids for each ad group based on expected ROI

6. Launch and Monitor Your Campaign

After launching, continuously track performance metrics like views, clicks, engagement, and conversions. Use Google Ads reports for insights into which ads resonate best.

Optimisation Tips

  • A/B test different videos and targeting options
  • Adjust bids on high-performing ads
  • Refine your targeting based on campaign data
  • Pause underperforming ads to optimise budget

Best Practices for Localised Success in Milton Keynes

Tailor your content and targeting to reflect Milton Keynes’ community and terminology. Use local landmarks or references to boost relevance. Regularly update ads to maintain fresh engagement with the local audience.

Utilising Local Data

Utilise insights from your Google My Business account, local event calendars, and community groups to develop content that resonates with Milton Keynes residents.

Conclusion

Running a YouTube PPC campaign involves clear goal setting, precise audience targeting, engaging content, and ongoing optimisation. Partnering with Milton Keynes Marketing can help you execute and refine your campaigns for maximum local impact. By following these steps, your business can harness YouTube’s powerful advertising platform to grow your local presence effectively.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

  1. How much does a YouTube PPC campaign cost? Costs vary based on your budget, bid strategy, and competition but can start from as little as £5 per day.
  2. Can I target only users in Milton Keynes? Yes, geographic targeting allows you to focus solely on Milton Keynes and nearby areas.
  3. What type of video content works best for local businesses? Short, engaging videos that showcase local neighbourhoods, customer testimonials, or special offers perform well.
  4. How do I measure the success of my YouTube PPC campaign? Through metrics like view rate, click-through rate (CTR), conversions, and cost-per-acquisition (CPA).
  5. Is remarketing available on YouTube? Yes, you can retarget viewers who have previously interacted with your videos or website.
  6. Can I run YouTube ads without a video? No, video ads require uploaded content. However, you can run image overlays or banners as supplementary ads.
  7. How do I create compelling video ads for local audiences? Focus on storytelling, local references, and clear CTAs tailored to Milton Keynes residents.
  8. What is the best duration for a YouTube ad? Typically under 2 minutes, with 6-second bumper ads for quick brand impressions.
  9. How often should I optimise my campaign? Regularly, at least weekly, based on performance analytics and budget considerations.
  10. Can I combine YouTube PPC with other digital marketing strategies? Absolutely, integrating with SEO, social media, and local advertising maximises impact.

For a free consultation please contact us through our Milton Keynes PPC agency