How to Target Competitor Audiences on YouTube
Use placement targeting on competitor channels and Custom Intent audiences with competitor brand names to reach users actively researching alternatives.
Why This Matters
YouTube lets you show ads before, during, or alongside competitor content. Users watching competitor reviews or tutorials are high-intent prospects actively comparing solutions.
How To Implement
1. Create a Custom Intent audience using competitor brand names as keywords.
2. Add competitor website URLs to the Custom Intent audience.
3. Find competitor YouTube channels and create a Placement targeting list.
4. Target specific high-performing competitor videos in their channels.
5. Create comparison-style creative: 'Why businesses switch from [Competitor]'.
6. Use conquest messaging that addresses competitor weaknesses.
7. Test channel placements vs. Custom Intent - both work differently.
8. Monitor Brand Lift to measure awareness impact vs. competitors.
Pro Tip
Check if competitors allow ads on their videos (some disable monetization). Use Placement Reports to see where your ads actually ran and add non-performing placements as exclusions.
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