What Is OTT Advertising? Beginner’s Guide on What It Is and Why You Should Utilize It

You already know and love platforms like Netflix and Hulu. But did you know that you can advertise on them?

To do so, you’ll utilize a process called over-the-top advertising.

So what is OTT advertising and how you can utilize it in your next campaign? Keep reading to find out!

What Is OTT Advertising?

OTT advertising isn’t terribly different than the advertising you’re using now. Except, instead of TV, you’re advertising directly on an OTT platform.

Popular platforms include:

  • Netflix
  • Hulu
  • Roku
  • YouTube
  • Tubi
  • Crackle

OTT advertising allows for better demographic control. As a result, you can specifically advertise on the shows your audience knows and loves, thus massively increasing your exposure.

Reasons to Utilize It

OTT advertising is a bit complicated. But now that we have a better understanding of what OTT advertising is and what OTT advertising services you can expect to use, let’s explore some of the reasons why OTT ads are a smart call for businesses of all sizes.

The Cord-Cutting Cacophony

We’re reaching a point where people are tired of putting up with expensive cable bills. In the first quarter of 2020 alone 1.6 million people turned in their cable boxes.

Instead, people are turning to OTT services to save money while still catching the shows they love.

What’s more, cord-cutting is only going to increase in popularity, meaning your audience will soon be on OTT platforms exclusively if they aren’t already.

Affordability and Return-On-Investment

Go Florida SEO has a great explanation of ott advertising, too. In it, they bring up an important point: through OTT advertising, you’re buying ad space directly through the streaming company.

In contrast, TV or radio ads require businesses to purchase ad space through a third-party. These third parties, while helpful, don’t work for free. As such, they’ll take a cut of your profit, ultimately eating at your bottom line.

Since that’s not an issue with OTT advertising, you’re actually saving money while advertising, allowing you to run more ads and increase your potential ROI.

OTT Ads Are Easier to Create

If you’ve ever created an ad for traditional media, you can attest to how tedious their guidelines can be. Ads have to be a certain length; not a second more or less.

While you’ll still have to follow some guidelines, especially if you’re looking to advertise on a platform like Hulu or Tubi, these regulations tend to be less restrictive.

Therefore, it’s actually easier to use OTT in advertising than in traditional media.

You can also create multiple types of advertisements. Roku, for example, utilizes static advertisements on the side of its homepage, while Hulu allows companies to create ‘choose-your-own-adventure’ ads. You’re only limited by your creativity.

Invest in OTT Advertising Today

OTT advertising is only going to become more competitive in the following years. By preparing your business’ OTT strategy today, you can better reach your audience while spending less money and increasing your ROI.

Now that you know what is OTT advertising, consider consulting with an OTT advertising agency today!

And if you’re interested in learning more about the latest tech innovations and how they relate to advertising, be sure to check back with our blog for more content.