It’s time to roll out the red carpet! Today, YouTube released the top ads that Kiwis chose to watch on YouTube in 2019! Read on to learn what it takes to be YouTube ad royalty in NZ and which brands are wearing the crown.
The YouTube Ads Leaderboard showcases the most creative and engaging ads - which were determined by an algorithm that factored in organic and paid views, watch time, and audience retention (how much of a video people watched) for the period 1 January 2019 to 31 December 2019.
Check out the 2019 Year-End YouTube Ads Leaderboard (they’ve also been posted online here) and find some key trends below.
1. I'm drinking it for you
Company: DB Export Beer
Creative Agency: Colenso BBDO
Watch it here.
2. Lotto Powerball 'Imagine' - Lost
Company: Lotto New Zealand
Creative Agency: DDB
Watch it here.
3. Air All Blacks #AirNZSafetyVideo
Company: Air New Zealand
Watch it here.
4. Live a little freer / AA Insurance
Company: AA Insurance NZ
Creative Agency: DDB
Watch it here.
5. Quit for your pets
Company: Quitline New Zealand
Creative Agency: YoungShand
Watch it here.
6. What Ella Wants
Company: Bank of New Zealand
Creative Agency: BBDO
Watch it here.
7. Wind - Water - Sun
Company: Meridian Energy
Creative Agency: BC&F Dentsu
Watch it here.
8. Genesis / Everything is Energy
Company: Genesis
Watch it here.
9. Introducing Cocka Tumeke. Sharpen up on your te reo Maori.
Company: Reo Maori
Watch it here.
10. New Zealand ShakeOut 2019 - Sign up now
Company: NZGetReady
Watch it here.
Head of Creative Development for Google Australia and New Zealand, Fiona Walford, said the YouTube Ads Leaderboard highlighted some key trends:
- The traditional narrative arc is being transformed. Creatives and advertisers are moving beyond the traditional ‘lead in, build a climax and big reveal’ story arc - with viewers engaged quickly with a barrage of intrigue and colour rather than long establishing shots. Engage viewers quickly with a barrage of intrigue and colour rather than long establishing shots. AA Insurance did this well with their “Live a little Freer” ad - kicking off with a T-Rex in a shower and followed with a fight against a Unicorn in the lounge! DB Export Beer intrigued viewers by producing an entire music video and in turn created a huge sense of fun throughout the 3 min 47 secs ad.
- Ads were highly customised based on the audience. Viewers have different tastes and that creates opportunities for marketers. Consider going beyond one creative for all audiences to experimenting with different executions based on targeting signals. Tuning creative for audiences can range from gender cuts to interests such as affinities. Changing the name of Air New Zealand to Air All Blacks was a clever way to commence the Safety Video, and draw more attention to an inherently Kiwi love and passion. Air New Zealand are well known for their safety videos being something out of the ordinary, and this is a fantastic iteration - and 4 mins long no less!
- Evolve your strategy, as attention evolves around you. The world of attention will always be changing – there has never been a better time for marketers to explore curiosity in creative advertising. The Bank of NZ “What Ella Wants” ad did an interesting job here - taking a story of a dad and daughter, being frugal through life and then a lovely surprise at the end.
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