Video Monetization Glossary

Before I start off with the analysis and review, I guess it's better to pen down a few words that we are surely going to come across most of the time. They are the various ad formats. This would be a list of the most common ones, though not exhaustive, as many ad networks are likely to have their own innovative and unique formats. As and when I come across the new ones, I'll try to update this list.

Glossary :

1. Banner Ads: Horizontal, rectangular ads typically displayed at the top or bottom of a web page. In our case it is more likely to be seen above or below an embedded video and even inside the player.
2. In-Stream Advertisements: These are advertisements running within a video content. They can come before the main video begins, in the middle of the main video cutting it in two halves as commonly seen in Television or after the main video has ended. These in-stream ads are mostly 15 to 30 seconds in length.
3. Pre-Roll Ads: These are in-stream ads shown within a video content before the main content starts to play. Only after the ads finish, the main video will start playing.
4. Mid-Roll Ads: These are in-stream ads that come in between the main video content. The main video will play half-way or till a certain time when the ads will start showing up. After the ads finish the remaining part of the main video will continue. It's more like Television commercials that come up in between shows.
5. Post-Roll Ads: These are again in-stream ads which come up after the main video content has finished playing.
6. Overlay / Flash Overlay: These are ads shown in the bottom 1/3rd of the main video content. They can be text ads, static banner ads, animated banner ads or even flash animations. When clicked these ads can perform various activites like direct to a website, pause the main video and create a curtain asking for some engagement by the viewer, launch a floater etc.
7. Product / Brand Integration: These are videos that include identifiable products or logos embedded into a video's content, e.g. a character in the video is holding a branded can of beer.
8. Video Ads: Video ads are blocks of advertisements shown in the form of a video.

That would all for now, but once I start with the reviews, this list is surely going to be a long one. So keep an eye on it.