Dear Youtube, and users of Youtube,

Here are four ways that Youtube could easily be more efficient with the way they present Ads, and how they could prevent their apparent disturbing downfall.

1. Smart Podcast Ads

There have been many times where, as I was listening to a podcast on Youtube, I noticed something strange. The podcast would pause itself, and then, to my confusion, a bunch of weird noises would follow. People coughing or giggling, music, etc.

What had happened was simple, an Advertisement had played.

Little did Youtube know, the ad wasn’t being effectively delivered. At all.

Many people listen to podcasts on Youtube. Consider this study, which suggests that Youtube is actually the number one destination for podcast listeners.

During these podcast videos, many people (if not most) are not watching their screen. They may be working on their computer or doing chores as they go about their daily life.

The point is, they are NOT watching the screen, and are purely listeners. The solution is simple.

Youtube, if you want to be efficient with delivering your ads, PAY. MORE. ATTENTION.

On podcasts, only play ads that can be listened to as well as watched. There’s plenty. I’m sure you can figure out which ones to play.

Think it’s not a big deal? I listen to over 3 hours of Youtube every day. Keyword: LISTEN. And I know I’m not the only one.

Look, Youtube, I’m letting you in on a secret here. Between you and me, I enjoy the fact that I don’t have to understand half the ads you play while I listen to podcasts.

I’d much rather be able to ignore the ads you play than have to listen to them. Why’s that? See suggestion #4, It’ll explain my attitude towards Youtube and the ads they play quite nicely.

2. Empower Your Viewers

I’ve noticed that during an ad, you can click or tap on the little (i) on the bottom left-hand corner of the screen, which prompts a few options.

One of these options is to “stop playing this ad.” I use this function quite a lot, to avoid political ads or just ads that are overplayed or not relevant to me as a viewer. I’ve noticed that this function barely works.

It’s merely a facade to create the illusion that Youtube cares what you, the viewers, think about their ads.

I’ve tried to stop the Reeses Christmas ad more than a dozen times. It’s repetitively played and grates on my nerves. Every time I try to stop it, the same message appears, “we will stop playing this ad.” But they never do.

So now, every time Youtube plays the Reeses ad, they’ve wasted a spot for an ad to play. I’ve become so frustrated with this ad, and Reeses as a company (by mere association), that the ad has actually become counterproductive.

I would sooner die than buy a Christmas themed Reeses candy or any other Reeses candy, thanks to this ad, because Youtube continues to shove it in my face after promising they would remove it from my viewing.

Another thing I’ve noticed is that because I am frustrated when I see the same ad played over and over, despite being told it will stop playing, I am now relieved to see ANY other ad play. Now, in fact, I’m quite content to view the fresh ad and consider the product. (Especially if it isn’t the kind of ad I would be prompted to block, like political ads, repetitive ads, irrelevant ads, ads presented by huge corporations that abuse their customers’ privacy, etc).

Youtube, you can actually encourage your viewers to be HAPPY to see ads and interact with them, if only you would listen to their pleas.

Give people the advertisements they want by listening to their preferences, and you will experience boosts in interaction and positive feedback from viewers. It’s inevitable.

Beyond that, ask people what they want to view directly! Your viewers would be happy to tell you what they prefer as advertisements. Don’t try to trick us into telling you what we would most likely buy, but instead ask for our preference.

We all watch a dozen Youtube ads a day, so start asking us what we want to see! This will also boost your numbers, because why would your viewers lie to you?

3. Get Smaller Advertisers on Board

Almost every ad I see is the same. It’s a huge corporation, parading as a friendly, down to earth small business that’s out for your best.

It’s disturbing. Seeing facebook’s Portal Ads (which I always try to block) every day freaks me out. They even got the muppets on board as if to say, “look, we’re your friendly childhood pals, and we want you to put Facebook’s prying cameras in your home too!”

Oh, how fun! If the muppet people are willing to support this invasion of privacy, it must be a helpful and innocent product! Not so fast.

Facebook. Wants. Cameras. In. Your. Home. To. Collect. Invaluable. Data. From. You. And potentially without your knowledge.

I'll die before I allow Alexa or Facebook Portal to violate the sanctity of my private home.

So where’s the solution for Youtube here? It’s simple.

Play ads that are less sinister. Play ads that are relevant. You already know where we all live, I’m sure, so promote local businesses! They need it bad.

Start campaigning to get local businesses on board! You obviously aren’t doing that now. Play ads that aren’t shoving the propaganda of giant corporations down my throat, for a start.

4. GO BACK TO YOUR ROOTS

Youtube, you’ve forgotten what it was that made you who you are today, and it’s in the damn name of your company. YOU, the viewers and creators. Whether you acknowledge it or not, Youtube’s culture and creators are what fuel the ad-playing, money-making goliath of a machine that Youtube is today.

People are really upset with Youtube. Just look at the last few years of rewinds. We all know what you’re doing here. You want Youtube to be kid-friendly so that it’s advertiser-friendly, because kids bring in the big bucks when it comes to ads.

But here’s the issue. We. Are. Not. All. Kids.

So if we all should be treated like children, then what the hell is Youtube Kids for anyway?

If you want to make the whole platform kid-friendly, then call it what it really is. “Youtube Kids”, and call what is currently Youtube kids “Youtube Babies.”

So what’s the solution here?

Listen.

Listen to your community, they are the lifeblood of the whole company.

Here’s a suggestion, if you want to LISTEN, which I doubt.

Make a new version of Youtube: Youtube Adults. Separate Youtube into two parts, Youtube Kids and Youtube Adults. There’s plenty of other brilliant suggestions out there, like lowering the price of your paid membership.

Also, maybe stop constantly punishing your creators, and fix the copyright fraud that is also CONSTANTLY occurring. I’ve seen 2-hour videos get demonetized for using 5 seconds of some sleazy company’s copyrighted material.

And to follow that up with a second slap in the face, you actually send the money generated by the original 2-hour video to the owner of the 5 seconds of copyrighted content. Is this a joke? If it is, it’s a bad one.

Stop ignoring the law, which states clearly that fair use is to be allowed.

If you don’t know what I’m talking about, just google it. There are numerous reports online of the copyright infringement rules being abused by big companies for monetary reasons, despite the obvious claim of fair use by the original creator.

In Conclusion

Instead of taking a risk, I’m sure Youtube would rather hold their cards close to their chest and continue with their current agenda.

The same agenda they’ve had for years. To distance themselves from the creators that constitute their whole platform.

I doubt you will listen to any of my suggestions, Youtube. If so, at least carry out my one, last suggestion.

Call your company a different name. A name that really reflects what it is.

Call it Ustube, as in all of Us here at Youtube headquarters. You’re doing everything possible to convey that message, that you are not on the side of your creators. So just change the name.

Do it. Change the name. Just fall on your own sword already. (Only figuratively, of course, I wouldn’t wanna get demonetized!)