As digital marketing continues to evolve, YouTube remains a powerhouse platform for advertisers looking to engage a global audience. With over 2 billion logged-in monthly users, YouTube provides businesses with a unique opportunity to reach viewers with compelling video content. In 2025, YouTube Ads is rolling out a new set of interactive features designed to enhance user engagement and drive more meaningful interactions with ads. These features are set to revolutionize how brands connect with consumers, making advertising more interactive and personalized.
In this blog, we will dive into the latest interactive features in YouTube Ads, their benefits for advertisers, and how businesses can leverage these tools to maximize engagement and boost their ROI.
What are Interactive YouTube Ads?
Interactive YouTube Ads are a type of video advertisement that enables viewers to actively participate in the content experience. These ads go beyond traditional formats, allowing users to click, swipe, or engage with the content in other ways during the video. This shift from passive viewing to active interaction makes the ads more engaging, providing users with an opportunity to take action directly from the ad.
Interactive ads aim to create more personalized, relevant experiences for users, improving their connection to the brand and making the ad more memorable.
New Interactive Features in YouTube Ads for 2025
1. Clickable Video Elements
One of the most significant updates in YouTube Ads is the ability to include clickable video elements within the ad itself. These elements allow viewers to interact with the video directly, either by clicking on buttons, images, or links embedded within the ad.
- How it works: Advertisers can place interactive buttons, such as “Learn More,” “Shop Now,” or “Subscribe,” within the video. These buttons appear at key moments, guiding the user to take action.
- Impact: This feature makes the ad experience much more interactive, encouraging users to engage with the content instead of passively watching it. By providing clear call-to-action options, advertisers can drive higher click-through rates (CTR) and boost conversions.
2. Shoppable Ads
With eCommerce continuing to surge, Shoppable Ads are one of the most anticipated interactive features in 2025. These ads allow users to purchase products directly from the video ad without leaving the platform.
- How it works: Advertisers can display product images, prices, and purchase links within the video. Users can click on the products they are interested in, leading them directly to the checkout page within the YouTube app.
- Impact: Shoppable ads eliminate friction in the purchasing process, making it easier for consumers to buy products immediately after viewing the ad. This feature is especially useful for retail brands, enabling them to capture impulse buyers and increase sales.
3. Polling and Surveys
YouTube Ads will also introduce polling and survey features, allowing brands to collect feedback from their audience in real-time. These features enable advertisers to run polls and surveys directly within their ads.
- How it works: During the video, viewers can participate in polls or answer survey questions that are relevant to the content. The results can be used for market research, or advertisers can use the information to tailor future campaigns.
- Impact: This allows businesses to gain valuable insights into their target audience’s preferences, opinions, and behaviors. Additionally, polls and surveys can increase engagement by encouraging viewers to interact with the ad, fostering a sense of participation and inclusion.
4. Interactive End Screens
End screens have always been a crucial element for guiding users toward the next step, but interactive end screens are taking this feature to the next level. Advertisers can now add more than just clickable video suggestions to the end of their videos.
- How it works: In 2025, YouTube will introduce end screens with more interactive options. This may include customizable forms where users can sign up for newsletters, video quizzes to engage viewers, or even options to schedule appointments.
- Impact: This creates an opportunity for businesses to directly interact with their viewers after the video ends. By keeping the user engaged with interactive content at the conclusion of the ad, businesses can reduce bounce rates and improve conversion rates.
5. Dynamic Overlays
YouTube is introducing dynamic overlays that appear over the video at certain points, providing additional information, offers, or calls to action without interrupting the video’s flow.
- How it works: Overlays can feature images, text, or buttons that pop up during the ad. These elements can be tailored to the viewer’s interests based on their previous interactions with the platform, making the ad more relevant.
- Impact: Dynamic overlays enable advertisers to keep the ad experience fresh and engaging, ensuring that viewers don’t feel overwhelmed by too much information at once. It also allows for real-time customization, providing each viewer with the most relevant offers or content.
6. Virtual and Augmented Reality (AR/VR) Integration
As immersive technologies continue to gain traction, YouTube Ads is integrating AR/VR experiences into its advertising formats. This allows advertisers to create highly interactive ads that users can engage with using AR or VR tools.
- How it works: Users can interact with 3D models of products, try out virtual versions of services, or experience a brand’s offerings in an immersive environment. For example, a furniture brand could let viewers virtually place a piece of furniture in their home using AR.
- Impact: AR/VR ads enhance the user experience by making it more engaging and realistic. This level of interactivity can help increase user retention, drive deeper brand awareness, and boost conversion rates.
How Businesses Can Leverage New Interactive Features in YouTube Ads
1. Focus on Interactive Storytelling
Interactive YouTube Ads offer a unique opportunity for storytelling. Advertisers can create narratives that allow users to shape the direction of the ad based on their choices or preferences. For example, a travel brand could allow viewers to choose which destination they want to learn more about, creating a more personalized ad experience.
- Tip: Use interactive elements to enhance storytelling and create a more personalized experience for the viewer.
2. Integrate Shoppable Ads for Instant Conversions
For retail businesses, integrating shoppable ads can help streamline the purchase process. Make sure your product catalog is up to date and ensure that the shopping experience is smooth and easy for users to complete.
- Tip: Promote limited-time offers or exclusive products in shoppable ads to encourage immediate action from viewers.
3. Use Polls and Surveys to Gather Data
Polling and surveys within your ads can be a great way to gather valuable customer insights. Consider using these features to understand your audience’s preferences and opinions on new products, services, or campaign messaging.
- Tip: Tailor your future campaigns based on the feedback you gather to make your content even more engaging.
4. Enhance User Interaction with End Screens
Make use of interactive end screens to guide users to additional content, special offers, or call-to-action buttons that drive conversions. This is a great opportunity to increase engagement after the video ends and keep the user interacting with your brand.
- Tip: Keep your end screens visually appealing and ensure they provide valuable, actionable content.
5. Experiment with AR/VR for Immersive Experiences
Explore AR/VR technology to create unique, interactive ad experiences that captivate users. This technology can be especially effective for product demos, allowing consumers to try before they buy.
- Tip: If applicable to your business, consider implementing AR/VR elements to showcase your products in a way that engages users and provides a memorable experience.
Conclusion
YouTube’s new interactive ad features are designed to create a more engaging and personalized advertising experience for both businesses and consumers. By leveraging these innovative features, brands can enhance their ability to connect with viewers, drive higher levels of engagement, and ultimately increase conversions. As we move further into 2025, interactive YouTube Ads will become a key tool in the digital marketer’s arsenal, offering endless possibilities for creating meaningful and impactful ad experiences.