YouTube Drops Free ‘Video Builder’ Ad Tool To Aid Small Businesses Amid Pandemic

YouTube has released a new tool to help small business owners weather the economic winds precipitated by the coronavirus pandemic.

The Google-owned video giant released today a free beta ad creation tool called Video Builder, enabling cash-strapped and less-experienced marketers to produce video ads with only static images, some text, and a logo. Video Builder compiles the aforementioned elements into an instant video spot with animation and music culled from the YouTube library. Business owners can choose from a variety of different layouts, per a new blog post announcing the tool, as well as customize colors and fonts into six or 15-second ad iterations.

YouTube’s director of ad product management, Ali Miller, notes that while YouTube developed the tool to help businesses compile creative that they could then use to advertise on YouTube, ad spend is not required to use the tool. Videos created with the Builder can be shared for free via email, company websites, social media channels, or wherever else a YouTube video can be embedded.

YouTube said it initially intended to drop Video Builder this summer, but accelerated the launch due to the coronavirus pandemic — especially as commercial production has become unfeasible for many given the myriad shelter-at-home orders across the globe. The platform says it sees the tool being particularly useful in helping businesses keep their customers informed about ever-changing operating hours or time-sensitive promotions and services.

You can check out Video Builder tutorial below, and interested parties can sign up to request access right here.