---
title: "Smartly for YouTube"
slug: "smartly-for-youtube"
status: "new"
updated: 2026-11-13T09:10:30Z
published: 2026-11-13T09:10:30Z
canonical: "docs.smartly.io/smartly-for-youtube"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.smartly.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Smartly for YouTube

> [!NOTE]
> Note
> 
> You need to connect a YouTube channel for video ads on Google Ads and DV360. The video assets need to be uploaded to your YouTube channel. You can [upload videos from Asset Library](/v1/docs/publish-youtube-videos) or [bulk upload them from Workspaces](/v1/docs/bulk-upload-videos-from-smartly-to-youtube).

YouTube isn’t its own channel in Smartly, but you can publish ads to YouTube through Google Ads or Google Display & Video 360 (DV360). Decide which channel to use based on your media workflow, campaign requirements, and measurement needs.

## YouTube through Google Ads

Create, manage, and automate supported YouTube campaigns in Smartly [Workspaces](/v1/docs/introduction-to-workspaces). Smartly [Reporting](/v1/docs/introduction-to-reporting-in-smartly) can show Google Ads performance alongside other channels. You can also use [Reach Planner](/v1/docs/cross-channel-reach-planner), [Brand Pulse](/v1/docs/introduction-to-brand-pulse), and [PBA](/v1/docs/getting-started-with-predictive-budget-allocation).

Smartly supports the following YouTube/Video campaigns and you can automate them at the ad level:

- [Video reach campaigns (VRC)](/v1/docs/google-ads-video-campaigns)
- [Video view campaigns (VVC)](/v1/docs/google-ads-video-campaigns)

You can also create the following Google Ads campaign types that deliver to YouTube placements:

- [Performance Max campaigns](/v1/docs/performance-max-campaigns)
- [Demand Gen campaigns](/v1/docs/demand-gen-campaigns)
- [App campaigns](/v1/docs/app-campaigns-in-google-ads)
- [Demand Gen with Catalog Video campaigns (PLV)](/v1/docs/google-ads-product-level-video-campaigns)

## YouTube through DV360

Use DV360 if your campaign requires DV360’s media buying and campaign controls for larger or more complex campaigns.

Use Smartly for supported [creative](/v1/docs/work-with-creatives), [trafficking](/v1/docs/publish-your-creatives-from-producer), [reporting](/v1/docs/introduction-to-reporting-in-smartly) workflows. Campaign setup, targeting, planning, and buying take place in DV360.

The main Smartly solutions for DV360 are:

- [Creative Templates](/v1/docs/work-with-creative-templates)
- [After Effects Import](/v1/docs/import-an-adobe-after-effects-project)
- [Producer](/v1/docs/introduction-to-producer)
- [SDF upload](/v1/docs/dv360-demand-gen-sdf-uploads)
- [Reporting](/v1/docs/programmatic-reporting)
- [Brand Pulse](/v1/docs/introduction-to-brand-pulse)

> [!NOTE]
> Note
> 
> Brand Pulse is available for Demand Gen & YouTube (VRC/VVC) via Google Ads, and YouTube on DV360. Brand Pulse reporting for YouTube is currently limited to one campaign at a time. Create separate reports for each campaign.

## Connect your accounts to get started

- [Connect YouTube channels](/v1/docs/connect-youtube-channels)
- [Connect Google Ads accounts](/v1/docs/connect-google-ads-accounts)
- [Connect a Google Display & Video 360 account](/v1/docs/connect-a-google-dv360-account)