A branded overlay ad is a video ad with interactive overlays designed in your brand identity, from colours and fonts to animations. The overlays add product details, prices or buttons such as "Book now" or "Schedule a test drive" on top of the video without disrupting it, so viewers get the extra information and a next step in one ad.
How do branded video overlays work?
Our designers build the overlay in your brand look and place it on top of your video at the moments you choose. It can show product details, pricing, a store locator or a call-to-action button, and viewers interact with it while the video plays. The ad ships as a standard VAST tag, so it runs through your ad server like any other video campaign.
When should you use branded overlays?
Use them when your video needs a layer of information or a direct action that the footage alone can’t carry: shoppable product details and add-to-cart buttons in retail, feature highlights and test drive bookings in automotive, prices and booking buttons in travel, or recipes and store locators for consumer goods.
Where can branded overlay ads run?
Branded overlay ads run as pre-roll, outstream and banner video ads. Clipflip delivers them as a VAST 3.0 and 4.2 tag, the IAB standard that video players and ad servers use to serve ads, plus an iframe for outstream placements. The tag works with Adform, Google DV360, Xandr and other VAST-compatible ad servers, so you book the campaign in your existing setup like any other video ad.
Which industries get the most out of Branded Overlay Ads?
- E-Commerce & Retail
- Automotive
- Travel & Hospitality
- Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG)
How do brands use Branded Overlay Ads?
E-Commerce & Retail: Add shoppable product details and 'Add to Cart' buttons directly in the video. Reduce steps to purchase while keeping viewers engaged with your content.
Automotive: Overlay feature highlights, pricing, or 'Schedule Test Drive' options. Give viewers the information they need without leaving the video experience.
Travel & Hospitality: Display destination details, pricing, and 'Book Now' buttons as overlays. Let travelers explore and book while staying immersed in your content.
Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG): Show nutritional info, recipes, or store locators right in the ad. Build trust and drive store visits by providing useful information instantly.
Branded Overlay Ads specifications
| Placement | Pre-Roll, Outstream, Banner |
|---|---|
| Delivery | VAST 3.0 & 4.2 tag, iframe for outstream |
| Ad servers | Adform, Google DV360, Xandr and other VAST-compatible servers |
| Headline | 30 chars max |
| Subline | 60 chars max |
| Call to action | 20 chars max |
| Picture | optional |
| Video file type | .mp4, .mov |
| Video dimensions | 16:9, 1:1, 9:16, 4:3 |
| Video length | 10s - 45s |
| Graphic file type | .jpg, .png, .svg, .gif |
| Graphic file size | Max 300KB per asset |
| Design | Your colours, fonts, animations and design elements |
| Overlay content | Product details, prices, store locators, buttons |
Sources and standards
See more examples in Gallery
Branded Overlay Ads: Frequently Asked Questions
The standard formats use a proven layout that we fill with your content. Branded overlays are designed around your brand identity, so the colours, fonts, animations and design elements match the rest of your campaign.
They sit on top of the video, but they’re designed to add information without disrupting it. The story keeps playing, and viewers decide whether they want the extra details or the button.
A video between 10 and 45 seconds (.mp4 or .mov in 16:9, 1:1, 9:16 or 4:3), your brand guidelines and the product details or prices to show, a headline of up to 30 characters, a subline of up to 60 characters, a call to action of up to 20 characters and, optionally, a picture. Graphics can be .jpg, .png, .svg or .gif up to 300KB each.
Yes. Our team builds the interactive layer from your brief and assets, and you keep everything we create. Your first campaign runs free for up to 300,000 impressions with no CPM charged, so you can test the format against a standard video ad.
