Want an easy way to create YouTube ads? Are you familiar with the Google Ads Asset Library?
In this article, youâll learn how to use the Google Ads Asset Library to quickly design and organize YouTube ads.

What Is the Google Ads Asset Library?
The Google ads Asset Library is a digital storage system for the creative assets you use for Google Adsâincluding YouTube ads. Google began rolling out this new feature in December 2021, and as of May 2022, itâs now widely available.

If youâre tired of searching for and re-uploading the same creative asset across multiple campaigns, youâll appreciate the Asset Library. Itâs likely to save you a ton of time and hassle, especially if you reuse assets frequently.
The Asset Library is available at the account level for Google Ads accounts. That means colleagues and agency partners who have access to your Google Ads account can also use your Asset Library.
Thatâs great news for marketing and advertising teams that need to collaborate with colleagues, freelancers, and agencies to create ads to reach potential customers. Rather than storing and sharing creative assets via external apps, you can now organize everything in one easily accessible location.
To access the Asset Library, open your Google Ads account and select the Tools & Settings menu. Under the Shared Library tab, click Asset Library.

If youâve already run Google ads from your account, then the Asset Library will automatically add the creatives youâve used previously. If youâre starting fresh with a new Google Ads account, youâll see an empty Asset Library with a prompt to upload and store your creatives.

#1: How to Add Content to the Google Ads Asset Library
You have three options for adding content to your Google Ads Asset Library. Letâs walk through each one, starting with the simplest.
Upload a File to Your Asset Library
Do you have a product photo, branded graphic, or company logo ready to upload to your Asset Library? Click the plus sign in the upper left-corner and select File Upload from the dropdown menu. Then locate relevant assets on your device and select the ones you want to upload. You can upload multiple files at once.

As of June 2022, you can only upload image files and they must be no larger than 5120 KB. There’s a way to add certain videos to your Asset Library, however. Weâll cover video assets in the YouTube ad creation section below.
Upload a Folder to Your Asset Library
Do you have multiple files to upload that are already grouped in a single folder? You can get a head start on organizing your Asset Library by uploading an entire folder with one click.
To upload a folder, click the plus icon in the upper left-corner of the Asset Library. Then locate the folder on your device and upload it. The Asset Library automatically displays thumbnails of select items in each folder, making it easier to find assets at a glance.
Upload Creatives From YouTube Campaigns
Would you rather upload creatives during the campaign setup process? Now Google Ads automatically adds every ad creative to your Asset Library. That means you can easily build it as you go rather than organizing all of your creatives ahead of time.
Your Guide to the Future of Business

The Web3 renaissance opens up new opportunities for entrepreneurs, creators, and marketers who are ready to embrace the changes. But, who can you trust?
Introducing the Crypto Business Conference; a premium event for anyone who wants to learn how to put Web3 to work for their business.
Join us in sunny San Diego, California, for the first-ever crypto conference for business pioneersâŚnot finance and tech nerds. Youâll get actionable, business-building ideas from proven innovatorsâwithout all the techie jargon.
Any YouTube videos you link to your Google ads will automatically appear in your Asset Library, along with a link to the full video. Images that you add to YouTube adsâsuch as companion banners and home screen graphicsâalso display in your Asset Library automatically.

To add creatives as you go, create a new campaign with YouTube placements. Then upload new creative assets to all relevant spots throughout your ad, similar to the steps youâre used to following if youâve run Google ads before.
The main difference is that once you use this workflow to add creatives to your Asset Library, you wonât have to do it again. Instead, youâll be able to select them from your Asset Library, directly from the campaign setup workflow.
#2: How to Create YouTube Advertising Videos From the Asset Library
Until the launch of the Asset Library, advertisers had limited options for adding videos to YouTube ads. Essentially, your main option was to upload a video to your YouTube channelâand then copy and paste the link into Google ads.
Now you can create videos specifically for advertising purposes, using built-in Google Ads templates. Whether youâre short on time or creative resources, these templates could be incredibly helpful.
Select a Video Template
To create a new video, click the plus icon in the upper left corner of the Asset Library. Select Create Video. Then choose from the dozen or so available templates. (Note that you canât currently create a video without a template from this dashboard.)

Each template has a title like Highlight Your Product Catalog or Feature Your Brand to help you identify when it would be a good idea to use it. The templates also indicate how long the video is and how many assets (including images and logos) you need to create a video. You can open any template to view an example video.

Choose Assets and Add Branding
After picking a template, give the video a name. Keep in mind that the video name will display publicly on YouTube, so itâs a good idea to use your brandâs standard video naming practices when creating in Google Ads.

Next, choose your brand colors and add a logo. You can upload a new logo file or choose from the Asset Library. If youâve already created a folder with logos in different sizes, you can browse or search your folder.
Pick Images and Write Copy
Add the required number of images to complete the template. Each image slot has specific size and orientation requirements. The template also suggests a style, which may be lifestyle or product. Again, you can upload new images or choose from the Asset Library.

Next, write copy for each panel of the video. Depending on the template you chose, you may have to write a couple or close to a dozen snippets.

As you write each section, you can see how it displays on the storyboard at the bottom of the screen to give you a sense of how everything flows together.

Google Ads automatically applies a default font and size to your video. But you can replace it with another font thatâs a better fit for your brand or for the video. You can also adjust the style of the font.
Decide on Music
Finally, choose a royalty-free music track for your video. You can choose from several tracks recommended for your template. Or you can browse the full library. Press the play button to preview any track.

Then review the storyboard, proofread your copy, and double-check the image order. When youâre finished, press the Create Video button.
Publish on YouTube
When you create a video via the Asset Library, you get two options for publishing content. You can either publish it to your existing YouTube channel or an ad storage channel. The latter option lets you create videos solely for advertising purposes, which can be helpful if youâre producing content you donât plan to make public.

Choose an option and then press the Upload Video button to complete the process. Note that you can also edit the video from this interface if you spot an error in the preview.
Get Expert Social Media Marketing Training from the Pros

Want to get ahead of the competition and learn how to diversify your social marketing strategy?
Learn from the industry's most trusted experts, rub elbows with other smart marketers, and take your marketing to the next level during this 3-day event in sunny San Diego, California.
CLICK TO LEARN MOREOnce you publish the video, youâll see a confirmation that you can use it in your ad campaigns. You can save the link if youâd like but youâll be able to find it in your Asset Library at any time.
Add a Voiceover
The Asset Library also lets advertisers add voiceovers to existing videos. Technically, you can add a voiceover to any video youâve uploaded to YouTube. But this option is particularly helpful for ads youâve built from Asset Library templates, as it lets you customize the content.
To add a voiceover, click the plus icon in the upper-left corner of the Asset Library. Open the Video menu and select Add Voice-Over. Then search for the video you want to use or paste in a URL. If you copied the URL from the video you just made, you can enter it here.

Then choose the voiceover settings. You can pick a language and a voice, and you can also adjust the volume of the voiceover and the original video. Type the message youâd like to include in the voiceover and select the starting timestamp.

You can add multiple messages at different timestamps. To preview each, click the play button to the right of the message. Take a look at the preview and click the Create Video button to finish the process. Youâll have the same publishing options as you did earlier so you can publish to your ad storage channel or YouTube channel.
#3: How to Use Creative Assets in Your Asset Library
Once youâve published new videos or uploaded creatives to your Asset Library, you can add them to the ads you build. Letâs look at adding creative assets to three types of Google Ads campaigns that run on YouTube: video, discovery, and display.
Add Assets to Display Campaigns
Create a new campaign in Google Ads and select an objective that works with display campaigns such as website traffic or brand awareness and reach. Choose budget, bidding, and targeting options for your campaign.

At the ad level, access the Asset Library by clicking Images, Logos, or Videos. The Asset Library automatically loads, allowing you to select or search for any creatives youâve already uploaded.

Note that only supported file types will display in this interface. For example, when youâre adding images to an ad, you wonât be able to choose from the videos youâve uploaded to your Asset Library.

When you select an image, Google Ads will automatically crop your image and recommend relevant aspect ratios for your ad. So even if youâve only uploaded landscape images to your Asset Library, it automatically generates square images as necessary.
Link Creative Assets to Video Campaigns
To create a video campaign that runs on YouTube, select a compatible objective like product and brand consideration. Choose from the campaign subtype options and select the bidding and targeting settings.

At the ad level, thereâs no link to access the Asset Library. But you can paste a link to one of the videos you created in the Asset Library, including those published to your ad storage channel.

If you want to add a companion banner for your video ad, you can choose from the Asset Library. Check the box and click Select an already uploaded image to add a pre-existing banner file.
Use the Asset Library for Discovery Campaigns
To create a discovery campaign, choose a compatible objective, like sales or leads. After selecting campaign settings and targeting options, scroll down to build your ad.

Then click Images or Logos to open your Asset Library. Similar to the display campaign workflow, Google Ads automatically generates a variety of aspect ratios based on your original image, helping you create options efficiently.

#4: How to Organize Content in the Google Ads Asset Library
If your business actively advertises on YouTube, itâs important to keep your Asset Library organized. Currently, you canât delete, rename, or otherwise modify assets after uploading so itâs essential to know how to organize and locate them.
Set Up a Folder System
You can upload pre-existing folders directly to the Asset Library. But you can also organize folders as you go.

To create a new folder in your Asset Library, click the plus icon in the upper-left corner and select Folder. Give the folder name. Then open it and upload files directly to it. You can also create multiple folder sub-levels for added organization.

With the Asset Libraryâs folder system, you can organize creatives by:
- Campaign
- Ad group
- Placements
- Theme
- Logos
Itâs important to note that the Asset Library doesnât currently support creative modification. Once youâve uploaded a creative anywhere in the Asset Library, you canât move or delete it. So if youâve misplaced a creative or if you want to move it, your best bet is to re-upload it to the correct spot.
Search for Creative Assets
To locate creatives in your Asset Library, click Add Filter in the upper-left corner. Then select an option from the dropdown menu. For example, you can filter creatives based on file name, asset type, image dimension, or video duration.

The Asset Library allows you to apply multiple filters at once. Since you have the option to narrow your search by name, location, date, and specs, itâs much easier to find what youâre looking for.

You can also search folders directly. Hover over any folder and click the three dots in the upper-right corner. Select Search within and use the same steps as above to apply one or more filters.
Conclusion
Whether you want to create assets for YouTube ads on a budget or collaborate more efficiently, the Google Ads Asset Library can help you reach your goals. And keep an eye out for added functionality as Google has stated that the Asset Library will support additional asset types in the future.
Get More Advice on Marketing with YouTube Ads:
- Find four tips to improve your YouTube video ad creative to reach your desired outcomes.
- Learn how to properly set up and run three low-stakes video ads on YouTube.
- Discover 12 new ad formats and targeting features that will enhance your video ad campaigns.
Curious about NFTs, DAOs, and Web3?

Follow the Crypto Business podcast to find out how NFTs, social tokens, DAOs (and so much more) will affect your business in the near future.
Every Friday, host Michael Stelzner interviews leading industry experts about what works right now in Web3 and what to expect in the future, so you can prepare your business for the shift, even if you're a total newbie.