YouTube Shorts adds comments and creator links to ads
YouTube is rolling out new ad features for Shorts aimed at helping brands stretch their holiday marketing budgets — and capitalize on short-form video momentum.
What’s new:
- Comments on Shorts ads: Advertisers can now enable comments on eligible Shorts ads, bringing the ad experience closer to organic content and creating new avenues for real-time audience engagement.
- Creator links to brand sites: Shorts creators posting branded content can now link directly to a brand’s website — giving viewers a seamless path from discovery to action.
- Shorts ads on mobile web: YouTube is expanding Shorts ad placement to the mobile web, adding another surface to reach viewers as they bounce between devices — from TV to desktop to mobile apps.
Why we care. These updates make Shorts ads feel more interactive, more native and more actionable — three things that directly improve performance in a crowded holiday season. Comment-enabled ads boost engagement signals and help brands understand audience reactions in real time.
Creator link-outs shorten the path from discovery to purchase, turning creator influence into measurable traffic. And expanded placement on mobile web means more reach during the busiest shopping months of the year.
The big picture. With more consumers watching short-form video across screens, YouTube is positioning Shorts as the platform that pairs creator authenticity with measurable performance — a pitch aimed squarely at holiday-focused advertisers.
What’s next. Advertisers could benefit from YouTube’s more interactive, creator-friendly Shorts ads by helping to cut through the noise — and convert attention into holiday sales.
