How do I run an ad on YouTube from Pakistan?

YouTube does not sell ads separately; everything runs through Google Ads. So the first step is a Google Ads account in your business's name with a payment method that works, which for most Pakistani businesses means a card enabled for international online payments. The same account can later run Search ads, so set it up properly rather than as a one-off.

Next, the video. It must be uploaded to YouTube before you can use it as an ad. Many advertisers upload ads as unlisted, so they do not clutter the channel's public page but can still be used in campaigns. Keep a few versions ready: a longer cut for skippable ads, a six-second bumper and a vertical cut for Shorts placements.

Then the campaign. In Google Ads, start a new campaign and choose the goal that matches your purpose: awareness, consideration such as views, or conversions such as leads or sales. Video campaigns suit views and reach; Demand Gen campaigns suit action-focused goals across YouTube, including Shorts, and other Google surfaces. Set the locations, ideally Islamabad, Rawalpindi or a radius around your business with the option for people in or regularly in those places. Add audiences, exclusions, the budget, the bid strategy and the video, and submit for review.

Before launching, link the YouTube channel to the Google Ads account in the account's linked accounts settings. This lets you build lists of people who watched your videos or visited your channel and show them follow-up ads, which is often where YouTube advertising pays for itself. It also brings channel engagement data into Google Ads reporting.