What is View Through Rate (VTR)?
View Through Rate (VTR) is a critical performance metric in video advertising that measures the percentage of people who watched your video ad to completion (or to a specific pre-defined point) compared to the total number of times the ad was displayed (impressions).
Unlike Click-Through Rate (CTR), which measures immediate action, VTR is primarily used to gauge ad engagement and the effectiveness of your video creative. It tells you how compelling your content is and whether it is holding the audience's attention.
How to Calculate VTR
The math behind calculating your View Through Rate is straightforward. It is the ratio of completed views to total impressions, expressed as a percentage.
VTR = (Completed Views / Total Impressions) × 100
Example Calculation:
If your video ad was displayed 10,000 times (Impressions) and users watched the video to completion 4,500 times (Completed Views), your calculation would be:
- (4,500 / 10,000) = 0.45
- 0.45 × 100 = 45% VTR
Why is VTR Important?
VTR is distinct from other metrics because it focuses on consumption rather than acquisition. It is vital for branding campaigns where the goal is storytelling rather than immediate sales.
- Creative Quality Check: A low VTR often indicates that the video content is not engaging, the hook is too slow, or the ad is irrelevant to the audience.
- Platform Optimization: Different platforms (YouTube, Instagram, Programmatic Video) have different benchmarks. Tracking VTR helps you allocate budget to the highest-performing channels.
- Format Analysis: It helps determine if skippable ads are performing better than non-skippable formats in terms of user retention.
What is a Good VTR Benchmark?
Benchmarks for View Through Rate vary heavily based on the platform, industry, and ad format (skippable vs. non-skippable). However, general industry standards suggest:
- Programmatic Video: 60% – 70% is considered healthy.
- YouTube Skippable Ads (TrueView): 15% – 20% is average; anything above 25% is excellent.
- Mobile App Video: VTRs can often be lower due to quick scrolling behavior.
Tips to Improve Your VTR
- Hook the Audience Early: You have roughly 3-5 seconds to grab attention before a user scrolls or clicks "Skip." Put your most compelling imagery or message right at the start.
- Optimize Video Length: Shorter videos (15-30 seconds) generally have higher completion rates than long-form content (60+ seconds) in an ad environment.
- Refine Targeting: If your VTR is low, you might be showing a great video to the wrong people. Tighten your demographic or interest-based targeting.
- Use Captions: Many users watch video on mobile devices with the sound off. Ensure your message is readable without audio.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is VTR the same as Conversion Rate?
No. VTR measures how many people watched the video. Conversion rate measures how many people took a specific action (like buying a product) after seeing the ad.
Does a high VTR guarantee sales?
Not necessarily. A high VTR means people enjoy watching your ad, but it doesn't always correlate to clicks or purchases. It is a top-of-funnel brand awareness metric.
What is the difference between VTR and VCR (Video Completion Rate)?
These terms are often used interchangeably. However, VCR strictly implies the video ran to 100% completion, whereas some platforms might count a "View" (for VTR) if a user watches 30 seconds of a longer video.