In my opinion the only sponsorships that actually work are the ones that are integrated into the content.

For example Linus Tech Tips wearing his clothing in his videos and using his screwdriver. For car and/or hardware channels I often see sponsors products being used throughout the video as well, which you can't skip with Sponsor block.

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StackRanker3000 5 days ago | parent | next [-]

What do you mean when you say ”work”? That you personally find them helpful? Or that they’re the only ones that can’t be easily avoided even if the viewer wants to?

I think it’s pretty clear that other forms of sponsorships also drive revenue to advertisers (whatever people may feel about that)

	▲	BizarroLand 5 days ago \| parent \| next [-]
		Work as in, "are effective at advertising a product" Showing "regular" people solving common recurring issues like, "what clothes should I wear, what tool will simplify this task, what products are effective at a good value, what software/hardware can accomplish the goals I have set" are the only effective advertising for many people. Sure, with kids you can show them a cool toy that other kids are playing with, inspiring desire. You can show adults and teens a sexy girl or a hot guy somehow attached to the product so that by association your product is hot or sexy, but those are the low handing fruit and only work on specific demographics. However, if you can clearly identify your target audience and then put a product that matches that audience in front of them while showing how the product is being used, thats it. Everyone who would purchase that type of product will buy it.
	▲	FinnKuhn 5 days ago \| parent \| prev \| next [-]
		I think the two existing replies to this question already answered this mostly, but I would define a "working" sponsorship as one that makes me consider buying it. Sponsorships that are basically just an add I don't even see thanks to SponsorBlock for example. So those are "not working" for me. But for the LTT screwdriver or the bamboo labs 3D printers where I see how they can be used I actually consider buying them or have already done so. One factor for this is obviously that they can't be skipped, but the bigger one is that they are obviously more relevant for me as I am already interested in the video's topic and therefore the products used in it.
	▲	lcnPylGDnU4H9OF 5 days ago \| parent \| prev [-]
		> Or that they’re the only ones that can’t be easily avoided even if the viewer wants to? Surely this one given what they wrote. > which you can't skip

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jorvi 5 days ago | parent | prev | next [-]

What I've never understood is, aren't people slowly waking up to product placement and sponsored content?

Whenever I see something thoroughly being advertised, and especially stealthily advertised, I immediately assume you have a shit product and need to bribe your way to success. Nothing turns me off more from a product than seeing an advertisement for it.

	▲	reddalo 4 days ago \| parent [-]
		In theory I agree with you, but apparently most people fall for it.

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legitster 5 days ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Honestly, LTT does a real good job of their in-content ads as well. 30 seconds at the beginning and end. Them being so short and sweet really makes them more palatable.

What's crazy is they've said their 60 seconds of ads per video generate way more revenue per video than Google's minutes of Google Adsense ads. So the real story here is the collapse of Adsense.

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unsignedint 5 days ago | parent | prev [-]

Product placement ads can be the best kind when they’re done well. The catch is they take far more effort to weave naturally into content, and that limits the kinds of sponsorships you can accept.

The sweet spot is when it feels seamless, but too often creators overdo it and the result is hilariously awkward. Think of someone discussing, say, the dangers of mountain climbing, then suddenly blurting out: “And you know what else is dangerous? An unprotected connection. Which is why you need X VPN!”