YouTube is mainly used as a video distribution platform. The Audi channel is ideally suited as a public archive for high-quality videos, e.g. current campaigns or items that tell stories about the brand. This enables direct contact and discussion with Audi’s subscribers and fans. There are various options for designing the channel, such as through the channel image, preview images or the posted content. The Audi brand appearance is reflected in all posts.

The rings in the profile image allow the page to be clearly identified. Information about the use of the profile image as well as the download of the templates are available in the guide “Social media – Introduction”.

General notes

As the social media guidelines for YouTube change each year, please review the guidelines for the platform that have been set for the current year. These include things such as the specific asset sections in which important image details and text elements are not allowed to be placed (safety zone), as well as the file output size specified for the asset.

Market-specific adjustments can be made following the rules set out below provided that the legal regulations are complied with. For example, checks need to be made as to whether legal information  such as a disclaimer or consumer information needs to be integrated into the description texts (and if yes, exactly where and in what size) or directly into the video/image elements.

More details about font sizes and styles for subtitles and disclaimers can be found in the section “In detail: Subtitles and disclaimers in videos” in the guide Communication Media > Social Media > Introduction.

 

Channel image

So that important image information is not covered up, the platform’s cropping procedure needs to be considered when it comes to the placement of the cover image. Unlike the desktop view (2), in the mobile or app view (1) the channel image is cut off on the left and right. All elements must be placed on the image in such a way that they are fully visible on all end devices, despite any cropping that may occur.  The cover image uses the Audi image style, always uses the full dimensions and contains little text, so that it is displayed in an optimal way on all devices and screen sizes. There are no mandatory requirements for the placement of text, as this will depend on the image used in each case. The minimum font size for disclaimers, inserted in Audi Type Normal, is 13 points

In order to avoid duplication, rings should not be placed on the cover image. 

In the desktop view, the platform also provides the option of inserting individual channel elements (3), therefore enabling links to the Audi website or to specific areas of the website. By default, the elements can be found in the bottom right of the desktop view. In the mobile view, this function is not supported.

Example: Channel image in the YouTube app.
Example: Channel image in the desktop view.

Posts

In posts, the brand elements (ringsbrand claimcolourstypographyimage stylelayout structureicons and animation) are used as described in the Basics chapter. Content is designed in accordance with the Audi Brand Appearance: high-quality and understated as well as authentic and self-confident.

For video posts, the appropriate motion branding needs to be used. Depending on the length of the post, either the opener or the branding short version is used. To ensure the implementation is CI-compliant, the Motion Branding software should be used.

Thumbnails

YouTube places various elements on the thumbnail: in the video search, for example, a timecode is added, and in the playlist view an overlay is added on the right, with the number of videos and an icon.

Standard rings are used for the thumbnail. The ideal position for placing the rings is in the lower left-hand corner.

  • Distance from the outer edge of the ring to the left edge of the image: 107 px (1)
  • Distance from the outer edge of the ring to the lower edge of the image: 130 px (2)
  • Audi standard rings: 184 pt | 514 x 178 px (3)

Thumbnails with text

To clearly identify thumbnails, in addition to the Audi rings they can also include textual information such as episode title and playlist name.

Example: Overlay of the thumbnail by the timecode.
Example: Overlay of the thumbnail in the playlist view.
Youtube Thumbnails Template
Includes a Photoshop file and a Quick Start Guide (PDF).
ZIP
420.3 KB

Option 1: Episode title & playlist name

  • Episode title: Audi Type Extended Normal: 100 pt, ZAB 140 pt (1).
    Note: Episode titles amount to a maximum of three lines and do not run into the image focus on the right-hand side.
  • Playlist name: Audi Type Extended Bold: 70 pt (2).
    Note: Playlist names are always single-line and aligned with a fixed spacing of 119 px from the episode title. They are never placed alone or without an associated episode title. The distance to the Audi rings may vary depending on the number of lines in the episode title.
  • The font elements can be optionally fine-tuned typographically with an optical tracking of -15, as described in the Typography Guide.
  • Audi rings standard: 184 pt | 514 x 178 px (3).

     

Option 2: Episode title

 

  • Episode title: Audi Type Extended Normal: 100 pt, ZAB 140 pt (1).
    Note: Episode titles are to amount to a maximum of three lines and should not run into the image focus on the right-hand side.
  • The font elements can be optionally fine-tuned typographically with an optical tracking of -15, as described in the Typography Guide.
  • Audi rings standard: 184 pt | 514 x 178 px (2).

     

 

Bildaufbau der Vorschaubilder mit Text

  • The right-hand side is for the image focus, which should always reflect the episode title (1).
  • The left-hand side is for textual content such as episode titles with optional playlist names as well as the Audi rings. To ensure good readability, this image area can be darkened with a subtle gradation (2).
  • For the final thumbnail, ensure that the image focus is on the right-hand side. The content area is to be on the left and should not protrude into the image focus (3).

 

End cards

The YouTube end card is a short clip at the end of a video that is intended to deepen the viewer's interest and enables linking to additional videos, playlists, a website, and subscription to the channel.

Audi end cards are always displayed after the TVC ending on a black background and contain a maximum of three links next to the profile picture (subscription button).


End cards normally comprise the following contents:  

  • Subscribe to the channel: Click on the profile image to subscribe to the Audi channel (1).
  • Video or playlist links: Link to another video relating to the topic (2) or to a YouTube playlist (3).
  • External link: Leads to the Audi website. Preferably, an image of the linked website is used – YouTube offers a pre-selection here. If none of the images is suitable (such as because of the content or because the image content is too small), the WWW icon can be used as an alternative (4).

 

Positioning

To ensure a consistent flow, the transition between the end of the video and the beginning of the end card is very important. The end card is only shown after the end of the video. The total duration is 20 seconds.

Youtube Endcards Template
Includes an Adobe Photoshop file, a Premiere file, and a Quick Start Guide (PDF).
ZIP
16.8 MB

Layout

When designing the end cards, there are four different layout options to guide the audience to previously selected videos or playlists or to the Audi website as needed. All options are provided on the official Audi YouTube channel.

End cards are always designed in 1920 x 1080 px format (1) within the given workspace of the platform (2).

Option 1: Single link

The video (or playlist) link is placed centred below the profile image.

Option 2: Two links

The video (or playlist) links are placed on the left- or right-hand side of the workspace.

Option 3: Single link + link to website

The video (or playlist) link is placed on the left-hand side, and the website thumbnail is placed on the right-hand side of the workspace.

Option 4: Two links + link to website

The video (or playlist) links are placed on the left- and right-hand sides. The website thumbnail is placed centred below the profile image.

Special features of the platform

 

YouTube teaser thumbnail 

The ideal size for thumbnails used on the platform is 1920 x 1080 px (72 dpi).

 

Channel branding in the video

Through the use of permanent channel branding on the bottom right while the video is playing, it is possible to link to the Audi YouTube channel (not shown in the mobile view) and to have the brand respectively the Audi rings constantly present.

 

Interactive elements in stories

Stories, which are exclusively available on mobile, are available only in vertical, 9:16 format. YouTube positions several interface elements on the stories (in the top or lower area of the screen). Important content cannot be covered by these elements. 

Note: The placement varies depending on the age and operating system (Android or iOS) of the user’s device, which means it can also end up in the content area (1).

 

Cropping and overlays with videos

Images in the preview are automatically displayed by YouTube in the 1:1 format. The posts are only shown in full when they are clicked. In order to avoid important image content being cropped and unable to be viewed in full, a square aspect ratio is recommended.

Don'ts 

Important elements in the channel picture are cut off or disappear completely in YouTube’s mobile view.
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