That’s a common issue, but you’re on the right track thinking it might be related to audience size or bidding strategy. Even if your campaign is marked as “eligible,” YouTube may not serve your ad if it’s struggling to win auctions or find enough viewers in your selected audience.
If your in-market audience is too narrow or layered with other filters (like age, gender, or device), your reach can shrink fast. Pair that with a CPV bid that’s a bit too low, and the algorithm might deprioritize your campaign — especially if there’s high competition.
Another thing to consider is how your ad performed on day one. If your view rate or engagement was low, YouTube might have pulled back delivery to avoid wasting impressions. And sometimes, inventory for in-market segments is limited — so even with a solid bid, there just may not be enough ad space.
Here’s what you can try:
Increase your CPV bid slightly (even 20–30% can help spark delivery).
Broaden your targeting by removing extra filters or combining a few related in-market audiences.
Test “Maximize conversions” or “Target CPM” bidding to let the algorithm optimize delivery.
Double-check your video hook — if it doesn’t grab attention in the first 5 seconds, engagement (and delivery) can suffer.
