YouTube has launched the Director suite of products, intended to make it easier for small businesses to create video ads and start advertising on its platform.

The suite is made up of three parts, the first of which is the YouTube Director for business app which promises to enable the creation of a video ad direct from a smartphone in as little as 20 minutes, without requiring any editing experience or know-how. The app is initially launching on iOS in the US and Canada.

Its also introducing an automated video service for app developers, which creates an ad from existing assets like logos and screenshots, which is available globally.

Finally, and perhaps most impressively, YouTube is also launching the Director onsite service. This offers businesses the services of a professional filmmaker for free, to shoot and edit a video ad for them, as long as they commit to spending $150 on YouTube advertising. This service is initially available in six US cities, but YouTube promises it will roll out to more in the near future.

Don’t forget to enter the Effective Mobile Marketing Awards. The Early Bird deadline for submissions is 22 July. More details here.