[2 Shorts Tuesday] 🦷 Whitening toothpaste and unique glasses - what are their winning strategies?

Want to see some YouTube Shorts ads that are scaling right now?

You’re in luck…

Because today is 2 Shorts Tuesday. Why YouTube Shorts ads?

Because YouTube Shorts ad inventory is only going to keep growing:

…And critically, most DTC & Direct Response advertisers are still under-leveraging YouTube Shorts as an ad placement.

(and the upside is huge)

So, what are some ways you can succeed with YouTube Shorts ads?

Let’s take a closer look at 2 YouTube Shorts ads doing well right now:

🦷 Ad #1: Radiant Whitening Toothpaste – “My boyfriend is a freak about his teeth”

This first ad we chose for this week blends TikTok-style testimonial energy with a satisfying side-by-side demo that instantly builds product superiority through proof and relatability:

This ad contains:

✅ Authentic UGC-style rant → feels real, not scripted
✅ Visual proof: 3-way stain-cleaning test + yellow teeth model
✅ Fast transformation → no waiting, no strips

Let’s dissect it part by part:

👀 Hook – “Holy sh*t. Okay, I see why this is going viral.”

Why it works:

Immediate intrigue. The casual, breathless delivery feels like a friend sending a voice note - which disarms the viewer while signaling “this stuff works.”

🧪 Visual Proof – Paper towel stain test + teeth model scrub

Why it works:

Watching one toothpaste outshine the others in real time is addictive - the brushing combined with dramatic results does all the selling. Plus, the model teeth shot dramatizes the problem.

💥 Offer Close – “I’ve seen them sell out twice now, so I linked it below.”

Why it works:

Social proof + scarcity + no hard sell = perfect CTA for short-form. The product feels in-demand and hard to get, which boosts urgency without needing a discount.

Here’s a quick scroll thought this advertiser’s langing page:

🔑 Key Takeaways

1️⃣ Hybrid structure: UGC + visual test → satisfying + believable
2️⃣ Emotional trigger: Personal voice → feels like advice, not pitch
3️⃣ Scarcity stack: Sellout mention = FOMO kicker at just the right moment

👓 Ad #2: Anti-Blue Light Presbyopia Glasses – “You don’t need a prescription”

This next ad for a unique product dials into an overlooked pain point (aging eyes + screen strain) with a clean, benefit-stacked pitch and a show-and-tell format that works without sound:

✅ Pain relief + vision boost + cosmetic benefit
✅ Before/after frames demo lens power clearly
✅ Designed for the 40+ viewer who's tech-tired

But let’s start from the hook…

👀 Hook – "These are not regular glasses..."

Why it works:

Classic bait-and-switch structure. Sets the stage for curiosity by promising a twist - and then follows through with benefits that feel new, not recycled.

👁 Demo – Overhead paper test + on-face showcase

Why it works:

The colored lens filtering + magnification effect is made obvious via the printed text demo. No complex science needed - the viewer sees the advantage.

🛒 Benefit Stack – "Block blue light, reduce fatigue, no prescription needed."

Why it works:

It checks multiple boxes fast - health, performance, convenience. And the prescription-free angle lowers friction instantly for the over-40 demo.

Additionally, here’s what this advertiser’s landing page looks like:

🔑 Key Takeaways

1️⃣ Demo clarity = comprehension in 3 seconds
2️⃣ Age-aware product, youth-aware delivery – smart contrast
3️⃣ “No prescription needed” is a big unlock for mass-market clickers

That’s all for this week! 🚀

We hope this week’s selection of high-performing YouTube Shorts ads has sparked new ideas to test yourself!

Want more insights like these?

Stay tuned for next week’s VidTao 2 Shorts Tuesday…

…where we’ll continue breaking down winning YouTube Shorts Ads you can break down + model for your own creatives & campaigns.

And btw… If you have questions about YouTube ads or YouTube Shorts ads in particular?

Go here to schedule a free chat with our friends at Inceptly. Inceptly is a top Direct Response video ad agency, specializing in high-performing YouTube ad creatives & media buying.

Have a great week!

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