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  • [3 Ad Thursday] 💰 Brain Health Ad With $1.9 Million In Ad Spend That Broke YouTube

[3 Ad Thursday] 💰 Brain Health Ad With $1.9 Million In Ad Spend That Broke YouTube

Also inside: A $650K hearing-aid hit and an interesting posture-story ad

Welcome to, or welcome back to this week’s VidTao 3 Ad Thursday!

Each Thursday we’ll be diving into our VidTao YouTube ad library to uncover 3 high-performing YouTube ads driving results.

This week we’ve got three high-performing YouTube ads for you to check out & model, including:

  • 💥 Neck Massaging Product (Hug Terra Massager Ad)...

  • 👂 Nebroo Hearing Aid Ad ($650k+ AdSpend)...

  • 👀 Elephant Memory Ad ($1.9M in AdSpend!)...

Ready to check the ads out?

~ update from our friends at Funnel of the Week ~

Air Fryers, ‘Dark Posting’ & Category Creation for
a $4B Market

Our friends at Funnel of the Week just released a new funnel breakdown

…This time it’s a DTC beauty brand using dark posting + smart benefit repositioning to turn a decades-old niche product into a mainstream hit.

The product? Shampoo bars. The angle? No longer “eco-friendly” - now it’s hair transformation stories like:

“My hair grew 4 inches in 2 months”
“Finally found the solution for my thin, lifeless hair”

And the growth opportunity is huge:

  • US shampoo bar market: $4.13B, growing 7.7% annually

  • Only 35% of consumers know this category exists

  • Only 8% have tried solid shampoo bars

Inside this breakdown, you’ll see:

 ✓ All “dark post” influencer accounts running now - and how they target different demos
✓ Creative strategy that shifts from eco benefits to personal transformation
✓ The awareness stage moves that take someone from “never heard of it” to “ordering today”
✓ How this exact framework has created billion-dollar markets before (electric toothbrushes, plant-based meat, and more)

Let's dive right in and take a closer look at this week's YouTube ad standouts and discover what makes them so successful.

💥 Neck Massaging Product (Hug Terra Massager Ad)

Out first ad pick for this week is a neck massager ad we found inside VidTao:

This ad's estimated total ad spend is over $120k!

These are some of the elements this ad combines:

💬 1. Relatable Everyday Entry Point

The ad starts by speaking directly to desk workers -  a broad audience plagued by posture issues:

Is every person who works at a desk doomed to get a neck hump?

This instantly frames a common, unspoken insecurity and establishes curiosity.

😔 2. Emotional Self-Recognition & Embarrassment

The story moves from mild concern (“a little bump forming”) to emotional pain - highlighted by the “Quasimodo” comment from a child.

This humiliation moment triggers empathy and identification - the audience feels the discomfort and social anxiety of visible aging.

🌀 3. Frustration with Failed Solutions

He lists every conventional approach - posture braces, YouTube stretches, chairs, massages, chiropractic - and clearly labels them as temporary, painful, or unrealistic.

This section validates the viewer’s skepticism (“I tried everything too”) while positioning the new product as the logical alternative.

🧠 4. Authority & Unique Mechanism

Introduces Dr. Alexander Brown, a neurologist who identified a “neck hump pandemic.”

Adds credibility and a reason why: lockdown habits and screen time.

Then, the breakthrough mechanism is broken down clearly -

Massage + Heat + EMS + Traction → “the 26° magical angle that restores your neck curve.”

This “tech explanation” satisfies rational buyers while keeping emotional storytelling intact.

✨ 5. Transformation & Identity Reclaim

After using it daily, the speaker describes both physical and emotional results:

  • Less tension

  • Better sleep

  • Improved posture

  • “I look like me again.”
    That last line reframes the transformation from a product benefit into a personal identity win.

🛡️ 6. Risk Reversal & Scarcity Close

Ends with classic DR stack:

“60-day money-back guarantee” → eliminates hesitation.

If you can add one to your cart, you’re one of the lucky ones.” → builds scarcity and urgency.

🎯 7. Overall Strategy

This ad follows the “Problem → Struggle → Discovery → Proof → Transformation → Guarantee” storytelling arc, delivered in raw UGC tone.

It’s a perfect hybrid between testimonial authenticity and long-form VSL storytelling -  ideal for YouTube in-stream or long-scroll landing pages.

Inside VidTao ad spy tool, you can also see other amazing ads by this advertiser for some additional inspo:


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👂 Nebroo Hearing Aid Ad ($650k+ AdSpend)

Next up - this hearing-aid ad by the brand Nebroo we found inside VidTao!

Check it out:

💰 This ad's estimated total ad spend is over $650k!

These are some of the elements this ad combines:

🪝 Hook that stops the scroll

Opens with an immediate outcome claim (“haven’t asked anyone to repeat themselves in 3 months”)—fast credibility + curiosity before any brand mention.

🧪 Teach to sell

A whiteboard mini-lesson (ear canal → ossicles → cochlea → stereocilia) positions the speaker as a guide. Visuals + simple language = high retention and trust.

🧩 Reframe the real problem

Not “your ears are weak,” but “stereocilia are broken, so your brain gets messy, low-quality input.” Sets up why simple amplification fails - and why clarity is the win.

🦹 Name the villain

Legacy hearing aids = big price, tests, fittings, middlemen, poor speakers. This creates contrast for a DTC solution and justifies a dramatic price cut.

⚙️ New mechanism = reason to believe

Introduces the Voxumana chip: real-time voice enhancement, scenario-aware adjustment, low power, tiny form factor. New = newsworthy = shareable.

🧾 Price anchoring & deal framing

Anchors at $4,672 average, then drops “under $100” + “70% off.” The delta does the persuasion heavy lifting, especially for seniors on fixed incomes.

🗣️ Social proof that feels native

Testimonial montage: comfort, “forgot it was in,” easy controls, hearing clarity in daily contexts (TV, across the house, busy environments). Moves claims from lab to life.

🎯 Benefit ladder

Functional: clearer speech, TV, calls → Emotional: confidence, independence, “old self again.” The ad ascends from features to identity.

Urgency + scarcity

“Limited time,” “pressure from big brands,” “went out of stock last time.” Gives fence-sitters a reason to act now.

Inside VidTao ad spy tool, you can also check unique landing page URLs by this (or any other!) advertiser:

👀 Elephant Memory Ad ($1.9M in AdSpend!)

Last ad pick for this week -  Elephant Memory ad!

This ad talks about brain health improvement

…and its estimated total ad spend is over $1.9M! 💰

Here are some of the elements this ad combines:

🪝 Hook that stops the scroll

Opens with an intriguing claim about eggs and brain health, immediately followed by a visual comparison of brain scans to pique curiosity.

🎭 Emotional storytelling

Uses a personal narrative about a husband's dementia diagnosis to create an emotional connection and sense of urgency.

🧩 Reframe the real problem

Shifts the narrative from "aging is inevitable" to "your brain is clogged with toxins," suggesting a fixable problem.

👨‍🔬 Expert authority

Introduces Dr. Sam Walters, a former NASA scientist, to lend credibility to the claims and solution presented.

🦹 Name the villain

Points to the American food industry as the culprit, using neurotoxic chemicals that harm brain health.

⚙️ New mechanism = reason to believe

Presents a "7-second brain detox loophole" as a novel, easy-to-implement solution for brain health.

🏆 Dramatic results

Claims rapid improvements in brain function, clearing brain fog "practically overnight."

🧾 Before and after

Contrasts the husband's condition before (forgetful, trouble speaking) and after (dramatic improvement) using the solution.

🗣️ Social proof

Mentions family members and friends who have also benefited from the brain detox loophole.

🧰 Compliance cushion

Includes phrases like "I'm not sure if this might interest you" to soften the sales pitch and appear more conversational.

🎯 Benefit ladder

Moves from addressing specific symptoms (forgetfulness, brain fog) to broader life impacts (independence, enjoying retirement).

To finish off with, here’s a quick look at their advertorial-type landing page:


🕵️ Want to “Spy” on over 29 million YouTube ads (and landing pages)?

Go here to claim your free trial of the VidTao Premium YouTube Ad Library👇

That’s all for this week, folks! 🚀

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

Want more insights like these?

Stay tuned for next week’s VidTao 3 Ad Thursday, where we’ll continue breaking down winning strategies from the best YouTube ads in the game!

And btw… If you have questions about YouTube ads?

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!

PPS - Are you spending $1k/day+ on Paid Ads? 👉 Go here to set up a free YouTube Ad brainstorm chat.