[3 Ad Thursday] 🤯 This Tai Chi ad has racked up over $15M in ad spend...

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:

• ☕ RYZE Mushroom Coffee Ad With Over $650k in Ad Spend…

• 💪 Tai Chi App Ad With Over $15M in AdSpend…

• 🌱 AUK Indoor Garden System Ad With Over A Million Dollars in Ad Spend…

Ready to check the ads out?

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

☕ RYZE Mushroom Coffee Ad With Over $650k in Ad Spend

Our first ad pick for this week is this RYZE mushroom coffee ad we found inside VidTao, check it out:

This ad had nearly $650K in estimated ad spend! 💰

Here are some of the elements this ad consists of:

🎯 Opening Hook 

"This is what would happen to a man who drinks alcohol regularly if he started drinking one cup of RYZE mushroom coffee every day for 3 weeks"

• Hyper-specific targeting: Not "people" or "you" — "a man who drinks alcohol regularly" = instant self-identification

• Sets clear timeframe (3 weeks) = makes transformation feel achievable, not years away

• "One cup every day" = simplicity promise (small daily action, big results)

• Opens a story loop: viewer MUST keep watching to see what happens

Psychological mechanism: You've just identified yourself as the character in this story — now you need to see how it ends

🍄 Day 1: Immediate Gratification 

"After his first cup, his liver starts getting a much-needed break"

• Instant benefit claim: Something happens immediately (not "eventually" or "over time")

• "Much-needed break" = validates that viewer's liver IS currently suffering

• Names mechanism: "RYZE supports natural detoxification processes"

• "Subtle lift in energy and clearer head the very first day" = tangible same-day results

Hook retention: Promises immediate feedback loop — viewer imagines feeling this TODAY

📅 Week 1: Noticeable Changes 

"After about a week, he notices he's not as bloated or groggy in the mornings, even after a few drinks"

• Permission to keep drinking: "Even after a few drinks" = doesn't require sobriety, just mitigation

• Addresses specific pain points: bloating, grogginess (relatable morning-after symptoms)

• Names new ingredients: "Turkey tail and shiitake improving gut health"

• "Reducing digestive burden" = scientific-sounding without being clinical

Lifestyle positioning: You don't have to quit drinking — just add this one thing

💪 Week 2: Performance Upgrade 

"After two weeks, he'll feel a noticeable boost in stamina and mental sharpness"

• Performance benefits introduced: Shifts from "damage control" to "enhancement"

• "Cordyceps support healthy circulation and natural energy" = new mechanism reveal

• "Bounce back faster from nights out" = still frames alcohol as part of lifestyle

• "Think more clearly during the day" = appeals to work performance anxiety

Benefit expansion: No longer just fixing alcohol damage — now upgrading baseline performance

✨ Week 3: Transformation Complete

"By week three, his body feels lighter, his face less puffy, and his energy more stable"

• Visual transformation claims: "Face less puffy" = observable change others might notice

• Introduces cortisol balance + inflammatory response = addresses root causes

• Bonus benefits stacked: "Better sleep, clearer skin, stronger immune system"

• Uses "might even notice" = hedges extreme claims while planting expectation

Aspiration peak: This is the "after" photo moment — viewer imagines being this version of themselves

🎁 Risk Reversal + CTA 

"Try it for 30 days risk-free and feel the difference for yourself"

• Extended trial period: 30 days (not just 3 weeks mentioned earlier) = more time to experience benefits

• "Risk-free" = implies money-back guarantee without saying it explicitly

• "This week only" = urgency injection

• Bonus gift (acacia spoon) = low-cost premium to increase perceived value

Final push: Removes all logical objections while creating time pressure

💡 Why This Ad Works

✅ Timeline Structure Creates Anticipation

Instead of listing all benefits at once, the day/week progression keeps viewer engaged — they NEED to see what happens next

✅ Targets Guilt Without Shame

Never says "you drink too much" or "alcohol is bad" — just acknowledges reality and offers mitigation strategy

✅ Permission-Based Marketing

"Even after a few drinks" = you don't have to change your lifestyle, just add this product to it

✅ Benefit Layering (Not Repetition)

Each time marker introduces NEW benefits:

• Day 1: Energy + mental clarity

• Week 1: Reduced bloating + better mornings

• Week 2: Stamina + cognitive performance

• Week 3: Physical appearance + immune health

✅ Mechanism Name-Dropping

Lists specific mushrooms (reishi, turkey tail, shiitake, cordyceps) to sound scientifically credible without requiring understanding

✅ Visual Storytelling Support

• Alcohol consumption imagery (fire visual = liver damage)

• Internal organ graphics (liver highlighted)

• Transformation shots (before/after implied through progression)

• Product showcase (clean, premium packaging)

✅ Third-Person Narrative Creates Safety

"A man who drinks" (not "you") = lets viewer observe transformation without feeling directly accused

RYZE has many other amazing ads to model after, with thousands (even millions) of $$ in ad spend, don’t miss out:

💪 Tai Chi App Ad With Over $15M in AdSpend!

Next up - this tai chi personalized workout plan ad we found inside VidTao, with over $15M estimated ad spend.

Here are some of the elements this ad consists of:

🎯 Opening Hook

"Running breaks your joints. Tai Chi builds them back. After 50, you need that."

• Enemy identification: Running = villain (destroys what you're trying to protect)

• Solution positioning: Tai Chi = hero (rebuilds what's broken)

• Age gate: "After 50" = immediate self-selection filter

• Three short sentences = punchy, memorable, quotable

Psychological mechanism: If you're over 50 and still running, you're actively harming yourself

📅 Timeline Teaser

"In one week, you'll see your energy. In two weeks, you'll feel your breath. In 3 weeks, you'll have energy and your wife won't believe your results."

• Progressive benefits structure: (borrowed from RYZE timeline format)

  • Week 1: Internal feeling (energy)

  • Week 2: Physical awareness (breath)

  • Week 3: Observable transformation (wife notices)

• Social proof injection: "Your wife won't believe" = implies visible change others notice

• Fast timeline (3 weeks) = lowers commitment threshold

Hook retention: Viewer now wants to know HOW this timeline works

📱 Product Introduction 

"Here is the personalized plan of short Tai Chi workouts tailored for beginners over 50"

• Personalization promise: Not generic videos — "tailored for you"

• Time commitment: "Just 7 minutes per day" = removes time objection immediately

• Beginner-friendly: Acknowledges viewer likely has zero Tai Chi experience

• No equipment: Removes gear/gym barrier

• Anywhere flexibility: "Anytime, anywhere" = fits any schedule/location

Friction elimination speedrun: Addressed 5 major objections in 13 seconds

🎬 Format Shift: Podcast Q&A 

Visual change: Stage presentation → intimate podcast setting

• Authority reinforcement: Same fit older man, now being interviewed (expert status confirmed)

• New character: Female podcast host = proxy for viewer questions

• Intimacy shift: Stage = inspirational; podcast = relatable conversation

Psychological shift: From being sold TO to overhearing authentic conversation

👥 Social Proof Through Proxy 

"What happens if my husband starts Tai Chi tomorrow? How old is he? 56. Perfect. By the end of September, you might not even recognize him."

• Third-person framing: Wife asking about husband (not direct "you")

• Specific age: 56 = viewer self-identifies if in that range

• Concrete timeline: "By end of September" = specific, visualizable deadline

• Dramatic transformation claim: "Might not even recognize him" = extreme result promise

Strategic choice: Wife asking (not husband) = appeals to women who control household health decisions

🚫 Objection Handling Series 

Objection 1: "What if he hasn't worked out in years?"
Response: "That's even better. Tai Chi was built for men over 50."

• Reframes weakness as advantage

• "Built for men over 50" = not adapted, but PURPOSE-DESIGNED

Objection 2: "Isn't the gym better?"
 Response: "After 50, the gym breaks you. Tai Chi heals your body and makes you lose weight faster than in your 20s."

• Enemy reinforcement: Gym = harmful after 50

• Hyperbolic claim: "Lose weight faster than in your 20s" (very bold, likely unsubstantiated)

Objection 3: "Does he need any equipment?"
 Response: "No, his body is enough."

• Poetic simplicity: "His body is enough"

• Reinforces 7-minute daily commitment

Objection handling strategy: Host asks every skeptical question viewer would ask, authority figure dismisses each one confidently

🎯 Final CTA 

"How does he start? Click the link, get the app, and start tomorrow."

• Simplicity: Three-step process (click → download → start)

• Immediacy: "Start tomorrow" (not "today") = removes pressure, feels more achievable

• App mention: First time explicitly stating it's an app (not live classes)

Strategic delay: Waited until after emotional buy-in to reveal digital product format

💡 Why This Ad Works

✅ Visual Authority = Living Proof

Shirtless fit 50+ man on stage = eliminates skepticism ("Does this actually work?") before he even speaks

✅ Format Hybrid Creates Trust Layers

• Stage presentation = inspirational authority

• Podcast conversation = intimate, authentic validation

• Two formats in 70 seconds = maintains engagement through novelty

✅ Enemy Creation (Running/Gym)

Positions common fitness activities as HARMFUL after 50 — makes viewer question current routine

✅ Timeline Structure (Week 1/2/3)

Borrowed from RYZE coffee ad — progressive benefit reveal keeps viewer watching

✅ Third-Party Questioning

Podcast host asking skeptical questions = proxy for viewer's internal objections

✅ Wife Validation Angle

Appeals to male desire for partner approval ("your wife won't believe your results")

✅ Friction Removal Blitz

Addresses time, equipment, skill level, location barriers in rapid succession

To finish off with, here’s a quick look at this advertiser’s quiz-type landing page in use:

🌱 AUK Indoor Garden System Ad With Over A Million Dollars in Ad Spend

Last, but most certainly not least - this interesting indoor garden ad with over a million in ad spend:

These are some of the elements that make this ad work so well:

🌱 Opening Hook

Visual: Close-up of sprouting seeds in coco fiber
Voiceover: "In AUK you can use almost any seeds and most of them go just below the surface"

• Permission opening: "Almost any seeds" = removes plant selection anxiety

• No dramatic hook — relies on ASMR-like visual satisfaction of sprouting plants

• Calm, instructional tone (not salesy) = builds educational trust immediately

• Brand name mention first (not product benefit) = assumes awareness

Format signal: This will be a tutorial, not a pitch

🧪 Planting Process: Scientific Credibility 

"Just spread them evenly... make sure to cover them with coco fiber. The fiber gives them enough moisture to sprout and works as a pH buffer in addition to giving roots plenty of oxygen"

• Over-explanation strategy: Doesn't just say "cover seeds" — explains WHY (pH buffer, oxygen)

• Scientific terminology without being intimidating ("pH buffer," "oxygen to roots")

• "Very important factor for making AUK work as well as it does" = positions product success on design intelligence

Trust mechanism: The more technical detail provided, the more legitimate the product feels

📋 Exception Handling

"And some seeds like oregano and mint actually need to stay on top of the surface... This information is available on the back side of the seed package"

• Anticipates confusion: Acknowledges not all seeds follow same rules

• Points to physical reference ("back of seed package") = removes need to remember

• "You can always double-check there" = reinforces fool-proof design

Psychological safety: Product won't let you fail — built-in guidance

💡 Light Positioning: Precision Without Intimidation 

"We just lower the plant light to approximately 10cm or 4 inches. Doesn't have to be exact, but if it's too far away, plants will grow tall and weak. If it's too close, they can get burned"

• Precise but forgiving: Gives measurement but says "doesn't have to be exact"

• Explains consequences of error (tall/weak vs. burned) = teaches reasoning, not just rules

• "Approximately... perfect light conditions" = contradicts self to reduce performance anxiety

Balance: Specific enough to sound scientific, vague enough to not intimidate

📈 Growth Progression 

"And when the plants grow, we just raise the light bar so it stays approximately that distance"

• Simplicity emphasis: "We just raise the light bar" = ongoing maintenance framed as trivial

• Repeats "approximately that distance" = reinforces earlier instruction without being redundant

Maintenance framing: Not complicated upkeep — just one simple adjustment

💧 Nutrient System: Gamified Simplicity 

"Keep an eye on the water level indicator. When approaching red, refill. Add six pumps of green, three pumps of red, fill 3L of clean water. This information is also on the bottle itself"

• Color-coded system: Green/red bottles = idiot-proof (can't mix up)

• Specific quantities ("six pumps," "three pumps") = removes guesswork

• Points to bottle labels AGAIN = triple-redundancy in instructions (reduces fear of messing up)

Cognitive load reduction: You don't need to remember anything — product tells you what to do

🌿 Harvest Timeline & Method

"After 4-6 weeks, your AUK is fully grown. When it's time to harvest, just cut from the top down. We recommend max 1/3 of the plant at a time"

• Concrete timeline: "4-6 weeks" = sets expectation for gratification delay

• Visual demonstration (cutting) = shows it's literally scissors-simple

• "Max 1/3" rule = specific enough to follow, easy enough to estimate

Harvest framing: Not one-time use — ongoing production system

♻️ Regeneration Explanation 

"That way there'll always be new leaves below that'll grow back out again and again"

• Infinite loop promise: "Again and again" = this purchase keeps giving

• Justifies 1/3 rule through benefit (continuous growth) not just instruction

Value multiplication: One planting = months of harvests

🎯 Lifestyle Transformation Pitch 

"That magical experience with AUK when you have herbs always available, always fresh. You've grown them yourselves. You don't have to go to supermarket to buy that one pack of herbs for one meal and throw it away with all that plastic packaging"

• First emotional appeal (2 minutes in): Shifts from technical to aspirational

• "Magical experience" = elevates mundane herb-growing to special ritual

• Paints negative comparison: Store herbs = single-use waste vs. AUK = sustainable abundance

• Guilt trigger: Plastic packaging waste (appeals to eco-conscious buyers)

Reframing: Not buying a gadget — creating "your own little oasis on your kitchen counter"

💰 Value Justification 

"A batch in AUK will last anywhere from 6-12 months or even longer. All you have to do is harvest and refill water and nutrients when needed"

• Longevity emphasis: "6-12 months or even longer" = justifies premium price (likely $100-300)

• "All you have to do" = minimizes ongoing effort perception

• No mention of replacement costs (coco fiber, nutrients, seeds) — implies low operating cost

ROI framing: Expensive upfront, but saves money long-term vs. grocery store herbs

🔄 Restart Process 

"When you want to start over, just throw out old plants, put new coco fiber, plant seeds, and start back up"

• Simplicity loop: Four-step reset = easy enough to not be intimidating

• Implies consumables purchase (coco fiber, seeds) without emphasizing cost

Lifecycle transparency: Shows full process from start to restart (builds confidence in system)

🌶️ Expansion Possibilities

"You can experiment with chilies, tomatoes, use cuttings or try new seeds. We have a wide selection in web shop"

• Upsell embedded: Mentions variety → directs to web shop (accessories, seed packs)

• "Experiment" framing = positions product as creative hobby, not just utility

• Lists aspirational plants (chilies, tomatoes) = bigger results than just herbs

Growth path: Start with herbs → graduate to vegetables (keeps customers engaged long-term)

🎬 Closing

"Happy growing"

• No CTA, no discount, no urgency — just friendly sign-off

• Assumes viewer is already sold and will seek out purchase link themselves

Confidence play: Product demo did all the selling — no need for aggressive close

💡 Why This Ad Works (For A Specific Audience)

✅ Anti-Ad Format

Feels like a tutorial, not a sales pitch — viewers seeking product info appreciate the educational approach

✅ Over-Communication Builds Trust

Explaining pH buffers, oxygen, light distance = shows deep product design thought, not just marketing fluff

✅ Mistake-Proofing Emphasis

Repeatedly points to instructions on packages/bottles = removes "what if I mess up?" anxiety

✅ Lifestyle Guilt Trigger

Plastic waste from store herbs = eco-conscious buyers feel validated in premium purchase

✅ Longevity Justification

"6-12 months" lifespan = reframes $200 product as pennies-per-day investment

✅ Visual Satisfaction

Time-lapse growth footage = ASMR-like appeal + tangible proof of results

This advertiser also has a pretty cool lander, here’s a quick scroll:

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!

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