🧊 AI Side Hustles + Ice Bath Brain Hacks? 2 YouTube Shorts That Educate to Convert

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: “Say Less!” – A Rhyme-Driven AI Pitch That Doubles as a Hook

This YouTube Shorts ad from Billie Jean blends AI made music, lyrics, visuals, and an AI-powered origin story to grab attention and position his offer as the easiest way to start making money online—no team, no skills, no stress:

 ✅ It uses rhythm and rhyme to build attention
 ✅ Frames AI as the ultimate shortcut
 ✅ Features a low-friction offer with refund guarantee

Let’s break it down part by part:

🧠 Hook – “AI Made This” 

“This song you hear, this vid you see, AI made all of it—not me.”

👉 Why this works:

• Rhyme structure = instant attention (especially on Shorts)
  

• Viewers are curious: “Wait, AI made the ad?”
  

• It’s self-referential, making the viewer feel like they’re in on the creative process
  

⚡ Middle – Mechanism Reveal + Income Claim 

“Built in minutes, not a lie… Business owners pay for this… real money don’t miss.”

👉 Why this works:

• AI is positioned as a monetizable shortcut, not just a novelty
  

• Builds intrigue: “Could I really make money with AI content?”
  

• Rap cadence drives retention—you want to hear the next line
  

• “No team, no stress” removes objections for overwhelmed solopreneurs
  

✅ Close – The Offer + No-Risk Guarantee 

“Buy Billie Jean’s plan… get paid or a full refund.”

👉 Why this works:

• Strong, clear offer: 10-day plan, easy to start
  

• Risk reversal via refund guarantee reduces hesitation
  

• “Say less” = cultural shorthand for "I'm in" — it seals the message memorably
  

Here’s what this advertiser’s landing page looks like:

🔑 Key Takeaways from This Ad

1️⃣ Rhyme = Retention
Using a tight rhyme scheme keeps the viewer hooked from line to line—like a mini music video with a pitch.

2️⃣ AI as the Star = Timely & Scalable
Framing the entire ad as AI-generated (script, visuals, music) aligns with mass interest in AI—and shows instead of tells.

3️⃣ No Skills Required = Broad Appeal
“No team, no stress” and “built in minutes” opens the door to anyone feeling qualified to start.

4️⃣ Low Risk, High Curiosity
“Get paid or get a full refund” makes the offer almost too good not to click—while the “10 days” creates urgency.

🧊 Ad #2: The Ice Bath Brain Hack – This YouTube Shorts Ad Uses Science to Sell

This next ad uses one scientific insight, one quick demo, and a single narrator to deliver surprising value in just 17 seconds. 

No product pitch. No branding. 

Just pure, curiosity-driven storytelling that educates and hooks:

 ✅ Uses a science-based insight to interrupt the scroll
 ✅ Frames an everyday behavior (face dunking) as a mental health tool
 ✅ Leverages simplicity and surprise to spark virality

Now let’s get into more details:

👀 Hook – "Put Your Face in Water" 

“Turns out if you put your face in the water right as you go in…”

👉 Why this works:

• Immediate pattern interruption—viewer wonders: “Why would I do that?”
  

• No intro, no fluff—straight to the surprising fact
  

• Visual match (ice bath + calm narration) keeps tension high
  

🧠 Core Insight – Nervous System Rewire 

“…you activate the mammalian dive reflex… which lowers your heart rate and helps you tolerate stress.”

👉 Why this works:

• “Nerd speak” + translation makes the science both credible and digestible
  

• Viewers learn something new in under 10 seconds = shareworthy
  

• Positions an obscure behavior (face-in-water) as a mental upgrade trick
  

You can check out other interesting ads by this advertiser using our VidTao ad spy tool:

To add on, this is what this advertiser’s lander looks like:

🔑 Key Takeaways from This Ad

1️⃣ Science = Scroll Stopper
The unusual insight (mammalian dive reflex) triggers instant curiosity—especially when paired with a calming visual.

2️⃣ Narrated Demo = Emotional Anchor
The visuals of a cold plunge + calm voiceover = feeling the benefit in real-time.

3️⃣ No CTA? Still High Impact
Even without a product, this ad builds trust and memorability—perfect for organic virality or subtle brand setup.

4️⃣ One Idea, Fully Delivered
Rather than stacking claims, this ad goes deep on one idea—which makes it more believable and more likely to stick.

With that, we’re all finished 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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PPS - Are you spending $1k/day+ on Paid Ads? 👉 Go here to set up a free YouTube Ad brainstorm chat.