🗑️🌿 From bin to garden, from stolen to found: Ads that lead with the problem

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: Auk Mini: The Indoor Garden

Let’s watch our first ad pick for this week together:

Core idea:

No presenter, no talking head -  just a voiceover and a carefully sequenced emotional journey.

The ad opens on the most relatable kitchen failure imaginable: wilted, drooping herbs sitting in a bowl, clearly on their way to the bin.

From that image of waste and frustration, it builds a case for a smarter, more beautiful alternative - and by the time the product appears on screen, you're already sold on the idea before you've even seen what it looks like. 🌱

Why this ad works:

• 🗑️ It opens on the problem, not the product: The first seven seconds are entirely dedicated to pain - dead herbs, plastic waste, food going in the bin instead of on the plate. This is a masterclass in not rushing to the product. Let the viewer sit in the frustration for a moment, then rescue them.
  

• 🔢 Specific claims do the heavy lifting: "Grows up to five times faster" and "all year round" are the kind of numbers that stop a scroll. Vague lifestyle language ("brings nature into your life") is balanced out by concrete proof points that give skeptical viewers something to hold on to.
  

• 🎨 Design as a sales argument: Leaning hard into "timeless Scandinavian design," premium materials, recycled aluminium, and FSC certified wood does something smart - it repositions the product from a kitchen gadget to a considered home purchase. The before/after visual of lush green Auk vs. dead herbs in a bowl closes the deal visually without saying a word.
  

• 👨‍👩‍👧 The emotional payoff shot: Kids eating fresh herbs from a plate, smiling. It reframes the product from "herb grower" to "the kind of parent/person I want to be." That's a completely different purchase motivation - and a much stronger one.
  

• 🛡️ The close removes all friction: Free shipping plus a 100-day money-back guarantee in the final seconds converts the hesitant. By the time risk is addressed, the viewer already wants it.
  

Creative beats to swipe

1. Open on the consequence of not having the product  - dead herbs, wasted food, plastic packaging in the bin.

2. Voiceover-only format keeps production clean and scalable -  no talent required.

3. "With Auk / Without Auk" split screen is a reusable before/after format that works for almost any product.

4. Show the product in lifestyle context first (beautiful kitchen counter), product-only second (clean product shot with variants).

5. Close with an emotional human moment - kids, family, cooking together - before transitioning to the risk-reversal offer.

Finally, here’s a quick look at this advertiser’s lander in use:

📍 Ad 2: Magnetic GPS Tracker

Moving on to our next ad - a magnetic GPS tracker, check it out:

Core idea:

A guy filming himself next to his vehicle, sticking a small magnetic tracker to it.

The whole ad is framed as him replying to a comment - which instantly signals authenticity and community.

He walks through exactly why this tracker is better than an AirTag, hits every practical objection in under 30 seconds, and closes with a low-pressure sale nudge.

It's the kind of ad that feels like advice from a guy in a truck forum, not a brand. 🔒

Why this ad works:

• 💬 The comment reply format is a cheat code: Opening with "Reply to mccormackfarms936's comment" does something extraordinary - it makes the entire ad feel like a response to a real person's real question. The viewer leans in because it feels like they're eavesdropping on a genuine conversation, not watching a paid placement.
  

• 🆚 The AirTag comparison is the smartest line in the ad: "Unlike an AirTag, it doesn't let the traveler know it's traveling with them." In one sentence, he handles the most obvious objection (why not just use an AirTag?), educates the viewer on a meaningful product difference, and creates a clear villain - all without being salesy. That's elite copywriting in casual clothing.
  

• 🔋 Every objection gets knocked down in sequence: Battery lasts over a year? ✅ Monthly subscription? None. ✅ Is it detectable? No. ✅ The ad runs through the checklist a skeptical buyer would have without ever framing it as a checklist. It just sounds like a guy thinking out loud.
  

• 😂 "Honestly don't know how they're making money on it" is pure gold: This line works because it's the kind of thing only a real person -  not a brand - would say. It signals that the price is surprisingly low without stating a price. It creates curiosity and urgency simultaneously. Steal this structure for any product that overdelivers on value.
  

• 📍 The placement demo sells the core use case: Showing the tracker being stuck to the wheel arch, the chassis, the door - all in the same casual sweep - communicates the magnetic versatility better than any spec sheet could.
  

Creative beats to swipe

1. Frame the entire ad as a reply to a real comment - it transforms an ad into a conversation.

2. Name the better-known competitor and explain specifically why your product wins. Don't shy away from the comparison.

3. Handle objections conversationally, not as a listicle - weave them into the natural flow of speech.

4. Use "I don't know how they're making money on it" or equivalent to signal extraordinary value without discounting.

5. Soft close: "they've got it on sale for a little bit longer" - urgency without screaming.

Again, here’s a quick look at this advertiser’s landing page in use:

With that, we’re all done 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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