💰 Old Money on a Budget + Focus Without Adderall? These Ads Hit Different

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: “I Can’t Dress Old Money, I’m Broke” – Fashion Brand Turns Self-Deprecation Into a Flex

This no-dialogue YouTube Shorts ad leans entirely on visual storytelling and on-screen text + music - no voiceover, just a common issue turned into a scroll-stopper:

It includes:

 ✅ Emotional hook wrapped in slight humor
 ✅ Trending aesthetic (old money) meets budget-friendly twist
 ✅ Visual payoff: “You can look like this, even if you're broke”

🎣 Hook – Relatable Insecurity + Trend Reference

A group of well-dressed guys walk in slow motion wearing “old money” fits.

Text reads: "I can't dress old money, I'm broke."

👉 Why this works:

• Taps into the aesthetic aspiration trend (old money = timeless, elevated).
  

• Uses a self-deprecating thought many viewers have, making it relatable and non-pretentious.
  

• The pacing and vibe of the song (“Back to Black”) match the moody, luxurious tone.

👕 Visual Reveal – Budget Looks That Hit 

Camera cuts to clean outfit photos from the brand’s collection. The fits still scream “old money,” but the implication is these looks are affordable.

👉 Why this works:

• Feels aspirational and achievable — viewers think: “Wait, I could actually pull this off.”
  

• Uses aesthetic mimicry — filming/editing style mirrors luxury brand ads.
  

• No voiceover = globally accessible.
  

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

💊 Ad #2: “Adderall Helped Me—Until It Didn’t” – Thesis Leans Into Vulnerable Founder Storytelling

This direct-to-camera ad from Thesis opens with a raw, honest confession and evolves into a purpose-driven origin story.

This ad has:

 ✅ Emotional vulnerability upfront
 ✅ Problem → Rock bottom → Transformation arc
 ✅ Ends with both credibility and hope

🧠 Hook – A Story Millions Relate To

“Adderall made me into the person I always wanted to be — but at a cost.”

👉 Why this works:

• Cuts straight to the emotional complexity: relief, but with consequences.
  

• Speaks to a large audience dealing with ADHD, productivity guilt, or over-reliance on stimulants.

🧬 Brand Origin Story + Visual Ingredient Credibility 

The speaker shares how he didn’t like who he was becoming and how he created Thesis to offer a better path. Visuals of capsules, nootropics, and clean UI reinforce legitimacy.

👉 Why this works:

• Founder-led storytelling = trust builder.
  

• Ingredient visuals + “custom to your brain chemistry” = feels personalized and scientific.
  

• Hits emotional pain + offers a mission-driven solution.

🎯 CTA – “If You’re Like Me…” 

“If you’ve tried everything to focus… take Thesis.”

👉 Why this works:

• Emotional mirroring: the viewer self-identifies with the pain.
  

• Simple CTA, rooted in empathy — not hype.

Let’s now look at this advertiser’s lander as well:

🔑 Key Takeaways from These 2 Ads

1️⃣ Emotion First, Product Second

Both ads lead with real human emotion before introducing the product. Slight humor in Ad #1, vulnerability in Ad #2.

2️⃣ Aesthetics Sell Without Explaining

Ad #1 proves you don’t need a script — just style and smart visual pacing to tell a story.

3️⃣ Confessional Storytelling Builds Trust

The Thesis ad avoids traditional ad-speak and instead feels like a diary entry. That intimacy = persuasion.

4️⃣ Trendjacking That Feels Native
 
The “old money” fashion theme + “Back to Black” soundtrack anchor Ad #1 in current culture without shouting for attention.

5️⃣ Silent or Spoken, One Idea Wins

Whether you talk or not — both ads focus on one clear narrative: “look good on a budget” or “focus without Adderall.”

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.