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👀 The deodorant ad that turned awkwardness into $3.3M views

A step-by-step look at how Carpe turned awkwardness into millions in sales.

Author

VidTao
October 17, 2025

What if your next short-form ad could turn embarrassment into engagement - and sell while doing it?

This 60-second YouTube Short from Carpe shows exactly how. It’s a real-world masterclass in using tension, storytelling, and smart offers to sell an unsexy product - deodorant - with 3.3 million views and counting.

Here’s what you’ll learn from the breakdown:

✅ Lead with tension: How to open your ad with real human discomfort (sweat stains, cringe moments) that hooks attention fast
✅ Use your founder as a trust bridge: Why authenticity and empathy outperform polished influencers
✅ Stack your offer the right way: How to combine discounts, bonuses, and humor without sounding “salesy”

The result? A short-form ad that educates, entertains, and converts - all in under a minute:

If you’re testing short-form creative this quarter, this is the blueprint to study before your next shoot.

Check out the Direct Response Secrets channel for tons of takeaways & tactics for you to apply to your own ads!

~ 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)

Have a great week!

Want to brainstorm with us on new ways to scale your business with
YouTube Ads (and other performance video platforms)?

Join us for a free YouTube ad brainstorming session here:

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.