🔥 The Silent Ad + The 'Suspect Challenge' Ad: 2 YouTube Shorts Wins

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: No Words, Just Proof – A Silent YouTube Shorts Ad That Sells Purely Through Visuals & Social Proof

First for today is a self-transformative app ad by the brand Liven.

This ad uses a no-dialogue, no-voiceover format, relying solely on:

 ✅ Strong before/after visuals
 ✅ Bold on-screen text claims
 ✅ Natural-looking user footage
 ✅ TikTok-native pacing & design

Let’s break it down:

Hook – Visual Problem Introduction 

• Visual: Back of a man’s head, noticeable thinning/hair loss
  

• Text on screen: “Struggling with hair loss?”
  

👉 Why this works:

• Pain-point led hook grabs attention visually before text even finishes animating.
  

• No words = universal relatability—great for silent autoplay formats.
  

• Immediately identifiable audience segment (anyone with visible hair loss).
  

Solution Preview – What’s Being Used

• Visual: Fingers applying serum to scalp (close-up)
  

• Text: “This changed everything for him…”
  
  

👉 Why this works:

• Process-based footage builds credibility—viewer sees how it's applied.
  

• Emotional claim (“changed everything”) implies transformation, not just improvement.
  

• Fast cut keeps viewer attention without giving too much away.
  

Social Proof Swipe – Before/After Scroll

• Visual: Quick flip through multiple user-submitted photos
  

• Text: “Thousands of transformations just like this.”
  

👉 Why this works:

• Volume = trust—seeing multiple examples implies this is not a one-off result.
  

• Native format match—looks like an organic TikTok user review.
  

• Before/after storytelling in under 3 seconds—no need to explain further.
  

Final CTA – Link + Curiosity Play 

• Text: “See what it can do for you. Tap the link.”
  

• Visual: Replays final result + subtle upward arrow animation.
  

👉 Why this works:

• Simple CTA with soft challenge vibe (“see what it can do for you”).
  

• Visual repetition reinforces outcome-focused storytelling.
  

• Arrow movement toward link zone drives clear action.
  

Here’s what their landing page looks like:

Key Takeaways from This Ad

1️⃣ No Voice? No Problem – Music + bold text + clear visuals keep the message effective even muted.
2️⃣ Visual Progression = Instant Proof – From scalp to application to results, the arc is clear and believable.
3️⃣ Social Proof Carousel = Trust Builder – Showing multiple users creates scale and legitimacy.
4️⃣ Pacing Matches Platform Norms – Fast, visual, mobile-native style grabs and holds short attention spans.
5️⃣ Clean, Curiosity-Based CTA – Encourages viewers to explore further without pressure.

🧠 Ad #2: “Suspect Challenge” – How Chegg Uses Humor + Relatability to Sell Study Help

This 36-second long Shorts ad by Chegg uses playful accusation-style humor combined with real college struggles to position itself as the go-to solution for overwhelmed student-athletes—and college students in general:

 ✅ Relatable college-life pain points
 ✅ Fast-paced humor (meme-challenge style)
 ✅ Product woven into a personal story naturally
 ✅ Light but emotionally true

But let’s get into even more details:

Hook – Suspect Challenge Format 

• “Suspect was a D1 and pro athlete but gets winded when she goes up the stairs.”
  

• Visual: Side-by-side panels—one player posing, the other actor doing mock "suspect" accusations.
  

👉 Why this works:

• “Suspect” format feels like a meme challenge—instantly familiar, fast engagement.
  

• Self-deprecating humor makes the athlete relatable, not intimidating.
  

• Pace + edits match TikTok/Shorts native style, not traditional ads.
  

Stacked Relatable Pain Points – Personal & Academic 

• Skipping showers after practice, missing MVP awards, struggling with long commutes, car sickness.
  

• Chegg = MVP solution mentioned early, hinted naturally through dialogue.
  

👉 Why this works:

• Rapid-fire relatability—any former or current student-athlete can feel these struggles.
  

• Keeps engagement high—every few seconds introduces a new, funny, and real situation.
  

• Chegg inserted subtly—not “salesy,” more like a casual admission of help.
  

Emotional Turn – From Struggle to Relief

• “Suspect used to cry from missing classes... but was stress-free after finding Chegg.”
  

• Visual: Reaction shifts from goofy to slightly emotional relief.
  

• “Step-by-step solutions and flashcards were a lifesaver.”
  

👉 Why this works:

• Real emotional payoff—transitions from jokes to genuine transformation.
  

• Step-by-step solutions = tangible value prop.
  

• Flashcards callout appeals to last-minute crammers and real-world users.

Key Takeaways from This Ad

1️⃣ Meme-Style Hook = Instant Familiarity – Taps into formats people love and recognize without feeling like an ad.
2️⃣ Relatable, Specific Pain Points Stack Fast – Keeps attention while building credibility through humor.
3️⃣ Product Placement Feels Natural – Chegg isn’t hard-sold; it’s dropped into the narrative organically.
4️⃣ Emotional Relief = Soft CTA – Viewers are shown how Chegg made school less stressful—not just told.
5️⃣ Pacing Matches Native Platform Norms – Fast, funny, not overproduced = fits TikTok and YouTube Shorts consumption habits.

To finish off with, here’s what this advertiser’s landing page looks like:

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!

PS - Go here to Claim Your Free Trial of VidTao Premium: Access 21 Million YouTube Ads (Including 14 Million Unlisted) & Their Landing Pages!

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