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š Therapy-Backed. Science-Backed. These Two Shorts Make It Feel Personal
āļø [2 Shorts Tuesday] Breaking down our favorite YouTube Shorts Ads Scaling Now
Want to see some YouTube Shorts ads that are scaling right now?
Youāre in luckā¦
Because today is 2 Shorts Tuesday. Why YouTube Shorts ads?
Because YouTube Shorts ad inventory is only going to keep growing:
5 Reasons Why More Creators Are Choosing YouTube Shorts Instead of TikTok
#1 - š° MORE MONEY š°
YouTube made it easier to earn money with YouTube Shorts in 2024 by letting creators take a cut of ad money from their Shortsāa better deal than TikTokās confusing payment system.
This works for both short videos and regular YouTube content, making it safer for creators who want steady income.
#2 - āTikTok Ban Rumors/Realityā
Rumors (and a quick reality) of a TikTok ban in the U.S. made many creators start posting on YouTube Shorts just in case. YouTube even let Shorts videos be 3 minutes long starting October 2024, copying TikTokās style while giving creators more flexibility.
YouTubeās Big Advantages
#3 - šBuilt-in audienceš
Shorts get boosted by YouTubeās recommendations and trending lists, helping creators grow faster. TikTok doesnāt connect as well to other apps or longer videos.
#4 - šDifferent viewersš
YouTubeās users are often older (25-34) vs. TikTokās teen-heavy crowd, so creators can reach new fans.
#5 - š¤¦āāļøCreators Are Fed Up With TikTokš¤¦āāļø
Many say TikTokās rules change too often, and theyāre tired of worrying about bans. YouTube feels more stable, especially with Googleās support for targeting the right audiences. The 3-minute Shorts also let them tell better stories without switching apps.
ā¦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?
Letās take a closer look at 2 YouTube Shorts ads doing well right now:
~ update from our friends at Funnel of the Week ~
The "Anti-Tariff" Promo: Crisis = Opportunity?
Our friends at Funnel of the Week just dropped a new funnel breakdownā¦
ā¦This time itās an advertorial to ecomm funnel driving 1M+ clicks per month via a few very different approaches that you can model for your own business today.
On one hand? They are leveraging the current āTariff Crisisā with some very specific short form video frameworks:
And on the other hand?
Theyāre running unique Native + Quora campaigns driving ice-cold top of funnel traffic to advertorials like this:
Keys to this funnel includeā¦
The full breakdown of all "Anti-Tariff" video variations + funnel
How their funnel differs dramatically between Meta vs. Quora/Native (and why this is important if youāre looking to scale on completely unaware, cold traffic)
Their 4 unique advertorial angles that pre-frame the sale perfectly
The psychological triggers they use to turn economic anxiety into purchase urgency
And a whole lot moreā¦
š± Ad #1: āYou Donāt Need Motivation. You Need Discipline.ā ā Wisey Returns with Emotional Relevance
First up for this week - this 37-second YT Short is raw, internal, and quietly transformational. It feels like a diary entry or therapy shareāuntil you realize itās an ad.
Then it becomes a masterclass in low-friction persuasion.
ā
First-person confession = emotional access
ā
āTherapist recommended itā = built-in authority
ā
Personalized solution = logic & uniqueness
ā
CTA = relief, not urgency
Letās break it down!
Hook ā āYou Donāt Need Motivationā¦ā
Visual: Low-energy speaker in cluttered home setting
š Why it works:
Instantly flips a self-help clichĆ©: motivation ā answer.
āRuining my lifeā creates emotional stakes in 5 seconds.
Quiet, unpolished delivery = authenticity.
Middle ā Spiral of Problems + Recommendation
Visual: Messy scenes ā therapist conversation
š Why it works:
Piles relatable pain points: late, distracted, unmotivated.
āTherapist recommended this courseā feels earned, not pitched.
Subtly positions the app as a breakthrough, not a tool.
Solution ā āDiscovered My Discipline Typeā
Visual: App UI + exercise visuals
š Why it works:
āNot another planner appā kills common objections.
Personalization (āmy discipline typeā) sounds intelligent.
Exercises = low-friction next step.
CTA ā āI Finally Feel Happyā
Visual: Brighter setting, smiling user
š Why it works:
Ends with emotional payoff, not a discount.
No price, no pushājust satisfaction.
š§ Key Takeaways from this Ad
Starts with emotional vulnerability
Uses therapist rec for social proof
Reframes productivity tools with identity angle
Soft CTA fits perfectly with tone
Finally, hereās what the landing page in use by this advertiser looks like:
YouTube Shorts Ad Free Brainstorm
Want to brainstorm with us on new ways to scale your business with
YouTube Shorts Ads (and other performance video platforms)?
Join us for a free YouTube Shorts Ad brainstorming session here:
š£ Ad #2: āMy Feet Were Weak and I Had No Ideaā ā Vivo Barefoot Turns a Shoe Into a Human Reboot
Next up - an ad that is calmly persuasive and proof-backed:
It mimics a podcast highlight but converts like a well-sequenced product pitch.
ā
Personal revelation = immediate relatability
ā
Podiatrist + study + founder = layered credibility
ā
Benefit = foundational human health
ā
CTA = direct + creator discount
Letās get into more details:
Hook ā āI Wish Someone Had Told Me Soonerā
Visual: Speaker in casual setting, holding shoes
š Why it works:
Feels like advice from a friend, not an influencer.
āWeak feetā is intriguing and surprising.
Delivery tone = calm, curious, trustable.
Middle ā Medical + Scientific Proof
Visual: Foot model, Liverpool study screenshot
š Why it works:
āPodiatrist recommendedā¦ā = medical proof
Liverpool University = academic credibility
ā60% stronger feetā = quantified transformation
CTA ā Founder Deal + Discount Link
Visual: Discount code and link overlay
š Why it works:
āI spoke to the founderā = high-trust endorsement
ā20% off at vivobarefoot.com/stevenā is fast, clear, and creator-led
Feels exclusive, even if itās public
š§ Key Takeaways from this Ad
Ad hides in plain sight as casual share
Triple-stack credibility: doctor + study + founder
Focuses on a unique angle: human re-alignment through feet
Creator code CTA feels personal and low-risk
To finish off with, hereās a quick look at this advertiserās lander as well:
š Final Thoughts
These Shorts donāt interrupt.
They resonate, build trust, and make the product feel like a logical next stepānot a sales pitch.
Whether youāre selling digital tools or physical products, remember:
Lead with honesty, not hype.
Proof sells better when itās subtle.
If you sound like a friend, you donāt have to sell like a marketer.
šµļø Want to āSpyā on over 21 million YouTube ads (and landing pages)?
Go here to claim your free trial of the VidTao Premium YouTube Ad Libraryš
With that, weāre all finished for this week! ā
We hope this weekās selection of high-performing YouTube Shorts ads has sparked new ideas to test yourself!
Want more insights like these?
Stay tuned for next weekās VidTao 2 Shorts Tuesdayā¦
ā¦where weāll 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!
PPS - Are you spending $1k/day+ on Paid Ads? š Go here to set up a free YouTube Ad brainstorm chat.