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šŸ‘€ Therapy-Backed. Science-Backed. These Two Shorts Make It Feel Personal

āœŒļø [2 Shorts Tuesday] Breaking down our favorite YouTube Shorts Ads Scaling Now

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:


5 Reasons Why More Creators Are Choosing YouTube Shorts Instead of TikTok

#1 - šŸ’° MORE MONEY šŸ’°
YouTube made it easier to earn money with YouTube Shorts in 2024 by letting creators take a cut of ad money from their Shorts—a better deal than TikTok’s confusing payment system.

This works for both short videos and regular YouTube content, making it safer for creators who want steady income.

#2 - ā›”TikTok 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 TikTok’s style while giving creators more flexibility.

YouTube’s Big Advantages

#3 - šŸ“ˆBuilt-in audiencešŸ“ˆ 
Shorts get boosted by YouTube’s recommendations and trending lists, helping creators grow faster. TikTok doesn’t connect as well to other apps or longer videos.

#4 - šŸ†•Different viewersšŸ†• 
YouTube’s users are often older (25-34) vs. TikTok’s teen-heavy crowd, so creators can reach new fans.

#5 - šŸ¤¦ā€ā™‚ļøCreators Are Fed Up With TikTokšŸ¤¦ā€ā™‚ļø
Many say TikTok’s rules change too often, and they’re tired of worrying about bans. YouTube feels more stable, especially with Google’s support for targeting the right audiences. The 3-minute Shorts also let them tell better stories without switching apps.

…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:

~ 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 breakdown…

…This time it’s 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 ā€œTariff Crisisā€ with some very specific short form video frameworks:

And on the other hand?

They’re running unique Native + Quora campaigns driving ice-cold top of funnel traffic to advertorials like this:

Keys to this funnel include…

  • 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 you’re 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 more…

šŸ“± Ad #1: ā€œYou Don’t Need Motivation. You Need Discipline.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 share—until you realize it’s an ad.

Then it becomes a masterclass in low-friction persuasion.

 āœ… First-person confession = emotional access
 āœ… ā€œTherapist recommended itā€ = built-in authority
 āœ… Personalized solution = logic & uniqueness
 āœ… CTA = relief, not urgency

Let’s break it down!

Hook – ā€œYou Don’t Need Motivationā€¦ā€

Visual: Low-energy speaker in cluttered home setting

šŸ‘‰ Why it works:

  • Instantly flips a self-help clichĆ©: motivation ≠ answer.

  • ā€œRuining my lifeā€ creates emotional stakes in 5 seconds.

  • Quiet, unpolished delivery = authenticity.

Middle – Spiral of Problems + Recommendation

Visual: Messy scenes → therapist conversation

šŸ‘‰ Why it works:

  • Piles relatable pain points: late, distracted, unmotivated.

  • ā€œTherapist recommended this courseā€ feels earned, not pitched.

  • Subtly positions the app as a breakthrough, not a tool.

Solution – ā€œDiscovered My Discipline Typeā€

Visual: App UI + exercise visuals

šŸ‘‰ Why it works:

  • ā€œNot another planner appā€ kills common objections.

  • Personalization (ā€œmy discipline typeā€) sounds intelligent.

  • Exercises = low-friction next step.

CTA – ā€œI Finally Feel Happyā€

Visual: Brighter setting, smiling user

šŸ‘‰ Why it works:

  • Ends with emotional payoff, not a discount.

  • No price, no push—just satisfaction.

🧠 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, here’s 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:

šŸ‘£ Ad #2: ā€œMy Feet Were Weak and I Had No Ideaā€ — 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.

 āœ… Personal revelation = immediate relatability
 āœ… Podiatrist + study + founder = layered credibility
 āœ… Benefit = foundational human health
 āœ… CTA = direct + creator discount


Let’s get into more details:

Hook – ā€œI Wish Someone Had Told Me Soonerā€

Visual: Speaker in casual setting, holding shoes

šŸ‘‰ Why it works:

  • Feels like advice from a friend, not an influencer.

  • ā€œWeak feetā€ is intriguing and surprising.

  • Delivery tone = calm, curious, trustable.

Middle – Medical + Scientific Proof

Visual: Foot model, Liverpool study screenshot

šŸ‘‰ Why it works:

  • ā€œPodiatrist recommendedā€¦ā€ = medical proof

  • Liverpool University = academic credibility

  • ā€œ60% stronger feetā€ = quantified transformation

Visual: Discount code and link overlay

šŸ‘‰ Why it works:

  • ā€œI spoke to the founderā€ = high-trust endorsement

  • ā€œ20% off at vivobarefoot.com/stevenā€ is fast, clear, and creator-led

  • Feels exclusive, even if it’s public

🧠 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, here’s a quick look at this advertiser’s lander as well:

šŸ”„ Final Thoughts

These Shorts don’t interrupt.

They resonate, build trust, and make the product feel like a logical next step—not a sales pitch.

Whether you’re selling digital tools or physical products, remember:

  • Lead with honesty, not hype.

  • Proof sells better when it’s subtle.

  • If you sound like a friend, you don’t have to sell like a marketer.

šŸ•µļø Want to ā€œSpyā€ on over 21 million YouTube ads (and landing pages)?

Go here to claim your free trial of the VidTao Premium YouTube Ad LibraryšŸ‘‡

With that, we’re all finished for this week! āœ…

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!

PPS - Are you spending $1k/day+ on Paid Ads? šŸ‘‰ Go here to set up a free YouTube Ad brainstorm chat.