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šŸ“² šŸ©ŗ This YouTube Shorts Ad Sells a Pillowcase Like a Prescription

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?

Youā€™re 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 - 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 Shortsā€”a better deal than TikTokā€™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 TikTokā€™s style while giving creators more flexibility.

YouTubeā€™s Big Advantages

#3 - šŸ“ˆBuilt-in audiencešŸ“ˆ 
Shorts get boosted by YouTubeā€™s recommendations and trending lists, helping creators grow faster. TikTok doesnā€™t connect as well to other apps or longer videos.

#4 - šŸ†•Different viewersšŸ†• 
YouTubeā€™s users are often older (25-34) vs. TikTokā€™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 TikTokā€™s rules change too often, and theyā€™re tired of worrying about bans. YouTube feels more stable, especially with Googleā€™s 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?

Letā€™s take a closer look at 2 YouTube Shorts ads doing well right now:

~ update from our friends at Funnel of the Week ~

This TikTok Shop funnel did $830k in 7 days?

Recently the Funnel of the Week team broke down a TikTok Shop offer that's crushing it - driving $830k per week in revenue - with creator-driven video:

Want to see exactly how they're using creators to drive massive sales?

Go here to check out this week's Funnel of the Week breakdown and discover their exact strategy...

(these are classic DR offers crushing it with innovative video tactics)

Go here to join so you donā€™t miss it.

Ad #1:  ā€œA Sky for Every Momentā€ ā€“ Emotional Storytelling Meets Personalized Gifting

This 56-second YouTube Shorts ad blends storytelling, personalization, and product visualization to drive engagement and sales.

Instead of a hard sell, the ad uses a casual conversation between two people, making it feel natural and relatableā€”while subtly showcasing the product's emotional appeal.

Letā€™s break it down:

Pattern Interruption Hook 

  • Opens with intrigue: "Then I found out there's a whole company that lets you pick the sky from any moment."

  • Immediately followed by: "And they went ahead and did that."

  • Thereā€™s a Titanic reference right after that grabs attentionā€”connecting a historical, emotional moment to the productā€™s core idea.

šŸ‘‰ Why this works:

  • Curiosity-driven hookā€”Viewers immediately wonder ā€œWhat does this company do?ā€

  • Personalized storytellingā€”Ties real events to a sentimental product.

  • Conversational, low-friction startā€”Doesnā€™t feel like an ad.

Building the Productā€™s Emotional Value

  • "So what I did wasā€¦ the actual night my wife and I met in Philadelphia."

  • Shows the website in action, typing in the date, locationā€¦

  • The product isnā€™t just shownā€”itā€™s experienced: ā€œYour heart is my universeā€ message personalizes the gift.

šŸ‘‰ Why this works:

  • Emphasizes sentiment over featuresā€”Viewers see the emotional impact first.

  • Shows the process of creating a unique productā€”Feels interactive.

  • Uses storytelling to demonstrate the productā€™s deeper meaning.

Expanding Use Cases & Relatability

  • ā€œSo it wouldnā€™t have to be when you metā€¦ could be when you took a romantic walk on the beachā€¦ first night at the movies.ā€

  • Expands the productā€™s use cases, reinforcing versatility.

  • The two people engage in a playful, back-and-forth conversation, reinforcing authenticity.

šŸ‘‰ Why this works:

  • Handles objections indirectlyā€”Shows many ways to use the product without forcing it.

  • Broadens emotional appealā€”Viewers start imagining their own special moment.

  • Natural dialogue keeps the ad engaging.

Social Proof & Emotional Connection 

  • Talks about a childā€™s birth as another meaningful milestone.

  • Playfully mentions how ā€œEverybody knows the exact minute their child was born.ā€

  • The ad doesnā€™t feel like a sales pitchā€”just two people discussing an interesting product.

šŸ‘‰ Why this works:

  • Emotional stackingā€”Each new example deepens the sentimental value.

  • Subtle social proofā€”The product is treated as a meaningful, cherished keepsake.

  • Conversational + humor elements make it feel genuine, not scripted.

Final Reinforcement 

  • ā€œNo matter what the moment is, Under Lucky Stars has a sky for you.ā€

  • Ends with a product shot (reinforcing what the user will get).

  • No traditional CTA, but the conversation naturally directs viewers to check out the website.

šŸ‘‰ Why this works:

  • Memorable, shareable closeā€”Viewers remember the emotional takeaway.

  • Soft CTA approachā€”No pressure, just a natural conclusion.

  • Leaves an open loopā€”Encourages curiosity to try the product.

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:

Key Takeaways from this Ad

1ļøāƒ£ Storytelling > Hard Sellingā€”The ad flows like a casual conversation, not a pitch.
2ļøāƒ£ Live product demo integrated smoothlyā€”Viewers see how it works in real-time.
3ļøāƒ£ Expands emotional use casesā€”From romantic moments to childbirth memories, making it universally relatable.
4ļøāƒ£ Conversational, engaging dialogueā€”Doesnā€™t feel scripted or forced.
5ļøāƒ£ Subtle, organic CTAā€”Ends with a memorable line instead of a hard push.

Did you know you can use VidTao to find all landing pages in use by different advertisers? Hereā€™s a sneak peek of what this advertiserā€™s lander looks like:

Ad #2: ā€œDoctor-Approved Sleep Upgradeā€ ā€“ How This Ad Uses Authority & Demonstration to Sell Luxury Pillowcases

This doctor-led YouTube ad for Blissy Silk Pillowcases follows a proven credibility-driven formulaā€”blending expert authority, product demonstration, and sensory appeal to position the product as a must-have upgrade for better sleep and skin.

Now letā€™s break it down in more details:

Pattern Interruption Hook 

  • The ad opens with a doctor (Dr. Maxfield) on cameraā€”immediately signaling expert credibility.

  • He introduces Blissy Silk Pillowcases

  • The visual cue (his lab coat and name on the shirt) reinforces authority before he even speaks.

šŸ‘‰ Why this works:

  • Doctor-led = instant trust boost (people take expert recommendations seriously).

  • Familiar influencer-style setup = feels like organic content, not a scripted ad.

Building Desire Through Demonstration 

  • The doctor gently rubs the pillowcase against his cheek while speaking.

  • He lays his head on it, showing how soft it is.

  • Close-up shots highlight the silky texture and smoothness.

šŸ‘‰ Why this works:

  • Triggers sensory imaginationā€”viewers can almost feel the softness through the screen.

  • Demonstration beats explanationā€”instead of just saying itā€™s soft, he shows it.

  • Social proof effectā€”a doctor personally using it adds unspoken endorsement.

Selling the ā€œWhyā€ ā€“ Science-Based Benefits 

  • The doctor explains why silk is better for sleep and skin:

    • Less friction = less hair breakage.

    • Retains moisture = better for skin hydration.

    • Hypoallergenic benefits.

  • The pillowcase remains in focus as he talks, reinforcing the connection between features and benefits.

šŸ‘‰ Why this works:

  • Science-backed persuasionā€”turns a luxury product into a ā€œnecessaryā€ upgrade.

  • Handles objections proactivelyā€”positions it as more than just a soft pillowcase.

  • Simple, clear languageā€”doesnā€™t overwhelm with too much detail.

Subtle but Effective CTA 

  • The ad doesnā€™t have a hard-sell closing lineā€”instead, it naturally wraps up after explaining benefits.

  • Final shot of the product + doctorā€™s approval reinforces credibility.

  • No direct CTAā€”but the entire ad builds desire so the viewer naturally wants to check it out.

šŸ‘‰ Why this works:

  • Soft CTA approachā€”feels more like an expert recommendation than a sales pitch.

  • Leaves the viewer with a strong impressionā€”the doctorā€™s endorsement sticks in their mind.

Encourages organic search behaviorā€”viewers will look it up themselves without needing a forced push.

Key Takeaways from this Ad

1ļøāƒ£ Expert-led storytelling builds instant trustā€”Dr. Maxfieldā€™s presence elevates product credibility.
2ļøāƒ£ Sensory demonstration makes it feel realā€”The cheek rub + pillow test create desire through visuals.
3ļøāƒ£ Science-backed benefits turn luxury into necessityā€”Silk isnā€™t just soft, itā€™s better for your skin & hair.
4ļøāƒ£ No hard CTA neededā€”desire drives actionā€”Instead of ā€œBuy Now,ā€ the ad lets curiosity do the work.
5ļøāƒ£ Blends organic content style with direct response strategiesā€”Making it feel authentic but persuasive.

Friendly reminder that inside VidTao you can find numerous YouTube + YouTube Shorts ads and relevant stats on them by not only this brand, but thousands of other advertisers too!

It looks a bit something like this:

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‘‡

And thatā€™s it for this weekā€™s selection, folks! āœ”ļø

We hope this weekā€™s selection of high-performing YouTube Shorts ads has sparked new ideas to test yourself!

Want more insights like these?

Stay tuned for next weekā€™s VidTao 2 Shorts Tuesdayā€¦

ā€¦where weā€™ll continue breaking down winning YouTube Shorts Ads you can break down + model for your own creatives & campaigns.

And btwā€¦ 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.