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š² š©ŗ This YouTube Shorts Ad Sells a Pillowcase Like a Prescription
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 ~
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...
Plus: All week long Funnel of the Week will be dissecting the top-performing TikTok Shop offers of 2024
(these are classic DR offers crushing it with innovative video tactics)
Go here to join so you donāt miss it.
Ad #1: āA 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 relatableāwhile subtly showcasing the product's emotional appeal.
Letās 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."
Thereās a Titanic reference right after that grabs attentionāconnecting a historical, emotional moment to the productās core idea.
š Why this works:
Curiosity-driven hookāViewers immediately wonder āWhat does this company do?ā
Personalized storytellingāTies real events to a sentimental product.
Conversational, low-friction startāDoesnāt feel like an ad.
Building the Productās 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 isnāt just shownāitās experienced: āYour heart is my universeā message personalizes the gift.
š Why this works:
Emphasizes sentiment over featuresāViewers see the emotional impact first.
Shows the process of creating a unique productāFeels interactive.
Uses storytelling to demonstrate the productās deeper meaning.
Expanding Use Cases & Relatability
āSo it wouldnāt 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 productās use cases, reinforcing versatility.
The two people engage in a playful, back-and-forth conversation, reinforcing authenticity.
š Why this works:
Handles objections indirectlyāShows many ways to use the product without forcing it.
Broadens emotional appealāViewers start imagining their own special moment.
Natural dialogue keeps the ad engaging.
Talks about a childās birth as another meaningful milestone.
Playfully mentions how āEverybody knows the exact minute their child was born.ā
The ad doesnāt feel like a sales pitchājust two people discussing an interesting product.
š Why this works:
Emotional stackingāEach new example deepens the sentimental value.
Subtle social proofāThe product is treated as a meaningful, cherished keepsake.
Conversational + humor elements make it feel genuine, not scripted.
Final Reinforcement
āNo 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.
š Why this works:
Memorable, shareable closeāViewers remember the emotional takeaway.
Soft CTA approachāNo pressure, just a natural conclusion.
Leaves an open loopāEncourages 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
1ļøā£ Storytelling > Hard SellingāThe ad flows like a casual conversation, not a pitch.
2ļøā£ Live product demo integrated smoothlyāViewers see how it works in real-time.
3ļøā£ Expands emotional use casesāFrom romantic moments to childbirth memories, making it universally relatable.
4ļøā£ Conversational, engaging dialogueāDoesnāt feel scripted or forced.
5ļøā£ Subtle, organic CTAāEnds 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? Hereās a sneak peek of what this advertiserās lander looks like:
Ad #2: āDoctor-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 formulaāblending expert authority, product demonstration, and sensory appeal to position the product as a must-have upgrade for better sleep and skin.
Now letās break it down in more details:
Pattern Interruption Hook
The ad opens with a doctor (Dr. Maxfield) on cameraāimmediately 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.
š 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.
š Why this works:
Triggers sensory imaginationāviewers can almost feel the softness through the screen.
Demonstration beats explanationāinstead of just saying itās soft, he shows it.
Social proof effectāa doctor personally using it adds unspoken endorsement.
Selling the āWhyā 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.
š Why this works:
Science-backed persuasionāturns a luxury product into a ānecessaryā upgrade.
Handles objections proactivelyāpositions it as more than just a soft pillowcase.
Simple, clear languageādoesnāt overwhelm with too much detail.
Subtle but Effective CTA
The ad doesnāt have a hard-sell closing lineāinstead, it naturally wraps up after explaining benefits.
Final shot of the product + doctorās approval reinforces credibility.
No direct CTAābut the entire ad builds desire so the viewer naturally wants to check it out.
š Why this works:
Soft CTA approachāfeels more like an expert recommendation than a sales pitch.
Leaves the viewer with a strong impressionāthe doctorās endorsement sticks in their mind.
Encourages organic search behaviorāviewers will look it up themselves without needing a forced push.
Key Takeaways from this Ad
1ļøā£ Expert-led storytelling builds instant trustāDr. Maxfieldās presence elevates product credibility.
2ļøā£ Sensory demonstration makes it feel realāThe cheek rub + pillow test create desire through visuals.
3ļøā£ Science-backed benefits turn luxury into necessityāSilk isnāt just soft, itās better for your skin & hair.
4ļøā£ No hard CTA neededādesire drives actionāInstead of āBuy Now,ā the ad lets curiosity do the work.
5ļøā£ Blends organic content style with direct response strategiesāMaking 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:
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
And thatās it for this weekās selection, folks! āļø
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 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? š Go here to set up a free YouTube Ad brainstorm chat.
Social Proof & Emotional Connection