- VidTao
- Posts
- š² š Brain-Boosting Mushrooms & a Crazy Local SEO Hack
š² š Brain-Boosting Mushrooms & a Crazy Local SEO Hack
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 ~
15 Step Advertorial Checklist (Eugene Schwartz Inspired)
Our friends at Funnel of the Week just dropped a new funnel breakdownā¦
ā¦Showing how one advertorial-led $49 front-end hair growth offer generates a whopping $717 cart value!
Check out the full breakdown inside the Funnel of the Week Members Areaā¦.
Key to this funnel?
The ADVERTORIAL LANDING PAGE.
And if you want to make sure your next advertorial (and sales page) crushes itā¦
The Funnel of the Week team put together an easy-to-apply 15-step advertorial checklist you can download here:
Go here to check it out!
š Ad #1: āThe First Smart Mushroom?ā ā How a Founder-Led YouTube Shorts Ad Creates Instant Trust & Curiosity
This 24-second long YouTube Shorts ad takes a founder-led, thought-leader approach, using scientific authority (Paul Stamets), direct-to-camera storytelling, and minimal visuals to position Lionās Mane as a must-have for brain health.
Instead of hard selling, it leans on Paulās personal credibility and curiosity-driven messaging to make the viewer feel like theyāre getting an inside look at a scientific breakthrough.
Letās now go into more details:
Pattern Interruption Hook
Paul Stamets introduces himself on-camera, surrounded by Lionās Mane mushrooms.
He isnāt just a random expertāheās the founder of the brand, making this an authentic, high-trust endorsement.
āIām here with a gorgeous flush of Lionās Mane mushrooms.ā
š Why this works:
Founder-led storytelling builds instant trustāPaul has a personal stake in the productās quality.
Visual cue of fresh mushrooms reinforces natural, high-quality sourcing.
The word āgorgeousā makes the mushrooms feel premium and desirable rather than just another supplement.
Building Intrigue ā The āSmart Mushroomā Angle
āThis may be the first smart mushroom, in my opinion.ā
Frames Lionās Mane as a breakthrough discovery.
The phrase āsmart mushroomāis highly shareable and curiosity-inducing.
š Why this works:
Founderās insight feels exclusiveāviewers feel like theyāre learning about something undervalued and new.
āSmart mushroomā = category creationāmakes it feel unique, not just another supplement.
Curiosity-driven phrasingāViewers want to learn more about what makes it āsmart.ā
Science-Based Benefits
āThis mushroom has compounds that support nervous system health, specifically neurogenesis.ā
Uses a scientific claim (neurogenesis = brain cell growth) to reinforce credibility.
No fluffājust one powerful, high-impact benefit.
š Why this works:
Founder-led authority + science = high believability.
One clear benefit (neurogenesis) = no overwhelm, just impact.
Feels educational, not salesyāmaking it easier to trust.
The Longevity Hook ā Why It Matters
āThis is a mushroom I think we all should pay closer attention to.ā
āIt could be absolutely essential as you age.ā
Frames Lionās Mane as an anti-aging, long-term brain health solution.
š Why this works:
Founderās personal belief statement makes it more persuasive.
Future-casting = makes the viewer think about long-term health.
Scarcity effectāIf something is āessential,ā people fear missing out.
Static Closing Frame
Ends with a static image of the brand logo + disclaimer.
The Paul Stametsā Fungi Perfecti logo reinforces credibility.
The FDA disclaimer adds transparency (common in supplement ads).
š Why this works:
Founder branding reinforces trustāthis isnāt a faceless supplement company.
Subconscious trust-buildingāFDA disclaimers, while legally required, also make claims feel āofficial.ā
A clean, non-salesy close leaves the viewer thinking about the message.
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£ Founder-led authorityāPaul Stamets isnāt just an expert, heās the founder, which makes the endorsement feel authentic and high-trust.
2ļøā£ Curiosity-driven messagingāāSmart mushroomā creates intrigue and boosts shareability.
3ļøā£ Minimalist but powerful science claimsāāSupports neurogenesisā feels legitimate without over-explaining.
4ļøā£ Longevity framingāSubtly makes Lionās Mane feel essential for aging.
5ļøā£ Soft CTA approachāInstead of pushing a sale, the ad lets curiosity drive action.
This brand has a quite cool landing page in use too, letās take a quick scroll:
Besides landing pages, use VidTao to check out all other interesting ads by Host Defense Mushrooms! Hereās a sneak peek:
š² Ad #2: āThe #1 Tree CutterāThanks to Voice Search?ā ā An Ad That Sells a Service Like a Get-Rich-Quick Hack
Next up, we found this 55-seconds long YouTube Shorts ad that follows a classic āresults-firstā storytelling structure, using a relatable business owner, social proof, and a step-by-step tutorial to sell an automated voice search ranking service.
Check it out:
Instead of technical explanations, it frames the service as a secret growth hackāmaking it feel like an unfair advantage for small businesses.
Letās break the ad down:
Pattern Interruption Hook
Opens with the business owner holding a cut tree, saying:
āThis is how we became the number one tree cutters in our local area.āInstant credibility drop:āI got ranked number one on voice search.ā
š Why this works:
Grabs attention immediatelyāmakes the viewer think, āWait, how does a tree cutter rank on voice search?ā
āNumber oneā social proofāpeople trust rankings and assume #1 = success.
Frames the product as a shortcut to leads & revenue, rather than a complicated marketing tool.
Building Desire ā The Before & After Effect
āSo when anyone searches on their phone in Siri or Alexa, I come up as the number one tree cutter.ā
āNow my phoneās ringing off the hook, Iāve never had more leads, and Iām hiring like crazy.ā
š Why this works:
Paints a compelling ābefore and afterā pictureāfrom struggling business to overwhelmed with leads.
Reinforces scarcity mindsetāānumber oneā ranking sounds exclusive (only one business gets it).
Social proof angleāhe implies success by talking about hiring more staff.
The Tutorial Shift ā Making It Seem Easy
Camera switches to a phone screen tutorial
āLet me show you real quick how you can do it.ā
Walks through a 60-second quiz that āchecks if you qualify.ā
š Why this works:
Quick pivot from curiosity to solutionākeeps the viewer engaged.
āSuper simpleā = low frictionāremoves the fear of complex tech setup.
Gamifies the processāa āquizā sounds fun and interactive instead of a boring signup form.
Scarcity triggerānot everyone āqualifies,ā making it feel exclusive.
āI qualified for all voice search platformsāAlexa, Siri, Google Home, Bixby, all of them.ā
āSo this is how you get registered for voice search, guys.ā
š Why this works:
Authority stackingālisting multiple platforms makes it feel more official and legitimate.
Subtly implies that qualifying means instant success.
No technical detailsājust a strong call to action.
CTA ā Urgency & FOMO
āTap down below if you want to supercharge your business and start getting thousands of new leads today.ā
š Why this works:
āSuperchargeā = fast results, minimal effort.
Fear of missing out (FOMO)āwho wouldnāt want thousands of new leads?
CTA is clear and directāno distractions.
Key Takeaways from this Ad
1ļøā£ Social proof first, explanation secondāThe ad starts with results, then explains how it works.
2ļøā£ Before & after transformationāViewers see a struggling business turn into a success story.
3ļøā£ āQualificationā gamifies the CTAāA quiz makes signing up feel like unlocking an opportunity.
4ļøā£ Scarcity mindsetāOnly one business can be #1 in voice search, increasing urgency.
5ļøā£ Strong emotional triggersāThe ad sells the feeling of being overwhelmed with leadsānot just ranking higher.
Did you know you can use VidTao to check out ANY advertiserās landing pages in use? Hereās what this advertiserās landing page looks like:
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 there you have it, weāre all done analyzing out 2 shorts ads for this week! š
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.