Welcome to, or welcome back to this week’s VidTao 3 Ad Thursday, where each week we’ll be diving into our VidTao YouTube ad library to uncover 3 high-performing YouTube ads driving results!
This week we’ve got three high-performing YouTube ads for you to check out & model, including:
Solar panels ad with over 3 million USD in adspend…
Book publishing ad with over $133k in adspend…
$1.2Mk+ Spent On This Addiction Recovery Ad…
Ready to check the ads out?
The tracking metric you've never heard of that 4x'd a $750M business 
99% of DTC Subscription brands miss this
Duolingo was stuck in 2018.
Yes, $750M in revenue & 40 million+ daily users…
But growth?
Flatlining.
Hundreds of tests running… Nothing moving the needle.
They were trapped optimizing metrics everyone tracks: conversion rates, retention rates, acquisition costs.
Then they used a framework that flips traditional tracking on its head…
…exposing the ONE metric that mattered most...
…buried in every DTC subscription brand's biggest blind spot.
When they tested it against everything else — new user acquisition, reactivation campaigns, onboarding flows — this one metric had 10x more impact than all of them.
The result?
4x growth.
Not from better ads. Not from new traffic sources. Not from a rebrand.
From tracking one transition that 99% of subscription brands completely ignore.
Want to see how you can uncover your DTC subscription business’s “magic metric”?
VidTao Co-Founder Brat Vukovich just wrote an article inside his weekly newsletter, The Dashboard, walking you through exactly how to dig into your own subscription business and uncover this golden insight.
PS — The Dashboard is where Brat shares weekly notes on building BraTrax, buying media, and making sense of performance data - without the fluff.
PPS — Send this link to a friend who needs it: blog.bratrax.com
Let's dive right in and take a closer look at this week's YouTube ad standouts and discover what makes them so successful.
Solar Lead Gen Ad With Over 3 Million USD in AdSpend
Ad that is our first pick for this week’s analysis is a solar lead gen ad we found inside VidTao!
Let's take a look at it:
This ad's estimated total ad spend is over 3 million USD! 
These are some of the elements this ad combines for its success:
Engaging, Problem-Solving Hook – Directly speaks to homeowners' hesitation about solar, making them curious to learn more.
Educational “3 Things You Need to Know” Framework – Simplifies the decision-making process, positioning the ad as helpful rather than pushy.
Unique Selling Proposition (USP) - AI-Powered Solar Calculator – Highlights a high-tech, data-driven approach that eliminates the need for in-person assessments.
Key Benefits Presented in a Logical Sequence – Answers homeowners' biggest questions: cost, savings, and system size.
Strong Social Proof & Credibility Boosters – Uses local pricing data and 28,000+ verified reviews to build trust.
Low-Friction CTA with Two Options – Allows both ready-to-buy and hesitant users to engage without pressure.
Scarcity & Urgency to Push Action – Encourages immediate action by framing solar incentives as time-sensitive.
This advertiser has many other cool ads you can take inspo from, and you can find them all inside VidTao YouTube ad library 
Check out ALL ads by this advertiser inside VidTao ad intelligence software
"Spy" on 34.3 Million YouTube Ads
(and Landing Pages)!
Unlock proven strategies for success with the VidTao Premium YouTube Ad Library. Get instant access to your FREE VidTao trial today 
Claim Your FREE VidTao Trial Now!Take the guesswork out of YouTube ads – start scaling smarter.
“Publish Your Own Book” Ad With Over $133k in AdSpend
Moving on to our next ad pick, which is this book publishing ad, with estimated total ad spend of over $133k! 
See this ad using the VidTao YouTube ad library
Let's dissect it and see some of the key elements this ad combines:
Inspiring, Emotion-Driven Hook – Uses a powerful quote from Tony Morrison to immediately connect with aspiring writers.
Strong Emotional & Legacy Appeal – Frames publishing as a way to leave a permanent mark on the world.
Problem-Solution Framework – Addresses the common belief that publishing is complicated, expensive, and time-consuming.
Simplified, Low-Friction Offer – Highlights how Spines’ platform makes publishing as easy as “drag and drop.”
Clear & Actionable CTA – Encourages viewers to book a free 15-minute call with a publishing expert.
Brand Positioning & Tagline Reinforcement – Ends with a memorable line: “Spines – the same old story retold.”
Using VidTao YouTube spy tool, you can find all landers in use by this, or any other advertiser you wanna spy on 
Here’s what this advertiser’s landing page looks like:
Find ALL their landers inside VidTao YouTube ad library
Don’t forget to use VidTao ad spy tool to check out not only all ads and stats on your competitors, but also their landing pages for the additional inspo!
~ update from our friends at Funnel of the Week ~
Air Fryers, ‘Dark Posting’ & Category Creation for a $4B Market
Our friends at Funnel of the Week just released a new funnel breakdown…
… This time it’s a DTC beauty brand using dark posting + smart benefit repositioning to turn a decades-old niche product into a mainstream hit.
The product? Shampoo bars. The angle? No longer “eco-friendly” - now it’s hair transformation stories like:
“My hair grew 4 inches in 2 months”
“Finally found the solution for my thin, lifeless hair”
And the growth opportunity is huge:
- US shampoo bar market: $4.13B, growing 7.7% annually
- Only 35% of consumers know this category exists
- Only 8% have tried solid shampoo bars
Go here to see more at Funnel of the Week….
Inside this breakdown, you’ll see:
✓ All “dark post” influencer accounts running now - and how they target different demos
✓ Creative strategy that shifts from eco benefits to personal transformation
✓ The awareness stage moves that take someone from “never heard of it” to “ordering today”
✓ How this exact framework has created billion-dollar markets before (electric toothbrushes, plant-based meat, and more)
$1.2M+ Spent On This Addiction Recovery Ad
Already our last ad analysis for the week, folks!
And it’s this addiction recovery ad by Mason Cain:
Watch this ad inside VidTao YouTube ad library
This ad's estimated total ad spend is over $1.2M! 
Now let’s see what are some of the elements that make it stand out:
Deeply Personal & Relatable Hook – Opens with a vulnerable confession, immediately building trust and connection.
Problem-Agitate-Solution Framework – Frames addiction as a cycle, then positions their method as the only way to break free.
Faith-Based & Spiritual Appeal – Leverages religious messaging to strengthen credibility and emotional impact.
Strong Social Proof & Success Stories – Features testimonials and personal transformations to validate effectiveness.
Clear & Low-Friction CTA – Encourages users to register for a free video and receive discreet follow-up emails.
Urgency & Divine Timing Angle – Suggests that watching the video isn’t a coincidence but an answer to prayers.
Use VidTao ad intelligence tool to see other ads by this advertiser, all the relevant stats and a lot more!
Here’s a sneak peek:
Spy on this advertiser using VidTao YouTube ad library
Want to brainstorm with us on new ways to scale your business with
YouTube Ads (and other performance video platforms)?
Join us for a free YouTube ad brainstorming session here:
With that, we’re all done for this week! 
We hope this week’s selection of high-performing ads has sparked new ideas to test yourself!
Want more insights like these?
Stay tuned for next week’s VidTao 3 Ad Thursday, where we’ll continue breaking down winning strategies from the best YouTube ads in the game!
And btw… If you have questions about YouTube ads?
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 34.3 Million YouTube Ads & Their Landing Pages!
PPS - Are you spending $1k/day+ on Paid Ads? 
Go here to set up a free YouTube Ad brainstorm chat.