Want to see some YouTube Shorts ads that are scaling right now, using VidTao ad spy tool.
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 - 💰 MORE MONEY 💰
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.
Image source: Google
This works for both short videos and regular YouTube content, making it safer for creators who want steady income.
#2 - ⛔TikTok Ban Rumors/Reality⛔
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 - 📈Built-in audience📈
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 - 🆕Different viewers🆕
YouTube’s users are often older (25-34) vs. TikTok’s teen-heavy crowd, so creators can reach new fans.
#5 - 🤦♂️Creators Are Fed Up With TikTok🤦♂️
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:
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
Ad #1: The “Viral Cervical Neck Pillow” Ad (The Pillow Home)
This UGC bedroom demo sells comfort and alignment with calm, tactile moments and simple language:
Let’s get into more details:
Instant Hook – Direct promise in the first second
Speaker opens with: “Viral cervical neck pillow that is insane.” Product already on screen; relaxed bedroom setting; natural lighting.
Why this works: Fast claim + product-in-frame removes mystery. Calm, real-life vibe signals authenticity.
Mechanism Setup – Alignment POV
“Keeps your body always in proper alignment to your neck.” Camera stays tight on head and shoulder position.
Why this works: Names the outcome viewers want after pain or stiffness. Visuals quietly corroborate the line.
Audience Expansion – Shoulder issue mention
“I have shoulder issues too… there’s a place for my arm.” She tucks arm into the cutout.
Why this works: One line multiplies relevance. Concrete demo of a niche benefit.
Feature Proof – Materials and feel
Memory foam. Silk pillowcase. “Super soft.”
Why this works: Texture words + material nouns are sticky in silent viewing.
Use-Case Coverage – All positions
Back sleeper who sometimes turns side. Even stomach sleepers get a mention.
Why this works: Objection preemption. Viewers don’t self-disqualify based on sleep habits.
Soft CTA – Link mention
“I’ve attached a link.” Brand logo watermark throughout.
Why this works: Gentle nudge fits the cozy tone while keeping the product as the star.
Key Takeaways
- Calm UGC sells sleep products better than hype.
- Show the alignment mechanism, not just say it.
- One-line audience branching (back, side, stomach) reduces drop-off.
- Texture and material words carry more weight in silent watch.
- Keep CTA soft to match the bedtime setting.
Just look at this ad’s number of views and likes…
Additionally, here’s what this advertiser’s landing page looks like:
~ 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)
Ad #2: “Hiking Safety Tool” Ad (multi-scene torture test)
Up next we have a kinetic, caption-led short that stacks survival fantasies with durability stunts:
Cold Open – Threat frame in 1s
“Out in the wild, anything can happen.” Handheld forest shot. Urgency tone set.
Why this works: Situational fear primes attention and justifies a tool.
Credibility Hook – Name the category
“That’s why we made this… the hiking safety tool.” Quick identity before the stunts.
Why this works: Viewers know what they’re judging before proofs roll.
Durability Montage – Overkill visuals
“Strong enough to break bricks.” “Tough enough to hit a bat.” “Still works like new.” Brick smash, bat hits, vehicle roll-over style visuals.
Why this works: Extreme tests dramatize reliability. Caption-first delivery plays well muted.
Practical Benefits – Everyday carry
“Small, light, and ready anytime.” Product-in-hand shots.
Why this works: Translates spectacle into pocketable utility.
Use-Case Triad – Safety, survival, emergencies
“For safety, for survival, or when things go wrong.”
Why this works: Three-lane positioning catches preppers, hikers, and generalists.
Urgency CTA – Scarcity + command
“Be smart. Be ready. Get yours now, before it’s sold out.”
Why this works: Simple two-step logic: responsibility then action.
Key Takeaways
- Start with context, then name the tool, then proofs.
- Caption-first scripting keeps comprehension high at 1.0x speed and muted.
- Overkill tests are scroll-stoppers; pair them with a “still works” reset shot.
- Size and readiness lines convert curiosity into carry intent.
- Scarcity kicker fits the adrenaline pacing.
This ad has over 19M views!
…and here’s what their landing page looks like:
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That's all for this week! 
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!
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