Want to see some YouTube Shorts ads that are scaling right now, using VidTao YouTube ad finder
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: Radiant Whitening Toothpaste – “My boyfriend is a freak about his teeth”
This first ad we chose for this week blends TikTok-style testimonial energy with a satisfying side-by-side demo that instantly builds product superiority through proof and relatability:
This ad contains:
Authentic UGC-style rant → feels real, not scripted Visual proof: 3-way stain-cleaning test + yellow teeth model Fast transformation → no waiting, no strips
Let’s dissect it part by part:
Hook – “Holy sh*t. Okay, I see why this is going viral.”
Why it works:
Immediate intrigue. The casual, breathless delivery feels like a friend sending a voice note - which disarms the viewer while signaling “this stuff works.”
Visual Proof – Paper towel stain test + teeth model scrub
Why it works:
Watching one toothpaste outshine the others in real time is addictive - the brushing combined with dramatic results does all the selling. Plus, the model teeth shot dramatizes the problem.
Offer Close – “I’ve seen them sell out twice now, so I linked it below.”
Why it works:
Social proof + scarcity + no hard sell = perfect CTA for short-form. The product feels in-demand and hard to get, which boosts urgency without needing a discount.
Here’s a quick scroll thought this advertiser’s langing page:
Key Takeaways
Hybrid structure: UGC + visual test → satisfying + believable
Emotional trigger: Personal voice → feels like advice, not pitch
Scarcity stack: Sellout mention = FOMO kicker at just the right moment
~ 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: Anti-Blue Light Presbyopia Glasses – “You don’t need a prescription”
This next ad for a unique product dials into an overlooked pain point (aging eyes + screen strain) with a clean, benefit-stacked pitch and a show-and-tell format that works without sound:
Pain relief + vision boost + cosmetic benefit Before/after frames demo lens power clearly Designed for the 40+ viewer who's tech-tired
But let’s start from the hook…
Hook – "These are not regular glasses..."
Why it works:
Classic bait-and-switch structure. Sets the stage for curiosity by promising a twist - and then follows through with benefits that feel new, not recycled.
Demo – Overhead paper test + on-face showcase
Why it works:
The colored lens filtering + magnification effect is made obvious via the printed text demo. No complex science needed - the viewer sees the advantage.
Benefit Stack – "Block blue light, reduce fatigue, no prescription needed."
Why it works:
It checks multiple boxes fast - health, performance, convenience. And the prescription-free angle lowers friction instantly for the over-40 demo.
Additionally, here’s what this advertiser’s landing page looks like:
🔑 Key Takeaways
Demo clarity = comprehension in 3 seconds Age-aware product, youth-aware delivery – smart contrast “No prescription needed” is a big unlock for mass-market clickers
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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!
PS - Go here to Claim Your Free Trial of VidTao Premium: Access 34.3 Million YouTube Ads & Their Landing Pages!
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Go here to set up a free YouTube Ad brainstorm chat.