The Unconventional YouTube Ad Strategies Behind These $5.5M Ads

The most impactful approaches you are afraid to try 😱                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 May 03, 2024 | [Read Online]( [fb]( [tw]( [in]( [email](mailto:?subject=Post%20from%20Inceptly&body=The%20Unconventional%20YouTube%20Ad%20Strategies%20Behind%20this%20%245.5M%20Ads%3A%20The%20most%20impactful%20approaches%20you%20are%20afraid%20to%20try%20%F0%9F%98%B1%0A%0Ahttps%3A%2F%2Finceptly-agency.beehiiv.com%2Fp%2Funconventional-youtube-ad-strategies-behind-55m-ads) As every marketing enthusiast, you're for sure often finding yourself challenged by the need to constantly push the boundaries to create YouTube ads that not only capture attention but also drive real results. You're no stranger to the pressure to stand out in a sea of content, the need to balance creativity with best practices, and the ever-present question of whether your strategies are truly effective. Author: Alex Simic, Creative Director But what if we told you that the key to unlocking your ads' full potential lies in not only focusing on what's proven to work but challenging the very norms you've been taught to follow? At Inceptly, we've seen firsthand the power of defying industry standards and embracing the unexpected. This strategic shift resulted in an impressive ad spend exceeding $5.5 million. Through extensive testing and a willingness to take calculated risks, we've discovered that sometimes, the most impactful approaches are the ones that others are too afraid to try. 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: [👉 Book a call]( We're not here to dictate a rigid set of rules or claim that we have all the answers. Instead, we want to empower you to question the status quo and explore uncharted territories in your ad creation process. Whether it's experimenting with bold storytelling techniques, incorporating interactive elements, or even challenging assumptions about what information to include and when the possibilities are endless when you dare to think differently. And this is a story about how it worked for us, first-hand. The industry's unwritten rule In the world of digital advertising, there was an unspoken rule: never mention the price in your YouTube ads, especially not in the first few seconds. The conventional wisdom was that revealing the price too early would scare potential customers away in the blink of an eye. Agencies had been hanging onto this belief, convinced that the key to success lay in enticing viewers to visit the landing page before dropping the pricing bomb. For our agency, the stakes are always high. We were known for our successes with video Ads, and our main focus were "Hooks," designed to captivate viewers and in turn, lead them forward to drive conversions. Basically, if you don't hook them, you can have the most perfectly crafted funnel in the world, but they won't see it. Our reputation, and the success of our clients, hinged on our ability to create ads that stood out in a sea of mediocrity - and this is the story of every agency. We knew then, just as we know now, that if we always don't find a way to break through the noise, we're not doing our job right. The 5-second moment that changed the game The moment when somebody brings a bold fresh idea to the table is the moment which is the most crucial part of the whole story. And that is, to not reject the idea, and even further, to create an environment where people are encouraged to do so, without fear of being misunderstood, disregarded, and dismissed. If the atmosphere is accepting of new ideas, and if there's reasoning behind it, it should be tested. That's our mantra. The shocking results Long story short, out of a thousand tests, you also have a moment when something incredible happens. In this case, the ad took off like a rocket, changing the game. To this day, it has amassed over 55 million views and over 3.8 million USD in ad spend. It takes numerous trials and errors to get to this moment, but once you do, you realize how much it's worth it. [Find the ad here]( What's more, another ad with the same pricing-related hook has spent more than $ 2.8 million USD to this date, amassing a huge ad spend with the essentially same move. So, it's quite obvious how much the risk-taking has paid off. [Check out this ad here]( Expanding to new frontiers The logical step when confronted with this type of success is to push the boundaries even further. The team took its unconventional approach and applied it to a completely different niche – the supplement space. This was uncharted territory, a world where teasing and withholding information was the norm. But they charged ahead, creating an ad that put the price upfront. Once again, the results were there. The ad resonated with audiences, proving that our strategy could work across industries. It was like we had discovered the secret sauce to advertising success, and we were giddy with excitement. The ripple effect As the owners of [VidTao](, a platform that provides access to ads across YouTube, we are able to track other ads taking the same approach. Just to name a few, we can see ads, both created by our team and by others, taking a similar approach and excelling, with millions of views and hundreds of thousands of dollars of ad spend. Check out this example with 4.2 million views: [Find this ad in VidTao]( This one has over 1.6 million views and also worked very well: [Find this ad here]( The lesson learned Looking back on our journey, we realized that the true lesson wasn't just about mentioning pricing upfront. It was about having the courage to challenge the status quo, to take risks, and trust in the power of human psychology. We had dared to be different, and it had paid off in ways we never could have imagined. In the end, our journey of discovering the power of unconventional ad hooks taught us a lesson that transcends the world of advertising. It's a lesson about the very nature of success itself. You see, success isn't about playing it safe or following the well-trodden path. It's about having the audacity to challenge the status quo, to look at the world through a different lens and say, "What if we tried something different?" When we dared to mention pricing upfront in our ads, we weren't just defying industry norms – we were tapping into a fundamental truth about human psychology. We were speaking directly to our audience's desires and their need for transparency and authenticity. And in doing so, we forged a connection that went beyond mere advertising. The real magic of it is not the ripple effect, which is bound to happen - you have a winning ad, and you're going to create success with tens of similar ads. That is expected (although there is a big note to make about cross-niche results with the same Hook patterns). The real magic is setting an example to experiment, test, and explore, even after numerous failed attempts. Why am I writing all of this though? When we share our experiences, our triumphs, and our failures, we have the ability to spark change on a scale that goes far beyond our individual actions. So, as we look to the future, we at Inceptly are more committed than ever to pushing the boundaries of what's possible. We've seen firsthand the incredible things that can happen when we dare to be different, and we're just getting started. To all the dreamers, the mavericks, and the rule-breakers out there, we invite you to join us on this wild ride. Embrace the power of unconventional thinking, and never be afraid to take that leap of faith. Because who knows? Your crazy idea might just be the one that changes everything. In the end, this story is a testament to the enduring power of creativity, and breaking the rules. It's a reminder that, no matter how entrenched the norms may be, there's always room for something new and unexpected to take root and flourish. So go forth and be bold. Challenge the status quo. And never, ever stop believing in the power of your own ideas. Because as we've learned, sometimes the craziest notions are the ones that end up changing the world. Within our team, we're constantly having these conversations, and motivating our team members, as well as clients, to challenge themselves, and how they view ads. If you want to discuss the topics with us, you're more than welcome to do so! Want to brainstorm on Direct Response CREATIVES to scale your winning product across YouTube, YouTube Shorts, TikTok, and other video channels? Go here to set up a free Direct Response Creative Consult with our team: [👉 Book a call]( Alex Simic, Creative Director Alex Simic is the person responsible for all creative work that stands behind Inceptly since stepping into his role in 2022. He comes from the role of the Media Buying Team Lead and Strategist behind some of Inceptly’s biggest successes. He has collaborated with the biggest names in the Direct Response industry, whether as a Senior Account Manager & Media Buyer or Creative Director. His main goal is bridging the gap between Media Buying and Creative, ensuring that the videos Inceptly produces are data-based and giving our clients the best chance at achieving success. 💌 Like this newsletter? Let's continue the conversation! Get in touch with us by responding to this email or tagging us on [LinkedIn]( or [Instagram]( and sharing your thoughts. Your feedback helps us keep our newsletter relevant and interesting. Enjoyed what you read? Don't keep it to yourself! Share this email with your friends and help us grow our community. Not a subscriber yet? [Click here]( and join our community for more insightful content straight to your inbox. - This newsletter is brought to you by - Inceptly: the performance video ad team behind $950M+ in direct response revenue Inceptly High-Performance YouTube Advertising Agency Inceptly builds YouTube ad creatives & manages over $5M/month in YouTube ad spend for companies like ClickFunnels, Descript, MindValley, Advanced Bionaturals, Organifi, and many more. [Find out more at Inceptly.com]( Are you spending over $1K/day on ads and looking to scale your business with YouTube ads? Get a free audit of your ad accounts to unlock untapped strategies for achieving success at scale! No strings attached. [👉 Free Audit]( [ig]( [in]( Update your email preferences or unsubscribe [here]( © 2024 Inceptly 2407 Ward Road Sacramento, California 95827, United States