YouTube ads are short video promotions that appear before, during, or after content on the platform — and they come in many forms. In Google Ads, you can create compelling video campaigns using YouTube ad formats like skippable in-stream ads, non-skippable in-stream ads, in-feed video ads, bumper ads, masthead ads, and even Shorts ads. Each serves a different purpose and works best in different moments of the viewer’s journey.
In the YouTube ad examples below, you’ll find a mix of high-converting formats, including sample ads from e-commerce, SaaS, fitness, and more. From good YouTube ads to some of the best-performing campaigns in recent years, these examples show how top brands tailor messaging, targeting, and creative to drive real results.
What you’ll learn:
- What makes a high-converting YouTube ad across different formats
- How brands use humor, curiosity, emotion, or clarity to grab attention
- Why landing page alignment matters after the click
- Real-world examples of successful YouTube ads to spark your new campaign
5 High-Converting YouTube Ad Examples
High-converting YouTube ads turn attention into action. The examples below come from a range of industries and moments in time, proving that with the right mix of creative and strategy, strong performance is repeatable.
Some use humor, others lean into storytelling or sharp value propositions. What they have in common is clarity, focus, and a strong call to action — whether it’s “Buy now,” “Sign up,” or simply “Learn more.”
Every ad pairs visuals with YouTube ad descriptions. They don’t always appear directly on the video — they show up next to it in search results, on the homepage, or alongside related videos. A good description adds context, teases the value inside, and nudges viewers toward action.
Let’s take a closer look at the most converting YouTube videos.
#1 Dollar Shave Club – “Our Blades Are F***ing Great”
- Brand: Dollar Shave Club
- Industry: DTC / Personal Care
- Conversion results: 12,000 orders in 48h
This low-budget YouTube ad helped launch one of the most talked-about DTC brands of the decade. Shot for just $4,500, it introduced Dollar Shave Club’s voice: casual, sharp, and unapologetically funny.
The ad follows CEO Michael Dubin as he walks (and rides) through a warehouse, mocking overpriced razors and corporate red tape literally cutting through it with a machete. It’s fast, witty, and completely unpolished — by design. The script is tight, the delivery is deadpan, and the brand promise is crystal clear: great razors, no BS.
With 12,000 orders in the first 48 hours, this sample YouTube ad became an instant viral hit. It showed that clarity, humor, and timing can drive serious results even without a big production budget.
#2 Squatty Potty – A Pooping Unicorn Boosts Sales 600%
- Brand: Squatty Potty
- Industry: Health & Wellness / DTC
- Conversion result: +600% online sales, +400% retail sales
This YouTube ad is proof that even the most awkward products can go viral if the creative is right. In 2015, Squatty Potty teamed up with the Harmon Brothers agency to produce one of the most bizarre and unforgettable YouTube ad examples to date.
The video features a straight-faced prince explaining how a toilet stool improves digestive posture — while a unicorn mascot poops rainbow ice cream to demonstrate. It’s weird. It’s graphic. And it works. The absurdity grabs attention, but the educational core keeps viewers watching. The script skillfully balances shock value with clarity, turning toilet talk into a shareable message.
This ad delivered. The brand reported a 600% jump in online sales and a 400% lift in retail within months of release. As you see, humor, when done right, converts.
#3 Purple Mattress – “The Goldilocks Raw Egg Test”
- Brand: Purple Mattress
- Industry: Consumer Goods / Sleep Tech
- Conversion result: 500M+ views, major sales spike
How do you make mattresses go viral? Purple found the answer with raw eggs, a fairy-tale twist, and a scientist in lederhosen. In this standout YouTube ad example, a quirky “Goldilocks” character runs a now-famous “raw egg test,” dropping a glass board full of eggs onto different beds including the Purple mattress.
The result: only Purple cushions the eggs perfectly, showing it’s soft and supportive — the “just right” balance. It’s an unusual product demo, but it works. The ad leans into visual storytelling, humor, and a clear benefit-driven message, all while keeping things weird enough to be memorable.
This YouTube ad racked up over 500 million views and helped position Purple as one of the most innovative brands in sleep tech. It’s a case study in high production value, clever scripting, and turning a dry category into a viral content machine.
#4 Grammarly – “Enhance Your Writing”
- Brand: Grammarly
- Industry: SaaS / EdTech
- Conversion result: 30M+ daily active users
Grammarly took a simple idea — free writing help — and scaled it across YouTube with smart, repetitive messaging. Unlike loud or comedic YouTube ad examples, Grammarly’s ads are calm, clean, and built around everyday use cases: students editing essays, professionals polishing emails, or users fixing typos in social posts.
The product does all the talking. The spot shows real-time grammar corrections, supported by voiceover and text repeating the same message: Grammarly is free. The CTA is just as clear — “It’s FREE.”
There’s no punchline, no viral gimmick — just a relatable solution to a common problem. That clarity, combined with huge ad volume and smart targeting, helped Grammarly grow its user base to over 30 million daily active users. Proof that consistency and clarity can convert just as effectively as comedy.
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#5 Nike – “You Can’t Stop Us”
- Brand: Nike
- Industry: Sportswear / Lifestyle
- Conversion result: 100M+ views, significant brand lift
Released in 2020, the ad blends emotion, visual storytelling, and social relevance to reinforce brand identity rather than drive immediate sales.
Built around a perfectly synchronized split-screen montage, the spot aligns athletes from different sports and backgrounds — from LeBron James to Megan Rapinoe — in seamless, mirrored movements. Narrated by Rapinoe herself, the video delivers a unifying message about perseverance and social change: “When things aren’t fair, we’ll come together for change.”
The result was massive. With over 100 million views on YouTube and a viral wave across social media, the ad deepened Nike’s brand connection during a challenging global moment. While it didn’t push product directly, it strengthened what Nike sells best: identity, belief, and loyalty.
4 YouTube Bumper Ad Examples
YouTube bumper ads are short video ads limited to just 6 seconds or less. With no skip option and only a few seconds to spare, bumpers force marketers to be concise and clever. Here are four standout examples of bumper ads that made the most of their six seconds – from playful product teases to punchy promos. These quick hits show how, sometimes, less is more when it comes to grabbing attention.
#6 Energizer – “Quick Spark with the Bunny”
- Brand: Energizer
- Industry: Consumer Goods / Batteries
- Performance: 6″ version outperformed 15″ in engagement
Energizer made the most of its iconic mascot in this YouTube bumper ad by keeping things simple and playful. In just six seconds, the Energizer Bunny marches in with its signature drum, meets a group of curious kittens, and exits — all with high energy and zero setup.
The charm lies in the micro-moment: it’s fast, cute, and unmistakably on-brand. Testing showed that this 6-second version was even more engaging than the extended 15-second cut — proving that, when done right, brevity boosts impact.
#7 Ziploc – “6 Seconds to Seal the Deal”
- Brand: Ziploc
- Industry: Consumer Goods / Food Storage
- Performance: Strong message recall, even without narration
This YouTube bumper ad from Ziploc proves that clarity wins in short-form video. The ad shows a single shot: a Ziploc bag being used to seal in food freshness, with the logo visible the entire time.
There’s no voiceover, no story arc — just a product in action and a clear visual cue. That focus paid off. Viewers instantly grasped the key message: Ziploc keeps food fresh. And because the branding is constant, there’s no confusion about who’s behind the message.
#8 Samsung Galaxy S8 – “Pre-book Offer”
- Brand: Samsung
- Industry: Consumer Electronics / Mobile
- Performance: #1 on YouTube’s global bumper ads leaderboard
This YouTube bumper ad example proves how much can be done in just six seconds. Samsung’s Galaxy S8 spot, launched in India, focused on one product highlight — the new Infinity Display — and delivered it with eye-catching repetition and a clear CTA: Pre-book now.
The video loops a quick animation of the screen expanding twice within the ad’s runtime, reinforcing the “infinite” feel in a visually striking way.
As one of the best-performing YouTube ads globally in its category, this campaign is a textbook case of how to use short-form video: clear benefit, bold visual, fast CTA. For tech brands especially, this is a great YouTube ad example of high-impact minimalism.
#9 Discover – “Short & Sweet Story Continuation”
- Brand: Discover
- Industry: Financial Services
- Performance: Strong narrative recall in 6″ cutdown
This creative Youtube ad by Discover takes a direct snippet from one of the brand’s longer spots — and turns it into a punchy 6-second message. In the full ad, a customer calls Discover’s support line and is surprised to learn there are no annual fees. The bumper shows just the key reaction:
“Wait — there’s really no annual fee?”
…followed by Discover’s branding and tagline. That’s it — but that’s enough.
A smart example of how to repurpose campaign content for short-form formats without losing clarity or impact.
3 YouTube Pause Ad Examples
YouTube Pause ads are static display ads that appear 10 seconds after a viewer pauses a video, only on Connected TV devices. YouTube replaces the frozen screen with a branded image and call-to-action, placed alongside the paused content. The ad stays visible until the viewer resumes playback or dismisses it.
Because pause ads appear during a viewer-initiated break, they don’t interrupt the experience — making them a non-intrusive but highly visible placement. They’re especially effective for brand awareness and light engagement, with a clear visual focus and minimal distraction.
Below are three creative YouTube pause ad examples that made the most of this brief but valuable screen time — turning viewer pauses into micro-moments for brand impact.
#10 Charmin x Hulu
- Brand: Charmin
- Industry: Consumer Goods / Personal Care
- Performance: Strong contextual relevance and brand recall
Charmin leaned into context perfectly with this YouTube pause ad — because let’s face it, many viewers hit pause for one reason: a bathroom break. Instead of ignoring that behavior, Charmin embraced it with a static screen ad that gently winks at the moment.
One example: the Charmin bear waves from the corner of the paused screen with a line like, “Enjoy your break — go in comfort with Charmin.” It’s subtle, funny, and directly tied to the brand’s core use case.
#11 Coca-Cola x Hulu
- Brand: Coca-Cola
- Industry: Beverage / FMCG
- Performance: Early adoption, high contextual impact
Coca-Cola knows timing — and few moments are better than when someone pauses a video to grab a snack. As one of the first brands to pilot pause ads on Hulu, Coke turned this brief break into a perfect brand moment.
The format was simple: a static image of a chilled Coke bottle fades in a few seconds after pausing, with copy like “Time for a refreshment?” or “Pause and refresh – we’ll be here.” It’s not loud or pushy — just a subtle nudge that feels perfectly placed. If you were already headed to the fridge, the idea of grabbing a Coke suddenly feels like your own.
It’s simple. It’s smart. It’s the advertising equivalent of being in the right place at the right time.
#12 Corner
- Brand: Corner
- Industry: Grocery Delivery / E-commerce
- Performance: Strong contextual relevance and QR code engagement
This YouTube Pause Ad from grocery delivery brand Corner shows how to make a pause moment feel perfectly timed — and perfectly relevant. When a viewer hits pause during a video (in this case, a spicy food challenge from Hot Ones), a static ad slides in with a clear message: “Snack break right around the corner.”
The right side of the screen features a QR code and a simple offer: “Scan for 15% off your first order at Corner.” A friendly image of a grocery handoff reinforces the message visually — food, speed, convenience.
This is a great example of meeting the viewer exactly where they are. You’re pausing, possibly hungry — and now there’s a snack solution one scan away. It’s non-intrusive, totally contextual, and framed as a helpful prompt rather than a sales pitch.
Want more from your videos! Embed them on landing pages and watch conversion grow!
YouTube Headline Ad Example
YouTube headline ads, also known as in-feed video ads, show up in search results, on the YouTube homepage, or next to related videos. These paid placements include a thumbnail, a short description, and most importantly: a headline designed to drive clicks.
What makes a good YouTube headline ad is part SEO, part storytelling. The title has to look native enough to blend in with organic results, but with just enough intrigue, benefit, or emotional pull to stop the scroll. Think of it as a video’s elevator pitch — packed into a single line.
#13 Mikkelsen Twins – “Why Do You Not Know This?”
- Brand: Mikkelsen Twins / PublishingLife
- Industry: Online Education / Business Coaching
- Performance: Exceptionally high CTR
This YouTube headline ad example is a case study in using curiosity to drive clicks. The headline are just six words: “Why Do You Not Know This?”
No product name. No promise. Just a challenge — one that pokes at the viewer’s ego and triggers instant FOMO. The implied message is simple: There’s something important you’re missing… and we’re about to tell you what. But only if you click.
The ad leads to a video about making money with Amazon’s Audible platform — but the viewer only discovers that after the click. It’s a classic discovery ad strategy: ask a question your audience can’t not answer.
This is one of the best YouTube ad headline examples for creators in the business, finance, or info-product space. When executed well, this “curiosity gap” style creates immediate engagement — as long as the content delivers what the headline promises.
Start Building Landing Pages That Boost Your YouTube Ad Performance
Even the most creative YouTube ad is only as effective as what comes after the click. Great ads spark interest, but landing pages close the deal. A mismatch between your ad and page can break the flow, confuse the visitor, and waste the conversion opportunity. Your landing page should instantly echo the message, tone, and offer from the ad — keeping the momentum going.
Key takeaways from the best YouTube ads we’ve covered:
- Match your format to your message – bumper, pause, headline, or full-length, each has its strengths.
- Lead with one strong hook – humor, curiosity, emotion, or simplicity.
- Make every second (and word) count – especially in short formats.
- Consistency wins – align your ad, headline, and landing page for a seamless user journey.
- Creativity matters – but clarity converts.
If you want to boost YouTube ad ROI, start by building landing pages designed to convert — fast, clear, and on-message. Landingi makes it easy to align your creative with performance-driven pages, thanks to a drag-and-drop builder, A/B testing, fast load times, and integrations with your ad stack. Don’t let a great ad go to waste — let your landing page do the follow-through. Try now!
