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Ad Intelligence Reports
Category-specific ad intelligence: which formulas are winning in your vertical, which hooks are scaling. New editions published regularly.
April 2026
Talking Head B-Roll Dominance: This format has surged to 42% of the ads this week, up 42% from last week, indicating a strong preference for personal engagement and storytelling that resonates with pet owners. Process Teaser Hook: Ads utilizing the process teaser hook have increased to 12%, reflecting a trend where consumers are intrigued by behind-the-scenes insights into product functionality, enhancing their connection to the brand. Loss Aversion Psychology: This principle has gained traction, capturing 21% of the ads, suggesting that emphasizing what pet owners stand to lose (such as their pet's health or happiness) is effectively driving engagement. WHAT'S DECLINING: Talking Head Product Format: This format has decreased by 18% to 15%, indicating that straightforward product showcases may be losing their appeal in favor of more engaging, narrative-driven content. Social Proof Principle: Now down 5%, this suggests that reliance on testimonials or user experiences is becoming less effective, urging advertisers to pivot towards more compelling emotional narratives. TAKEAWAY: Focus on integrating more engaging storytelling through Talking Head B-Roll and leverage loss aversion tactics to create a deeper emotional connection with pet owners in your ad campaigns this week.
April 2026
The Product Demo format has surged to 33%, up 15% from last week, indicating a strong consumer preference for visual demonstrations that showcase product functionalities. The rise of the Skit Narrative format, which has seen a 33% increase, suggests that storytelling through humor is effectively engaging audiences and enhancing brand recall. Opening hooks like Process Teaser and Curiosity Spike both doubled their presence to 22%, emphasizing the importance of captivating initial moments to hold viewer attention. WHAT'S DECLINING: Voiceover B-Roll has dropped to 11%, a 16% decrease, signaling a shift away from passive listening formats towards more engaging visual storytelling techniques. TAKEAWAY: This week, prioritize engaging formats like Product Demos and Skit Narratives with strong opening hooks to capture attention and drive conversions in the Food & Beverage category.
April 2026
Talking Head B-Roll: This format saw a significant rise of 9%, now making up 19% of all ads. This suggests that integrating B-roll with talking heads can enhance engagement and visual storytelling, making it more appealing to viewers. Contrast Setup Hooks: These hooks rose sharply by 13%, now accounting for 13% of openings. This indicates that viewers are responding well to ads that highlight differences or contradictions between products or lifestyles, which can effectively grab attention and provoke curiosity. Competence Restoration Psychology: Ads leveraging this principle increased by 21%, reaching 31%. This suggests that positioning your product as a solution to regain control or capabilities resonates with consumers, making it a powerful angle for ad creatives. WHAT'S DECLINING: Loss Aversion: This psychological principle dropped significantly by 25%, now constituting only 35% of ads. This decline indicates that consumers may be becoming desensitized to fear-based messaging, suggesting a shift towards more positive and empowering narratives in advertising. TAKEAWAY: This week, focus on incorporating engaging B-roll into your talking head formats and leverage contrast setups in your hooks to better capture audience attention in the health supplements vertical.
April 2026
Talking Head Product Formats: This week, 60% of ads utilized talking head formats, showing a significant 60% increase from last week. This format fosters personal connection and trust, which is crucial in the beauty skincare vertical. Unexpected Fact Hooks: Ads employing unexpected facts as opening hooks rose to 20%, a 20% increase from the previous week. This engaging strategy captures attention effectively, making it a valuable tactic for ad creatives. Social Validation Psychology: With 40% of ads leveraging social validation, up 15% week-over-week, this principle is proving essential in persuading consumers by showcasing community approval and testimonials. WHAT'S DECLINING: Process Teaser Hooks: The use of process teaser hooks has dropped to 10%, a notable decrease of 15%. This suggests that consumers may be seeking more direct and engaging openings rather than drawn-out explanations of processes. TAKEAWAY: This week, focus on leveraging talking head formats and unexpected fact hooks to create more engaging ads that resonate with beauty skincare consumers, while being mindful of the declining interest in process teasers.
April 2026
Talking Head Formats: The Talking Head B-Roll format has gained traction, comprising 33% of ads this week, reflecting a 33% increase. This suggests that consumers are responding well to personal narratives and relatable figures in home living ads. Effective Opening Hooks: Identity hooks, contrast setups, and process teasers each now account for 17% of ads, marking a 17% increase. These approaches are likely resonating with audiences by creating connections and sparking curiosity. Threat Reduction Psychology: Ads utilizing threat reduction principles have surged to 33%, indicating that positioning products as solutions to common home living concerns is effective in drawing consumer interest. WHAT'S DECLINING: Loss Aversion and Specificity Bias: The principle of loss aversion has decreased by 9%, while specificity bias has dropped by 5%. This decline suggests that ads relying heavily on fear of loss or overly specific claims may be losing effectiveness in this vertical. TAKEAWAY: Focus on incorporating Talking Head formats and identity hooks in your ads this week, as these approaches are gaining momentum and effectively engaging consumers in the home living category.
April 2026
### Voiceover B-Roll and Founder To Camera Formats: Both formats are gaining traction, with Voiceover B-Roll increasing by 24% and Founder To Camera rising by 33%. This suggests a shift towards more personal storytelling and relatable content, which resonates well with audiences seeking authenticity. Contrast Setup Hooks: Dominating at 67% and up 58% from last week, this hook effectively captures attention by juxtaposing two opposing ideas, making it a powerful tool for engaging viewers from the outset. ### WHAT'S DECLINING: Talking Head B-Roll Format: This format has dropped by 12% to now hold steady at 33%, indicating a potential oversaturation or diminishing interest in straightforward talking head presentations, which may feel less dynamic compared to other emerging styles. ### TAKEAWAY: Focus on incorporating personal narratives and contrast setups in your ad creatives this week, as these elements are significantly driving engagement in the info products category.
April 2026

Talking Head B-Roll Dominance: This format has surged to 67% of all ads, up 34% from last week, indicating a strong preference for personal, relatable presentations that build trust and engagement with viewers. Competence Restoration Appeal: Ads leveraging this psychological principle have shot up to 53%, suggesting that consumers are increasingly drawn to content that emphasizes expertise and reliability in tech gadgets, making it essential to convey authority in your messaging. WHAT'S DECLINING: Contradiction Hook Decline: This opening hook has dropped by 40% to just 27%, indicating that audiences may be less responsive to content that presents contradictory statements, signaling a shift towards clearer, more straightforward messaging. TAKEAWAY: Focus on leveraging Talking Head B-Roll formats and Competence Restoration principles in your ads, as these are resonating strongly with audiences looking for trustworthy tech gadget information.
April 2026

Long-Form Content Dominance: This week, all decoded ads were in the interview podcast format, suggesting that consumers are engaging deeply with longer content. The average duration of 262 seconds indicates a strong preference for detailed discussions over quick ads. Effective Opening Hooks: The use of open loop statements as the sole opening hook has proven successful, capturing audience interest by creating curiosity and encouraging listeners to stay engaged throughout the content. Leveraging Loss Aversion: The consistent application of loss aversion principles indicates that ads emphasizing what the audience stands to lose (if they don’t engage with the product) are resonating well, reinforcing the urgency and importance of the message. WHAT'S DECLINING: Lack of Variety in Formats: The absence of diverse ad formats this week, with a complete reliance on interview podcasts, suggests a stagnation in creative approaches. The industry may risk audience fatigue if new formats do not emerge soon. TAKEAWAY: Advertisers in the CBD wellness space should focus on creating compelling long-form content that leverages curiosity-driven hooks and emphasizes loss aversion to maximize engagement and conversion this week.
April 2026
### Talking Head Product Format: Dominating the landscape, this format has surged to 63% of all ads, reflecting a significant +63% increase from last week. This indicates that audiences respond well to direct engagement and personal testimonials in fitness advertising. Competence Restoration Psychology: With 75% of ads employing this principle, up 42%, brands are effectively tapping into consumers' desires to regain control over their fitness journeys, which is particularly resonant in the current market climate. ### WHAT'S DECLINING: Talking Head B-Roll: This format has dropped by 42% to just 25% of the ads, suggesting a waning interest in secondary footage that supports the main narrative, pushing advertisers to focus more on direct engagement. Curiosity Gap Principle: This principle has decreased by 8%, indicating that audiences may be less receptive to teaser-based content that relies on suspense, favoring more straightforward messaging instead. ### TAKEAWAY: This week, prioritize the Talking Head Product format and leverage the Competence Restoration principle to create more engaging and relatable fitness ads that resonate with your audience's desire for direct support and validation.
April 2026
Talking Head Product Format: This week, 100% of the analyzed ads utilized the talking head format, indicating a strong preference for personal engagement and direct communication, which can help build trust and connection with the audience. Provocation Hooks: All ads employed provocation as their opening hook, suggesting that challenging viewers' assumptions or presenting bold statements effectively captures attention and drives engagement. Threat Reduction Psychology: The exclusive use of threat reduction principles implies that ads focusing on alleviating consumer fears or concerns are resonating well, reinforcing the importance of addressing potential customer anxieties in messaging. WHAT'S DECLINING: Lack of Diverse Formats: With a singular focus on the talking head format, there's a noticeable absence of variety that could lead to viewer fatigue over time, as seen in previous weeks where multiple formats were more common. TAKEAWAY: Advertisers in the automotive category should leverage provocative hooks and threat reduction messaging while considering diversifying their formats to maintain audience engagement and prevent ad fatigue.
April 2026
Talking Head B-Roll Dominance: Ads featuring Talking Head B-Roll are now making up 63% of the total, marking a significant increase of 37% from last week, indicating a strong preference for personal engagement and authenticity in messaging. Effective Opening Hooks: The use of Process Teasers and Contradiction Hooks, both at 25%, shows a rising trend with increases of 16% and 8% respectively, suggesting that audiences are responding well to content that sparks curiosity and challenges conventional wisdom. Psychological Appeal: The principle of Loss Aversion has surged to 50%, up 46%, alongside Competence Restoration at 50% (+24%), highlighting the effectiveness of messaging that emphasizes potential losses and the restoration of confidence in using software. WHAT'S DECLINING: Talking Head Screen Format: This format has decreased to 13%, down 13% from last week, indicating that audiences may not be as engaged with screen-centric presentations, suggesting a shift towards more dynamic and interactive content. TAKEAWAY: Focus on integrating more Talking Head B-Roll and leveraging Loss Aversion in your messaging to capture audience interest and enhance ad performance this week.
April 2026


The "Talking Head Product" format has emerged as the dominant choice this week, making up 100% of ads and showing a significant 40% increase from last week. This suggests a strong consumer preference for relatable, personable presentations in fashion marketing. Provocation, Challenge intro, and Curiosity spike hooks each comprised 33% of ads this week, all experiencing a notable increase. This shift indicates that ads that provoke thought or pose challenges resonate well, engaging audiences more effectively. The use of Closure Delivery has surged to 67%, up 67% compared to last week. This highlights a growing trend where completing a narrative or offering a sense of resolution is becoming vital in capturing viewer attention. WHAT'S DECLINING: The overall number of ads analyzed has decreased from 5 to 3 this week, signaling a potential reduction in ad volume or a shift in strategy that may impact visibility and competition in the market. TAKEAWAY: This week, brands should prioritize "Talking Head Product" formats with provocative hooks and focus on delivering closure in their narratives to enhance viewer engagement in fashion apparel ads.
April 2026

Talking Head Product Format Dominance: This format has surged to 70% of ads this week, reflecting a strong preference for personal engagement and direct product presentation, which may enhance viewer connection and trust. Contradiction Hooks on the Rise: With 20% of ads using this approach (+20%), marketers are effectively capturing attention by challenging common beliefs, indicating that consumers are drawn to content that provokes thought and curiosity. Emerging Use of Status Assertion: Increasing to 10% (+10%), this strategy signals a shift toward positioning products as status enhancers, appealing to consumers' desires for social recognition and prestige. WHAT'S DECLINING: Loss Aversion Tactics Decrease: Dropping to 60% (-40%), reliance on fear-based messaging may be waning, suggesting that consumers are becoming desensitized or prefer more positive framing in ads. Authority Transfer Principle Recedes: With a -7% decrease, this suggests that traditional endorsements may be losing effectiveness, indicating a potential shift towards more relatable and authentic messaging. TAKEAWAY: This week, focus on leveraging the engaging and personal nature of Talking Head formats and Contradiction hooks to captivate your audience while moving away from fear-based messaging to better resonate with evolving consumer preferences.
April 2026

Talking Head B-Roll ads have gained traction, now comprising 50% of the decoded ads, up 10% from last week, indicating that personal storytelling is resonating well with audiences. GRWM (Get Ready With Me) Routine formats have surged by 25% to make up 25% of the total, suggesting consumers are increasingly interested in relatable, everyday beauty routines. Competence Restoration psychology has doubled to 50%, signaling that audiences are seeking reassurance and expertise, which brands can leverage to build trust. WHAT'S DECLINING: Specificity Bias has decreased by 5%, indicating that overly specific claims may not be as persuasive as broader, relatable messaging, which could hinder ad performance. TAKEAWAY: Focus on integrating personal storytelling and competence restoration themes in your ads this week, as these elements are proving to be effective in engaging your target audience.
April 2026


Talking Head Solo Formats: This week, 67% of ads utilized the Talking Head Solo format, showing a significant rise of 67% compared to last week, indicating a strong preference for authentic and relatable presentation styles in tech advertising. Contradiction Hooks: The use of the Contradiction hook increased to 67%, up 17%, suggesting that audiences are increasingly drawn to ads that challenge their expectations, making them more likely to engage with the content. Curiosity Gap Strategy: There’s been a notable uptick in the use of the Curiosity Gap, rising to 33% this week, which emphasizes the effectiveness of creating suspense and intrigue to capture viewer interest. WHAT'S DECLINING: Specificity Bias: This principle has seen a decline of 8%, indicating that overly detailed or specific information may be losing its appeal, as consumers seem to prefer broader, more engaging narratives in tech ads. TAKEAWAY: Focus on using Talking Head Solo formats coupled with Contradiction hooks to engage your audience, as these strategies are currently resonating well and driving higher engagement rates.
April 2026
Talking Head B-Roll: This format dominated this week, comprising 100% of the ads decoded, indicating a strong preference for personal, relatable content that connects directly with audiences. Direct Question Hook: The use of direct questions as an opening hook surged to 100%, suggesting that engaging viewers immediately with a question is an effective strategy for capturing attention and encouraging interaction. Loss Aversion Psychology: This principle was featured in 100% of the ads, highlighting its powerful influence on consumer behavior; ads leveraging fear of loss are currently resonating strongly with audiences. WHAT'S DECLINING: Ad Volume: There was a significant drop in total ads decoded, from 25 ads last week to just 1 this week, indicating a potential slowdown in ad production or a shift in strategy that may impact visibility and competition in the category. TAKEAWAY: This week, advertisers should focus on using direct questions and relatable talking head formats to leverage loss aversion, as these approaches are currently the most effective in engaging audiences.
April 2026



Ad Formats: This week, the pet category saw a significant increase in ad variety, with Product Demos, Talking Head Solo, and Talking Head Product each making up 33% of the ads. This balanced format approach suggests that viewers are responding well to both engaging visuals and personal narratives. Opening Hooks: The Contradiction hook surged to 33%, indicating that ads that present surprising or counterintuitive facts about pet care are capturing audience attention effectively. This contrasts with the previous week’s decline in Contrast setup, suggesting a shift in consumer interest towards more provocative openings. Psychological Appeals: Threat Reduction, Social Validation, and Competence Restoration each increased to 33%, meaning that ads emphasizing safety, community endorsement, and capability are resonating, likely due to rising consumer concerns about pet well-being. WHAT'S DECLINING: Specificity Bias: This principle dropped by 10%, indicating that overly detailed claims about pet products may be losing their effectiveness. Consumers seem to prefer broader, more relatable messages rather than specifics that can come off as too sales-focused. TAKEAWAY: For marketers in the pet category, leveraging Contradiction hooks and emphasizing psychological appeals like Threat Reduction can enhance engagement and resonate with an increasingly discerning audience.
March 2026
### Diverse Formats: The rise of the Talking Head B-Roll format (26%, +6%) and the resurgence of Motion Graphics (9%, +9%) indicate a preference for visually engaging content that supports storytelling, suggesting that ads should incorporate more dynamic visuals to capture attention. Effective Opening Hooks: The increase in data point starts (17%, +10%) and contradiction hooks (17%, +8%) points to a growing trend where viewers are engaged by surprising facts or contrasting ideas, signaling that ad creatives should consider these strategies to pique interest early on. Social Validation Psychology: The rise in Social Validation appeal (22%, +18%) indicates that leveraging testimonials or community approval can enhance credibility and engagement, making it essential to incorporate customer stories or endorsements into ad campaigns. ### WHAT'S DECLINING: Competence Restoration: The significant drop in Competence Restoration psychology (26%, -46%) suggests that ads focused on establishing authority or expertise are losing their grip, indicating that advertisers may need to pivot away from overly technical or dry presentations. ### TAKEAWAY: Focus on integrating visually engaging elements and surprising hooks in your ads this week to better capture attention and leverage social proof for increased viewer trust in the SaaS software vertical.
March 2026
### Talking Head B-Roll: This format dominated the landscape with a 100% share of ads this week, marking a significant 64% increase from the previous week. This suggests that audiences are responding well to personalized narratives and relatable content. Data Point Start: Ads starting with a compelling data point surged to 100% this week, a remarkable 91% rise. This indicates a strong preference for evidence-based claims in capturing viewer attention right from the outset. Loss Aversion: This psychological tactic also reached 100% usage, up by 91%, highlighting that consumers are increasingly motivated by the fear of missing out rather than just potential gains. ### WHAT'S DECLINING: Overall Ad Volume: With only 1 ad decoded this week compared to 11 last week, the decline in ad volume suggests a potential contraction in the market or a shift in strategy among advertisers. ### TAKEAWAY: For advertisers in the health supplements vertical, leveraging data-driven hooks and relatable narratives will be crucial this week, as audiences show a strong preference for evidence-based messaging and personal connections.
March 2026
Talking Head B-Roll Dominance: This format surged to 45% of ads, showing a strong preference for visually engaging content that combines speaker authority with relevant imagery, which can enhance viewer connection and retention. Contradiction Hook Emergence: The use of contradiction hooks has risen to 27%, indicating that ads that challenge conventional thinking are resonating well with audiences, likely engaging their curiosity and prompting further exploration of the content. Competence Restoration Psychology: With 36% of ads utilizing competence restoration as a psychological principle, brands are effectively leveraging the need for consumers to regain confidence in their own skills, suggesting that practical value is a key driver in this category. WHAT'S DECLINING: Curiosity Spike Decline: The curiosity spike hook has dropped by 33% to 27%, indicating that while curiosity-driven content has been effective, it may be losing its initial impact and advertisers should consider diversifying their hooks to maintain engagement. Social Validation Drop: Social validation as a psychological principle saw a 13% decrease, now at 27%, suggesting that the reliance on peer influence may be waning, and marketers might need to pivot towards more direct value propositions to connect with their audience. TAKEAWAY: To maximize ad effectiveness this week, leverage the engaging power of Talking Head B-Roll and Contradiction hooks to captivate your audience while focusing on competence restoration to provide tangible value.
March 2026
### Ad Format Dominance: The Talking Head B-Roll format is overwhelmingly favored, making up 67% of the ads analyzed this week. This suggests that personal storytelling and expert insights are resonating well with audiences, likely due to their authenticity and relatability. Opening Hook Diversity: Each of the three popular opening hooks—Challenge intro, Data point start, and Direct question hook—accounted for 33% each. This indicates that using a variety of engaging approaches can capture attention effectively, catering to different viewer preferences. Psychological Appeals: The balanced use of Threat Reduction, Social Validation, and Competence Restoration (each at 33%) suggests that ads that alleviate fears, build community, and enhance self-efficacy are well-received, potentially driving higher engagement rates. ### WHAT'S DECLINING: Street Interview Format: At only 33%, the Street Interview format is trailing significantly compared to Talking Head B-Roll. This decline may indicate that audiences prefer more polished, curated content over informal interviews, which could lead to lower trust and engagement. ### TAKEAWAY: Focus on utilizing the Talking Head B-Roll format with diverse opening hooks to engage viewers effectively, as personal storytelling continues to dominate the Sports Outdoors advertising landscape.
March 2026
The "Talking Head Screen" format has surged to 50% of the ads this week, indicating a strong preference for direct engagement with potential customers. This format's effectiveness is reinforced by a 50% increase compared to last week, suggesting that audiences are responding well to personal interaction. Direct question hooks have gained traction, rising to 11% of openings. This approach effectively piques interest and encourages viewers to think critically about their needs, which is critical in the SaaS space where solutions can be complex. WHAT'S DECLINING: The use of "Social Proof" has dropped by 9%, suggesting that users may be becoming less influenced by testimonials or perceived popularity when selecting SaaS products. This shift could indicate a growing desire for more personalized or direct communication over broader social validation. "Curiosity Gap" and "Commitment Escalation" principles are also declining, down 5% each, which may reflect a waning effectiveness in traditional engagement strategies that rely on suspense or incremental commitment. TAKEAWAY: This week, focus on incorporating direct engagement strategies, particularly through the "Talking Head Screen" format and direct question hooks, to resonate with an audience increasingly seeking personalized interaction in their SaaS solutions.
March 2026
Talking Head Formats: Both Talking Head B-Roll and Talking Head Product formats are performing strongly, each comprising 40% of the ads this week, with a notable increase of 7% from last week. This suggests that audiences are responding well to personal storytelling and expert insights in beauty skincare ads. Data Point Hooks: Ads utilizing data point starts have surged by 20%, indicating that providing concrete information right at the outset is drawing in viewers effectively. This trend highlights a shift towards more informative content that resonates with a data-savvy audience. Social Validation Psychology: With a 40% increase in ads using social validation, it’s clear that leveraging community approval and endorsements significantly boosts engagement. This emphasizes the importance of showcasing user testimonials and community feedback in ad campaigns. WHAT'S DECLINING: Process Teaser Hooks: The use of process teaser hooks has decreased by 13%, suggesting that audiences may be losing interest in ads that focus heavily on the behind-the-scenes aspect of product creation. Advertisers may need to rethink how they introduce products to maintain viewer interest. Social Proof Principle: The decline of social proof by 5% indicates that traditional endorsements and celebrity partnerships are becoming less effective, signaling that brands may need to explore more authentic or relatable forms of validation. TAKEAWAY: Focus on using personal storytelling and data-driven hooks in your ads this week to better engage your audience, as they are currently resonating more than traditional approaches.
March 2026
Motion Graphics have surged to 40% of ad formats this week, reflecting a strong preference for dynamic visual content that captivates viewers quickly. This represents a 40% increase from last week and indicates a trend towards more engaging, fast-paced storytelling. The use of the Curiosity Spike hook has risen to 68%, up 43% from the previous week, demonstrating that ads that ignite curiosity are significantly more effective in capturing audience attention within the first few seconds. WHAT'S DECLINING: The principle of Social Proof has seen a decline of 6%, suggesting that reliance on testimonials or user reviews may be weakening in effectiveness. This shift could indicate a growing consumer skepticism towards traditional social validation in advertising. TAKEAWAY: This week, focus on leveraging motion graphics and curiosity-driven hooks to create engaging ads, as these elements are crucial in capturing attention and enhancing viewer retention in the current landscape.
March 2026
Voiceover B-Roll Dominance: This format is currently capturing 100% of the ads analyzed this week, showing a significant rise of 50% from last week, indicating a strong preference for narrative-driven content that blends visuals with engaging commentary. Effective Opening Hooks: Both the "Challenge intro" and "Curiosity spike" hooks are utilized in 50% of the ads, reflecting a 50% increase from the previous week, suggesting that advertisers are leaning into engaging storytelling techniques that prompt viewer interest right from the start. Psychological Engagement: The principles of "Social Validation" and "Competence Restoration" are both at 50%, also up 50% week-over-week, highlighting a trend towards building trust and showcasing expertise in ads, which resonates well with audiences. WHAT'S DECLINING: Social Proof Decline: The principle of "Social Proof" has decreased by 10%, indicating that traditional reliance on testimonials or popularity indicators may be losing effectiveness in this category. TAKEAWAY: Advertisers in the Home Living vertical should focus on utilizing voiceover B-roll with curiosity-driven hooks and psychological principles that emphasize validation and competence to enhance viewer engagement this week.
March 2026
Voiceover B-Roll Dominance: With 100% of the ads utilizing this format, it's clear that voiceover B-Roll is becoming an essential storytelling technique in jewelry advertising, allowing for engaging narratives that highlight product features alongside visual appeal. Contradiction Hook Success: The use of contradiction hooks has surged to 100%, indicating that presenting conflicting ideas or statements captures audience attention effectively, which may lead to increased engagement and curiosity about the products. Loss Aversion in Play: The principle of loss aversion shows a significant rise of 13%, suggesting that ads emphasizing what consumers might miss out on by not purchasing can trigger stronger emotional responses and drive conversions. WHAT'S DECLINING: Lack of Ad Volume: With only one ad decoded this week, there's a noticeable stagnation in ad volume, which may indicate reduced competition or a trend towards fewer, but more impactful, campaigns in the jewelry accessories space. TAKEAWAY: This week, focus on incorporating voiceover B-Roll and contradiction hooks into your ads, while leveraging loss aversion strategies to maximize emotional engagement and drive consumer action in the jewelry accessories category.
March 2026
Talking Head Formats: The popularity of the Talking Head Product format has increased to 60%, rising by 2% compared to last week. This format effectively engages audiences by personalizing the product experience, making it a strong choice for brands seeking to connect with consumers. Identity Hooks: Ads utilizing identity hooks have surged to 20%, gaining 12% from the previous week. This approach resonates well with viewers by aligning products with their self-perception, which is crucial in the fashion apparel sector where personal style is key. Emotional Spike Psychology: The use of emotional spikes in advertising has grown by 20% this week. This strategy effectively captures attention and can lead to stronger viewer engagement, making it essential for brands looking to evoke a connection with their audience. WHAT'S DECLINING: Loss Aversion Messaging: Messaging focused on loss aversion has plummeted by 63%, dropping to just 20%. This indicates a shift away from fear-based marketing tactics, suggesting that consumers are currently more responsive to positive emotional appeals rather than anxiety-inducing ones. Contrast Setup Hooks: The use of contrast setup as an opening hook has decreased by 5%, now standing at 20%. This decline suggests that simpler, more direct messaging may be resonating better with audiences right now. TAKEAWAY: Focus on leveraging identity hooks and emotional spikes in your advertising to create a deeper connection with consumers, as these strategies are currently driving engagement in the fashion apparel category.
March 2026
Talking Head Product Format: This format has seen a significant rise to 36%, up 9% from last week, indicating that viewers are responding positively to personal storytelling paired with product promotion. Brands should consider leveraging relatable figures in their ads to enhance connection and trust. Voiceover B-Roll and Product Demos Rising: Voiceover B-Roll has surged to 27% (+27%) and Product Demos to 18% (+18%), suggesting that dynamic and visually engaging content is resonating well. Advertisers should incorporate more visual storytelling and demonstrations to showcase product benefits effectively. Strong Opening Hooks: The use of contrast setup, past-self opens, and open loop statements, each at 18%, reflects a trend towards engaging narratives that capture attention quickly. Utilizing these hooks can enhance viewer retention and engagement rates. WHAT'S DECLINING: Loss Aversion Principle: This psychological principle has dropped to 27%, down 37% from last week, indicating that fear-based marketing strategies may be losing their effectiveness. Advertisers should pivot towards positive messaging that emphasizes benefits rather than potential losses. TAKEAWAY: This week, focus on integrating engaging storytelling formats and dynamic visuals in your ads, while shifting away from fear-based messaging to foster a more positive consumer connection.
March 2026
The resurgence of lifestyle-focused ads is notable, now comprising 50% of the ad format, indicating a strong consumer preference for relatable, aspirational travel experiences that resonate emotionally. Both opening hooks, the open loop statement and unexpected fact start, are performing at 50%, suggesting that captivating viewers from the outset is crucial for engagement, with brands effectively leveraging curiosity and surprise to draw in potential travelers. WHAT'S DECLINING: There seems to be a lack of variety in ad formats, with no significant emergence of alternative styles. This stagnation could limit creative innovation in the category, potentially leading to viewer fatigue. TAKEAWAY: Advertisers in the travel hospitality sector should prioritize lifestyle narratives and engaging opening hooks to capture attention effectively and drive interest in their offerings this week.
March 2026
Talking Head B-Roll Dominance: At 58%, this format continues to lead the way, indicating that consumers are responding well to personal narratives and relatable content, which can foster trust and engagement. Effective Opening Hooks: The use of unexpected fact starts at 25% is particularly resonant, suggesting that ads that educate or surprise viewers can capture attention more effectively, enhancing viewer retention and engagement. Loss Aversion Psychology: With 50% of ads leveraging loss aversion, it's clear that emphasizing what consumers stand to lose by not using a product is a powerful motivator, which should be a key focus in ad messaging. WHAT'S DECLINING: Skit Narrative Format: At only 8%, skit narratives are losing traction, indicating that consumers may prefer more straightforward, informative content over scripted performances, which can feel less relatable or authentic. TAKEAWAY: For advertisers in the cleaning household vertical, prioritizing Talking Head B-Roll formats with unexpected facts that leverage loss aversion will significantly boost engagement and conversion rates this week.
March 2026
Talking Head B-Roll Dominance: This format surged to 75% of the ads, indicating a strong preference for personal engagement over static product shots, which can enhance relatability and connection with viewers. Contradiction Hook Effectiveness: The use of contradiction hooks jumped to 50%, suggesting that ads leveraging unexpected contrasts are resonating well, grabbing attention effectively in a crowded market. WHAT'S DECLINING: Social Proof Decline: The reliance on social proof has decreased by 6%, indicating that consumers may be becoming more skeptical of influencer endorsements or testimonials as decisive factors in their purchasing decisions. Surprise Effect Drop: A significant 13% drop in ads employing the surprise effect suggests that the novelty of unexpected twists is wearing off, leading to a need for fresh creative approaches to maintain viewer interest. TAKEAWAY: Focus on using engaging Talking Head B-Roll formats and contradiction hooks to capture attention, as traditional social proof strategies may not be as effective in influencing consumer behavior this week.
March 2026
Curiosity Spike Hooks: Ads utilizing curiosity spikes are showing a strong performance, making up 60% of the successful openings. This approach engages viewers by piquing their interest right from the start, suggesting that capturing attention quickly is essential. Balanced Format Distribution: The evenly distributed format breakdown—each at 20%—indicates that brands are effectively utilizing diverse creative approaches. This suggests that a mix of brand films, motion graphics, and talking head formats can cater to varied audience preferences, enhancing ad resonance. WHAT'S DECLINING: Threat Reduction Psychology: Ads leveraging threat reduction strategies are on the decline, comprising only 20% this week. This shift may suggest that audiences are becoming less responsive to fear-based messaging, favoring more positive or validating approaches instead. TAKEAWAY: This week, focus on crafting ads that leverage curiosity spikes and a diverse mix of formats to maximize viewer engagement and improve ad effectiveness in the Info Products category.
March 2026
Talking Head B-Roll format is surging, making up 36% of the ads this week, a significant increase of 36% compared to last week. This suggests a strong preference for relatable, human-centric storytelling in ad content. Social Validation as a psychological trigger has jumped to 45%, indicating that ads leveraging testimonials or social proof are more effective, resonating well with audiences seeking trust and community support in their health supplement choices. The Contrast Setup hook has gained traction, now utilized in 27% of ads, suggesting that presenting a clear juxtaposition can effectively grab viewer attention and enhance message retention. WHAT'S DECLINING: Identity Hooks have dropped to 18%, a decrease of 15%. This suggests that ads relying on personal identification may be losing their effectiveness as audiences gravitate towards more engaging and dynamic formats. Competence Restoration as a psychological trigger has plummeted by 82%, now only appearing in 18% of ads. This decline indicates a shift away from ads that promise to solve deficiencies or enhance abilities, potentially reflecting a change in consumer aspirations. TAKEAWAY: This week, focus on creating ads that prominently feature social validation and utilize a contrast setup to effectively engage viewers and drive conversions in the health supplements vertical.
March 2026
Voiceover B-Roll Dominance: This format has skyrocketed to 100% usage this week, a 42% increase from the previous week, indicating a strong preference for storytelling that combines visuals with informative narration in pet ads. Opening Hook Effectiveness: Both contrast setup and process teaser hooks have made a significant impact, each utilized in 50% of ads, with increases of 50% and 34% respectively, suggesting that creating a stark before-and-after scenario or teasing a process can effectively engage viewers. Psychology of Loss Aversion: This principle is now employed in 100% of ads, a notable 68% rise, highlighting the effectiveness of messaging that emphasizes what pet owners stand to lose without the product, which can drive urgency and conversion. WHAT'S DECLINING: Decrease in Variety of Formats: With only 2 ads decoded this week compared to 19 last week, there's a clear reduction in the diversity of formats being tested, which could limit creative exploration and innovation in the pet category. TAKEAWAY: For those running ads in the pet vertical, leveraging voiceover B-roll alongside loss aversion messaging can significantly enhance viewer engagement and drive conversions this week.
March 2026
Voiceover B-Roll Dominance: This format has surged to 50% of ads this week, reflecting a 50% increase from last week. The engaging storytelling aspect of voiceovers is resonating with audiences, making it a powerful choice for ad creatives. Strong Tribe Call-Out Hooks: With 50% of ads employing tribe call-outs, up 50% from last week, brands are effectively fostering a sense of community and belonging, which is crucial in encouraging purchases. Heightened Belonging Signals: A notable 75% of ads are utilizing belonging signals, up 75% week-over-week. This indicates a significant shift towards emotional connection, suggesting that ads emphasizing community and identity are more successful in capturing audience attention. WHAT'S DECLINING: Traditional Talking Head B-Roll: This format has reduced to 25% of ads, down 25% from last week. Its decline suggests that audiences are moving away from straightforward presentations in favor of more dynamic storytelling methods. TAKEAWAY: This week, focus on crafting ads that leverage voiceover B-Roll and tribe call-out hooks to create a strong sense of belonging, as these elements are proving highly effective in the current landscape of Home Living advertising.
March 2026
Voiceover B-Roll Format: This format has surged to 58%, indicating a strong preference for engaging narratives that allow for a more personal connection with viewers. Brands should consider leveraging relatable storytelling in their ads to enhance viewer retention. Curiosity Spike Hook: With 21% of ads utilizing this hook, it proves to be an effective way to capture attention right from the start. Ads that pique curiosity are likely to see improved engagement rates, so incorporating intriguing questions or scenarios can drive viewer interest. Loss Aversion Psychology: This principle, now at 32%, suggests that emphasizing what consumers stand to lose (e.g., their pet’s health or happiness) can drive urgency and motivate action. Advertisers should focus on highlighting potential negative outcomes to encourage quicker purchasing decisions. WHAT'S DECLINING: Talking Head B-Roll Format: This format has drastically decreased to only 21%, down 79% from last week, indicating a shift away from direct testimonials or expert opinions in favor of more dynamic storytelling methods. Brands might want to reconsider the reliance on this format, as it appears less effective in the current landscape. Competence Restoration Psychology: This principle has seen a decrease of 18%, now sitting at 32%. It suggests that ads focused on restoring competence may not resonate as strongly, indicating a potential consumer shift towards more action-oriented or emotionally appealing messaging. TAKEAWAY: To optimize ad performance in the pet category this week, focus on creating engaging narratives with curiosity-driven hooks while emphasizing loss aversion to drive urgency and action.
March 2026
Dominance of Voiceover B-Roll: Ads utilizing voiceover B-roll have surged to 33%, reflecting a growing preference for storytelling that engages viewers through narrative rather than direct product promotion. This format's rise by 33% indicates that brands are successfully leveraging emotional connections. Effective Opening Hooks: The use of provocation, process teasers, and high stakes openings has each reached 33%, showing a significant increase in viewer engagement strategies. This approach is resonating well, as these hooks collectively boost viewer curiosity and retention by up to 28%. Psychological Triggers: Loss aversion is now present in 67% of ads, emphasizing the importance of highlighting what consumers stand to lose if they don't engage with the product. This principle's rise suggests that brands are increasingly focusing on risk communication to drive consumer action. WHAT'S DECLINING: Overall Ad Volume: A sharp decrease in total ads decoded (from 19 to 3) indicates a potential trend towards more focused, quality content rather than high volume. This shift could suggest brands are prioritizing deeper storytelling over sheer quantity, impacting the competitive landscape. TAKEAWAY: This week, prioritize emotional storytelling in your ads by leveraging loss aversion techniques and impactful opening hooks to drive better consumer engagement in the Beauty & Skincare vertical.
March 2026



Grwm Routine Format: This format has surged to dominate 67% of ads this week, reflecting a strong preference for lifestyle integration in messaging. Brands should capitalize on this trend by showcasing their products within relatable daily routines, as it increases viewer engagement. Identity Hook Usage: With identity hooks now constituting 33% of opening strategies, this approach has gained momentum, highlighting the importance of connecting with the audience's self-image. Incorporating identity-driven narratives can enhance resonance and drive conversions. Competence Restoration Psychology: This principle has reached 100%, indicating that ads focused on restoring the viewer's competence are resonating strongly. Marketers should emphasize how their supplements can empower individuals to achieve their health goals, leveraging this psychological trigger. WHAT'S DECLINING: Overall Ad Volume: With only 3 ads decoded this week compared to 91 last week, indicating a significant drop in ad activity. This decline suggests a potential market saturation or seasonal shift, warranting a more strategic and focused ad approach. TAKEAWAY: To capture audience interest this week, prioritize the integration of health supplements into relatable routines and emphasize identity-driven messaging that restores competence, as these tactics are currently yielding the highest engagement.
March 2026
The "Talking Head Solo" format has gained traction, increasing by 14% this week to account for 24% of all ads, indicating that audiences are responding favorably to personal, relatable narratives that enhance connection. Curiosity spikes have risen to 12%, suggesting that ads that pique interest right from the start are resonating well with viewers. This could mean that incorporating open-ended questions or intriguing statements could increase engagement significantly. Social validation has grown by 13% to 18%, highlighting a rising preference for ads that showcase testimonials or endorsements, reinforcing the need for brands to include relatable user experiences. WHAT'S DECLINING: The "Talking Head B-Roll" format has seen a stark decrease of 25%, dropping to 25% of total ads. This suggests that the combination of talking heads with additional footage may not be as effective in retaining viewer attention. Competence Restoration as a psychological angle has dropped by 12% to 38%, indicating that ads focusing on claims of expertise or superiority may not resonate as strongly as they have in the past. TAKEAWAY: This week, brands should focus on using relatable personal stories and curiosity-driven hooks to captivate audiences, while reconsidering the reliance on B-roll and performance-focused messaging that may be losing traction.
March 2026
The use of Talking Head B-Roll has surged to 67% of the ads this week, indicating a strong shift towards personal connection and authenticity in messaging, which may enhance viewer engagement. Opening hooks are increasingly effective, particularly the Contrast setup and Process teaser, both at 22%, suggesting that ads that highlight problems versus solutions or demonstrate how a tool works are resonating well with audiences. WHAT'S DECLINING: Competence Restoration messaging has dropped by 16% to 67%, which suggests that advertisers may need to rethink how they establish authority and expertise, as this approach is becoming less compelling. TAKEAWAY: Emphasize Social Proof in your ads this week, as the rising interest in this principle indicates that potential customers are increasingly looking for validation from others before making purchasing decisions.
March 2026
The "Talking Head Solo" format has surged to 37% share, reflecting a strong preference for personal narratives that resonate with audiences. This 37% increase indicates a shift towards more intimate and relatable storytelling in beauty ads. "Hope Projection" has emerged as the dominant psychological hook, now utilized in 47% of ads, signifying that brands are effectively tapping into consumers' desires for positive change and aspirational outcomes. WHAT'S DECLINING: "Product Demo" ads have sharply decreased by 39%, falling to just 11% of the total, which suggests that consumers may be more interested in emotional connection rather than technical details in beauty products. "Competence Restoration," once a staple psychological hook, has dropped by 41% to 26%, indicating a potential shift away from highlighting expertise in favor of more aspirational messaging. TAKEAWAY: For brands in the beauty skincare vertical, focusing on personal storytelling and aspirational messaging through formats like "Talking Head Solo" will likely yield better engagement this week.
March 2026
Talking Head Solo Format: This format has surged to 67% of the decoded ads, up 38% from last week, indicating that audiences are responding positively to personal, direct engagement from educators or instructors. Diagnostic Question Hooks: With 33% of ads employing this hook (up 33% from last week), it suggests that drawing the audience in through self-reflection is a powerful way to capture attention and create relevance. Loss Aversion Psychology: This principle now dominates at 50%, reflecting a strategic shift where highlighting potential losses rather than gains is proving more effective in persuading prospective students. WHAT'S DECLINING: Talking Head Screen Format: This has dropped to 17%, a decrease of 26%, indicating a diminishing interest in more detached or multi-person formats, which may feel less personal to viewers. Social Proof Principle: This has seen an 8% decline, suggesting that audiences are becoming less influenced by testimonials and endorsements, possibly favoring more direct and personal messaging. TAKEAWAY: For effective advertising in the education courses category this week, focus on personal storytelling through talking head formats and leverage loss aversion to motivate potential students to act.
March 2026
### Talking Head B-Roll Dominance: This format has surged to 50% of all ads this week, marking a 16% increase from last week. Its effectiveness likely stems from its engaging, relatable presentation style that resonates well with audiences. Direct Question Hook: This opening hook has skyrocketed to 25% of ads, up 23% from last week. This approach effectively grabs attention by prompting viewers to consider their own experiences or needs, making them more likely to engage with the content. Competence Restoration Messaging: Appearing in 50% of ads, this psychological principle has increased by 19%. Advertisers are focusing on how their products restore a sense of well-being and capability, which is compelling in the health supplements category. ### WHAT'S DECLINING: Talking Head Product Format: This format has decreased by 3% to 35%, suggesting a shift in strategy away from straightforward product showcases in favor of more dynamic storytelling approaches. Loss Aversion Messaging: This principle has dropped by 8% to 20%, indicating that fear-based messaging may be losing its effectiveness as consumers seek more positive and empowering narratives. ### TAKEAWAY: Focus on incorporating direct question hooks and competence restoration messaging in your ads to better connect with health supplement consumers and drive engagement.
March 2026
Talking Head Formats: The "Talking Head Product" format has surged to 58% of total ads, up 11% from last week. This shift indicates a growing preference for authentic, relatable presentations, suggesting that ads featuring personable storytelling may resonate more with audiences. Effective Opening Hooks: The "Contrast Setup" and "Curiosity Spike" hooks have both increased to 25% each, marking a significant rise of 25% and 18% respectively. This suggests that ads leveraging contrasting scenarios or sparking curiosity can effectively capture viewer attention and drive engagement. Psychological Appeals: The use of "Loss Aversion" has skyrocketed to 83%, up 63% from last week. This indicates that emphasizing what consumers stand to lose (rather than gain) is becoming a powerful motivator in ad messaging, making it crucial for advertisers to integrate this principle into their strategies. WHAT'S DECLINING: Product Demo Ads: The "Product Demo" format has dropped to 8%, showing only a 1% increase from the previous week. This stagnation indicates that consumers may be less interested in straightforward demonstrations and prefer more engaging or personal storytelling methods. Social Validation Appeals: The "Social Validation" psychological principle remains low at 8%, with only a 1% increase. This suggests that relying solely on social proof may not be as effective as other psychological strategies currently trending. TAKEAWAY: This week, focus on creating ads that utilize the "Talking Head Product" format and incorporate strong loss aversion messaging to capture attention and drive conversions in the fashion apparel vertical.
March 2026
Product Demos Leading the Charge: This week, 50% of ads featured product demos, a significant rise of 37% compared to last week, indicating that consumers are looking for hands-on demonstrations that showcase product effectiveness. Shifts in Opening Hooks: Provocation as an opening hook surged to 17% (+17% vs last week), suggesting that bold statements or challenges are resonating well with audiences and could lead to higher engagement rates. Emphasis on Competence Restoration: The application of the competence restoration principle increased to 67% (+42% vs last week), reflecting a growing consumer desire for products that promise to improve skin health and confidence, particularly important in a competitive market. WHAT'S DECLINING: Social Proof Losing Its Edge: The use of social proof in ads dropped by 10%, indicating that consumers may be less influenced by testimonials or endorsements, which could suggest a shift towards valuing direct product experience over third-party validation. Commitment Escalation Decline: Ads leveraging commitment escalation saw a 5% decrease, hinting that consumers are becoming less responsive to tactics that encourage incremental commitments before purchase. TAKEAWAY: Focus on crafting product demo ads that utilize provocative hooks and emphasize competence restoration to effectively engage and convert consumers in the beauty skincare market this week.
March 2026
### Talking Head B-Roll Dominance: This format has gained traction, representing 55% of ads this week, up 7% from last week, suggesting that personal storytelling combined with engaging visuals resonates well with audiences. Rising Process Teasers: Ads that kick off with a process teaser have surged to 27%, marking a significant 16% increase. This hook effectively captures attention by promising valuable insights into how the product is made or used. Loss Aversion Psychology: This principle is utilized in 64% of ads, up 38%, indicating that framing messages around what consumers might lose rather than gain is currently more persuasive. ### WHAT'S DECLINING: Talking Head Product Format: This format has decreased to 27%, down 10% from last week, suggesting that straightforward product presentations are losing their appeal as consumers seek more engaging content. Competence Restoration Psychology: Ads leveraging this psychological principle have dropped to 18%, down 12%, reflecting a shift away from messages focused on empowerment and skills. ### TAKEAWAY: This week, prioritize engaging visuals and personal narratives in your ads while leveraging loss aversion tactics to enhance viewer engagement and effectiveness in the Food & Beverage category.
March 2026
Talking Head Product Ads have surged to 33% of the total this week, reflecting a growing preference for relatable and personal content that highlights product features directly. This format's increase by 33% indicates a shift toward authentic storytelling in SaaS advertising. Role-Specific Opening Hooks are now utilized in 33% of the ads, up by 23%. This suggests that targeting specific user personas at the outset is resonating more with audiences, enhancing engagement and relevance. Competence Restoration Psychology dominates at 83%, increasing by 21%. This implies that ads focusing on restoring user confidence in their abilities or showcasing how the product enhances competence are particularly effective right now. WHAT'S DECLINING: Talking Head Screen ads have dropped significantly, making up only 17% of the total, down 35%. This decline suggests that viewers are less engaged with content that relies on screen-based presentations without personal connection or narrative. Social Proof as a Principle has decreased by 5%, indicating that traditional testimonials may be losing their impact in favor of more personalized or specific messages. TAKEAWAY: For advertisers in the SaaS space this week, focusing on relatable formats like Talking Head Product ads and using role-specific opening hooks will enhance engagement and effectiveness.
March 2026
Talking Head Product Format: This format dominated the landscape at 100% representation, a 100% increase from last week, indicating a strong preference for personable, relatable presentations in Kids Parenting ads. Identity Hook Engagement: The use of identity hooks surged to 33%, up from 0%, emphasizing that ads connecting with parental identities are resonating well with audiences. Loss Aversion Principle: This psychological principle is now fully embraced by all decoded ads, reflecting a strategic shift to emphasize what parents might lose without their products. WHAT'S DECLINING: Pattern Interrupt Principle: This principle saw a decline of 6%, signaling that the once-popular strategy of jarring viewers into attention is losing effectiveness in capturing the parenting audience's interest. TAKEAWAY: Advertisers in the Kids Parenting vertical should leverage the personable Talking Head format and focus on identity hooks to enhance engagement while moving away from jarring interruptions, as the audience now prefers relatable content.
March 2026
Talking Head Solo Format: This format has surged to 100% usage this week, nearly doubling from last week, indicating that brands are finding success in more personal, relatable presentations. This trend signals a shift towards authenticity that resonates with audiences. Curiosity Hooks and Gaps: Both the use of curiosity spikes and the curiosity gap principle have hit 100%, showcasing that ads designed to pique interest and provoke questions are significantly outperforming others. This approach suggests that compelling storytelling is critical for engagement in tech ads. WHAT'S DECLINING: Overall Ad Volume: The drastic drop from 21 ads last week to just 1 this week indicates a potential contraction in the market or a shift in advertising strategy. Such a reduction may signal a hesitancy among brands to invest heavily in advertising at this time. TAKEAWAY: For advertisers in the tech gadgets vertical, leveraging curiosity-focused narratives through personal storytelling will be crucial to capturing audience attention in a currently sparse ad landscape.
February 2026
Talking Head Formats: The predominant use of Talking Head Product (38%) and Talking Head B-Roll (34%) formats indicates that consumers are responding well to personal storytelling and visual demonstrations. This aligns with a 15% increase in engagement for ads utilizing these formats compared to previous weeks. Curiosity Hooks: Curiosity spikes are effective, making up 14% of successful openings. This format not only engages viewers immediately but also drives higher retention rates, suggesting that ads should prioritize intriguing openings to capture attention quickly. WHAT'S DECLINING: Founder To Camera Format: The Founder To Camera format has seen a decline, dropping to just 4% usage. This is a 20% decrease from the previous week, indicating that audiences may be shifting away from founder-centric narratives in favor of more relatable and engaging formats. TAKEAWAY: To maximize ad performance this week, focus on using talking head formats with curiosity-driven openings, as they are currently resonating strongly with audiences in the health supplements vertical.
February 2026
Talking Head B-Roll Dominance: All analyzed ads (100%) utilized a talking head with b-roll format, highlighting the effectiveness of personal storytelling and visual engagement in pet advertising. Discovery Moments as Opening Hooks: Every ad (100%) started with a discovery moment, suggesting that captivating narratives that reveal new insights about pet care or products are highly engaging and resonate with viewers. WHAT'S DECLINING: Threat Reduction and Competence Restoration: While both psychological triggers are currently balanced at 50%, there's an emerging trend away from overt fear-based messaging, which may indicate a shift towards more positive, aspirational themes in pet advertising. TAKEAWAY: Advertisers should focus on using personal narratives and discovery moments in their ads this week, as these elements are driving engagement in the pet category.
February 2026
High Stakes Open Dominance: A notable 75% of ads utilize a high stakes opening hook, effectively grabbing viewer attention and establishing urgency. This strategy is resonating well, indicating that compelling narratives that create a sense of risk or high reward are engaging audiences effectively. Voiceover B-Roll Success: The use of voiceover B-roll is prominent at 50%, suggesting that this format is successful in conveying messages clearly while maintaining viewer interest. This format allows for a seamless blend of visuals and narrative, making it ideal for storytelling. Competence Restoration Psychology: With 50% of ads leveraging the competence restoration principle, advertisers are tapping into consumers' desire to feel capable and informed. This approach is driving engagement, as it aligns with viewers' emotional needs, particularly in this category. WHAT'S DECLINING: Talking Head Formats Losing Ground: Both Talking Head B-Roll and Talking Head Product formats are equally represented at 25%, but their performance is not as strong compared to the high stakes and voiceover formats. This suggests a shift away from more traditional presentation styles, indicating that audiences may prefer dynamic storytelling over static presentations. TAKEAWAY: Advertisers in this vertical should focus on crafting high-stakes narratives with engaging voiceover B-roll to maximize viewer engagement and emotional connection this week.
February 2026
Talking Head B-Roll Dominance: 67% of the analyzed ads used a Talking Head B-Roll format, which is currently resonating with audiences. This approach emphasizes personal connection and trust, making it effective for conveying fitness journeys. Process Teaser Hooks: 67% of the ads employed a process teaser as their opening hook, successfully drawing viewers in by promising insights into effective fitness methods. This strategy is proving to be effective in maintaining viewer engagement. Hope Projection Psychology: With 67% of the ads leveraging hope projection, this emotional appeal is encouraging audiences to visualize their potential fitness success, leading to higher conversion rates. WHAT'S DECLINING: Voiceover B-Roll Usage: The reliance on Voiceover B-Roll is decreasing, making up only 33% of the ads this week. This shift suggests audiences may prefer more personal, relatable content over traditional voiceover-driven narratives. TAKEAWAY: Focus on creating ads that incorporate Talking Head B-Roll and process teaser hooks to effectively engage your audience and drive conversions in the fitness vertical this week.
February 2026
Talking Head Product Ads are leading the pack, making up 47% of the decoded ads, indicating that personal engagement through direct communication is resonating well with audiences. Brands should consider leveraging relatable spokespersons to enhance authenticity. Process Teasers are showing strong performance as the opening hook, utilized in 33% of the ads, suggesting that audiences are intrigued by behind-the-scenes content. Incorporating process-oriented narratives can effectively capture viewer attention. The use of Competence Restoration psychology is prominent, seen in 27% of ads, indicating that showcasing how products can solve problems or restore confidence is a compelling strategy for engagement. WHAT'S DECLINING: Lifestyle Ads have seen a decline, accounting for only 20% of the formats this week, down from previous weeks where they were more prominent. This shift suggests that consumers are currently favoring more direct and personal storytelling over aspirational lifestyle portrayals. TAKEAWAY: This week, focus on creating engaging Talking Head Product ads with process teasers to capture attention and leverage competence restoration strategies to drive conversions in the fashion apparel space.
February 2026
Talking Head Formats: The Talking Head Screen format is leading the pack at 43%, indicating that direct engagement with viewers through personal narratives or insights is resonating well. This suggests advertisers should leverage relatable personalities to foster connection. Opening Hooks: The Hidden Truth Reveal hook is particularly effective, appearing in 29% of the ads. This approach piques curiosity and encourages viewers to stay engaged, highlighting the importance of presenting surprising or counterintuitive information early on. Psychological Appeal: The Novelty Reward principle is dominating with a 57% representation, showcasing that unique content continues to attract attention. Advertisers should focus on fresh perspectives or innovative angles to captivate their audience. WHAT'S DECLINING: Process Teaser Hooks: The Process Teaser hook has seen a dip, dropping to only 14% usage this week. This trend indicates that audiences may be less interested in generic how-to content, suggesting a shift towards more engaging and narrative-driven approaches. TAKEAWAY: For advertisers in the education courses vertical, prioritizing engaging Talking Head formats and incorporating Hidden Truth Reveals in your messaging can significantly enhance viewer connection and retention.
February 2026
### Talking Head B-Roll Format: This format is leading with 24% of ads utilizing it, highlighting the effectiveness of engaging personal narratives paired with relevant visuals to capture audience attention. Curiosity Spike Hooks: Ads that opened with a curiosity spike accounted for 24%, indicating that intriguing questions or statements are successful in drawing viewers in and keeping them engaged longer. Competence Restoration Psychology: With 43% of ads leveraging this psychological principle, brands are tapping into the audience's desire to regain control or improve their skills, making this a powerful strategy for tech gadgets. ### WHAT'S DECLINING: Product Demo Format: This format is losing ground, currently at just 10%, suggesting that traditional product demonstrations are less effective compared to more personal and narrative-driven approaches that resonate with viewers. ### TAKEAWAY: For brands advertising tech gadgets, focusing on engaging personal narratives and curiosity-driven hooks will enhance viewer engagement, as direct product demonstrations are becoming less effective.
February 2026
Format Dominance: This week, all analyzed ads utilized a Voiceover B-Roll format, indicating a strong preference for this style that effectively engages audiences. The average ad duration of 12 seconds suggests that shorter formats continue to resonate well with viewers. Opening Hook Success: Every ad employed a "Hidden Truth Reveal" as the opening hook, which appears to captivate the audience's curiosity right away, leading to higher engagement rates. This technique has proven effective in drawing viewers into the narrative quickly. Psychology Appeal: The consistent use of "Competence Restoration" in messaging has shown positive results, indicating that ads that empower parents by providing solutions to common parenting challenges are particularly effective. WHAT'S DECLINING: Shorter Attention Spans: While shorter ad durations are currently successful, there is a noticeable decline in engagement for ads exceeding 15 seconds, which suggests that audiences are increasingly favoring concise messaging over longer formats. TAKEAWAY: Focus on crafting concise Voiceover B-Roll ads that leverage "Hidden Truth Reveals" and "Competence Restoration" themes to maximize engagement in the Kids Parenting vertical this week.
February 2026
Talking Head Formats: Ads utilizing Talking Head B-Roll make up 48% of the formats, indicating strong viewer engagement and trust. This format's effectiveness suggests that consumers prefer authentic, relatable content when it comes to food and beverage products. Curiosity Hooks: Curiosity spikes are the leading opening hook at 22%, showing that ads that pique interest upfront significantly improve viewer retention. This highlights the importance of crafting compelling narratives that draw viewers in immediately. WHAT'S DECLINING: Voiceover B-Roll and Skit Narratives: Both Voiceover B-Roll (7%) and Skit Narrative (4%) formats are losing traction, indicating a shift away from less personal storytelling in favor of direct engagement. This decline suggests that brands may need to rethink their strategies to focus on more relatable, human-centric content. TAKEAWAY: For advertisers in the Food & Beverage category, leveraging Talking Head formats with curiosity-driven hooks will be essential this week to maximize viewer engagement and drive conversions.
February 2026
### Street Interview Format: This week, 100% of decoded ads utilized the street interview format, indicating a strong consumer preference for authentic, real-life testimonials. This format effectively engages viewers by presenting relatable stories and opinions. Direct Question Hook: All ads employed direct question hooks, which are proven to capture attention quickly and encourage viewer interaction. This approach aligns well with current trends emphasizing engagement in advertising content. ### WHAT'S DECLINING: Diversity in Formats: There is a noticeable absence of varied formats this week, with 100% reliance on street interviews. This lack of diversity could limit audience reach and engagement over time, as consumers may grow fatigued with the same approach. ### TAKEAWAY: For advertisers in the jewelry accessories vertical, leveraging the successful street interview format and direct question hooks will be crucial this week to maximize engagement and drive consumer interest.
February 2026
Format Utilization: Both Product Demos and Talking Head B-Roll are equally effective, each making up 50% of the ads decoded this week, indicating a balanced approach to showcasing experiences and narratives in travel hospitality. Engaging Hooks: The use of curiosity spikes as an opening hook is performing exceptionally well, with a notable 100% engagement rate, suggesting that ads that pique interest immediately tend to retain viewer attention more effectively. Psychological Appeals: The dual use of Status Assertion and Competence Restoration at 50% each indicates that ads focusing on enhancing consumer confidence and showcasing aspirational experiences are resonating well with audiences. WHAT'S DECLINING: Length of Ads: The average ad duration is at 105 seconds, which may indicate a slight over-reliance on longer formats. Shorter, punchier ads may be more effective in capturing attention in a fast-paced media environment, as trends show diminishing returns with longer content. TAKEAWAY: Focus on creating ads that leverage curiosity-driven hooks and maintain a balance between product demonstrations and personal storytelling to maximize engagement in the travel hospitality sector this week.
February 2026
Talking Head Product Format Dominance: 67% of ads this week utilized the talking head format, which emphasizes personal connection and credibility. This approach likely resonates well with audiences seeking trustworthy recommendations for home living products. Curiosity Spike Hooks: Ads featuring curiosity spikes as an opening hook performed strongly, accounting for 33% of the total. This suggests that engaging potential customers with intriguing questions or statements effectively captures attention and encourages viewers to continue watching. WHAT'S DECLINING: Limited Use of Product Demos: With only 17% of ads employing a product demo format, it indicates a potential decline in reliance on traditional demonstration strategies. This may suggest a shift towards more narrative-driven content rather than straightforward product showcases. TAKEAWAY: For advertisers in the home living category, focusing on engaging talking head formats with curiosity-driven hooks can significantly enhance viewer retention and drive conversions this week.
February 2026
The dominant format this week is the Talking Head Screen, making up 52% of ads, suggesting that personal connection and direct engagement are resonating well with audiences. This format could enhance trust and relatability. Competence Restoration is the leading psychological principle at 62%, indicating that ads focusing on enhancing user confidence and showcasing solution effectiveness are significantly more appealing, positioning your product as a necessary tool for success. WHAT'S DECLINING: The Product Demo format is only utilized in 7% of ads this week, reflecting a shift away from traditional demonstrations towards more engaging, narrative-driven approaches that prioritize personal storytelling over technical showcases. TAKEAWAY: Advertisers in the SaaS software category should prioritize Talking Head formats that emphasize competence restoration to effectively connect with audiences and drive conversions this week.
February 2026
Talking Head Screen Format: Currently, 50% of successful ads are utilizing the Talking Head Screen format, which allows for a personal touch and direct engagement, enhancing viewer trust in the financial message being conveyed. Use of Loss Aversion: A strong 75% of ads are leveraging loss aversion principles, tapping into consumers' fears of missing out on financial opportunities, which has proven effective in driving viewer action and conversion. WHAT'S DECLINING: Street Interview Format: The Street Interview format, which comprised 25% of ads this week, is losing traction, indicating that viewers may prefer more polished and direct messaging over informal, opinion-based content. TAKEAWAY: Advertisers in the finance fintech vertical should prioritize the Talking Head Screen format and emphasize loss aversion in their messaging to enhance viewer engagement and improve conversion rates.
February 2026
Talking Head B-Roll Dominance: With 38% of ads using this format, it effectively engages viewers by combining personal narrative with product visuals, creating a relatable context that drives interest and connection. Curiosity Spike Hooks: This week, 50% of ads employed curiosity spikes in their openings, successfully capturing viewer attention and encouraging longer watch times, which is crucial for ad retention and conversion. Social Validation Psychology: The use of social validation, present in 50% of ads, indicates that leveraging testimonials and influencer endorsements is resonating with audiences, enhancing trust and purchase likelihood. WHAT'S DECLINING: Before After Format: This format has seen a decline, accounting for only 13% of ads this week, suggesting that viewers may be moving away from straightforward transformation claims in favor of more narrative-driven content. TAKEAWAY: Focus on integrating curiosity spikes and social validation in your ad creatives this week, as they are driving engagement and trust in the beauty skincare vertical.
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