The ONE ad tactic 99% of brands overlook...

It's simple, but not easy.

August 28, 2025

Hey vibe marketer, welcome back.

I’ve been thinking a lot about what we as advertisers overlook that hurts us. And this is my .02 cents on what I’ve found…

Thought: The most overlooked tactic in marketing is selling the outcome to a person’s identity. I’d venture to say 99% of brands and agencies overlook this, but it’s not complex; it’s simple. You just need to know what your customer wants and who they are to do it correctly.

Luckily, with Atria’s creative tagging system, you can see what angles, emotions, creatives, and specific drivers convert your customers most effectively. So, you can spend less time guessing and more time printing.

With that being said, this week’s ads do just that. So, without further delay, let’s dive in.

Ads sourced with inspiration from the most powerful AI ad tool and extensive ad library.

Ads of the Week

Brunt, Kiaura, Huron

Brand

Analysis:

This ad is effective because it uses a benefit + an outcome to convey a value prop to the customer. The copy (“Your most comfortable 12-hour shift yet”) directly acknowledges customers’ pain points: long, grueling workdays in physically demanding environments with uncomfortable shoes. Instead of selling just boots, it’s selling relief, endurance, and strength that last as long as they do on the job site. The visual cements (no pun intended) the credibility that these boots are made for real work, not just marketing BS.

How you can apply it:

  1. Highlight the customer’s hardest challenge and phrase your copy as a solution to their problem.

  2. Use situational imagery to show the product in real-life.

  3. Anchor benefits with simple icons or numbers.

  4. Sell the transformation, not the item.

  5. Align with identity by positioning the product as a badge for people who work hard and push through, not just something they wear.

Prompt:

Create an ultra-realistic, cinematic image of a construction worker in his late 20s to early 40s working on an active jobsite under the hot summer sun. He is wearing rugged BRUNT work boots, shown clearly in the foreground with dust, dirt, and concrete debris around them, while he lifts materials and continues his shift. Sweat glistens subtly on his arms and face, conveying the heat of a long day, yet his posture and expression reflect focus and comfort—reinforcing the headline: “Your most comfortable 12-hour shift yet.” The environment should feel gritty and authentic: exposed steel beams, heavy equipment, dust particles in the air, and bright natural sunlight casting sharp shadows. At the bottom of the image, place three clean, minimal icons with bold labels that highlight key benefits of the BRUNT boots:

  1. All-Day Comfort (icon: cushioned insole graphic)

  2. Durability That Lasts (icon: hammer striking shield)

  3. Custom Fit Switch-Fit™ System (icon: adjustable boot outline).

The overall look should be aspirational yet authentic—capturing the pride and resilience of the everyday worker while making the boots the undeniable hero. Aspect ratio 4:5.

Kiaura

Analysis:

“Watch the world stare back at you” is part of identity marketing + The Spotlight Effect and it’s used to drive attention. The copy frames it not as you seeing through the sunglasses, but others noticing you because of them. The Spotlight Effect, is a cognitive bias where people believe they’re being noticed more than they actually are. The design reinforces this with blurred silhouettes reflected in the lenses, making the wearer the ‘undeniable’ center of attention. The subheadline, “Sunglasses architected for attention,” doubles down on the identity, selling the promise of everyone looking at your unforgettable sunnies.

How you can apply it:

  1. Frame benefits as identity upgrades.

  2. Use double-meaning copy and play with perspective shifts.

  3. Design with contrast (put the product in the spotlight).

  4. Lean on borrowed social proof signals.

  5. Anchor messaging to status-driven emotions (confidence, attraction, desirability).

Prompt:

Create an ultra-realistic, cinematic product scene featuring a bold pair of Kiaura sunglasses resting on a sleek, modern table. The sunglasses are angled slightly forward so the lenses catch the light and act as reflective surfaces. Within the reflections, subtly show blurred yet recognizable silhouettes of people turning their heads, as if caught staring—evoking the feeling that these frames command attention without saying a word. The setting should feel elevated and architectural, with clean lines, warm golden-hour light, and a sophisticated backdrop that reinforces Kiaura’s luxury-meets-architectural design aesthetic. Add the headline text “Watch the World Stare Back At You.” in elegant, modern typography positioned above the product. At the bottom, include the caption: “Sunglasses architected for attention.” The overall composition should feel aspirational, cinematic, and magnetic—capturing both the confidence and curiosity sparked by Kiaura eyewear. Aspect ratio 1:1.

Huron

Analysis:

This ad uses Contrast Effect + Simplicity Bias to create a fast visual comparison that makes the decision feel obvious. Our brains are hardwired to notice what’s missing when framed in a simple side-by-side. Pairing this with “No More Harsh Chemicals. Just Confidence.” taps into loss aversion (fear of harsh chemicals) while reframing the product as a positive identity choice (confidence). The clean, minimal design reinforces trustworthiness by mirroring the product’s “clean” promise, which helps reduce skepticism.

How you can apply it:

  1. Use contrast visuals.

  2. Frame in identity terms. Don’t just sell ingredients, sell what they mean for the customer (“confidence,” “strength,” “calm”).

  3. Leverage minimal design by using whitespace (negative space) + clean fonts to subconsciously signal trust.

  4. Use loss aversion by highlighting what customers want to avoid (harsh chemicals, clutter, waste) as much as what they gain.

  5. Simplify the choice and reduce decision fatigue by making your product look like the “obvious upgrade” through side-by-side comparison.

Prompt:

Create an ultra-realistic, cinematic product ad featuring a sleek Huron Skincare bottle centered on a clean, modern surface exactly as it is on their site, you can't make a single detail change of the product. The scene should be bright, minimal, and confidence-evoking, with soft lighting highlighting the product’s premium design. Next to the product, display a bold, modern ingredient list styled like a checklist: ✔ Aloe, ✔ Bamboo, ✔ Vitamins, ✘ Parabens. The typography should feel sharp and trustworthy, with the red “✘ Parabens” clearly crossed out to emphasize the absence of harsh chemicals. Above the bottle, include the headline: “No More Harsh Chemicals. Just Confidence.” The background should be crisp white with subtle natural textures (like marble or stone) to suggest purity and quality. The overall tone should be clean, confident, and aspirational—reinforcing Huron’s brand identity of simple, high-performance men’s care without gimmicks. Aspect ratio 1:1.

As always, keep the good vibes rollin’ and apply these tactics to your ads and watch results cruise upward.

And if you want to ship winning ads 10x faster, get AI recommendations, and premade one-click analytics reports, bounce over here!

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