The Ad Lab

Practical playbooks for video ads that sell: hooks, testing, briefs and budgets, written for store owners who run their own ads.

Strategy · 8 min read

AI Video Ads for Shopify Stores: The Complete Guide

What AI video ads are, where they beat traditional production, where they don't, and a step-by-step plan to get your first set live this week.

Read the guide → Testing · 5 min read

How to Test Video Ad Creatives on a Small Budget: The 3-Angle Method

You don't need a big budget to find a winning ad. You need a fair test of different ideas. Here's the simple 3-angle method we use with every delivery.

Read the guide → Creative · 5 min read

The First 3 Seconds: 15 Video Ad Hooks That Stop the Scroll

Most viewers decide in the first few seconds whether your ad is worth watching. These 15 hook formulas, with examples for real products, give them a reason to stay.

Read the guide → Budget · 5 min read

How Much Do Video Ads Cost? Agency vs Freelancer vs AI

What you actually pay for a short-form video ad in 2026, where the money goes, and how to choose between an agency, a freelancer or creator, and an AI-assisted studio.

Read the guide → Creative · 4 min read

UGC-Style Ads Without Chasing Creators: What Works and What to Avoid

UGC-style ads sell because they feel like a friend's recommendation. Here's what makes them work, the anatomy of a high-converting one, and how to get them without managing a creator program.

Read the guide → Strategy · 4 min read

How to Write a Creative Brief for Video Ads (Free Template)

Better briefs make better ads. Here are the eight questions every video ad brief should answer, a copy-paste template, and a before-and-after example.

Read the guide → Testing · 4 min read

Creative Fatigue: How Many Ads You Need and When to Refresh Them

Every winning ad eventually stops winning. Here's how to spot creative fatigue early, how many ads you need at each spend level, and a simple refresh rhythm that keeps results steady.