Vlad Alexander's Linkedin Analytics

If your paid ads don’t convert, try my top 5 performing UGC formats that won big for our clients: 1. Problem → Solution You start by poking the pain, then drop your offer as the fix. 2. Ugly ads Think scribbled Post-it headlines or a shaky one-take selfie rant. Shot on your phone, zero polish, cost your lunch money. 3. Skits Mini-movies that put your product front and center. You’d Script a quick scene—solo or, better, with friends, family, or whoever. Hardly anyone in UGC does it, which is why it crushes when you do. 4. Tutorials This one’s all about: Teach, don’t preach. A quick how-to feels like native content, so no one’s ad-guard goes up. Your viewers learn something valuable, their trust rises, and then the transaction follows. 5. Product Review ad These usually start with: “Here’s my honest take on ….” It’s an Instant trust signal. Let the creator speak straight, no script. With ad formats one size doesn’t fit all brands. Different content styles resonate with different audiences. Match the format to the audience, test it and get all the learnings you can out of it. Keep what crushes, ditch what doesn’t. In 2025 Meta wants variety. It likes content that feels fresh, real, and scroll-stopping. If your videos get clicks… but don’t convert: DM me “Formats” and I’ll send you a link to my calendar. We’ll see if your formats cost you sales — and how to fix it fast.

Had a call with a scaling DTC brand - their key pain: finding the right talent to get ad creatives to convert. ↳ Here’s the insight: What doesn’t work with direct-response ads? → Professional acting - because it looks like “acting” and lacks authenticity → Inexperienced creators trying to act - sure it looks authentic, but not very appealing What Works? → Micro creators with an experience in creating paid DTC content In the words of this marketing director: “A charismatic experienced creator is worth their weight in gold.” My agency has great relationships with experienced creators - ready to help your brand scale. If $100 UGCs, AI videos and/or polished content failed you - let me help you make more winning ads. Just DM me.

3 ways performance marketers are cutting CAC without changing media strategy: 1. Replacing stale hooks every 30 days 2. Testing 9-15 variants across 3 angles 3. Optimizing every asset for Meta Advantage+ - not “generic” ads This isn’t about making more content. It’s about building a repeatable creative system that supports scale. Growth teams we work with cut CAC by up to 20% in 60 days and actually understand why ads win or lose. No more “best guess” reports. No more weekly fire drills. Need help with CAC? Let’s talk.

Increase your brands revenue by including this simple video format into your marketing strategy. So, don’t sleep on founder-story film: it’s costing you sales. Customers are 55% more likely to buy when they connect with a brand’s story. If you’re only pushing product demos and UGC hooks, you’re leaving real money on the table. A strong founder narrative lifts perceived brand value. Use these 6 beats to tell your story: 1. Hero Open with the founder’s relatable identity, not the brand. A face triggers trust pathways in under 200 ms. 2. Pain Name the exact problem the founder felt first. Mirror the audience’s frustration so they nod before you sell. 3. Promise State the change the founder set out to create. Keep it one sentence; clarity lifts purchase intent. 4. Proof Drop a single, concrete result (units sold, reviews, certifications). Proof lowers cognitive risk and drives up‐front conversions. 5. Mechanism Reveal the unique “how”: the process, ingredient, or tech. Brands that spotlight a proprietary mechanism see stronger value lift than those that list generic features. 6. Mission Forward Close with the bigger “why now.” In shaky markets, mission-led storytelling preserves margin and loyalty better than discounting. Do this: 1. Script your six beats (<= 150 words). 2. Film in a single take with soft key-light.   3. Launch as a top-funnel ad and pin it on your site’s hero section. 4. Track AOV and CAC for 30 days. Brands in our hybrid system have cut CAC up to 40% and raised AOV 10% within the first quarter after adding a founder story video. DM me “Scale” if winning video strategy is top of mind for you.

My first video project: • $300 for a promo that “just needed to look cool” • Zero direction, no clear goal, and no real performance metrics • It got a few likes and that was that My most recent video project: • $10,000+ for a performance-driven content suite • Every frame was built to grab attention, tell a story, and drive measurable results. • 3X engagement rate, 3X ROI, and content the brand can repurpose across channels. The start of every business journey sucks. But it gets better after 10,000 hours invested in the craft. I know your DTC brand needs content, DM me.

Stop overpaying to acquire new customers, do this instead: Try 3 simple video ad optimizations to get more scroll stops, improved watch time and more clicks. 1. Be creative with your hook. 2. Make sure to always add text to the hook. 3. A/B test video length. The only way to know what works is to test. We see a reduction in customer acquisition costs reaching up to 40%, based on these techniques - I highly recommend you try them. But if you feel like your ads just got stale, or don’t perform for whatever reason, my team will help you refresh your content. DM me, and we’ll help you scale.

Perhaps a controversial opinion, but UGC-only strategy hurts your brand’s profitability. ↳Let me explain: There's no argument that UGC ads perform really well at the top of the funnel. These ads are camouflaged as all other native content on the platform so people tend to skip them less and develop higher brand trust, since UGC creators represent their buyer persona. Some of these ads are straight up ugly, but they are more relatable than polished ads, because they show regular people in regular places. The main purpose of UGC video isn't necessarily to close the sale, but to grab user's attention and redirect it to a landing page or product display page. Once the audience lands - they are now warmed up and are considering making a purchase. What we found with our clients is that this warm audience very much appreciates higher quality content, because at this stage we are still building brand trust and product value. Polished videos build up perceived brand value and in a way explain shoppers why the product costs as much as it does. It is especially true for higher ticket products. Would you agree that a handbag on a shelf of a luxury boutique store commands higher price point than a handbag on a shelf of a supermarket? It’s about the experience and perceived value. This analogy works with content. Since people buy on emotions and later rationalize with logic - the question we ask is: how does this video content make people feel? So premium content provides brands with leverage to command higher prices and increased profits. Consequently cost per acquisition reduces. And this is exactly what I help brands achieve by developing ad creative strategy and then executing on it with our network of over 300 creators, influencers, actors and models. If you feel like your business is stuck with underperforming content and needs help, just DM.

I bet you’re burning a lot of cash by shooting ads without a creative strategy! ↳ My 7 years of experience says: DON’T ↓ Making ads for your DTC brand feels exciting—at first. You film a ton of content. Spend thousands. Push it live. Then you wait. Clicks trickle in, but sales don’t. Without a creative strategy, you’re just guessing. Guessing burns your budget, drains your team, and leaves your growth stalled. That’s why you build a clear creative strategy first: ↳ Define your customers’ avatars ↳ Define their unique pain points ↳ Research possible objections ↳ Research the reasons for buying ↳ Map out multiple creative angles ↳ Research applicable formats ↳ Map out multiple hooks ↳ Plan how to A/B test content ↳ Identify and scale winners And no more guessing. Just predictable, profitable growth. Want to stop burning cash and start scaling with ads? Just DM me.

Here’s a quick Meta ad idea you should add to your creative mix ↓ Listicle-Style UGC Ads. Shoppers love bite-size, numbered tips they can scan in seconds. A “3 reasons I swear by…” or “5 ways this cleans up my routine” video leverages that habit and turns watchers into clickers. Why the listicle format wins: • Stops the scroll with clear, curiosity-poking numbers • Frames benefits as quick wins (no jargon, just value) • Lets real customers do the selling for you: instant authenticity • Keeps attention high - viewers want to hear every point • Easy to remix: swap the order, update tips, endless test fuel Recently my agency produced several “3 hacks to…”, where each point tied to a product payoff. Cost per click dropped 28% versus our polished spots. Pro tip: use AI to brainstorm fresh ideas: (“7 secrets,” “3 rookie mistakes”). Give listicle UGC ads a run - your CAC will thank you. But maybe you need some help with scaling with ads? Just DM me.

There’s a troubling trend in marketing today, that costs DTC brands long term growth and extra profit margins. Too many marketers praise UGC’s short term performance and dismiss polished videos, because they don’t result in immediate conversions. Creative strategists love talking about “authentic” content: • Raw videos • Real people • Filmed on phones But here’s the thing: That’s only HALF the game. Because polished content matters too: • Inspiring visuals • Clear messaging • Premium feel Most strategists lean hard into one type. And that’s a big mistake. Here’s why you need BOTH: • UGC grabs eyes fast. It feels real, builds trust, and gets quick sales. • Professional content makes your brand look valuable, reliable, and worth premium prices. The reason why content doesn’t perform is because most of the time it’s incorrectly placed within the funnel. For example, polished content used as social media ads, or UGC’s used as brand story videos on a website. If you ONLY do UGC, you limit long-term growth. If you ONLY do polished content, you miss quick wins. The best strategists master BOTH and place content within the funnel for the maximum impact. DM me “Scale” if winning content strategy is top of mind for you.

Here’s what I learned after testing a ton of UGC unboxing ads on social - they still work. Why? They hit the brain’s dopamine switch, feed the curiosity gap, and show exactly what you’ll get. 1. Closed box - dopamine hits 2. Viewer asks “what’s next?”  3. Product appears, anxiety disappears 4. Product demo entices the purchase Seeing beats telling and conversion jumps. Anticipation ⇒ Dopamine ⇒ Action: Opening sequences spike dopamine the moment the seal peels back, wiring the viewer to keep watching and rewarding them with a reveal. Curiosity Gap: Every hidden layer teases a question: “what’s next?” - pulling attention deeper and making the click feel inevitable. Clarity Kills Anxiety: Showing every item in the box erases doubt about what the customer actually gets, which is a top driver of checkout‑stage drop‑off. Demo = Proof: A quick, tactile demo (press the button, flex the strap, power the gadget) validates claims and boosts conversions. Full‑Funnel Utility: Unboxing hooks cold eyeballs in prospecting and reassures warm traffic in retargeting, giving one asset two jobs. So this single format wins in prospecting and retargeting, lowering CAC while increasing profit. And if you need help with this - just DM me.

Stop running polished ads on social media: They look pretty. But they don’t sell. Pretty doesn’t pay. Performance does. If your ad isn’t moving revenue, it’s just decoration. If you want performance - not potential, your creative needs to pass 3 invisible filters: → Desire: Does your ad speak to a real, felt problem buyers are hungry to solve? → Differentiation: Are you showing why you’re the only option - not just another? → Decision: Are you giving buyers a reason to act now? When you fix these 3 things, performance scales. We just helped one of our clients to double their revenue: Same ad budget. New relevant & relatable ads. All by shifting from “looks good” to “speaks to audience’s needs”. That’s what we do at Ads4Scale. We build ad creatives that convert - not just compliment. So you can stop guessing, and start scaling. If you want to see how I could help your business scale: DM me “Scale” and I’ll send the link to book a free assessment chat.

Is your DTC brand stuck in a scale-jail, between cheap ineffective UGC’s and expensive polished content? Truth is: Most cheap ugc's flop Fancy shoots drain cash Enter, "lo‑fi" direct‑response ads. They lead audience to take an action with a well-planned structure: Hook, Failed solution, Product intro, Agitate, End result, Unique mechanism, Product demo, CTA. Why they work: ➟ Feel human, because messy beats perfect. ➟ Clear ask: one hook, one click. Cpa drops up to 40%.   ➟ Relatable - show someone just like you solving their problem. Why they scale: ➟ Shoot on a phone = Pennies, not thousands.  ➟ Swap clips fast. Modular ugc lets you mix parts like lego.   ➟ Fit every feed. Tiktok says native lo‑fi wins 27% more completes.  ➟ Easy test. Run 5 versions today, promote the winner next week. Ready to break out of scale‑jail? Let’s talk. Your scaling resolution is 1 DM away.

There’s no shame in pivoting in business. ↳ I went from being a filmmaker to a creative marketer Why did I do it? 1. Market changes 2. Clients’ needs change 3. Personal growth commands change With so many changes, it’s easy to break and quit. Instead, I: 1. Paid attention to the market situation 2. Listened to my clients needs 3. Kept investing in myself The one thing I didn’t do: stop. As Alex Hormozi puts it: “everything is a pivot except stopping.” What was your last pivot in business?

Happy Mother's Day! I love my girls - they are my world. Today we're enjoying quality family time, Getting back to scaling brands with ads tomorrow.

3 simple reasons why your brand’s growth stagnate on Meta: ↳ And the 1st destroys growth like no other. 1. No ad creative strategy. 2. No consistency with ad testing the creatives.  3. Looking at performance of individual ads, rather than ad sets and campaigns. If you feel like your cost per acquisition is getting out of hand, DM me.

Here’s a Meta Ad idea that helped Austin Distel scale Jasper.ai beyond 9‑figures. And you should add it to your creative stack too: Founder Story Ads Consumers lean on authentic stories even more than star‑ratings. When they feel the founder’s journey, challenges and successes, they are more likely to try the product/service. Why this format can flip the game for your brand: ➟ Builds trust & credibility – Real people, real stakes, zero fluff.  ➟ Engages & connects instantly – Narrative wiring in the brain lights up 5× faster than facts.  ➟ Social proof in motion – A founder story carries implicit testimonials (“I solved my own pain”).   ➟ Humanizes your brand – Knowing who’s behind the product makes it more personal.  ➟ Educates while it entertains – You explain the “why” behind the product, not just the “what.” And most importantly: share your story in an authentic way. Don’t worry about being scrappy. People on social connect best with what some may call “ugly” ads. And indeed, more often than not these ads convert much better than fancy polished content. So, don’t sit on it! Not making founder-led content was one of my biggest business mistakes. If you need help - just DM me. P.S. A big shoutout to Austin for sharing his inspiring founder story!

Dear younger self, I’ve been down, lost money, made wrong business decisions - but hey, I remain an entrepreneur. I learned to bet on myself. Trust my gut. Because when I trusted others too much… They let me down. And when I trusted to little… I missed out on opportunities to learn. This is called experience. You can’t learn it in a classroom. Or make a GPT generate it for you. You have to earn it. You have to pay your dues. Fail and then succeed. Of course you can succeed right away… But I’d rather fail first. Because when I succeed, that experience multiplier will be that much greater. And most importantly: No matter what happens, Don’t quit. Pivot and keep moving forward. Sincerely, Your older (got-it-made) self

How did I go from shooting 35mm Panavision film camera to shooting "lo-fi" ads on my phone? In undergraduate, I studied filmmaking and got really good at putting together big professional cameras. Because my professor believed that 35mm film is the future. He dismissed digital as not "organic" or "authentic" enough, in comparison to film. So, my senior year we had Panavision donate a 1.5 million-dollar film camera package rental to our class for a week. I learned to load camera magazine in the dark and properly measure the exposure. But, that was the last time I've shot film. The very first film we shot after graduation, we shot with RED ONE. And it looked great! Digital cameras democratized film industry, because they are so much more affordable and easier to use than film. And I was shooting ads for major brands and ecom businesses with bigger digital cameras for many years. Then there was the second revolution - vertical content on social media. Shaky, noisy, bad colors - as long as it keeps the viewer's attention and moves them to an action. This is what is now considered “organic” or “authentic” image, not that of celluloid film. So, clients started to gladly pay me to produce these lo-fi ads, because that started to make them money. Not a beautiful image - No. But, content that is relevant, relatable and shareable. Yeah, I felt like a horrible filmmaker there for a while. Having such a skillset - reduced to managing a team that shoots on a phone. However, I decided to take time and study this creative niche. To get really good at it and produce content that people would want to watch and brands would make money off of. Pretty poetic, right? And so I did, and discovered that there’s just as much creativity in making ads for social as in making polished ads. Because in social ads - the core creative idea is what counts. No matter how crazy or outlandish it feels, or how poorly the image looks… …If the viewer clicked and eventually made a purchase - the goal was reached. But yeah, I still love the “film” aesthetic. As for commercial work, creative phone‑shot ads is what audiences actually want to see. Because it's one of their favorite ways to discover new products. If your brand needs help with ad creatives - DM me.

Should you invest in a brand story film, or a bunch of lo-fi UGC ads? “But polished videos don’t convert…” - I keep hearing. So, let’s compare the two: Brand Film: ➟ Costs more up front ➟ Raises perceived brand value ➟ Keeps bringing sales months later The story builds value It lets you charge more UGC Ad: ➟ Cheap ➟ Feels real ➟ Drives 29% more buys right now People buy when they see someone like them You can test UGC at scale The math: 1 UGC ad ↓ CAC today 1 brand story film ↑ LTV tomorrow Smart brands run both: Cheaper tests feed the algo now Polished story lifts price later DM me “Scale” if winning content is top of mind for you.