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10 Best Facebook Video Ad Examples

Facebook video ads are a creative way to reach a broader audience. Find inspiration in these effective examples to apply in your social marketing campaigns.

10 Best Facebook Video Ad Examples
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Videos an audience reach of 91% among internet users worldwide in 2021, and that number is predicted to keep rising.

Videos are also prime movers on Facebook. The world’s most popular social network boasts over 42% of the global live video user share, putting it in the second spot on the leaderboard after YouTube. When it comes to short-form video content, Facebook outranks TikTok with a comfortable 61% of the market share.

In other words, any advertiser, influencer, or entrepreneur who wants to reach a good share of the 1.97 billion daily active users on Facebook better have a strong video marketing strategy in place. Whether you want to improve ad engagement, build social proof, increase brand awareness, or increase your conversion rate, Facebook videos are the answer to achieving many marketing objectives.

This article reviews 10 of the strongest Facebook video ads. For social media marketers and small business owners, these ads serve as inspirational templates for creativity, Facebook marketing strategy, and brand positioning. We’ll cover:

Spotify

Spotify

On the face of it, this ad looks like a homemade video someone with entry-level skills put together using an automated tool. But things are not always what they seem, especially when you’re talking about the audio-streaming giant Spotify with over 433 million subscribers.

This Spotify ad first appeared on Facebook feeds and has a clever marketing strategy behind it. The company already has teens and millennials grooving to its beats, but it launched this ad campaign to rope in older generations. But how? Enter Simon & Garfunkel, a ‘60s folk rock band with legions of die-hard followers. What Spotify is trying to say with this ad is that it has something for everyone, from the LP album generation to today’s audio streamers.

Key takeaways

  • Subtle messaging. While you may think internet music is just for Justin Bieber and Miley Cyrus fans, Spotify wants you to know otherwise.
  • Simple execution. The only elements in the ad are an album cover, some bright colors, and a few words of text.
  • Immediate connection. Anyone who loves Simon and Garfunkel or their contemporaries is likely to stop for this ad.

Airbnb

Airbnb

How does a company respond to a political decision that goes against its core ideals? By calling out what they think is wrong.

That’s what homestay brokering company Airbnb did in response to the 2018 travel ban on people from seven countries imposed by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Their “Let’s Keep Traveling Forward” video ad copy released on Facebook summed up all the arguments against the ban. Developed in-house and executed by the production company Where the Buffalo Roam, it opens with a simple value proposition: Imagine a world without travel.

The voiceless, 36-second ad features short bursts of reverse motion video to make the point that to “limit travel is to turn back progress.” Without travel, it argues, there would be no “immigration, exploration, adventure, and definitely no United States of America.” Airbnb’s co-founders later issued a statement insisting that “we will continue to open doors and build bridges between cultures around the world.”

Key takeaways

  • Corporate social responsibility (CSR). A great example of cause marketing, Airbnb taps into popular resentment against the travel ban to boost its CSR.
  • Simplicity. The messaging is crisp, to the point, and vigorously edited.
  • Subtitles. Using subtitles instead of a voice-over means it could connect easily to the 85% of Facebook users who watch videos with the sound off.

Sephora

Sephora

Attention spans can be fleeting, especially amid the clutter of distractions as you're scrolling through your Facebook news feed. Sephora, a personal care and beauty products e-commerce company, knows exactly how to grab the audience’s attention amid the noise.

The company’s answer to promoting products online is a 10-second graphics interchange format (GIF) ad promoting two of their latest fragrances. The animated ad, titled “Scents to Live in,” is a throwback to ‘70s-style aesthetics and features impressionist images flowing in fairy-tale fashion. One of the advertised products may be for men, but the ad’s target audience is definitely women looking for gift options—for themselves and others.

Key takeaways

  • Stylization. For a 10-second GIF, this ad packs a lot and conveys it all through stylized visualization.
  • Positioning. Both fragrances are beautifully and effortlessly positioned for consumers with subtle visual cues.
  • Animation. The use of animation is perfect for the length and type of ad Sephora uses to promote its latest offerings.

Mailchimp

Mailchimp

Email marketing service and automation platform Mailchimp seems to have taken a page out of Sephora’s book for their Facebook ad.

Just a few seconds long, this ad tells an entire story without subtitles or voice-over. Mailchimp’s unique selling proposition (USP) is quick and easy templates that marketers can use to create ads and customized messages in a matter of minutes. And that is exactly the message they convey through a series of just three animated image ads.

The first visual shows the image of a pair of sunglasses. The second visual shows that image against a black background—presumably a template. The last visual uses the suggestive shape of an envelope over the sunglasses to convey the overall message of how easy it is to complete an email marketing campaign on Mailchimp’s platform. The video is anchored with a punchline that sums it up beautifully: “We’ve got a fit for every face & budget.”

Key takeaways

  • Focus. The ad is hyper-focused on the company’s core competency and conveys it in a universally understandable format.
  • Limited elements. It plays out over a largely yellow background to provide a minimalist feel that reflects the ease Mailchimp provides its users.
  • Time-sensitive. The ad takes the least amount of time to narrate a story that captures the viewer’s attention.

Grammarly

Grammarly

Writing accurately is a must for individuals and professionals of all stripes when it comes to official communications. But what about the average Joe or Jane thumbing through their mobile phones to type out quick messages to their friends? Writing assistant Grammarly thinks everything you type should be in perfect order, which is why they created this ad.

The company uses a seconds-long video to promote flawless writing on mobile devices. The only visuals are a mobile phone with the keyboard on display and a bunch of emojis. The text simply suggests writing with flawless grammar, punctuation, and spelling.

Key takeaways

  • Short and snappy. The ad conveys the idea of writing in perfect English on the go with smart visuals and text.
  • Visual clarity. Visually speaking, the messaging is direct and on point.
  • Effective tagline. “Write Confidently Everywhere” sums up the idea that Grammarly is not just for desktop use in office environments.

Allbirds

Allbirds

How do you advertise the “most comfortable shoes in the world?” You let your feet do the talking!

That’s how U.S. apparel and footwear company Allbirds approaches its Facebook ad featuring a pair of its flagship woven shoes. The ad opens with a shot of a guy wearing rolled-up trousers and a pair of Allbirds shoes. All the video shows across its seven-second length is various poses of the wearer flexing his feet, twitching around in them, and standing up on his toes. As the headline states, “I can’t say enough about how comfortable these shoes are.” Enough said!

Key takeaways

  • No distractions. The ad talks about the brand’s USP—comfort—and nothing else. The message is crystal clear.
  • Visual reinforcement. The camera remains focused on a series of movements made by the wearer’s feet to reinforce the idea of flexibility.
  • Product attributes. Allbirds doesn’t miss out on the opportunity to give away another plus about its shoes. As the bottom text explains, they’re also machine washable.

The New York Times

The New York Times

If you’re one of the world’s leading newspapers and need to reconnect with your core audience, you should stick to what you do best: Put things in writing.

That’s how The New York Times chose to reconfirm its commitment to credible journalism during a particularly tough period of COVID lockdown in the U.S. The newspaper chose one of the oldest ad formats for this purpose: a photo with some written text. The image shows a tired mother sleeping with two children in her arms after what was probably a long workday.

The top text defines the meaning of parental burnout. This helps readers understand the definition without looking toward other means. The ad closes with a strong CTA, urging readers to learn more about the plight of working mothers.

Key takeaways

  • Keeping it simple. NYT took an image of a visibly tired mother and added some text to get its point across.
  • Messaging. The paper’s core message of quality journalism shines through brilliantly.
  • Cost-effective. An ad with just one static image is likely to cost less to produce.

Oreo Thins

Oreo Thins

This is one way to sell delicious after-dinner treats to TV bingers. Oreo packs a flavorful punch in this short video that goes with the headline, “Serious drama calls for a serious treat.” This is a true example of masterful video ad-making.

The ad is shot against a white background that goes dark the moment someone reaches for an Oreo cookie. The company beautifully sets up the mood for late-night snacking. Graphics quality, treatment, and font type are perfect in this bite-sized ad meant to tempt sweets lovers of all ages.

Key takeaways

  • Visually tempting. Whether you’ve ever had an Oreo, this eye-catching ad will have you looking up and down the supermarket shelves.
  • Great positioning. The company cleverly positions the snack as an after-dinner option. The black background and headline are suggestive of TV drama.
  • Health advisory. Oreo is conscious of the health of its customers and limits the serving size of its Thins to four cookies.

Klarna

Klarna

The internet generation wants everything to be as simple, easy, and immediate as an online search. Swedish fintech company Klarna taps into this basic expectation to promote its interest-free finance options on consumer goods. This brilliantly executed Facebook ad ends up saying a lot more in a few seconds than is immediately apparent.

The ad opens with a search bar where someone is typing in the query, “Can you pay later for electronics?” Simultaneous queries appear below, each asking the same basic question but for different products: sneakers, couches, dresses, and iPhones. The final question on the bar changes to “Can you pay later on anything?” And out pops a search result saying the Klarna app lets you shop for anything anywhere and pay back in installments. No interest and no fees.

Key takeaways

  • Amplified messaging. Klarna packs a lot into this ad with just a few words of text. Features like ease of use and range of service are conveyed effectively without any direct references.
  • Stand-out color. The company’s trademark pink is also the background for this ad. Nothing else is needed to make it pop in your Facebook feed.
  • Multiple objectives. The ad achieves several marketing objectives: app installation, service benefits explanation, and brand positioning via the smart tagline, “Smooth Shopping.”

Moo

Moo

Some things are very important but awfully boring to discuss. Consider a toothpick or print toner—individuals and businesses may need them every day but they are not particularly exciting, especially for the Facebook crowd. Online print and design company Moo understands this fact particularly well.

Their answer is an infinite loop of the same visual. The ad shows a deck of multicolored business cards gyrating away in an endless rhythm. The snake-dance-like gyrations stop at one point, there is a slight, jarring pause, and the whole thing begins all over again. That is the only visual element of the ad, apart from a line of copy and a small text button offering a discount. A lot of people might glance at this ad for its visual play and move on without a second thought. But not if you’re an assistant in charge of office supplies or a self-employed professional who needs to make client calls.

Key takeaways

  • Subliminal messaging. That means messaging that is conveyed subtly without overt reference. The ad is about the neverending demand for printed supplies like business cards that you order, use up, and order again. What it says without actually saying anything is that Moo is your trusted partner for recurring printables.
  • Visual appeal. With its musical movement, the ad is designed to stand out in a sea of other videos because of its visual simplicity.
  • Audience targeting. Moo casts its net wide to reach as many people as possible with this ad, but it is still crafted to impact its key target audience.

Ready to make a Facebook video ad?

Looking to execute a Facebook marketing campaign using high-quality video ads to boost video views and performance metrics—but not sure where to start?

Upwork can help with all aspects of your Facebook campaign, from ad strategy to jingles, video production, video placements, and editing. We have thousands of professionals and agencies on our platform, each with years of expertise in their respective fields.

Post a job at Upwork, browse through portfolios of interested professionals, and hire the experts you need to see your Facebook video campaign through.

And if you’re on the other side of the fence and willing to help our clients with their needs, join Upwork today.

Upwork is not affiliated with and does not sponsor or endorse any of the tools or services discussed in this article. These tools and services are provided only as potential options, and each reader and company should take the time needed to adequately analyze and determine the tools or services that would best fit their specific needs and situation.

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10 Best Facebook Video Ad Examples
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