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- Make Your Ads Uglier: Here's Why
Make Your Ads Uglier: Here's Why
This one mindset shift may help you unlock scale

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Hey friend!
In today's crowded digital landscape, standing out isn’t about high-budget, polished ads—it’s about authenticity. Recent trends and performance metrics are proving that even “uglier” lo-fi creative can deliver powerful results for ad accounts. Today’s newsletter will dive into why embracing a raw, organic aesthetic can elevate your brand, especially for ecommerce.
IN TODAY’S EDITION
News & Updates
The Lo-Fi Mindset Shift You Need
UGC Swipe File (Free Resource)
Let’s dive in!
News & Updates
OpenAI’s active users jumped to over 400 million. Up 100 million active weekly users since December! (Reuters)
Meta announces another big layoff. They plan to cut 5% of their workforce (over 3,000 people). (ABC)
Amazon’s revenue surpassed Walmart’s last quarter for the first time ever. Although Amazon is worth more and their profit margin’s are 3x more than Walmart’s, this has been the first time that Amazon’s revenue has beat Walmart’s. (Sherwood)
The Rise of Lo-Fi Creative
While polished and perfectly curated content has its place, many of the top-performing organic posts across social media channels have a distinctly lo-fi vibe. These creatives resonate with audiences because they feel real and relatable. They cut through the clutter of highly produced content, capturing attention by offering a more genuine, human touch. When your ads mirror this natural style, it becomes less of an interruption and more of a welcome extension of the content your audience already loves.
Why Lo-Fi Works for Ecommerce Brands
Authenticity Over Perfection: Consumers are increasingly savvy—they know when an ad is overly polished and are prone to tune out content that feels too “salesy.” Lo-fi creative feels like a genuine piece of content that they might have discovered organically, making it far more engaging.
Increased Engagement: Ads that mimic the look and feel of top-performing organic content can help reduce ad blindness. When ads blend in with the natural flow of social feeds, viewers are more likely to stop, watch, and even interact. This engagement is critical for ecommerce brands, where every impression can lead to conversions (and lower ad costs).
Cost-Effective Production: Not every brand has the budget for high-end production. Lo-fi creative can be produced with minimal resources while still achieving maximum impact. This approach not only levels the playing field for smaller brands but also encourages creative, resourceful storytelling that resonates with your target audience. Think of just getting out your phone and recording a video.
Consumer Trust and Relatability: In a world saturated with ads, trust is hard to come by. Lo-fi creative often feels more relatable, fostering a connection with viewers. When your ad content mirrors the style of organic posts, it lowers the barrier between the brand and the consumer, making the message more impactful and real.
Below you can quickly see this ad looks like anyone just sharing a video of their relative opening a gift. That’s the idea.

Here’s a great example of a lo-fi ad with people reacting from a cell phone camera.
Best Practices for Embracing Lo-Fi in Your Ad Strategy
Focus on Storytelling: Instead of relying on flashy visuals, concentrate on sharing a story. Whether it’s a behind-the-scenes look or a candid moment from your brand’s journey, authenticity is your strongest asset.
Keep It Real: Use everyday settings, relatable characters, and natural lighting. The goal is to make your audience feel like they’re watching content from a friend, not a corporate entity. (Throw out the business jargon!)
Test and Iterate: As with all creative strategies, measure performance and be ready to adjust. Test a variety of hooks and angles with lo-fi content to help you understand what resonates best with your audience.
Align with Organic Trends: Look at your brand’s organic posts that have performed well and consider how you can adapt those aesthetics into your ad content. Outside of that be inspired by larger organic videos. We often might search for similar products or keywords and will analyze what videos have reached over 1 million people. Notice what patterns you see among those videos that have already shown promise.
Below you can again see what looks like a random video from someone in a car (notice even the slightly unflattering angle, making it look even more organic and real).

Another great natural-looking and organic shot to start this video.
Final Thoughts
For ecommerce brands looking to cut through the noise, the answer may not be investing in high-budget productions but rather in embracing the lo-fi approach that has already proven its worth in organic content. By integrating this aesthetic into your ad strategy, you’re not only making your ads more engaging but also building a genuine connection with your audience—one that doesn’t feel like an ad at all.
At Brick Social, we’re committed to helping you discover innovative strategies that drive results. Embrace the power of authenticity and watch your ad performance take off.
Bonus: 150+ High-Converting UGC Ads
We’ve compiled a list of 150+ UGC ads with great visuals. Videos you can reference for some of the more lo-fi looks we mentioned above.
How We Can Help You
1. Apply to work with Brick. 2. Follow us. That’s all for now, folks! |
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