Let me give you one of the easiest ways to improve your ad performance right away.

It doesn’t cost money.
It doesn’t take weeks to implement.
And you can start doing it today.

Sounds good? Let’s jump in.

Why Humans Are Wired to Notice Movement

Remember that classic Jurassic Park scene with the T-Rex? They said the dinosaur could only see you if you moved. Don’t know if that’s true (I’ve never personally met a T-Rex), but one thing is certain: predators are focused on movement.

Now picture yourself standing in front of a bear, lion, or tiger.
The fastest way to get chased down? Start running.

Here’s the thing—guess who else is a predator?

Yep. Humans.

Our brains are wired to pick up movement instantly. It’s part of survival. Our eyes literally scan for motion, even when we’re scrolling social media. That’s why when you’re running ads, movement almost always beats stillness.

And this explains why video ads consistently outperform static ads.

Video Ads vs. Static Ads: What the Data Says

You don’t just have to take my word for it. The data is clear:

• Facebook and Instagram report that video ads generate up to 3x more engagement than static ads.

  
  

• Wistia found that people spend 2.6x more time on a page with video than without.

  
  

• HubSpot reports that 54% of consumers want to see more video content from brands they support.

Translation? If you’re not using video in your advertising, you’re leaving clicks, leads, and sales on the table.

Why Video Ads Work Better

So why do video ads crush static ads? Let’s break it down:

They capture attention instantly
Movement stops the scroll. That’s the hardest part of advertising—getting people to pause for a second.

They tell a story faster
With text + visuals + sound, video communicates way more than an image can. You can explain, show, and persuade in seconds.

They trigger emotion
Humans connect with faces, voices, and stories. A static product shot doesn’t do that nearly as well as a quick video.

They increase retention
People remember videos. In fact, viewers retain 95% of a message when watching it in a video, compared to just 10% when reading it.

But What If You Don’t Have a Video Team?

Here’s the good news: you don’t need a production studio, expensive cameras, or an editing team to start running video ads.

Even if you take a static ad and add small animations, you’ll probably see a performance boost.

Example:

• Static ad: A picture of your product with some text.

• Animated version: The text fades in, a button pulses slightly, or the product rotates slowly.

That tiny amount of movement is often enough to grab attention and outperform the still version.

And tools like Canva, CapCut, or even the built-in editor on TikTok/Instagram make this ridiculously easy.

Step-by-Step: How to Add Motion to Your Ads in Canva

If you’re thinking: “Okay, but how do I actually do this?” — here’s a simple process:

1. Open Canva and upload your static ad design.

2. Select a text box or element.

3. Click on “Animate” in the top menu.

4. Choose a simple animation (fade, slide, rise, etc.).

5. Export as MP4 or GIF.

6. Upload that file as your ad creative.

Boom. You’ve now turned a still ad into a video ad in about 5 minutes.

Real-World Example

Let me give you a quick case study:

I worked with a small local business that was running static image ads on Facebook. Their click-through rate (CTR) hovered around 1.2%.

We didn’t change the offer, the targeting, or the budget.
The only switch? We turned the static image into a 10-second video with a simple animated headline and moving background.

Result? CTR jumped to 3.4%. That’s nearly 3x more clicks—for the exact same ad spend.

Common Mistakes with Video Ads

Before you rush to create your first video ad, let’s clear up some mistakes I see all the time:

❌ Overcomplicating it – You don’t need cinematic production. A simple, clear message works best.

❌ Making videos too long – Ads are not movies. The sweet spot is usually 6–20 seconds.

❌ Forgetting the hook – The first 3 seconds are everything. If people don’t stop scrolling, the rest doesn’t matter.

❌ Not testing variations – One video might not be enough. Test 2–3 variations and let the data decide.

FAQs About Video Ads

1. Are video ads more expensive to run than image ads?
No. Platforms like Meta and TikTok often reward video with lower CPMs (cost per thousand impressions) because video keeps people engaged.

2. Do I need to appear on camera?
Not at all. Product shots, animations, text overlays, or stock video can work just as well.

3. What if my business is “boring”?
Every business has something worth showing in motion—unboxing, before/after transformations, client testimonials, or even just bold text moving with music.

4. Do video ads always win?
Not 100% of the time, but in 90%+ of cases, videos outperform still images. The only way to know for sure is to test both.

Try This Ad Hack Today

This is one of the simplest ad hacks out there—and it works.

Instead of blending into the feed with static ads, make your ads move. Add motion, test video, and let your audience’s predator brain do the rest.

It doesn’t cost more.
It doesn’t take more than a few minutes to set up.
And it can instantly improve your ad performance.

Talk soon,
Finn

P.S. Running a business that’s already doing well but want to do even better? My team and I help companies set up marketing systems that dominate.

If that sounds good, fill in this form. One of my team members will reach out with details on how we can work together.

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