10 Trending Video Ad Styles for 2025

Key Takeaways

• How-To
• Vertical Video Supremacy
• Interactive Shoppable Videos
• AI-Powered Personalised Video Ads
• Micro-Moment Video Ads
• User-Generated Content (UGC) Video Ads
• Customer Testimonials
• 360-Degree Video Ads
• Product Spotlight
• Social Impact Storytelling: Connecting with Purpose

Video advertising is changing fast, reshaping how we market online. At ProfitSpring, we're keeping up with these changes to help businesses make the most of their ads using new video strategies.

Video has a way of pulling people in and turning views into sales, especially on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. Here are 10 video ad styles set to make an impact in 2025.

1. How-To

You’ve probably seen this when scrolling—quick, engaging ‘How-To’ ads that show you how a product works in real life. These videos are set to be one of the biggest ad trends in 2025, blending education with marketing in a way that feels natural rather than pushy.

Whether it’s a fitness brand showing the best way to wrap your hands for boxing or a skincare company breaking down the perfect nighttime routine, these ads help brands connect with their audience by providing value. Of course, they won’t work for every company—some products need a different approach—but for most, there’s a way to make this style fit, whether through tutorials, tips, or clever problem-solving content. With short-form video still dominating, expect to see a lot more of these popping up in your feed.

2. Vertical Video Supremacy

Vertical videos are now the norm, not just a trend. Apps like Instagram and TikTok have made this format really popular. Advertisers need to make their videos fit this tall shape to get more people to watch and interact. This is because most people use their phones to watch videos, and they hold their phones up and down, not sideways.

Why Vertical Video is Taking Over:

• Mobile-First Consumption: Most people scroll on their phones, and vertical videos fill the entire screen without requiring users to rotate their devices.
• Higher Engagement Rates: Vertical videos often outperform horizontal formats in terms of watch time, shares, and interactions.
• Platform Preference: Algorithms on social media platforms favour vertical content, pushing it to more users and increasing visibility.
• Seamless Ad Integration: Brands are leveraging vertical videos for ads because they blend naturally into users' feeds, making them feel less intrusive.

3. Interactive Shoppable Videos

In 2025, watching videos and shopping will be more connected. Interactive shoppable videos let people click on things they see in the video and buy them right away. This is changing how brands sell to customers, making it easy to go from seeing something to buying it.

These videos work really well for things like clothes, makeup, and home stuff, where seeing how things look is important. By adding clickable spots and tags in the video, these ads show products in use and give quick access to more info and buying options. This can help sell things faster and make ads work better.

Why They Work:

• Seamless Shopping: Viewers can tap on products and purchase without leaving the video.
• Higher Engagement: Interactive elements keep people watching longer and encourage clicks.
• Boosts Conversions: Reduces the steps from interest to purchase, increasing sales.

4. AI-Powered Personalised Video Ads

Artificial Intelligence is making video ads that are specially made for each person who watches them. Paid Search uses AI to make video ads that fit what each person likes and who they are, making the ads more interesting and relevant.

This smart technology looks at lots of information to guess what viewers might like and makes custom video content just for them. For example, an AI video ad might change its story, product suggestions, or look based on what the viewer has liked before, where they are, or what they're doing now. This makes the ads more fun to watch and more likely to get people to buy things.

5. Micro-Moment Video Ads

Capture attention fast!

People's attention spans are getting shorter, so very short video ads that are only 5-10 seconds long are becoming popular. These quick ads are made to catch attention and share important messages fast, which works well on apps where people quickly scroll through content.

The trick with these short ads is to take big ideas and make them simple and easy to remember. Good micro-moment ads usually focus on one main message or ask people to do one thing, using eye-catching pictures and catchy words to get attention. They're great for making people remember a brand, showing off new products, or reminding people about important things.

When used in the right way across different places, these short ads can build up over time, making people recognise and remember a brand through lots of quick, not-annoying views.

6. User-Generated Content (UGC) Video Ads

In 2025, being real is super important, and UGC video ads show that realness that people want to see. Brands are using more videos made by real customers in their ads to build trust and make people feel connected. This works because it shows potential customers how real people use and like products or services. UGC ads often look less polished than regular ads, which can make them seem more honest and appealing, especially to younger people who value authenticity. Brands are finding fun ways to get customers to make these videos, like through social media challenges or by having special brand ambassadors. Using UGC in video ads not only gives brands lots of different content to use but also makes customers feel like they're part of the brand's story.

7. 360-Degree Video Ads

360-degree video ads let viewers look around in all directions, making the experience more interactive and memorable. This type of ad works really well for things like travel, houses, and cars, where seeing everything can help people decide to buy. These videos make viewers feel like they're really there and in control, letting them explore details at their own pace and focus on what interests them most. This interactivity not only keeps people engaged longer but also gives more chances for the brand's message to stick. As VR and AR get more common, we think 360-degree video ads will get even better, maybe adding more things to interact with or becoming part of bigger virtual experiences.

8. Customer Testimonials

Authenticity is everything—consumers are increasingly skeptical of traditional ads, making real customer experiences more valuable than ever. Testimonials offer genuine, unscripted endorsements that feel more relatable than polished corporate messaging. They also serve as micro-influencer marketing without the hefty price tag, allowing brands to turn satisfied customers into trusted advocates.

9. Product Spotlight

A Product Spotlight video makes your product the star, cutting through the noise with clear, compelling visuals. Whether a quick, eye-catching clip or a deeper narrative, these videos boost awareness and drive action. With options like motion graphics or influencer features, they offer a cost-effective way to showcase value and turn viewers into buyers.

10. Social Impact Storytelling: Connecting with Purpose

Brands are making video ad series that tell longer stories over time, like TV shows. This keeps viewers coming back for more and helps build stronger connections with the brand. This approach borrows ideas from entertainment, creating excitement and continuity that can be really good at keeping people interested. Episodic video ads let brands tell more complex stories, go deeper into product features or brand values, and create emotional connections with viewers over time.

These series can be built around themes, characters, or storylines that match the brand's identity and marketing goals. This format works really well on social media, where people like regular updates, and for retargeting campaigns that can show the next episode to people who watched the previous ones.

Conclusion: Staying Ahead With Video Ads

Video advertising in 2025 isn’t just about grabbing attention—it’s about keeping it. From how-to clips and shoppable videos to AI-driven personalisation and social impact storytelling, brands have more tools than ever to engage their audiences in meaningful ways. The key is to create ads that feel natural, interactive, and genuinely valuable, whether through short-form content, immersive 360-degree experiences, or user-generated testimonials. At ProfitSpring, we stay ahead of these trends to help businesses turn views into conversions with video strategies that resonate. The future of video advertising is here—smart, fast, and deeply connected to what consumers want.