Blog / Paid Media Blog

No One Knows Who You Are, So Be Direct in Your Ads

September 30, 2026 · Elias Lazaris
Quick answer When you launch an ad, assume the person seeing it has no idea who you are — no brand recognition, no logo, no history. So be direct, not clever. Instead of saying a pair of shoes feels "like walking on cloud nine," say it's "the most comfortable pair of shoes you will ever wear." You don't have the branding power for cute messaging yet — save that for later, once your brand has grown.

No one knows who you are

So when you create something, create it with that in mind. When you launch an ad, say: the person that's going to see this ad has no idea who I am or what I'm doing. They don't know my brand. They don't know my logo. They don't know my history. They don't know what I stand for. They don't know nothing.

Write every ad assuming a total stranger will see it

So what kind of message do I put out there? Be as direct as possible.

The shoes example: be direct, not clever

For example, you're selling a pair of shoes and you want to say they're very comfortable. Instead of saying like, "it's like walking on cloud nine," you're going to say, "this is the most comfortable pair of shoes you will ever wear." That's direct. That's to the point. You don't have to be cute. You want the person to understand what you stand for and what you do. You stand for the most comfortable shoes they'll ever wear. It's that simple.

You don't have the branding power for cute messaging yet

You can't get away with these little cute messages at the beginning, because you don't have the branding power for that yet.

Save the clever stuff for your email list, later

Maybe in the long run, if your brand grows properly, sure. In your email list, sure. But not when you're running ads.

FAQ

Why shouldn't I use clever or cute messaging in my ads?

Because the person seeing your ad has no idea who you are, your brand, your logo, or your history. Cute or vague messaging assumes a level of brand recognition you don't have yet.

What's an example of direct vs. clever ad copy?

Instead of saying a pair of shoes is "like walking on cloud nine," say "this is the most comfortable pair of shoes you will ever wear." That's direct and to the point.

When can I use more creative, brand-driven messaging?

Once your brand has grown properly and built real recognition — for example, with your email list. Not when you're running ads to people who don't know you yet.

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