The services ad playbook, from 11,170 real ads.

Local, professional and education: Agencies & B2B Services, Dental, Vision & Hearing, Education & Courses, Home Improvement and 7 more. What the typical ad looks like, what sets this market apart, and what the ads that last do differently.

11,170 ads / 430 brands / 11 categories / November 2026

Housing.com ad

Housing.com

Ran 1,276 days

Grand Canyon University ad

Grand Canyon University

Ran 1,104 days

Each of these ran 800+ days

The default

The typical services ad, step by step.

The most common choice at each step, and how common it really is. Whatever is not the default is, by definition, less crowded.

Sponsored
1No hook
2Value for money
3Pro shoot4No people
5Problem and solution
6No offer7No proof
8Learn more

The default services ad, assembled from the most common choice at every step. See real ones

  1. 1

    HookNo hook

    26%

    What stops the scroll: the headline on the creative, or the first line of copy when there is none. Runner-up: Benefit claim, 18%.

  2. 2

    The main reason to buy that the ad leans on. Runner-up: Results, 18%.

  3. 3

    Creative stylePro shoot

    44%

    How the creative was made, from phone-shot clips to designed graphics. Runner-up: Designed graphic, 30%.

  4. 4

    Who's on screenNo people

    44%

    Whether the creative shows people, and how. Runner-up: One person, 27%.

  5. 5

    The idea the ad is built on, from testimonials to sale promos. Runner-up: Product showcase, 20%.

  6. 6

    OfferNo offer

    58%

    The deal on the table, if there is one. Runner-up: Discount, 11%.

  7. 7

    ProofNo proof

    68%

    What the ad uses to back up its claim. Runner-up: Stats, 6%.

  8. 8

    ButtonLearn more

    53%

    The button under the creative. Runner-up: Book now, 12%.

Signature moves

What sets services apart.

Rare in other markets, routine here. If you are new to this market, these are the moves your competitors already make.

Offer / Signature

Free quote or consult offers are 12x as common in services as in other markets.

The deal on the table, if there is one.

of services ads10%
of ads in other markets1%

1118 of 11,170 ads against 137 of 16,177

See every ad tagged Free quote or consult

2.4 yearsRunning

Zoopla

1.9 yearsRunning

Oscar Wylee Eyewear

1.7 yearsRunning

William Raveis Real Estate, Mortgage & Insurance

1.6 yearsRunning

Optical Express3 versions

4 of the 1118 ads behind the top bar. Open any of them for the full breakdown.

Angle / Signature

The "Trust and guarantees" angle is 4x as common in services as in other markets.

The main reason to buy that the ad leans on.

of services ads12%
of ads in other markets3%

1311 of 11,170 ads against 479 of 16,177

See every ad tagged Trust and guarantees

2.4 yearsRunning

Renewal by Andersen LLC

1.5 yearsRunning

Mr. Rooter Plumbing

1.2 yearsRunning

Timothy Sykes2 versions

1.2 yearsRunning

Lemonade

4 of the 1311 ads behind the top bar. Open any of them for the full breakdown.

Tone / Signature

Authoritative copy is 2.8x as common in services as in other markets.

How the copy sounds.

of services ads13%
of ads in other markets5%

1397 of 11,170 ads against 733 of 16,177

See every ad tagged Authoritative

3.9 yearsRunning

Housing.com

11 monthsRunning

Magoosh5 versions

11 monthsRunning

Sokolove Law

8 monthsRunning

Travelers Insurance

4 of the 1397 ads behind the top bar. Open any of them for the full breakdown.

Launched vs lasting

What services brands launch is not what lasts.

Services ads in their first 30 days against services ads that ran 90 days or more. Brands keep paying for what works, so the gap is the closest thing to a results column an outsider gets.

Tone / Lasts

Hype copy makes up 15% of ads that last and 10% of new ads.

How the copy sounds.

of ads that ran 90+ days15%
of ads in their first 30 days10%

440 of 3,025 ads against 473 of 4,627

See every ad tagged Hype

2.4 yearsRunning

Apartments.com

1.5 yearsRunning

Beltone Hearing Aid Center

1.4 yearsuntil Jun

Firmoo Online Optical Store

1.4 yearsRunning

Mindvalley

4 of the 440 ads behind the top bar. Open any of them for the full breakdown.

Tone / Gets launched, does not last

Urgent copy makes up 10% of new ads but 3% of ads that last.

How the copy sounds.

of ads in their first 30 days10%
of ads that ran 90+ days3%

448 of 4,627 ads against 88 of 3,025

See every ad tagged Urgent

New todayRunning

DataCamp2 versions

New todayRunning

Renuity

New todayRunning

Bath Fitter

New todayRunning

Empire Today

4 of the 448 ads behind the top bar. Open any of them for the full breakdown.

Offer / Gets launched, does not last

Discount offers make up 14% of new ads but 8% of ads that last.

The deal on the table, if there is one.

of ads in their first 30 days14%
of ads that ran 90+ days8%

665 of 4,627 ads against 235 of 3,025

See every ad tagged Discount

New todayRunning

Mad City Windows & Baths2 versions

New todayRunning

American Home Shield2 versions

New todayRunning

Progressive Small Business Insurance2 versions

New todayRunning

LASIK MD2 versions

4 of the 665 ads behind the top bar. Open any of them for the full breakdown.

The longest-running services ads

One per brand. Open any of them for the full breakdown.

Browse all services ads

5.1 yearsRunning

Seeking Alpha

3 yearsRunning

Grand Canyon University

3 yearsRunning

Charlie Health

2.4 yearsuntil Apr

The Motley Fool Australia

2.2 yearsRunning

Young America's Foundation

1.4 yearsRunning

Magnetic Marketing

The services meta right now

What is changing in services advertising, week by week, from every new ad we watch.

See everything that is changing

Offers and proof

When services ads make an offer, Discount leads.

Most ads here offer nothing and prove nothing. This is what the rest reach for, and only what this market actually runs. Tap any row to see the ads.

Category by category

Where each category breaks from the pack.

Each category against the rest of services. Every card opens that category's top ads.

Agencies & B2B Services

645 ads

  • Ads that start with the problem: 54% here, 23% across the rest of services.
Browse Agencies & B2B Services ads

Dental, Vision & Hearing

1218 ads

Follows the services playbook closely. Nothing stands out yet.

Browse Dental, Vision & Hearing ads

Education & Courses

1739 ads

  • Ads that play on aspiration: 50% here, 14% across the rest of services.
  • The "Results" angle: 40% here, 15% across the rest of services.
Browse Education & Courses ads

Home Improvement

1167 ads

  • Discount offers: 35% here, 8% across the rest of services.
  • Sale promo ads: 41% here, 14% across the rest of services.
Browse Home Improvement ads

Home Services

1164 ads

  • The "Health and safety" angle: 20% here, 8% across the rest of services.
  • Ads that play on relief: 33% here, 16% across the rest of services.
Browse Home Services ads

Insurance

1527 ads

  • The "Health and safety" angle: 30% here, 6% across the rest of services.
  • Ads that play on safety: 44% here, 19% across the rest of services.
Browse Insurance ads

Legal Services

481 ads

  • Problem and solution ads: 66% here, 22% across the rest of services.
  • Ads that start with the problem: 64% here, 23% across the rest of services.
Browse Legal Services ads

Med Spa & Aesthetics

878 ads

  • The "Results" angle: 46% here, 16% across the rest of services.
  • UGC style ads: 36% here, 18% across the rest of services.
Browse Med Spa & Aesthetics ads

Real Estate

1317 ads

  • Product showcase ads: 37% here, 17% across the rest of services.
  • Aspirational copy: 20% here, 8% across the rest of services.
Browse Real Estate ads

Telehealth

701 ads

  • Ads that play on relief: 38% here, 16% across the rest of services.
  • The "Saves time" angle: 30% here, 11% across the rest of services.
Browse Telehealth ads

Trading & Investing Education

333 ads

  • Free guide or tool offers: 26% here, 3% across the rest of services.
  • The "Make money" angle: 25% here, 3% across the rest of services.
Browse Trading & Investing Education ads

Seen the services playbook? Make yours.

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