If you’re navigating the world of LinkedIn advertising, knowing what works and what doesn’t is crucial. In this blog post, we’ll break down five LinkedIn ads from different brands, analyse their strengths and weaknesses, and provide star ratings based on their effectiveness. Whether you’re a digital marketer looking to optimise your campaigns or just curious about LinkedIn ads, these insights will help you create better-performing ads.
Force24
What I Liked:
Clear and Tangible Offer: The ad promotes an “Email Marketing Playbook” that looks like a real book—it’s clear, valuable, and well-positioned.
Short and to the Point: The ad is concise, direct, and wastes no time getting to the key message.
Effective Use of Gated Content: If you’re going to gate your content, this is the way to do it. The form is simple, straightforward, and ticks all the right boxes.
Good Social Proof: The ad offers compelling social proof to build credibility and trust.
Where the Ad Could Improve:
More Specific Targeting: Including the job title of the people they are targeting in the opening line could strengthen the ad.
Split-Test the Visuals: Trying a version with just the front cover shown full screen or as a document ad could be interesting.
Enhanced Lead Gen Form: Adding a profile URL field in the lead gen form could help enrich data and improve direct outreach.
Star Rating: ★★★★★
InboxDone.com
In this video, we dive into a LinkedIn ad from Inbox Done, a company providing dedicated email assistants to help you reclaim your time.
What I Liked:
- Great headline that guides the viewer’s eye effectively.
- Clear value proposition: Dedicated assistants managing emails and calendars.
- Solid social proof and clear pricing on the landing page.
Where the Ad Could Improve:
- Generic imagery on the landing page.
- Annoying pop-up appearing too quickly.
- Lack of recognizable brand logos might be a downside for some viewers.
Star Rating: ★★★☆☆
Maximo
I’m diving into an ad that recently popped up on my feed. Let’s take a closer look at what works and what doesn’t, and see how this ad stacks up against the competition.
What I Liked:
- Clear Targeting: The ad does a great job of speaking directly to its audience, which is essential for grabbing attention.
- Concise Messaging: The copy is short and sweet, making it easy to understand at a glance.
- Strong Visuals: The graphics are eye-catching and relevant, helping the ad stand out in a busy feed
Where the Ad Could Improve:
- Lack of Clear CTA: The call to action could be stronger and more compelling; it’s not immediately obvious what the next step is.
- Confusing Offer: The value proposition isn’t as clear as it could be, leaving viewers unsure of what’s in it for them.
- Overly Jargon-heavy: The language is a bit too technical for a broad audience, which might put some potential leads off.
Star Rating: ★★★☆☆
Reddit For Business
I’m excited to dive into this five-star LinkedIn ad from Reddit for Business that’s been gaining attention recently. If you’re keen on LinkedIn ads or digital marketing in general, this one’s for you!
What I Liked:
- Top-Notch LinkedIn Ad Visuals: The visuals in this ad are bold, vibrant, and designed to grab your attention instantly. Reddit for Business clearly knows how to use colour and design to make their ad pop in the LinkedIn feed. This ad is a perfect example of how strong visuals can significantly boost your LinkedIn ad performance.
- Clear and Concise LinkedIn Ad Messaging: The messaging is on point—clear, concise, and speaks directly to the target audience. Reddit doesn’t waste any time getting to the point, effectively highlighting the benefits of advertising on Reddit without being too pushy.
- Casual and Approachable LinkedIn Ad Tone: The tone of this ad is casual and approachable, perfectly aligning with Reddit’s brand voice. By avoiding an overly corporate or formal tone, the ad feels genuine and relatable—qualities that resonate well with LinkedIn users.
Where the Ad Could Improve:
- Room for Improvement in LinkedIn Ad CTA: While the call to action (CTA) is clear, it could’ve been more compelling. It directs you on what to do but doesn’t provide a strong incentive to act immediately. A more persuasive CTA could potentially drive even better results.
- Final Thoughts: Overall, Reddit for Business has delivered a solid LinkedIn ad that effectively captures their brand voice and delivers a clear, engaging message. There’s always room for improvement, but this ad definitely hits the mark in many areas.
Star Rating: ★★★★☆
Strategic Coach
This recent ad from Strategic Coach on LinkedIn has a lot to unpack, from what worked well to areas that missed the mark.
What I Liked:
- Professional LinkedIn Ad Visuals: The ad’s visuals are clean and professional, making the main message stand out without unnecessary distractions.
- Clear LinkedIn Ad Call to Action: The CTA is clear and direct, guiding viewers effortlessly to the next step—a great example of how a LinkedIn ad CTA should be executed.
- Concise LinkedIn Ad Copy: The ad copy is short, sweet, and to the point—no fluff, just the essential message, which is crucial for effective LinkedIn ad copywriting.
Where the Ad Could Improve:
- Overly Corporate LinkedIn Ad Tone: The tone is a bit too formal, lacking that personal touch that connects with the LinkedIn audience. A more relaxed tone could have made the ad feel more relatable.
- Lack of Emotional Appeal in LinkedIn Ads: The ad doesn’t have much emotional appeal, which could have made it more impactful. A stronger emotional hook could elevate a LinkedIn ad like this.
- Repetitive LinkedIn Ad Messaging: The message is clear but repeated too often, making the ad feel longer than necessary. Streamlining the message would keep the LinkedIn audience more engaged.
Star Rating: ★★★☆☆
ActiveCampaign
Let’s dive into another LinkedIn ad that recently caught my attention. If you’re looking to up your LinkedIn ad game or curious about what makes an ad tick, this breakdown is for you.
What I Liked:
- Sleek LinkedIn Ad Design: The ad’s design is sleek and modern, instantly giving it a professional and trustworthy vibe—demonstrating how design impacts LinkedIn ad effectiveness.
- Targeted LinkedIn Ad Audience: The ad is spot-on with its targeting, honing in on its specific audience without being too broad, which is key for a successful LinkedIn ad campaign.
- Straightforward LinkedIn Ad Messaging: The messaging is clear and to the point, making it easy to understand the ad’s purpose right from the start. Simple, yet effective LinkedIn ad copy is always a win.
Where the Ad Could Improve:
- Generic LinkedIn Ad Visuals: While the visuals are clean, they’re a bit too generic. A more unique or personalised approach could have made the LinkedIn ad stand out more in a crowded feed.
- Lack of Personality in LinkedIn Ad Copy: The copy, though solid, feels a bit flat. Injecting more personality could have made the ad more engaging and emotionally resonant.
- Uninspiring LinkedIn Ad Call to Action: The CTA is clear, but it lacks a compelling incentive. A stronger, more persuasive CTA could have driven more user engagement and conversions.
Star Rating: ★★★★☆
Envy
If you’re into LinkedIn ad optimisation or just curious about how to make your ads more effective, this breakdown is for you.
What I Liked:
- Sharp LinkedIn Ad Visuals: The visuals in this ad are sharp and modern, grabbing attention from the get-go. It’s a great example of how effective LinkedIn ad visuals can make or break your campaign.
- Targeted LinkedIn Ad Audience: This ad nailed its targeting, speaking directly to its intended audience without casting too wide a net. Precision targeting is key in any LinkedIn ad strategy.
- Concise LinkedIn Ad Messaging: The messaging is clear and to the point, which is exactly what you want in a LinkedIn ad. When you’re working with limited space, concise ad copy is crucial.
Where the Ad Could Improve:
- Safe LinkedIn Ad Visuals: While the visuals are sharp, they played it a bit too safe. Pushing the creative boundaries could have made this LinkedIn ad stand out even more in a crowded feed.
- Dry LinkedIn Ad Copy: The copy is effective but lacks personality. Adding a bit more creativity or a unique twist could have made the ad more engaging and memorable.
- Weak LinkedIn Ad Call to Action: The CTA is clear, but it didn’t pack the punch needed to drive conversions. A stronger, more compelling CTA could have boosted this ad’s effectiveness.
Star Rating: ★★☆☆☆
Notion
For those into LinkedIn advertising or looking to refine their ad strategies, this breakdown offers some valuable insights. Let’s explore what worked well in this ad and where there’s room for improvement.
What I Liked:
- Strong LinkedIn Ad Visuals: The visuals are clean, modern, and eye-catching. They effectively support the message without overpowering it, which is key for a successful LinkedIn ad.
- Clear LinkedIn Ad Messaging: The messaging is clear, direct, and gets the point across quickly—exactly what you want in a LinkedIn ad. Concise communication that resonates with the target audience is essential.
- Targeted LinkedIn Ad Audience: The ad is highly targeted, speaking directly to its intended audience without trying to appeal to everyone. This focus helps in delivering a more impactful message.
Where the Ad Could Improve:
- Creativity in LinkedIn Ad Visuals: While the visuals are strong, they could have been more creative. The ad plays it safe, but pushing the boundaries a bit could have made it stand out more.
- Personality in LinkedIn Ad Copy: The copy is effective but lacks personality. Adding more flair or a unique voice could help in making a stronger connection with the audience.
- Compelling LinkedIn Ad Call to Action: The CTA is clear but could be more compelling. It tells you what to do but doesn’t provide a strong reason to take action immediately.
Overall Thoughts:
This LinkedIn ad has solid elements, but there’s definitely room for improvement. If you’re working on your own LinkedIn ads, consider these points to make your campaigns even more effective.
Star Rating: ★★★★★
Effective LinkedIn ads are all about balancing strong visuals, clear messaging, and targeted reach. Each of the ads analysed here showcases different strengths and areas for improvement, providing valuable lessons for anyone looking to improve their LinkedIn ad campaigns. Whether you’re aiming for better design, more engaging copy, or a stronger CTA, there’s always room to refine your approach and achieve better results. Keep experimenting, and don’t hesitate to learn from the best (and the not-so-best) in the industry!
