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Creating an effective e-commerce ad doesn’t have to cost a fortune! In this blog, I’ll share my experience of producing a Amazon sponsored ad for an electrolyte company, Insaltd, using ZERO budget! By focusing on solid messaging, utilizing accessible equipment, and brainstorming creative ideas, I successfully crafted an engaging video ad.

1: Crafting Potent Messaging

To create an impactful ad with zero budget, you first need solid messaging (selling points about your product to communicate). It’s the most important thing! Messaging is all about communicating the right information that resonates with your target audience at each stage of the sales funnel. For instance, if a potential customer is searching for electrolytes on Amazon, they are clearly interested in purchasing (duh).

To connect with this audience, I researched common phrases and keywords associated with electrolyte products. I discovered that many shoppers were looking for “electrolytes for when your fasting”. This insight helped shape the messaging to target these consumers. Incidentally, the product has zero sugar, making it the perfect product for those who are fasting…. so BOOM… I found my perfect hook line: “Don’t break your fast.”

This simple yet effective line immediately engages the right customers and communicates the key value of Insaltd’s product.

Key Takeaway: Keep messaging clear and focused on the specific needs of your audience. Simple, distilled points retain viewer attention and drive click-throughs.

2: Using Accessible Equipment

Let’s just kill the lie right here… No, you don’t need expensive, high-end cameras and lighting to make an effective ad; in fact, nearly every smartphone on the market today has all the capabilities to produce quality video content.

The key is to leverage what you have. Whether it’s your smartphone or a basic digital camera, focus on capturing clear and coherent shots… nothing fancy. The objective is to bring your messaging to life, not to worry about cinematic perfection. I opted to use my 10-year-old DSLR photo camera to create my ad… I’ll explain why I chose that instead of my phone in the next section.

Key Takeaway: Focus on using the equipment you already have to achieve professional-looking results. Quality messaging paired with good visuals (even if it’s shot on your phone) will make a significant impact without breaking the bank.

3: Finding a Creative Idea

The final step is to cultivate a seed of a good creative idea. Creativity doesn’t require a budget; it just requires some brainstorming and effort. My approach was to look at what resources I had access to and the locations around me.

I found a little fishing dock down the street that provided a nice backdrop for some product shots. Additionally, the courtyard of my building featured a lovely garden area, which was perfect for capturing some additional visuals.

I also utilized an oversized mirror from my house, laying it on the ground in the parking lot to create unique product shots that reflected the sky. By leveraging these accessible locations and resources, it was enough to create some nice looking shots.

Interestingly, it was camera equipment limitations that sparked an idea. Insaltd’s brand already had a little bit of an edge already… let’s embrace some of that misfit energy! So I thought instead of using my smartphone, why not use my DSLR photo camera and snap a bunch of sequential shots and edit those to the beat of a catchy song? My photo camera didn’t do video, but it takes great pictures…. so let’s try it!

The final results created a stop-motion effect that I thought was plenty captivating for what I was trying to achieve. It’s eye-catching… it communicates the important messaging effectively… what more can I ask for?

Key Takeaway: Be resourceful in your approach. Utilize what you have at your disposal— think of the people. places and things you can use to enhance your creativity— If I can do it with no budget, so can you!

So how is this ad performing?
Right off the bat, this ad achieved an impressive 38% conversion rate and a remarkable 10x return on ad spend. As we expanded our reach, the ad has continued to maintain solid results with a strong conversion rate, illustrating its effectiveness in engaging our target audience and driving sales.

That's a pretty good return on investment, considering the ad took zero dollars to make!

Conclusion: Start Somewhere

Creating an effective e-commerce ad doesn’t need to drain your marketing budget. By focusing on solid messaging, using accessible resources, and some simple brainstorming, you can produce an engaging ad that resonates with your tagret audience.

At All That Creative, we specialize in the development of creativity ideas without a big financial investment. Don’t let the fear of big agency costs stop you. Everyone has to start somewhere! Talk to us and we can help you get started!

-Luke x