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CASE STUDY

The Anti-Testimonial for YouTube

145K+
views
Tech & Creator Economy
Β·
Reels Β· TikTok Β· Shorts
πŸ“Š THE SCOREBOARD

Watch it, then check the receipts

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🎯 Brand target: 100K views
Delivered 145K Β· 145% of target βœ…
145K
πŸ‘€ views
3.1K
❀️ likes
827
πŸ“Œ saves
940
πŸ” shares
29.7s
⏱️ avg watch
60%
πŸ”„ came back
VS. THE INDUSTRY πŸ†
Watch time
3Γ— the industry average
Engagement
1.3% share rate Β· 4Γ— the norm
New followers
367 new followers gained
Aspiring creators Β· Gen Z
The ones postponing video #1
πŸ‡ΈπŸ‡¦ KSA + the Arab world
The brief's exact target map
πŸ“Έ ON SET

Straight from the shoot

On set photo oneOn set photo twoOn set photo three
β–Ά
Watch the campaign

🎯 The problem

YouTube wanted aspiring Saudi and Arab creators, the ones forever postponing their first video, to feel what the platform actually gives back: creatively, emotionally and financially.

πŸ’‘ The idea

An anti-testimonial in podcast camouflage. An off-camera host asks what advice he'd give anyone opening a YouTube channel. The answer: don't. Ever. Then every warning turns out to be a blessing, from the 3am edits to the first Partner Program payment that makes you tear up.

🎬 The execution

A full podcast-set illusion: big mic, headphones, side angles, clip-style captions and real pauses left in the edit. There is no podcast. It ends with the YouTube Creator Award raised to camera and one line: I warned you.

On set photo fourOn set photo five

The results πŸ“Š

145K+
views
πŸ” 940 shares Β· Higher
⏱️ 29.7s avg watch
βž• 367 new follows
πŸ’‘ KEY TAKEAWAY
Tell people not to press play and they cannot stop watching. Inverting the message made a produced ad feel like leaked truth, and 940 people shared the warning.