Squarespace | Sally’s Seashells × Zendaya

Zendaya stars in this modern twist on the classic tongue twister, “Sally sells seashells by the seashore,” reimagined as a story of entrepreneurial ambition powered by Squarespace. The ad traces Sally’s journey from beachside stand to e-commerce empire, all thanks to one thing: building her brand online.

The Formula (That Works at Any Budget):

Familiar Story with a Twist = Instant Recognition
By taking a well-known tongue twister and turning it into a narrative, Squarespace hooks the viewer with familiarity, then adds modern relevance.
Lesson: Reimagine a cultural reference or familiar phrase to quickly engage your audience with a fresh perspective.

Celebrity + Cinematic Flair = Built-In Attention
Zendaya brings charisma, credibility, and elegance. Combined with visually rich cinematography and a music-video-like flow, the ad feels like a short film rather than a product pitch.
Lesson: Even without a celebrity, high production value and story-led visuals can elevate your brand.

From Local to Global = Clear Product Benefit
The ad moves from a simple stand to shipping worldwide, highlighting how Squarespace enables entrepreneurs to grow without technical headaches.
Lesson: Visually show the “before and after” transformation your product makes possible.

Catchy Soundtrack + Rhyming Narration = Memorable Message
The rhythmic script, matched with a modern beat, keeps the messaging punchy and playful.
Lesson: Wordplay and rhyme can make your brand message stick longer in viewers’ minds.

Humor Breakdown:

The humor is light and clever—built into the tongue-tied narration and visual puns. It doesn’t go for big laughs, but instead creates a charming, whimsical tone that makes the spot more entertaining than most product-focused ads.

Final Verdict:

This Squarespace spot is a masterclass in brand storytelling. It combines charm, style, and clarity to show how anyone—from seashell sellers to celebrities—can scale their business with the right tools. It’s poetic, literally and figuratively, and lands its message with grace.

Watch the full ad & learn more:
Website: Squarespace
LinkedIn: Squarespace on LinkedIn

(See what BRAVE means in our collection)

Understanding the B.R.A.V.E. Scoring System

The B.R.A.V.E. scoring system uses AI to deliver an unbiased evaluation of top-of-the-funnel B2B brand ads. It measures potential impact, memorability, and effectiveness by assessing five key components of a video ad or commercial. This system gauges an ad's capacity to drive brand recall and enhance salience, ensuring that creative work not only captures attention but also leaves a lasting impression.

What B.R.A.V.E. Stands For:

Each letter represents a key factor in determining an ad’s success:

  • BBoldness: Is the ad original, creative, or daring? Does it break away from generic B2B marketing, or is it just another forgettable corporate video?
  • RRelevance: Does it connect with a real buyer pain point? Is it addressing a specific frustration or need, or just listing product features?
  • AAttention: Does it grab and hold attention in the first few seconds? Is it visually or tonally engaging, or easy to skip?
  • VVibe: Does it create an emotional response—laughter, recognition, or surprise? Or does it feel like just another corporate info dump?
  • EEffectiveness: Will buyers remember the brand when they need a solution? Does the ad make an impact that lasts beyond the moment?

How It’s Applied to B2B Video Rating

Each video is scored 1 to 10 in all five categories, based on how well it meets the criteria. The total score (out of 50) is then divided by 5 to give a final B.R.A.V.E. score out of 10.

For example:

  • An ad scoring B-8 | R-9 | A-7 | V-6 | E-8 has a total of 38/50.
  • The final B.R.A.V.E. score is 7.6/10.

Why It Matters

B2B ads often struggle with being bland, forgettable, or ineffective. The B.R.A.V.E. system ensures they are judged by their ability to break through, connect with buyers, and drive action.

Simply put: If your ad isn’t B.R.A.V.E., it’s invisible.

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