UPS | Television Commercial | 2004

UPS keeps it simple, yet effective, with a direct and customer-focused message: What can Brown do for you? This 2004 ad isn’t flashy, but it doesn’t need to be. Instead of gimmicks or over-the-top storytelling, UPS leans into a straight-talking, service-first approach that reinforces reliability, speed, and trust.

The Formula (That Works at Any Budget):

Clear Brand Positioning = Instant Recognition – The “What can Brown do for you?” tagline makes UPS’s value proposition unmistakable. No fluff—just a direct question that puts the customer first.
Lesson: A strong, memorable tagline does more than sell—it makes people think about your brand in a specific way.

Efficiency as a Selling Point – The ad focuses on how UPS helps businesses and individuals move things faster, smarter, and with fewer headaches. No need for extra theatrics.
Lesson: If your product solves a fundamental problem, let that speak for itself.

Trust Over Trends – Unlike many modern commercials that rely on humor or viral moments, this ad keeps things timeless with a straightforward pitch.
Lesson: Trendy ads can be great, but a well-crafted core message has staying power.

Type of Tone & Style:

Straightforward & Professional – No unnecessary fluff, just a strong brand statement.

Customer-Centric Messaging – The focus is entirely on what UPS can do for you, making the audience feel prioritized.

Final Verdict:

UPS doesn’t need gimmicks to sell reliability. This ad keeps it classic, delivering a message as efficient as the service it promotes.

Brave-o-meter score: 

B-7 | R-8 | A-7 | V-8 | E-8

BRAVE – 7.6/10

Watch the full ad & learn more:
Website: UPS.com
LinkedIn: UPS LinkedIn Page

(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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