In this ad, Vividly takes a bold, theatrical approach to showcase the chaos of spreadsheet-driven trade promotion management. The video opens with a sinister narrator—set in a dimly lit office—speaking directly to the audience like a haunted guide through “spreadsheet hell.” He paints a vivid picture of the confusion, errors, and frustration marketers face every day when buried in Excel formulas and siloed data. But then—just when it seems like there’s no escape—Vividly appears, offering a clear and modern solution.
The Formula (That Works at Any Budget):
Sinister Narrator = Unexpected Framing Device That Hooks Viewers
Instead of showing overwhelmed employees, Vividly uses a direct-to-camera narrator with eerie intensity. He delivers lines like he’s introducing a horror film, exaggerating the everyday pain of spreadsheet use.
→ Lesson: A dramatic narrator can grab attention and set the tone instantly—even in B2B.
Office Setting + Motion Graphics = Realism Meets Clarity
The ad blends live-action shots of a gloomy office with animated overlays of broken spreadsheets and tangled formulas. This hybrid style brings the problem to life without feeling boring or overly corporate.
→ Lesson: Mixing real-world environments with clear visuals makes abstract pain points easier to understand.
Contrast Shift = Escape the Nightmare with One Platform
As the narrator introduces Vividly, the lighting shifts, the tone brightens, and the visuals become clean and modern. The nightmare ends. The platform is shown clearly and confidently, promising fast insights, cleaner workflows, and sanity restored.
→ Lesson: A strong visual transformation sells the product’s impact without overexplaining.
Humor Breakdown:
The humor here is dark and theatrical—borderline spooky. It plays off classic horror tropes but applies them to a very real pain point: managing promotions in Excel. The absurdity of treating spreadsheets like a haunted trap adds just enough satire to keep things fun.
→ Lesson: Even in B2B, using genre parody can help dramatize your customer’s problem in a way that’s sticky and memorable.
Final Verdict:
Vividly’s ad is a smart example of high-concept B2B storytelling. Instead of leaning on product demos or forced workplace dialogue, it uses suspense, satire, and strong visuals to make a clear point: spreadsheets are hell, and Vividly is your way out. It’s cinematic, unique, and instantly relatable to marketers and CPG teams alike.
BRAVE-o-meter Score:
B-7 | R-8 | A-7 | V-7 | E-8
BRAVE – 7.4/10
Watch the full ad & learn more:
Website: Vividly
LinkedIn: Vividly on LinkedIn
