The debate over ad "quality" is often based on subjective opinions of brand fit. A more effective definition of quality is its ability to achieve the primary business objective: selling the product. Unconventional creative that drives sales, like Olay's "cat with lasers" ad, is by definition high-quality.

Instead of polished ad creative, have the founder record a simple, direct-to-camera video on their iPhone announcing the sale. This authentic, personal approach often generates higher click-through and conversion rates by creating a friend-to-friend connection with the audience.

Breeze's most effective ads are raw, unedited videos of the founder. In one example, he filmed himself calling a customer to refund their $560 order after a coin flip. That single ad cost $560 to make but generated an estimated $500,000 in sales, proving authenticity trumps production value.

Contrary to the belief that businesses must appear flawless, sharing behind-the-scenes struggles and unpolished content can build stronger community and loyalty. This raw authenticity resonates more with audiences than a curated image, humanizing the brand and making customers feel like part of the journey.

Lanny Smith was initially uncomfortable being the public face of Actively Black. He found, however, that sharing his personal story and motivations created a deeper customer connection than any marketing campaign could, making his authentic narrative the brand's most powerful growth tool.

Chipotle's 'Behind the Foil' campaign was born from an internal memo asking employees to film videos about what they wished customers knew. The submissions became casting tapes, turning real staff into brand heroes. This approach provided unparalleled authenticity and celebrated the company's core operational strengths.

Overly polished video content in B2B can signal "advertisement" to users, causing them to disengage. Lower-fidelity, more authentic content often performs better because it feels more organic and native to social media feeds, focusing on the message rather than slick production.

In an era of highly produced brand content, raw, unpolished videos can feel more authentic and are more likely to stop the scroll. This "imperfect" quality is a strategic advantage, not a weakness, as it stands out against overly polished feeds.

As audiences push back against AI-generated and overly polished stock imagery, featuring real people in authentic situations will be critical for engagement. Showcasing your team, customers, or volunteers in natural settings—not on a green screen—builds trust and connection, making genuine humanity the key to cutting through the noise.