Getmyboat
Breaking Down Getmyboat’s Top-Performing Ad
The Challenge
Getmyboat’s paid video creative wasn’t converting in key markets like Miami. Scroll rates were high, but attention and booking rates were low, especially for polished brand videos. We needed to move fast, test lean, and figure out what kind of storytelling actually made people book.
The Strategy
I launched a rapid-cycle creative testing sprint on Meta, focused on:
Hook-first storytelling: Catch attention in the first 3 seconds
Format variety: Testing UGC vs. polished production vs. static-to-video
Performance alignment: Optimizing for cost per booking, not just views
Emotion over aspiration: Real people > cinematic shots
I analyzed historical video performance using hook rate, hold rate, and cost per booking as core metrics, then mapped out the creative variations (ingredients) to identify which formats, elements, and styles actually captured attention and drove conversions.
Creative Formats Tested
| Format | Description | Sample Ads |
|---|---|---|
| UGC / Creator-led | Selfie-style or influencer POVs, edited minimally | TikTok_1, Sara UGC |
| Static-to-video | Still images animated with captions or overlays | “Double Decker Pontoon” |
| Polished Video | Brand-forward, cinematic cuts with transitions | “PemaTravel”, “bau3” |
Winning Ad Breakdown
🔥 Creative Spotlight: TikTok_1
“POV UGC Style Ad”
| Metric | Result |
|---|---|
| Hook Rate | 20.34% 💥 |
| Hold Rate | 1.93% |
| Cost per Booking | $85.20 |
| Purchases | 1,100+ |
| Spend | High-volume campaign |
What Made It Work
Format: Vertical, raw, creator-led
Talent: A woman on her laptop, styled like a native TikTok
Concept: A humorous “POV” moment that flips expectations — a boat rental with front desk service
Tone: Relatable, low-pressure, lightly irreverent
CTA: Soft-sell with intrigue — no hard push, just curiosity
Broader Insights From Testing
| Insight | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| UGC consistently outperformed | Highest hook & hold rates came from unpolished creator videos |
| Cinematic = low retention | Drone shots and brand-style edits underperformed on all fronts |
| Narrative timing matters | Ads that led with joy, people, or outcome performed better than those that started with context |
| Retention drops at ~2s | You have less time than you think — make the first second count |
Strategic Takeaways
✅ Thumb-Stopping Hook
Plays off viral POV humor to spark curiosity within the first second.
✅ TikTok-Native Energy
Feels like organic content, not a brand ad — crucial on scroll-heavy platforms.
✅ Low-Barrier Emotion
It invites viewers to imagine themselves in the moment — aspirational, but achievable.
✅ Punchy Captioning
Text overlays draw attention, guide context, and fill the “sound off” gap.
Strategic Recommendations
Double down on creator-led content
Recast the TikTok_1 concept across new personas: couples, families, solo travelers, bachelorettes.Version out top UGC performers
Test alt captions, reverse POVs, or remix top moments with new hooks.Deprioritize polished video for DR
Repurpose for branding or upper-funnel use only.Build a low-lift creative system
Use simple scripts, native edits, and authentic voices to scale content that doesn’t feel like an ad.
Role
Creative Strategy, Ad Production, Performance Analysis
Goal
Drive more bookings in Miami through better-performing video creative
Timeline
2 weeks
Platform
Meta