The AI Viral Ad Formula: A Step-by-Step Guide to Creating Scroll-Stopping Ads That Convert

Ever feel like you're throwing advertising spaghetti at the wall, hoping something sticks? You see brands go viral overnight and wonder, "What's their secret? How can I create ads that people actually want to watch and share?"

The secret is out, and it’s not a massive budget or a lucky break. It’s a process—a formula that can be learned. And now, with the power of Artificial Intelligence (AI), this formula is more accessible than ever.

Forget guesswork. This step-by-step guide will show you how to leverage AI tools to systematically develop, create, and test ad concepts that are engineered for virality.

 

Why AI is the Ultimate Wingman for Viral Ads

Virality isn't random. It's a combination of:

• Psychology: Tapping into emotion (joy, surprise, curiosity, even anger).

• Format: Using hooks, patterns, and trends that platforms favor.

• Value: Offering something memorable, whether it's entertainment or information.

AI excels at accelerating the creative process around these very elements. It’s not about replacing human creativity; it’s about augmenting it by generating data-driven ideas at scale and handling the heavy lifting.

Your Step-by-Step Guide to Making Viral Ads with AI

Follow this process to go from a blank page to a high-performing ad campaign.

Step 1: The Foundation - Ideation & Hook Generation

Goal: Brainstorm a list of compelling, on-brand concepts.
The AI Tool: ChatGPT, Google Gemini, or any advanced language model.

• The Prompt is Key: Don't just ask for "ad ideas." Be specific.

• Example Prompt:

  "Act as a expert social media marketing strategist. Generate 10 viral video ad hook ideas for a [Your Product/Service: e.g., fitness app for beginners]. The hooks should tap into the emotion of [Emotion: e.g., frustration with current solutions] and highlight the key benefit of [Key Benefit: e.g., getting results in just 5 minutes a day]. The format should be suitable for [Platform: e.g., TikTok and Instagram Reels]."

• Pro Tip: Feed the AI examples of ads you admire and ask it to analyze the pattern or generate similar concepts for your niche.

Step 2: Scriptwriting & Storyboarding

Goal: Flesh out the best hook into a short, powerful script.
The AI Tool: ChatGPT, Claude, or specialized AI scriptwriters.

• Build on Your Winning Idea:

  • Prompt: "Take hook idea #3: '[Insert chosen hook]' and expand it into a 15-second video script. Include visual cues, text overlays, and a strong call to action (CTA). The tone should be [Tone: e.g., energetic and motivational]."

• AI can also help you refine: "Make this script shorter for a 9-second TikTok," or "Rewrite this script to be more formal for a LinkedIn audience."

  
  
  

Step 3: Visual Asset Creation

Goal: Bring your script to life with engaging video.
The AI Tools: Generative AI video platforms (e.g., Synthesia, Pictory, InVideo AI, HeyGen), AI image generators (Midjourney, DALL-E 3 for thumbnails).

This is where the magic happens. These tools allow you to:

• Create AI Avatars: Use a digital presenter to narrate your script without hiring an actor.

• Generate Video from Text: Type in a scene description (e.g., "a person looking frustrated at a gym machine, then smiling while using a phone app") and the AI generates stock-like footage.

• Auto-Match B-Roll: Paste your script into a tool like Pictory, and it will automatically find and sync relevant stock video clips to your narration.

• Create Dynamic Text Animations: Generate eye-catching captions and text overlays that keep viewers engaged, even on mute.

Step 4: Optimization & A/B Testing

Goal: Ensure your ad is tuned for the highest performance.
The AI Tools: Built-in platform AI (Meta's Advantage)

• A/B Test at Scale: Use AI to generate multiple versions of your ad's thumbnail, headline, and primary text. AI tools can create hundreds of variations to find the perfect combination that resonates with your audience.

• Let AI Handle the Budget: Use platforms' automated placement and bidding strategies (like Meta’s Advantage+ campaign) to allow AI to automatically show your winning ad to the people most likely to convert, maximizing your ROAS (Return on Ad Spend).

Download Our Free "Viral AI Ad Checklist"

Creating a viral ad is a process, and it's easy to miss a step. We've condensed this guide into a simple, actionable checklist to keep by your side every time you create a new ad.

Our free checklist includes:

• The exact prompts to use for AI ideation.

• A script template for 15s, 30s, and 60s ads.

• A list of the top AI tools for each stage of creation.

• A pre-launch checklist to ensure your ad is optimized.

Stop Guessing, Start Creating

Virality isn't magic. It's a methodology. By leveraging AI, you remove the creative block and the resource constraints that hold most businesses back. You can test more ideas, faster and for less money, than ever before.