April’s top performing ads on linear and CTV had one thing in common: they knew exactly how their consumers felt.
From Chevrolet’s simple, made-in-America message to Stouffer’s dinner-time pressure that every household recognizes, the creative that rose to the top this month was built around the instinct of meeting people where they already are. That kind of relevance is a deliberate creative strategy, and it drove performance in April.
This month’s list is a lesson in what happens when brands build creative where consumers genuinely see themselves reflected. See all of April’s top performers.
Stouffer’s Top Performing Ad Lands with a Timely Message
Stouffer’s built their ad around the dreaded, end-of-day moment of figuring out dinner, landing at number 4 on our top linear ads list. Their humorous storyline features inanimate objects suddenly adding the pre-dinner cacophony. The brand accurately captures the feeling of fatigue faced by everyday people and offers up a solution, whether they are single, in a relationship, or they have a large family to feed.
Chevrolet Equinox Ad Wins Through American Identity Connection
The Equinox ad scored the highest of any creative this month across both platforms, achieving 41 points above the norm on CTV. Anchored in simplicity, Chevrolet successfully connects with its target audience’s American pride through language and visuals. The auto brand proves that if you understand your audience’s sense of identity, you can build creative that delivers brand memorability.
Chewy Tilts Reality to Create a Top Performing Ad
Chewy’s ad appeared on both the linear and CTV top performing ads lists for April. The ad centers on one idea every pet parent feels: every time the dog tilts his head, the world tilts with it, a simple mechanic that illustrates how your pet reorganizes your entire life. As the ad moves through ordinary daily moments, Chewy appears with the right solution, whether it’s food, advice, or even a call with the vet. The tagline — “Food, meds, expert care for life with pets” — positions Chewy as present for all of it, including the hard parts.
What April Top Ads Got Right
The through-line across this month’s top performers is straightforward: the ads that resonated most were the ones that made people feel seen.
Stouffer’s, Chevy Equinox, and Chewy each took a different approach to the same instinct: understand your consumer, and build from there. That’s what drove performance in April on both linear and CTV.
Ads Measured by MarketCast Brand Effect
Knowing that your creative is connecting, and why, is what separates a good instinct from a repeatable strategy. Real-time data from MarketCast’s Brand Effect measurement solution identifies which ads break through, drive brand linkage, and communicate their message effectively
See how your ads are landing with real audiences.