Ever scrolled through Facebook and wondered, “What kind of ads are my competitors running?” Well, wonder no more! The Facebook Ads Library (now known as the Meta Ads Library) is a free, transparent tool provided by Facebook that grants you access to a wealth of information about the ads running across Facebook, Instagram, and Messenger.
Intrigued by the possibilities? Want to learn how to navigate the Ads Library from Facebook like a pro, uncover hidden insights, and craft Facebook Ads that outperform the competition? Read this blog to learn how to use the Facebook Ads library!
How to Use the Facebook Ad Library Effectively?
Harnessing the power of the Facebook Ad Library is simpler than you might think. Here’s a straightforward guide to get you started on your journey to ad excellence:
- Navigate to Facebook Ads Library and prepare to unlock a treasure trove of invaluable ad intelligence.
- Refine your search by location, category, ad type, and even specific keywords or competitor names to uncover precisely what you’re looking for.
- Do competitive research to see what ads are performing well and what are some common elements behind such ads. This will help you create an ad that will perform well too.
- Report ads that are in violation
- Did you love an ad from a particular advertiser? Well, there is more where it came from! Facebook Ads Library allows you to filter ads by advertisers as well.
- See how much your competition is spending on their ads.
And the possibilities are many more. With a little bit of sleuthing skills, you can figure out how to create Facebook ads that will generate results for your business and Ad library can help you get there. Let us dive down and see exactly how to do it then!w4
Identifying Valuable Insights and Competitive Analysis
The Facebook Ad Library isn’t just a window into the world of competitor ads; it provides actionable insights that can change your advertising game. Here’s how to unlock the hidden gems within the Ads Library:
1. Leverage the Power of Filters
The Ads Library’s robust filtering system allows you to slice and dice the data to gain laser-focused insights. Here are some key filters to consider:
- Location: Narrow down your search to see what ads resonate with your specific target market.
- Ad Type: Focus on specific ad formats like images, videos, or carousel ads to see what’s working best in your industry.
- Languages: Although this filter is limited to either all languages or only English. But hey, you still get a filter, right?
- Platforms: You can choose to view platform-specific ads. For example, if you want to see ads that are displayed on Instagram alone then you can use this filter to neglect the rest.
- Media Type: If you are looking to create a video ad, then browsing through image ads can become counter-productive. In such events, you can use this filter to weed out images and only retain video ads.
- Impressions by date: Watching innumerable ads and trying to figure out if they are successful or not is a waste of your time. Instead, you can use this filter where you can see the amount of impressions it received during a particular period.
- Active ads: You can also choose to see the ads that are active at the time of search.
2. Competitive Analysis
Ever thought “Can I use the Facebook Ad library to find competitors?”. The answer is yes!
The Facebook ads library is a great way to dissect your competition’s ad strategy and find what works and what does not work. Spending your own hard-earned money to run campaigns, making mistakes, and learning new tricks is hard. This is where finding what works for your competitors can come in handy.
Learning what ads work can help you start from a prototype rather than a blank canvas. So use these findings wisely but make sure to come up with an ad that is unique to your business.
To view what ads your competitor is running, you can just type out their name in the space bar and all their historical and currently active ads will be up for your perusal. For example, if Salesforce is your competitor, then your results will be something like this:
And what is better is that every filter that we mentioned above, can be applied to these searches as well.
You can also search for an advertiser who has caught your eye in the past and check out other campaigns run by them. The more you peruse their ads, the more patterns you will notice. Some of these eye-catching elements can work for your business as well, in which case it is a good idea to do a deep dive.
3. See How Much Your Competitors are Spending
If you want to find how much your competitor has spent on Ads, then Facebook Ad Library has a provision for that too. Note that this data might not be available for all advertisers and is only limited to social and political ads.
To get this data, follow the upcoming steps:
- Navigate to Facebook Ads Library and hit the “Ad Library report” option in the top banner.
2. After that choose the advertiser of your choice and you will get the total amount they spent within a stipulated date interval.
You can use this information to find out if your competitors are actively involved in social and political issues and if yes, how much they are spending on it. This is another commendable initiative by Meta to be transparent and do their part in preventing misinformation from spreading.
4. See How Successful Your Competitor’s Ads are
One way to see how successful ads are is by filtering impressions within a stipulated time interval. But if you are looking for another way to pinpoint these ads, look at ones that have been running for the longest period.
An average Facebook ad runs for a minimum of two weeks, so if an ad is running for a time that exceeds this limit, there are chances that this ad is bringing in good conversion rates.
Finding the duration of an ad is not at all difficult. When you go to an advertiser’s page, all their ads are listed. Beneath each ad, the date and platform it started running on are clearly listed.
5. Get Inspired
If you are going to create a Facebook ad and have no idea where to start then Ad library can act as a great source of inspiration for you. Instead of searching for an advertiser’s name, search for a keyword that is related to your business. If an ad has been run regarding this topic then the ad library will return those results for you.
For example, we searched for “Vegan Food” for this example, and there were tons of options to browse.
6. Identify Advertising Trends
Brands usually pivot their marketing strategy during some times to match the seasonal vibe. For example, during the December season, Starbucks rolls out their Pumpkin spice drinks and their marketing campaigns usually revolve around this. To find out what your industry does during a particular season, you can search the keyword and find campaigns launched by other brands.
For example, you can type out “Halloween” to see what ads have been circulating previously and use this to gain an idea of what ads you can run.
Two Advanced Search Techniques For Facebook Ads Library
Facebook Library ads offer a lot of information, but basic keyword searches are just the beginning. To truly become a master of how to search Facebook ads library, you need to leverage advanced search techniques. Here’s how to elevate your Facebook Ad Library search game:
1. Boolean Operators
- AND: Combine keywords to refine your search. For example, searching “fitness AND protein powder” will show ads that mention both terms.
- OR: Broaden your search by including synonyms or related concepts. Searching “running OR jogging” will capture ads targeting both audiences.
- NOT: Exclude irrelevant terms. Searching “weight loss NOT surgery” will eliminate ads promoting surgical weight loss solutions.
2. Combining Techniques
For the ultimate detective work, combine search operators with engagement filters.
For example, search for “vegan food AND high engagement” to find highly successful ads promoting vegan products.
Learning from Top Performers for Optimal Results
The true essence of the Ads Library lies in its ability to showcase successful campaigns. By dissecting these top performers, you can extract invaluable insights into various aspects such as:
- Effective ad copy: Identify the language that resonates most with your target audience.
- Eye-catching visuals: Discover the types of images and videos that capture attention effectively.
- Compelling CTAs (calls to action): Determine what motivates users to take the desired action.
Putting Your Knowledge to Work for Unmatched Success
Now that you’ve unlocked the secrets of the Facebook Ads Library, it’s time to translate that knowledge into action. Leverage what you’ve learned to:
- Develop hyper-targeted ad campaigns: Tailor your messaging to resonate with specific demographics and interests.
- Monitor and analyze your results: Continuously track the performance of your campaigns and refine your approach based on real-world data.
- Craft captivating ad creatives: Design visuals and craft copy that captivates your audience and drives action.
Check out Predis.ai's Ad Copy Generator for quick and effective ad copies!
Bonus Tips
In the fast-paced world of advertising, staying ahead of the curve is paramount. Here are some strategies to ensure you remain at the forefront:
- Stay abreast of Facebook Marketing updates: Keep yourself informed about the latest features and best practices for Facebook Ads.
- Subscribe to industry-leading blogs: Gain insights from marketing experts and glean valuable lessons from their experiences.
- Embrace experimentation: Don’t shy away from testing different ad formats, targeting options, and creatives. While the Ads Library provides a glimpse into what others are doing, your willingness to innovate will ultimately determine your success.
Mastering these Facebook Ads Library practices can help you craft Facebook Ads that not only outshine the competition but also drive tangible results for your business.
Conclusion
The Facebook Ads Library is a goldmine of inspiration and insights, but crafting high-performing campaigns takes more than just spying on competitors. You need the right tools to analyze data, optimize targeting, and automate tedious tasks.
That’s where Predis.ai comes in. Predis.ai helps you create stunning Facebook Ads that help you leverage the power of the Ads Library and take your advertising to the next level.
With Predis.ai, you can spend less time babysitting campaigns and more time focusing on strategy with automated optimization features.
Ready to unlock the full potential of your Facebook Ads? Sign up for Predis.ai today!
