Introduction
- Overview of strategies to analyze competitors’ ads on Facebook and TikTok
Searching Google for Competitors
- Look for brands targeting similar keywords and audience
- Check if running Google Ads which may indicate Facebook ads too
Visiting Competitor Website and Facebook
- Scroll to bottom and click Facebook icon
- Go to Page Transparency to confirm running ads
Analyzing Facebook Ad Library
- See all active ad creatives and formats
- Look for trends in content style and messaging
Checking Ad Start Dates
- Further back start date indicates better performing creative
- Provides insights on what resonates with audience
Searching TikTok Ad Library
- Go to ads.tiktok.com and create account to access
- Fewer filters than Facebook but shows top ads
Selecting Relevant Targeting
- Choose country, industry, campaign objective
- Focus on conversions campaigns
Evaluating Top Ads List
- Review creatives and engagement metrics
- See what performs best for that objective
Clicking Into Individual Ads
- View ad details like placements and captions
- See most engaging moments to learn video structure
Applying Learnings to Your Ads
- Take inspiration but don’t copy competitors verbatim
- Make better, more relevant, tailored creatives
Continual Research for Updated Trends
- Revisit regularly to stay on top of evolving tactics
- Use various sources for well-rounded insights
Conclusion
- Numerous free ways to ethically spy on competitor ad strategies for advantage
Introduction
Gaining an edge over competitors requires getting inside their heads to see what’s working. While you should never copy verbatim, reviewing competitors’ successful ad strategies provides invaluable direction.
In this comprehensive guide, I’ll walk through completely free and ethical tactics to spy on competitors’ top-performing Facebook and TikTok ad campaigns. You’ll discover new sources of inspiration to make better, more effective ads tailored to your brand and audience. Let’s dive in!
Searching Google for Competitors
Start by Googling relevant keywords and phrases related to your niche and products. Review the top search results for brands targeting similar topics.
Check if those brands are running Google Ads. They likely have Facebook/Instagram and TikTok ads too. This identifies potential competitors to investigate.
Visiting Competitor Website and Facebook
Scroll to the bottom of a competitor’s website and click their Facebook icon. This opens their Facebook Page.
Go to “Page Transparency” and check “See More.” If it says “This Page is Currently Running Ads” they have active campaigns.
Analyzing Facebook Ad Library
Clicking “See More” opens the Facebook Ad Library showcasing all that competitor’s active ad creatives.
Study the ad formats, images, videos, captions, offers etc. Look for trends and themes you may be missing.
Checking Ad Start Dates
Scroll down further in Ad Library to view older ads. See how long their ads have been running based on start dates.
Longer running ads likely resonate better with the audience. This provides direction on effective styles and messaging.
Searching TikTok Ad Library
Go to ads.tiktok.com and create an account to access TikTok ads library. It has fewer filters than Facebook’s.
Enter your country, industry, and campaign objective like “Conversions”. This surfaces relevant top ads.
Selecting Relevant Targeting
Focus on ads optimized for Conversions to see what’s driving sales rather than awareness or traffic.
Evaluating Top Ads List
Review the top ads list – which creatives have the most engagement and views? See what performs best.
Clicking Into Individual Ads
Click an ad to see detailed metrics on placements and captions. Review most engaging moments to inform video structure.
Applying Learnings to Your Ads
Use these insights to make better, more relevant ads. Take inspiration but don’t copy competitors outright.
Continual Research for Updated Trends
Regularly revisit these sources to stay on top of evolving trends and update your creative approaches accordingly.
Conclusion
In summary, leveraging free tools like Google, Facebook Ad Library, and TikTok Ad Library enables completely ethical competitor analysis to improve your own ad results. Keep researching to outperform rivals!
FAQ
Q: Is it legal to use competitors’ ad content verbatim?
A: No, their creative work is protected. You can take inspiration but should not copy direct content.
Q: How often should I check competitor ads for new tactics?
A: I recommend analyzing competitor updates every 2-4 weeks to quickly apply new learnings to your own campaigns.
Q: Is TikTok’s ad library only available if you have an ad account?
A: No, anyone can browse TikTok’s ad library by creating a free account, no active ads required.
Q: What metrics indicate a successful Facebook or TikTok ad?
A: Long running duration, high engagement, conversions linked to the objective, and lower cost per result relative to industry benchmarks.
Q: Can I filter Facebook’s library to only show competitors’ video ads?
A: Yes, you can filter ad results by format, duration, country, language and more to isolate your focus area.
