Curious to see what your competitors are doing on their Facebook & Instagram ads?
Article — Curious to see what your competitors are doing on their Facebook & Instagram ads? Our Social Ads expert Pia breaks down some super easy tips to better understand what makes for great ad creative.
Posted by Pia Agatep
15.12.2022
Advertising on social media platforms has fast become one of the marketing mix ‘go-tos’ for businesses. Why? Because it is a quick way to tap into your target audience seamlessly, on the daily, without your audience even noticing — if it’s done well. And that’s the key… how to create ads that work in an ever-expanding and competitive landscape.
A competitor analysis should be at the crux of every business’ marketing strategy. Making sure you are across your competition and their marketing activity will help to guide you when you formulate your own marketing strategy. Analysing what your competitors are doing in terms of advertising can direct your campaign strategies with insights that will help you adapt and improve your own campaigns to stay ahead in the game.
Using the Meta Ad Library, you can view any business’ ads, from your direct competitors to companies that you’d like to compete with in future.
Yes, the Facebook (Meta) Ad Library allows users to view current and historical ad campaigns from businesses on Facebook and Instagram. It provides information about the target audience, budget, and performance of the ads, which can be useful for businesses to stay informed about their competitors' advertising strategies.
Here are three different ways to access your competitors' library of ads on Facebook, Instagram, and within the Meta Ads Library — you can choose whichever way suits for you.
#1: Facebook Page Transparency tool
One quick and easy way to look at your competitors’ ads is via the Page transparency tool on the competitor’s Facebook page.
Step 1:
Search for your competitor’s Facebook page and scroll down to find ‘Page transparency’ on the lower-left hand corner of the page then select ‘See all’.
Step 2:
To view their ads, select ‘Go to Ad Library’.
Step 3:
You will see the portfolio of that company’s active ads, along with current and historical metrics and details:
#2: Instagram Mobile App
To view your competitor’s ads via the Instagram mobile app, search and select your competitor’s Instagram account.
Step 1:
Click the three dots in the upper-right corner of the account's profile.
Step 2:
A range of options will pop up, choose ‘About this Account’. If the account has active ads, an ‘Active ads’ option will appear in the menu.
Step 3:
Select ‘Active ads’ and this will take you to their Meta Ad Library.
#3 Meta Ad Library
The Meta Ads Library is a public repository of active ads running on Facebook. It provides information about who is running ads, ad content, and who the target audience is. To access the Meta Ads Library, follow these steps:
Step 1: Go to the Meta Ads Library via this direct link.
Step 2: Search for the competitor company name, industry keyword, or related search terms using the search box. You will see a list of related ads from a range of companies when searching by keyword.
If you wish to explore a subject or an industry rather than a specific company, this option may be useful. It is also handy if you want to find out what companies in your industry are advertising.
Analysing your competitor’s ads on Facebook, Instagram, and the Meta Ads Library is a crucial step in staying ahead in an incredibly competitive environment. By keeping abreast of what your competitors are doing, you can adapt and improve your own campaigns to generate higher engagement and results with your target audience.
Remember to stay authentic to your brand and craft your own ads with compelling copy, eye-catching creatives, and a clear call-to-action, that sets you apart from the competition in your own unique style.
