How can I find my competitors ads?

Finding out what ads your competitors are running can be a great way to gain insights into their marketing strategy and identify opportunities for your own business. When armed with this knowledge, you can ensure your ads stand out from the competition and attract your ideal customers. Here are some tips on how to find and analyze your competitors’ ads.

Search on Google and Bing

One of the easiest ways to find competitors’ ads is to simply search for relevant keywords on Google and Bing. For example, if you sell shoes online, search for “buy shoes online” and see which ads show up at the top and side of the search results pages. Take note of the companies advertising, their ad copy, and landing pages.

You can also search for your brand name specifically to see if competitors are trying to siphon off your traffic. Check both text ads and shopping ads that may appear.

Use Spy Tools

There are various free and paid tools available to “spy” on a competitors’ ads. Here are some top options:

• Google Ads Spying tools – See advertisers bidding on keywords and get ad previews. Free options include AdSkeel, SpyFu, and AdSpectator.
• SEMrush – See text ads and keywords competitors are targeting with organic and paid search. Paid tool but offers a free trial.
• Facebook Ad Library – View active and recent ads competitors are running on Facebook, Instagram, Messenger and Audience Network. Free to use.
• Moz Pro – See competitors’ paid and organic keywords and links to their ads. Paid subscription tool.

These tools allow you to input a competitor’s website, brand name or keywords to view the actual ads they are running across different platforms. Look out for common themes, offers, messaging, etc. that your competitor is using in their ads.

Analyze Their Landing Pages

Don’t stop your analysis at just viewing the ad creative. You’ll also want to look at where those ads are leading users. To view competitor landing pages:

• Click on their ads to see the destination URL
• Search for keywords in an incognito browser and click competitor ads
• Use spy tools mentioned above to see landing page previews

Analyze elements of your competitor’s landing pages such as:

• Headline and copy – What messaging are they using?
• Images and videos – Visual content that captures attention
• Calls-to-action – What are they prompting visitors to do?
• Page layout – How do they structure the page and present information?
• Forms – What info are they capturing from visitors?

You may notice patterns around offers, lead magnets, or value propositions that resonate with their target audience. These are all things you may consider testing in your own ads and landing pages.

Check Their Social Media Ads

Social platforms like Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and Twitter all have self-serve advertising platforms competitors may be leveraging as well. Here are some ways to uncover their social media ads:

• Follow their business pages and look for “Sponsored” posts in your feed
• Check their business page info/tabs for any ads they’re running
• Search YouTube for their brand name to see video ads
• Use Facebook Ad Library to see all their recent ads

Make note of what types of offers and creatives they are testing on social platforms as well as their targeting in terms of interests, behaviors, etc.

Subscribe to Their Email Lists

Don’t overlook a competitors’ email marketing efforts. Provide an anonymous email address to subscribe to their lists. See what types of emails they send subscribers including:

• Promotional – Sale announcements, coupons, etc.
• Triggered – Abandoned cart, browse abandonment
• Behavioral – Welcome series, product updates, etc.
• Seasonal – Holiday offers, event tie-ins

Study their email content strategy and cadence. Are they sending a lot of promotional blasts? Nurturing subscribers with valuable content? Make note of effective email copy you may borrow from.

Check Industry Resources

Your competitors may also have ads running on industry-specific platforms you aren’t checking regularly. Search places like:

• Amazon ads – Product listings and sponsored ads
• Reddit – Paid ads in relevant subgroups
• Capterra, G2 – Paid listings and banners
• Industry forums – Sponsorships and ads
• Podcasts and blogs – Guest appearances, sponsorships

See if competitors have any unique ad placements tailored to your shared audience base. This might reveal new opportunities you haven’t considered yet.

Leverage Competitor Insights

Once you’ve thoroughly analyzed competitors’ current advertising efforts, you can use these insights to improve your own ads and campaigns. Ways to take action include:

• Revise ad copy and offers – Borrow what resonates but make it your own.
• Test new landing page designs – Apply effective layouts and features.
• Expand keyword targets – Consider new terms competitors are bidding on.
• Update negative keywords – Avoid bidding on irrelevant queries.
• Expand placements – Try new advertising platforms competitors use.
• Improve creatives – Produce fresh ads with unique selling propositions.
• Develop new USPs – Find ways to differentiate from competitor messaging.

The key is to learn from what competitors are doing then make it better! You now have an inside look at what resonates in your industry. Leverage these insights to create more compelling, targeted ads that attract your ideal audience.

Just be careful not to outright copy competitors or make false claims in your ads. Always put your unique brand voice and ethos forward.

Track Competitor Changes

Competitor ad research is not a one-and-done project. You’ll want to periodically check back on their ads to see what’s new. Here are some tips for ongoing monitoring:

• Set Google Alerts for competitor brand names and keywords – Get notifications when they appear new online
• Check spy tools regularly for new ads – Schedule monthly checks
• Sign up for fresh anonymous accounts – Don’t reveal you’re a competitor
• Follow new business pages and profiles – Stay updated on their promotions
• Check industry ads weekly – New opportunities can pop up

By dedicating time each month to search for and analyze competitor ads, you’ll stay informed on their ever-evolving strategy. This ensures your own ads continue providing value that converts leads and sales.

Use Ad Monitoring Tools

There are also paid tools available that will automatically monitor competitor ads for you on an ongoing basis. These include:

• Adthena – Tracks competitors ads across search, social, Amazon, and displays
• Contendo – Monitors Google/Bing ads and performs competitive SEO analysis
• Competitor Monitor – Tracks text ads on Google and Bing
• Ad Radar – Keeps tabs on Google/Bing ads and keywords

These tools typically offer robust dashboards and analytics so you can identify trends over time. You’ll get notifications as competitors launch new ads allowing for timely response.

Consider investing in automated competitor ad tracking if you don’t have the bandwidth to manually check on a consistent basis. The monthly cost is generally worth the strategic insights provided.

Turn Insights Into Action

Simply reviewing competitors’ ads is not enough. You need to actually apply those learnings to improve your own marketing and ads. Below are some ways to turn insights into impactful actions:

Document competitor observations in a spreadsheet or project management tool. Assign action items to team members and set deadlines. Track results and iterate on what works.

Without clear follow through, your fantastic competitor insights won’t actually make a difference. Use them to actively improve your marketing strategy.

Conclusion

Discovering your competitors’ current advertising efforts takes some detective work but pays dividends in keeping your own strategy sharp and compelling. Dedicate time each month to search across channels including search, social, email, and industry platforms.

Leverage free and paid tools to uncover competitor ads at scale. Analyze their messaging, offers, creatives, and placements for patterns and new ideas. Track changes over time through alerts and automated monitoring.

Most importantly, act on what you learn. Make tangible improvements to your ads and campaigns based on competitor insights. Keep your finger on the pulse of what’s working in your industry to ensure your marketing stays ahead of the curve.