{"id":186948,"date":"2025-04-08T10:11:13","date_gmt":"2025-04-08T15:11:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/?p=186948"},"modified":"2025-04-08T10:11:13","modified_gmt":"2025-04-08T15:11:13","slug":"competitors-ads","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/competitors-ads\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Smart Ways to Spy On Your Competitors\u2019 Ads"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"intro-txt\">Most marketers approach competitor analysis with the wrong mindset. They see a successful ad and think, \u201cI should do exactly that!\u201d<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>This is a recipe for mediocrity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Competitors don\u2019t always know what they\u2019re doing. Their campaigns might be underperforming, and blindly following them could land you in the same hole. You also don\u2019t want to get into a copying war and become <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/why-great-marketing-is-risky\/\">indistinguishable from one another<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s the thing: <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/competitive-analysis-guide\/\">competitive analysis<\/a> isn\u2019t about copying. It\u2019s about learning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In this guide, I\u2019ll show you how to be a marketing detective, not a plagiarist.<\/p>\n<div class=\"intro-tok\" id=\"intro_tok\" style=\"display:none;\"><div class=\"intro-title\">Contents<\/div><a href=\"#\" class=\"expand-dots\"><span><\/span><span><\/span><span><\/span><\/a><\/div><!-- notionvc: e661d6ec-04ce-45de-ae85-e7713ba45fef -->\n<div class=\"post-nav-link clearfix\" id=\"section1\"><a class=\"subhead-anchor\" data-tip=\"tooltip__copielink\" rel=\"#section1\"><svg width=\"19\" height=\"19\" viewBox=\"0 0 14 14\" style><g fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><path d=\"M0 0h14v14H0z\" \/><path d=\"M7.45 9.887l-1.62 1.621c-.92.92-2.418.92-3.338 0a2.364 2.364 0 0 1 0-3.339l1.62-1.62-1.273-1.272-1.62 1.62a4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.885 5.884l1.62-1.62L7.45 9.886zM5.527 5.135L7.17 3.492c.92-.92 2.418-.92 3.339 0 .92.92.92 2.418 0 3.339L8.866 8.473l1.272 1.273 1.644-1.643A4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.897 2.22L4.254 3.863l1.272 1.272zm-.66 3.998a.749.749 0 0 1 0-1.06l2.208-2.206a.749.749 0 1 1 1.06 1.06L5.928 9.133a.75.75 0 0 1-1.061 0z\" style \/><\/g><\/svg><\/a><div class=\"link-text\" data-anchor=\"Why should you monitor your competitors\u2019 ads?\" data-section=\"why-monitor-competitors-ads\"><!-- notionvc: da6809dc-50f8-4ff3-bb25-258694426462 -->\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a id=\"post-186948-_jhiopl4wcra3\"><\/a>Why should you monitor your competitors\u2019 ads?<\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div><!-- notionvc: dd2943f1-23a0-47a4-935e-35c6640faf91 -->\n\n\n\n<p>Competitors may not always know better. But you <strong>do <\/strong>still want to know what your competitors are doing, because:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Competitors may actually know something you don\u2019t<\/strong>: Maybe they\u2019ve discovered a creative approach that\u2019s working. Or maybe they\u2019ve cracked the code on budget allocation and ad placements that keep CPAs low. You\u2019re not looking to mimic their campaigns; you\u2019re reverse-engineering what\u2019s working and&nbsp;why.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>They help you benchmark performance<\/strong>: Without context, $100 per click seems crazy. But in industries like legal or insurance, that might be par for the course. Competitor data keeps your expectations grounded in reality.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>They help you find gaps and opportunities<\/strong>: Sometimes the most valuable insights are what competitors are not doing. Underserved audiences, neglected messaging angles, or outdated positioning are opportunities you can use to carve out a differentiated, sharper value proposition.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>They reveal market trends before they hit you<\/strong>: If your competitors start shifting messaging or offers, it\u2019s not random. It could signal seasonal trends, algorithm changes, or shifting consumer sentiment. Spot the wave and ride it&nbsp;out.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"post-nav-link clearfix\" id=\"section1\"><a class=\"subhead-anchor\" data-tip=\"tooltip__copielink\" rel=\"#section1\"><svg width=\"19\" height=\"19\" viewBox=\"0 0 14 14\" style><g fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><path d=\"M0 0h14v14H0z\" \/><path d=\"M7.45 9.887l-1.62 1.621c-.92.92-2.418.92-3.338 0a2.364 2.364 0 0 1 0-3.339l1.62-1.62-1.273-1.272-1.62 1.62a4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.885 5.884l1.62-1.62L7.45 9.886zM5.527 5.135L7.17 3.492c.92-.92 2.418-.92 3.339 0 .92.92.92 2.418 0 3.339L8.866 8.473l1.272 1.273 1.644-1.643A4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.897 2.22L4.254 3.863l1.272 1.272zm-.66 3.998a.749.749 0 0 1 0-1.06l2.208-2.206a.749.749 0 1 1 1.06 1.06L5.928 9.133a.75.75 0 0 1-1.061 0z\" style \/><\/g><\/svg><\/a><div class=\"link-text\" data-anchor=\"How to monitor your competitors\u2019 ads\" data-section=\"how-to-monitor-competitors-ads\">\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a id=\"post-186948-_zbtyy3tn8ilh\"><\/a>How to monitor your competitors\u2019 ads<\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s explore how to snoop on your competitors\u2019 advertising strategies:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a id=\"post-186948-_orz5l8ivlj5i\"><\/a>1. Tap into ads libraries from major ad platforms<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Most major ad platforms offer \u201cAds Libraries\u201d or transparency centers where users can view inactive ads, ad details, keyword search data, and&nbsp;more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are the top platforms you should explore:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a id=\"post-186948-_k0nz10bo5u6t\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/ads\/library\/\">Meta Ad Library<\/a><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1900\" height=\"972\" class=\"wp-image-186949\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/meta-ad-library.png\" alt=\"Meta ad library\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/meta-ad-library.png 1900w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/meta-ad-library-680x348.png 680w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/meta-ad-library-768x393.png 768w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/meta-ad-library-1536x786.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1900px) 100vw, 1900px\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>The Meta Ad Library lets you see all active and inactive ads any Page is running across Meta platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, Audience Network, Messenger, and Threads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Choose an ad category, then search for a keyword and advertiser. For example, these are the ads we\u2019ve been running:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1828\" height=\"1196\" class=\"wp-image-186950\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/ads-ran-by-us.jpg\" alt=\"Ads ran by us\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/ads-ran-by-us.jpg 1828w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/ads-ran-by-us-650x425.jpg 650w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/ads-ran-by-us-768x502.jpg 768w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/ads-ran-by-us-1536x1005.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1828px) 100vw, 1828px\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>You can click \u201cSee ad details\u201d to see more information about each ad. You can also click the call-to-action button on each ad to see which landing page the ad is sending paid traffic to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"962\" height=\"1840\" class=\"wp-image-186951\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/details-about-each-ad.jpg\" alt=\"Details about each ad\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/details-about-each-ad.jpg 962w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/details-about-each-ad-222x425.jpg 222w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/details-about-each-ad-768x1469.jpg 768w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/details-about-each-ad-803x1536.jpg 803w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 962px) 100vw, 962px\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>You can also add filters, like by language, platform, media types, active status, and date&nbsp;range.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1190\" height=\"936\" class=\"wp-image-186952\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/filters-to-find-ads.png\" alt=\"Filters to find ads\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/filters-to-find-ads.png 1190w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/filters-to-find-ads-540x425.png 540w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/filters-to-find-ads-768x604.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1190px) 100vw, 1190px\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>If you click the Branded content tab, you can also search for specific brands or creators and see their paid partnership content:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2048\" height=\"825\" class=\"wp-image-186953\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/see-paid-partnership-content-from-specific-influen.png\" alt=\"See paid partnership content from specific influencers or brands\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/see-paid-partnership-content-from-specific-influen.png 2048w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/see-paid-partnership-content-from-specific-influen-680x274.png 680w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/see-paid-partnership-content-from-specific-influen-768x309.png 768w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/see-paid-partnership-content-from-specific-influen-1536x619.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>However, they need to be \u201cdeclared\u201d on the platform otherwise it won\u2019t show&nbsp;up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1322\" height=\"1064\" class=\"wp-image-186954\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/this-influencer-declared-a-partnership-with-a-bran.jpg\" alt=\"This influencer declared a partnership with a brand\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/this-influencer-declared-a-partnership-with-a-bran.jpg 1322w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/this-influencer-declared-a-partnership-with-a-bran-528x425.jpg 528w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/this-influencer-declared-a-partnership-with-a-bran-768x618.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1322px) 100vw, 1322px\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a id=\"post-186948-_oha6w76dlbny\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/adstransparency.google.com\/?region=GB\">Google Ads Transparency Center<\/a><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2030\" height=\"846\" class=\"wp-image-186955\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/google-ads-transparency-center.png\" alt=\"Google Ads Transparency Center\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/google-ads-transparency-center.png 2030w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/google-ads-transparency-center-680x283.png 680w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/google-ads-transparency-center-768x320.png 768w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/google-ads-transparency-center-1536x640.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2030px) 100vw, 2030px\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>Exactly like Meta\u2019s version, Google Ads Transparency Center shows a business\u2019s ads on Google Search, Maps, Play, Shopping, and YouTube.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Search for an advertiser or website and you\u2019ll see all their&nbsp;ads:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2048\" height=\"629\" class=\"wp-image-186956\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/ads-run-by-us.jpg\" alt=\"Ads run by us\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/ads-run-by-us.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/ads-run-by-us-680x209.jpg 680w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/ads-run-by-us-768x236.jpg 768w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/ads-run-by-us-1536x472.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>However, you won\u2019t be able to see the target keywords or audience these businesses are targeting. You\u2019ll have to use a competitive intelligence tool (see&nbsp;below.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a id=\"post-186948-_d4hdol4f125\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/library.tiktok.com\/ads\">TikTok Ads Library<\/a><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1904\" height=\"764\" class=\"wp-image-186957\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/tiktok-ads-library.png\" alt=\"TikTok Ads Library\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/tiktok-ads-library.png 1904w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/tiktok-ads-library-680x273.png 680w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/tiktok-ads-library-768x308.png 768w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/tiktok-ads-library-1536x616.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1904px) 100vw, 1904px\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>TikTok Ads Library shows all ads run by an advertiser on their platform. You can see the creative (e.g., the short video), when the ad ran, how many unique users saw it, and a summary of the ad\u2019s targeting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"854\" height=\"2048\" class=\"wp-image-186958\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/targeting-summary-of-an-ad-on-tiktok.png\" alt=\"Targeting summary of an ad on TikTok\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/targeting-summary-of-an-ad-on-tiktok.png 854w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/targeting-summary-of-an-ad-on-tiktok-177x425.png 177w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/targeting-summary-of-an-ad-on-tiktok-768x1842.png 768w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/targeting-summary-of-an-ad-on-tiktok-641x1536.png 641w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 854px) 100vw, 854px\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>You can even see who paid for the ad (in this case, Loewe\u2019s TikTok ads are likely paid for by their agency in charge, Publicis):<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"530\" height=\"474\" class=\"wp-image-186959\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/see-who-paid-for-an-ad-on-tiktok.png\" alt=\"See who paid for an ad on TikTok\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/see-who-paid-for-an-ad-on-tiktok.png 530w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/see-who-paid-for-an-ad-on-tiktok-475x425.png 475w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 530px) 100vw, 530px\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>If you don\u2019t do any search, you can actually see the entire ads database:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1250\" class=\"wp-image-186960\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/the-entire-tiktok-ads-database.png\" alt=\"The entire TikTok ads database\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/the-entire-tiktok-ads-database.png 2048w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/the-entire-tiktok-ads-database-680x415.png 680w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/the-entire-tiktok-ads-database-768x469.png 768w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/the-entire-tiktok-ads-database-1536x938.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a id=\"post-186948-_ft49codwemkp\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/ad-library\/home\">LinkedIn Ad Library<\/a><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1970\" height=\"1010\" class=\"wp-image-186961\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/linkedin-ad-library.png\" alt=\"LinkedIn Ad Library\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/linkedin-ad-library.png 1970w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/linkedin-ad-library-680x349.png 680w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/linkedin-ad-library-768x394.png 768w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/linkedin-ad-library-1536x787.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1970px) 100vw, 1970px\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>LinkedIn Ad Library shows all the ads a business has run on its platform. You can search by either company name or by keyword.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1956\" height=\"1374\" class=\"wp-image-186962\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/ads-ran-by-us-1.jpg\" alt=\"Ads ran by us\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/ads-ran-by-us-1.jpg 1956w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/ads-ran-by-us-1-605x425.jpg 605w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/ads-ran-by-us-1-768x539.jpg 768w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/ads-ran-by-us-1-1536x1079.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1956px) 100vw, 1956px\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>Unfortunately, LinkedIn only shows a few details: the copy, creative, and landing page you can click through to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a id=\"post-186948-_oz3sz8niimyf\"><\/a>2. Use competitive intelligence tools<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Ad libraries are amazing, but they don\u2019t show you all information. For example, Google Ads Transparency Center doesn\u2019t show you the keywords a business is targeting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To see that, you need to use a competitive intelligence tool like Ahrefs <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/site-explorer\">Site Explorer<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Plug your competitor\u2019s domain into <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/site-explorer\">Site Explorer<\/a> and go to the <strong>Paid keywords<\/strong> report.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1718\" height=\"1102\" class=\"wp-image-186963\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/paid-keywords-report-on-site-explorer.png\" alt=\"Paid keywords report on Site Explorer\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/paid-keywords-report-on-site-explorer.png 1718w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/paid-keywords-report-on-site-explorer-663x425.png 663w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/paid-keywords-report-on-site-explorer-260x166.png 260w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/paid-keywords-report-on-site-explorer-768x493.png 768w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/paid-keywords-report-on-site-explorer-1536x985.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1718px) 100vw, 1718px\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>For example, here are the keywords Shopify is targeting on Google Ads. You can also see the landing page they\u2019re using, the estimated paid traffic they\u2019re receiving, and the CPC. If you hover over the magnifying glass, you can also see the actual Google ad:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"734\" height=\"372\" class=\"wp-image-186964\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/see-the-google-ad-on-ahrefs.png\" alt=\"See the Google ad on Ahrefs\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/see-the-google-ad-on-ahrefs.png 734w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/see-the-google-ad-on-ahrefs-680x345.png 680w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 734px) 100vw, 734px\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>If you prefer to see all the ads a website is running on Google, go to the <strong>Paid ads<\/strong> report:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1968\" height=\"1122\" class=\"wp-image-186965\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/paid-ads-report-in-site-explorer.jpg\" alt=\"Paid ads report in Site Explorer\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/paid-ads-report-in-site-explorer.jpg 1968w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/paid-ads-report-in-site-explorer-680x388.jpg 680w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/paid-ads-report-in-site-explorer-768x438.jpg 768w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/paid-ads-report-in-site-explorer-1536x876.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1968px) 100vw, 1968px\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>If you prefer to see their landing pages, go to the Paid pages report:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1908\" height=\"1098\" class=\"wp-image-186966\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/paid-pages-report-in-site-explorer.png\" alt=\"Paid pages report in Site Explorer\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/paid-pages-report-in-site-explorer.png 1908w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/paid-pages-report-in-site-explorer-680x391.png 680w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/paid-pages-report-in-site-explorer-768x442.png 768w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/paid-pages-report-in-site-explorer-1536x884.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1908px) 100vw, 1908px\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a id=\"post-186948-_f5rstkrs6u0c\"><\/a>3. Use ad intelligence platforms<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>You have social media and search ads covered. What about display ads? To spy on your competitor\u2019s display advertising, you\u2019ll need a tool like <a href=\"https:\/\/adbeat.com\/\">Adbeat<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1450\" height=\"776\" class=\"wp-image-186967\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/adbeat.jpg\" alt=\"Adbeat\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/adbeat.jpg 1450w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/adbeat-680x364.jpg 680w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/adbeat-768x411.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1450px) 100vw, 1450px\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>Enter your competitor\u2019s domain and you\u2019ll be able to see how many ads they\u2019ve been running, their ad channels, ad creatives by size and type, where the ads have been running, and&nbsp;more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1533\" height=\"2048\" class=\"wp-image-186968\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/display-ads-ran-by-shopify-seen-on-adbeat.png\" alt=\"Display ads ran by Shopify, seen on Adbeat\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/display-ads-ran-by-shopify-seen-on-adbeat.png 1533w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/display-ads-ran-by-shopify-seen-on-adbeat-318x425.png 318w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/display-ads-ran-by-shopify-seen-on-adbeat-768x1026.png 768w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/display-ads-ran-by-shopify-seen-on-adbeat-1150x1536.png 1150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1533px) 100vw, 1533px\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>Pretty cool.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a id=\"post-186948-_bw4armzi75ae\"><\/a>4. Explore ads repositories<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Sometimes, the best ideas come from real-world examples. Curated ad repositories offer a mix of top-performing, creative, and experimental ads across industries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are some useful ad libraries:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/swipefile.com\/\">Swipe File<\/a> \u2014 Hundreds of ads, copywriting, design, landing pages, and even pricing<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/madgicx.com\/ad-library\">MadgicX<\/a> \u2014 Not just an ad library; it also allows you to save ads you see and create ads using&nbsp;AI<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.adsearch.io\/linkedin-ads\/\">AdSearch.io LinkedIn Ads Library<\/a> \u2014 An ad library specifically for LinkedIn ads<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/socioh.com\/ads-library\">Socioh Ads Library<\/a> \u2014 An ad library specifically for D2C&nbsp;ads<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1514\" height=\"1544\" class=\"wp-image-186969\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/an-example-of-an-ads-repository.jpg\" alt=\"An example of an ads repository\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/an-example-of-an-ads-repository.jpg 1514w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/an-example-of-an-ads-repository-417x425.jpg 417w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/an-example-of-an-ads-repository-768x783.jpg 768w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/an-example-of-an-ads-repository-1506x1536.jpg 1506w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1514px) 100vw, 1514px\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>Better yet, build your own swipe file. Screenshot ads you see on social media or Google, store them in a repository like Notion or Airtable, and organize them by brand, date, messaging angle, or creative format.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a id=\"post-186948-_7ff5srsm3b75\"><\/a>5. Do it yourself<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Sometimes the most effective research comes from experiencing competitor ads as a potential customer would.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s what you can&nbsp;do:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Search for keywords relevant to your industry and products<\/strong>: Notice which competitors appear consistently and what messaging they use. Consider using a VPN to get more accurate search results (especially for local searches).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Get retargeted<\/strong>: Visit their websites and browse their products or services. Then, monitor what retargeting ads they serve you over the next few weeks. Often, this reveals their retargeting strategy and messaging for different stages of the <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/marketing-funnels\/\">funnel<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Sign up for their newsletters<\/strong>: Email marketing often aligns with advertising campaigns. Monitor their promotions, product launches, and seasonal campaigns.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Follow them on social media<\/strong>: Many brands run dark posts or audience-targeted campaigns you can occasionally catch and analyze.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"post-nav-link clearfix\" id=\"section1\"><a class=\"subhead-anchor\" data-tip=\"tooltip__copielink\" rel=\"#section1\"><svg width=\"19\" height=\"19\" viewBox=\"0 0 14 14\" style><g fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><path d=\"M0 0h14v14H0z\" \/><path d=\"M7.45 9.887l-1.62 1.621c-.92.92-2.418.92-3.338 0a2.364 2.364 0 0 1 0-3.339l1.62-1.62-1.273-1.272-1.62 1.62a4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.885 5.884l1.62-1.62L7.45 9.886zM5.527 5.135L7.17 3.492c.92-.92 2.418-.92 3.339 0 .92.92.92 2.418 0 3.339L8.866 8.473l1.272 1.273 1.644-1.643A4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.897 2.22L4.254 3.863l1.272 1.272zm-.66 3.998a.749.749 0 0 1 0-1.06l2.208-2.206a.749.749 0 1 1 1.06 1.06L5.928 9.133a.75.75 0 0 1-1.061 0z\" style \/><\/g><\/svg><\/a><div class=\"link-text\" data-anchor=\"What do you do with the insights you\u2019ve gained?\" data-section=\"what-to-do-insights\">\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a id=\"post-186948-_v8ms9ufzfyad\"><\/a>What do you do with the insights you\u2019ve gained?<\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div><!-- notionvc: 1e839dc5-0231-4b34-ad3e-779f320086b4 -->\n\n\n\n<p>Collecting data is only half the battle. The real value comes from turning competitive research into actionable steps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What can you do with all your competitors\u2019 ads? Here are some&nbsp;ideas:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Compare their ads over time<\/strong>: If a competitor sticks with a headline or CTA for weeks, it\u2019s likely working. Identify what messages they keep and what they&nbsp;ditch.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Spot consistent themes or messages<\/strong>: If multiple competitors emphasize something like \u201cfast delivery\u201d or \u201c24\/7 support,\u201d that might be table stakes in your industry. Craft your unique spin to stand&nbsp;out.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Analyze their landing pages<\/strong>: Follow competitor ads to their destination pages to understand the full customer journey. How do they structure their offers? What calls-to-action do they use? These insights can inspire improvements to your own conversion paths.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Develop counter-messaging<\/strong>: Position your product as the answer to gaps in your competitors\u2019 promises. If they emphasize \u201cspeed,\u201d maybe you emphasize \u201cdepth\u201d or \u201creliability.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Explore under-used platforms<\/strong>: Noticing your competitors aren\u2019t active on Pinterest, Reddit, or TikTok? That might be your opportunity to test and win&nbsp;early.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a id=\"post-186948-_yz6y7ouik7ks\"><\/a>Final thoughts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The goal isn\u2019t to copy your competitors\u2019 methods but to understand what\u2019s working and improve on&nbsp;it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The most successful advertisers don\u2019t just react to competitors; they use competitive insights as one input among many to craft unique, audience-focused campaigns that stand out rather than blend&nbsp;in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Just remember: don\u2019t copy. Learn. Iterate. Elevate. Before long, your competitors will be the ones spying on your ads for inspiration.<\/p>\n\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This is a recipe for mediocrity. Competitors don\u2019t always know what they\u2019re doing. Their campaigns might be underperforming, and blindly following them could land you in the same hole. You also don\u2019t want to get into a copying war and<span class=\"ellipsis\">\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"read-more\">Read more \u203a<\/div>\n<p><!-- end of .read-more --><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":146,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"wp_typography_post_enhancements_disabled":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[196],"tags":[],"coauthors":[339],"class_list":["post-186948","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-paid-marketing","odd"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>5 Smart Ways to Spy On Your Competitors\u2019 Ads<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Think spying on competitors&#039; ads means copying them? Think again. 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