With the digitalization of our world, advertising is now more transparent than ever. If you're a business owner, digital marketer, or even a dropshipper, you must have already heard about the Facebook Ads Library. But do you understand how potent this free utility is?
In this blog, we are going to discuss how to use the Facebook Ads Library to hack Facebook ads, perform excellent competitor ad research, and find winning products to sell. Whether you're a newcomer or scaling your campaigns, this article will help you make smarter ad decisions and remain ahead of the pack.
What is Facebook Ads Library?
The Facebook Ads Library is a publicly available, free database developed by Meta. It enables anyone to see all the active (and some non-active) ads that are currently running on Facebook and Instagram. It was initially designed to promote political ad transparency, but now it has turned out to be a goldmine for entrepreneurs, marketers, and e-commerce sellers.
Why Facebook Ads Library is a Game-Changer
Before tools like this one existed, learning about your competitors' advertising approaches required guesswork, costly tools, or insider information. But now:
- You can spy on Facebook ads from any brand.
- You can observe their creatives, copy, landing pages, and call-to-actions.
- You can monitor the duration of an ad being live, which assists in finding winning ads.
- You don't have to spend a dollar to access it.
Utilizing this tool strategically can overhaul the way you tackle your ad strategy.
Step-by-Step: Analyzing Facebook Ads with Facebook Ads Library
1. Visit the Ads Library
Visit Facebook Ads Library. Select which country you'd like to research in, then select the category of ads. For most companies, select "All Ads."
2. Search for Competitors
Enter your competitor's brand name. For instance, if you're operating in the fitness industry, you may enter "Gymshark" or "MyProtein." This will display all their presently running Facebook ads and Instagram ads.
Pro Tip: You can use generic keywords such as "yoga mat," "protein bar," or "smartwatch" if you don't know brand names to uncover hidden yet aggressive marketers in your industry.
3. Inspect the Ad Creatives
Notice what kind of images or videos they are using. Are they employing lifestyle photography or studio photography? Are they employing influencers? Are they using good hooks?
If you notice that a specific creative style is being duplicated on several ads, then guaranteed, it's performing well.
4. Review Ad Copy and CTA
Copywriting is the core of effective advertising. Notice what kind of copy your competitors employ. Are they emphasizing pain points, testimonials, urgency, or promotions?
Example: I saw a skincare company using the same ad for more than six months with varying CTAs such as "Shop Now" or "Limited Time Offer". That revealed a winning formula that I could experiment with for my brand.
5. Monitor How Long the Ad Has Been Running
The Facebook Ads Library indicates when an ad began running. If an advertisement has been running for weeks or months, that usually means it's working well for the brand. This is one of the best methods of discovering winning products without spending a budget on testing.
How to Use It to Find Winning Products
If you are in dropshipping or e-commerce, your mission is to discover the winning products first. Here's how Facebook Ads Library assists:
1. Search Product-Oriented Pages
Search pages that specialize in testing various products, such as "TrendHype" or "GadgetGo." These pages usually post hundreds of ads for various products.
2. Filter by Duration
Products being advertised for over 30 days are likely validated winners. They wouldn’t continue spending ad budget if the product wasn’t converting.
3. Look at Engagement
While Facebook Ads Library doesn’t show likes or shares, the creatives often give clues. Products with high-quality videos, captions like “Back in Stock,” or repeated ads are usually winners.
Competitor Ad Research Made Easy
You don't need a sophisticated funnel to conduct competitor ad research anymore. Here's a checklist:
- Choose 5–10 competitors in your niche.
- Observe what type of offer they advertise (free shipping, buy 1 get 1).
- Take a note of the kind of creatives and copy tone.
- Check whether they're running retargeting or holiday ads.
- Create your swipe file for inspiration.
With time, you'll notice trends in your niche, what type of ads are being shown during festivals, what products sell during winter, etc.
Real-Life Example
I once assisted a friend in starting an eco-friendly water bottle brand. Before launching, we looked for keywords such as "eco bottle," "bamboo bottle," and "reusable water bottle" in the Ads Library.
We discovered 2 brands running aggressively simple video ads featuring the bottle in real-life situations. Their ads had been live for 60+ days. We took the concept, created a unique ad, and began getting steady conversions from Day 2.
That single decision allowed us to skip testing 5 other ad ideas and start with a sure-shot winner.
Pros and Cons of Facebook Ads Library
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Is working with Facebook Ads Library legal and ethical?
Yes, definitely. It's a public tool available from Meta. You're not hacking or spying, just looking at public information.
Q2. Can I view how much money a competitor is spending?
No. The Ads Library does not have spend data. For that, you'd require premium tools such as AdSpy or BigSpy.
Q3. Does it display Instagram ads as well?
Yes. As Instagram is a Meta property, all Instagram ads are also displayed in the Ads Library.
Q4. Can I replicate the same ad?
You must never copy word for word. But you can draw inspiration in the context of the creative framework, provide, and message. You should always put your brand's personal touch.
Conclusion
If you've ever asked yourself how brands always manage to come out with great products and show up with ads that convert, the answer is typically data, and the Facebook Ads Library is an open-source repository of data. From Facebook ad spying to discovering winning products to creating a smarter creative strategy, this tool provides you with everything you need to be a winner in the ad game.
Don't resort to guesswork when you can pick up clues directly from what's already a success. Discover, dissect, and act because your next successful product or ad is very likely sitting there in front of you.
.svg)
.svg)
.svg)
.svg)
