How to Use the Google Ad Library to Build an Effective Marketing Campaign
Every digital marketer should be using this tool
Advertisers are aware of how fierce competition is online.
When it comes to Google ads, even a tiny advantage can make all the difference in the world.
You may have the expertise and creative instinct to create ads that are enticing, but what happens when they get pushed to page 2? What can be done to get back in Google’s good graces?
I present the Google Ad Library, a marketer’s heaven on earth.
Any Google advertisement that is currently running can be researched to learn who created it, how it looks, and when it was last shown. The feature is intended to encourage transparency and give users access to details about the advertisements they are shown on a daily basis.
Learn how to improve the effectiveness of your own Google ads by seeing what works well for your competitors.
What is the Google Ad Library?
Do you ever wish that other platforms had their own equivalent to Facebook Ad Library?
Yea, me too! So after some research, I found a similar feature, but on the Google search engine instead.
The Google Ad Library is a place where you can search for ads that are running across Google. The “library” provides an individual page for every brand advertising on Google.
Why is this relevant?
Access to advertiser data was initially developed in response to the 2016 political ad controversy in order to increase transparency. The ad library gives consumers a way to discover what brands are doing on Google.
The Google Ad Library is a treasure trove of knowledge for marketers.
You can use it to keep tabs on your progress over time, see what your competitors are up to, and get inspiration for your own campaigns.
Here’s how you can use the Google Ad Library:
- View ads from other countries
- Research competitor ad copy
- See who is behind a specific political candidate
- Find inspiration for future promotions
- Look for promos and discounts from the brands you use
How to access the Google Ad Library
The Google Ad Library was designed with accessibility in mind, for everyday searchers and experienced marketers. Ads that are truly transparent should not be concealed by cryptic language or secret buttons.
In 2-clicks, you can see the ad history of any brand.
- Go to Google and type in the name of the company you want to see.
2. If a search result includes an ad, you’re good to go! Simply click the three dots (same on mobile) to the right of the website address.
3. After clicking, another window will appear. Click the hyperlink ‘See more ads this advertiser has shown on Google.’
This will bring you to the Ads Page for that brand. You can view every image, video, and text ad that a brand is running on Google.
You can use filters to narrow your results by ads containing videos, shown during a specific time and in different locations.
This is a fantastic way to find ideas for your own marketing campaigns and learn what types of content are popular with customers in your industry.
For instance, if you’ve been considering experimenting with videos in your advertisements, see how your competitors have performed.
The same is true for sponsored content in other locations.
Imagine that your competitors are performing A/B testing for you. Simply analyze, replicate, and maximize.
Do you have any more hacks to see competitor ads? Let me know in the comments!
Hi, I’m Divad. I cover topics around using social media to expand your business, smart productivity habits to get more done, and strategies to grow your brand. If that interests you, consider following me here👇
