How to Spy on Your Competitors’ Facebook & Instagram Ads Using the Facebook Ads Library
- Maneesh Konkar
- Nov 19
- 3 min read
Hey marketer, let’s face it—staying ahead in digital marketing means knowing what your competitors are doing. But googling or guessing their campaigns doesn’t cut it. Luckily, Facebook Ads Library is your secret weapon for uncovering competitor ad strategies and gaining priceless insights.
This simple yet powerful tool lets you see live and inactive ads from any brand or dealer, giving you a behind-the-scenes peek at their messaging, creatives, spend, and audience targeting. Here’s how to make it work for you, shared with tips straight from the trenches.
What Is Facebook Ads Library?
Launched by Facebook to increase political ad transparency, this tool lets YOU see all currently running (and recently run) ads across Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, and their Audience Network. It’s your spyglass to scan competitors’ campaigns, spot market trends, and find inspiration for your own ads.
How to Use It: Step-by-Step
First, just search “Facebook Ads Library” on Google and go to the dedicated site. Enter your competitor’s business name or page, select the country, and browse their active ads.
What You’ll See: The Goldmine of Info
The tool shows everything:
Active and inactive ads, including videos and images
Start and end dates of campaigns
Ad spend estimates (like ₹36,000 to ₹350,000)
Estimated audience size
Locations targeted (down to state/region)
Demographics such as age and gender breakdown
Campaign objectives and messaging details, including primary text, headlines, and CTAs
Each inactive ad is especially valuable because you get access to complete reporting data that’s hidden for active ads. This lets you analyze what worked and what didn’t.
Real-Life Example: Honda Cars
Looking up Honda Cars in India, you can see multiple ads running simultaneously. You’ll notice which creative formats they use—carousel, single image, or video—and understand their campaign’s geographic reach. Inactive ads reveal spending patterns and targeting strategies.
From this, you might discover Honda investing heavily in certain states like Gujarat and Rajasthan, and learn how they adapt messaging for younger audiences or eco-conscious buyers. This kind of insider view helps you refine your targeting and creative without the guesswork.
Pro Tips to Spy Smarter
Not every brand will pop up easily—try specific names or add “cars,” “dealers,” or “motorcycles” for better results.
Use filters to email ads by platform, language, or status (active vs inactive).
Watch for repeated ads running for months—that’s a signal of a successful campaign you might want to learn from.
Why This Matters for Your Ads
Understanding competitor campaigns means you can:
Quickly identify winning messaging and creatives to adapt or innovate
Avoid costly mistakes by learning what audiences and placements work best
Stay agile by spotting emerging trends before others do
Plan your ad budget more intelligently based on competitor spend
Wrapping Up: No More Guessing—Market Like a Pro
Facebook Ads Library puts competitive intelligence at your fingertips. It’s like having a cheat sheet for digital marketing, making your campaigns sharper, smarter, and more effective.
Unlock insights, gain that competitive edge, and watch your marketing campaigns soar!
If you prefer watching a video - enjoy.
Ready to Transform Your company's Digital Marketing?
If you want to implement this approach or need digital marketing / lead generation support, connect with us at Direction One. Our team specializes in digital marketing, corporate training, and customized elearning solutions to drive measurable results.
Maneesh Konkar is an MBA from IIM Bangalore with over 24 years experience in sales & marketing. He runs Direction One, which is into online courses, sales & marketing training & digital marketing agency services.
Connect with him at directiononeonline7@gmail.com
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