Step-by-Step Facebook Ads Library Guide ( + Best Practices for Advertisers)

The Facebook Ads Library is to an advertiser what a swipe file is to a Copywriter: a go-to resource for staying ahead with the latest ad trends and strategies.

With this tool, you can see what’s working for others and get inspired for your own ads. In this guide, we’ll show you step-by-step how to use the Facebook Ads Library to improve your ads and boost your ROAS. You’ll get practical examples and best practices that can help you make your next ad campaign a winner. 

What is the Facebook Ads Library? 

It might sound surprising, but Meta offers the Facebook Ads Library to help you make your ads more profitable. Yes, they benefit when your ads perform well, but so do you. It's a win-win situation.

This library offers you a unique opportunity to analyze and learn from the ads your competitors are running. By studying their strategies, creatives, and targeting, you can gain invaluable insights to improve your own campaigns. Additionally, the library serves as a transparency tool, allowing you to see how your ads are being perceived by the public.

And it's not just limited to Facebook ads; you'll find ads from Instagram too. In fact, with its extensive reach across multiple platforms, perhaps "Meta Ad Library" would be a more fitting name.

One recent update worth noting is that the Meta Ad Library now provides additional context for ads in the EU and associated territories that have been removed for policy or legal violations. This transparency adds another layer of trust and accountability to the platform, ensuring that advertisers and users alike can have confidence in the ads they see.

EU Ad Transparency on the Meta Ad Library

How Does the Facebook Ads Library Work? 

Now that you understand the benefits, let’s roll up our sleeves and get into how the Facebook Ads Library actually works. It's quite simple, really. Ads on Facebook are run by Pages, which means your search results will be organized by Pages. Here's a step-by-step guide to get started:

1. Visit the Ad Library: Head over to the Facebook Ads Library.
2. Choose a Country: Select the country you're interested in. This helps narrow down your search to ads targeting specific regions.

3. Select Ad Category: In the drop-down menu, choose "All ads" to see all active ads.
   

4. Search for Ads: Enter keywords or Page names related to the ads you're looking for in the search bar. The Ad Library will then display any ads that include your search term, or ads run by Pages that match your query.

5. View Ad Details: Click on "See ad details" to explore more information about a particular ad.

Note that anyone can access and search the Ad Library. You can search for any term, name, or Page, and relevant ads will appear. But remember to filter out only the active ads, as Mark advises in the tweet below. 

Filtering out inactive ads ensures that you're focusing on current strategies and not outdated campaigns.

Analyzing Ad Performance in the Facebook Ads Library

Analyzing ad performance helps you understand what makes an ad successful and how you can apply those insights to your own campaigns.

When evaluating ad performance, key metrics come into play:

• Ad duration: If an ad is active more days, it means that it is performing for this brand, so here you can find the ads that are running more than 7 days from your competitors

Other Metrics from outside of Ad library:

• Engagement: This includes metrics like likes, comments, shares, and click-through rates (CTR), indicating how well your ad resonates with your audience.
• Reach and Impressions: These metrics show how many people have seen your ad and how often it's been displayed.
• Conversion Rate: This metric tells you how many people took the desired action after seeing your ad, such as making a purchase or signing up for a newsletter.

 Let's take a closer look at these metrics in action by examining this ad below:

This ad not only showcases the product but also highlights real-life results: the exact thing the audience wants. Metrics such as engagement rates and video views can help gauge the effectiveness of this ad in capturing attention and driving action.

Analyzing competitor ads and their creative strategies also offers valuable insights into ad performance. 

You can also explore the ads here on AdInspiration.com to find proven and winning ad inspiration. You’ll find a wide library of ad creatives across platforms. These insights can help you refine your ad strategies and create campaigns that truly stand out.

Tip: take note of the ad status to determine how often competitors are running their ads. To do this, simply check the ad status in the ads of Facebook Ads Library.

Benefits of the Facebook Ads Library

Now that you know how the Facebook Ads Library works, let's explore the benefits it offers to advertisers like you.

Competitive Analysis and Inspiration

Another invaluable aspect of the Facebook Ads Library is the opportunity it presents for competitive analysis and inspiration from successful campaigns.

The idea here is simple: work smarter, not harder. Instead of starting from scratch, you can follow these straightforward steps:

• Go to Adinspiration.com
• Look at your competitors' ads.
• Take note of their winning ads.
• Figure out what makes them successful.
• Use it as inspiration to make your own ads.

For example, say the ad below is a highly engaging ad from a competitor in the industry. 

You notice that it features relatable everyday people showcasing the brand's products in a natural, authentic way. This type of ad can be a great source of inspiration for a brand like yours that aims to connect with a younger, trend-conscious audience. 

By understanding what resonates with your target market, you can create a similar Ad campaign that feels genuine and relatable.

Compliance with Advertising Regulations

The Ads Library also aids advertisers ensure compliance with advertising regulations and policies. By being transparent about the ads running on its platforms, Meta helps advertisers stay up-to-date with the latest guidelines and avoid potential violations that could result in penalties or account suspensions. The result id trust and credibility within the advertising ecosystem while minimizing the risk of potential policy violations.

Best Practices for Using the Facebook Ads Library Effectively

Now that we've explored the various facets of the Facebook Ads Library, it's time to integrate this valuable tool into your advertising strategy. Here’s how to:

Creating high-performing Ad Creatives: Use insights from the Ads Library to enhance ad creatives and copy. For instance, a successful ad campaign like the one below prioritizes relatable visuals and storytelling.

• The Ads Library can serve as a springboard for campaign planning and ideation. Focus on successful ad formats and creative strategies that align with your brand and audience.
• The Ads Library can be a wellspring of inspiration for ad creative development and optimization. By studying the creative strategies of top-performing ads, you can refine your own creatives to maximize impact.
• Lastly, the Ads Library allows you to keep a close eye on competitor activities. By monitoring their ads, you can adapt your strategies accordingly and stay ahead of the curve.

As Scott mentioned below, focusing on evergreen ads—ads that remain relevant and effective over time—can be a key strategy for long-term success.

Comparing Facebook Ads Library with Other Ad Platforms

While our focus has been on the Facebook Ads Library, you need to understand how it compares to other popular advertising platforms. TikTok, for example, also offers an Ad Library where you can explore ads running on the platform. Here's a brief comparison:

By leveraging ad libraries across platforms, you gain a comprehensive understanding of industry trends and create more effective advertising strategies. Here at AdInspiration, we also offer ad libraries for Instagram and TikTok, so you can get insights from multiple platforms.

Getting True Advertising Success 

While the Facebook Ads Library is a powerful tool, you shouldn’t use it in isolation. By combining its insights with other resources like the ideas you get from platforms like AdInspiration, you will create a more comprehensive advertising strategy and drive real results. Sign up today to start getting the worth of your advertising efforts.