Advert transparency instruments make it straightforward to observe advertisements from any firm, together with a competitor. The instruments present invaluable inventive perception, from images type to video codecs, advert copy to call-to-action messaging.
Paid instruments, resembling Similarweb and Semrush, collate exercise throughout platforms and supply efficiency element.
Free instruments are useful, too. Native options on TikTok, Meta, Google, and LinkedIn reveal any firm’s previous and current campaigns.
Free Advert Transparency Instruments
TikTok advert library
The TikTok library contains all advertisements — energetic or paused — revealed after October 1, 2022. Search by key phrase or the title linked to the advertiser’s TikTok account. The shared information contains views and viewers focusing on.
Marketing campaign metrics on the search outcomes web page present an higher and decrease vary, however clicking a selected quantity reveals an in depth breakdown. TikTok takes as much as 24 hours for brand new advertisements to indicate within the software, and it gained’t present any advert eliminated for breaching the phrases of service.
This instance overview web page for style retailer JD Sports activities reveals 10-100K advert views.
Marketing campaign metrics on TikTok’s ad-library search outcomes web page present an higher and decrease vary, however clicking a quantity reveals an in depth breakdown. This instance is for JD Sports activities, a style retailer. Click on picture to enlarge.
Meta Advert Library
The Meta Advert Library permits looking out throughout Meta platforms by model, key phrase, and area. The software launched in 2018 for, initially, Fb alone.
The advertisements hyperlink to an advertiser’s Fb web page. (All the time examine the web page’s follower depend to make sure you’re on the precise firm.) Information on inactive campaigns is offered just for advertisements addressing social or political points. That features many corporations, such because the outside model Finisterre, which promotes social causes.
The Meta Advert Library permits looking out throughout Meta platforms by model, key phrase, and area. This instance is for Finisterre, an out of doors model. Click on picture to enlarge.
Google Adverts Transparency Middle
The Google Adverts Transparency Middle contains advertisements energetic within the earlier 30 days throughout search, show, YouTube, and Gmail. Search by advertiser or web site — with filters for textual content, picture, and video campaigns.
The instance beneath reveals advertisements for the haircare model JVN, which I discovered by looking out the Transparency Middle for that firm’s website. Be aware Google identifies the corporate operating (buying) the advertisements. On this case, it’s JVN’s dad or mum Ameris Clear Magnificence Inc.
Google discloses further particulars for political promoting — offering for seven years the spend, attain, and focusing on standards.
Be aware that new campaigns can take as much as 72 hours to look, and advertisements gained’t present if the advertiser eliminated them or they violated Google’s coverage, leading to a takedown.
The Google Adverts Transparency Middle contains advertisements energetic within the earlier 30 days throughout search, show, YouTube, and Gmail. JVN haircare is proven right here. Click on picture to enlarge.
LinkedIn firm pages
LinkedIn has no searchable advert library, however there’s a workaround. First, discover a firm’s LinkedIn web page, then navigate to the “Posts” tab and click on “Adverts” to see these revealed within the final six months. Paused and accomplished campaigns present right here, too.
To search out advertisements on LinkedIn, go to the advertiser’s firm web page, navigate to the “Posts” tab, and click on “Adverts.” This instance is for Oatly, an dairy meals various. Click on picture to enlarge.
What about Twitter?
Twitter eliminated its advertisements transparency software in 2019 when it banned political advertisements from the platform. There is no such thing as a substitute to date.
