In digital marketing, ad libraries are as close as you can get to a gold mine. They reveal what works, what doesn’t, and what’s trending.

While TikTok and Meta boast extensive ad libraries, Snapchat does not have a comprehensive ad library. But don’t worry – there are ways to get the insights you need.

And we’re sharing some of them in this article.

Snapchat’s Ad Library: The Reality

Snapchat’s ad library is limited to political ads.

Unlike TikTok and Meta, which offer comprehensive views into all types of ads, Snapchat only lets you peek at political campaigns.

It’s great that Snap is trying to be transparent about that part of its income but this is a hurdle for marketers wanting a broader perspective.

Political ads don’t typically give you much to work with when you’re creating ads for a DTC brand.

Top Growth Marketing’s Ad Library: A Comprehensive Alternative

Don’t let the lack of an ad library from Snapchat discourage you.

For years now, we’ve been collecting and curating the best-performing ads from all the major platforms in our internal ad library.

From Facebook to TikTok, and even Snapchat, we’ve got you covered.

Our comprehensive collection can serve as a valuable resource for your digital marketing campaigns.

With access to hundreds of successful and innovative ads, you can gain insights, derive inspiration, and craft effective strategies.

Whether you’re aiming for a retail, B2B, or any other marketing campaign, our extensive library is a reliable tool for understanding the advertising trends and strategies that are working across different platforms and industries.

Build Your Own Ad Library

In addition to our ad library, you can start your own ad library and populate it over time with ads that have caught your attention. Look at successful campaigns from competitors or brands you admire.

Analyze their structures, designs, and messaging. Record the key elements and why they worked.

This might seem like a tedious task, but it will pay off in the long run. You can always refer back to these effective ads when you’re planning your campaigns.

1. Collect Great Ads

Save ads that stand out to you. This step involves curating a diverse collection of ads from various platforms and industries. 

Follow brands that you love. Sign up for your competitors’ newsletters, and just browse the platforms where you want to place ads. A lot of what you learn from ads on one platform also translates to others. Resources like Ads Of The World make it easy to set aside time to just curate ads for your library.

2. Analyze

Note the structure, design, and messaging. Once you have a collection of ads, it’s time to analyze them. Focus on the following aspects:

Structure: Break down the ad into its components: headline, body text, images/videos, call-to-action (CTA), and any interactive elements. How are these elements organized?

Design: Evaluate the visual elements. Look at color schemes, typography, imagery, and layout. How do these design choices enhance the message and grab attention?

Messaging: Examine the language and tone used. Is the messaging clear and compelling? How does it address the target audience’s pain points or desires?

Engagement Tactics: Identify any interactive features, such as polls, quizzes, or clickable elements. How do these features encourage user engagement?

Use tools like Google Sheets, Airtable, or project management platforms to catalog your ads. The goal is not to copy ads but to create a learning resource kind of like a textbook. 

It will make your ads better over time and will make it easier to get your team aligned with the type of advertising that you want for your brand.

The Advantage of Having Your Own Ad Library

While there are platforms like TikTok that have very easy-to-use ad libraries with a lot of useful data, ultimately the best ad library is the one you create yourself. Here are some key advantages of building and maintaining your own ad library:

Tailored Insights

Creating your ad library allows you to tailor the insights specifically to your brand and industry. You can focus on collecting ads that are most relevant to your target audience and marketing objectives. 

Comprehensive Analysis

By curating your own ad library, you can perform more in-depth and customized analyses. You can track the performance of ads over time, identify patterns, and gain a deeper understanding of what works and what doesn’t. 

Competitive Edge

Having your own ad library gives you a competitive moat by providing resources that only your have. It’s never been a more crowded market for advertising, making it harder than ever to stand out, and an internal ad library helps you do just that.

Flexibility and Control

With your own ad library, you have complete control over the content and organization of the data. You can categorize ads based on various criteria such as platform, industry, ad format, and performance metrics. 

Continuous Learning and Improvement

Maintaining an ad library helps foster a culture of continuous learning and improvement within your marketing team. By regularly reviewing and analyzing successful ads, your team can stay updated on the latest trends and best practices. 

How to Use Ad Libraries to Inform Campaigns

Ad libraries serve as a treasure trove of ad ideas and strategies. Use them to study the elements that make an ad successful – the visual design, the copy, and the call to action.

Comparing Your Ads to Competitors

Want to know what your competitors are up to? Our ad library lets you see their strategies, strengths, and weaknesses. 

Spot patterns in their ad types, messaging, and visuals. Understand their engagement tactics. Use this intel to outshine them.

Spot Emerging Trends and Themes

Trends come and go, but with our library, you’re always in the know. Identify popular ad formats, themes, and engagement tactics. 

See if video ads are gaining traction or if a specific color scheme is dominating. Align your strategy with these trends to stay relevant.

Improving Your Ads

Great ads don’t happen by accident. They’re crafted by learning from the best. Analyze successful ads in our library. 

Note the colors, fonts, calls to action, and language. Use these insights to refine your ads, making them more compelling and effective.

Supercharge Your Campaigns with Ad Libraries

Ad libraries aren’t just for snooping on competitors – they’re powerful tools for elevating your own campaigns. By tapping into successful strategies and trends, you can enhance your ad performance and ensure your brand stands out.

At Top Growth Marketing, we use our ad library daily to sharpen our strategies. Let us help you do the same. Reach out to us for expert guidance on boosting your advertising efforts.