How to Check a Competitor’s Google Ads: Tools and Strategies to Spy on Your Rivals

According to Exploding Topics, Google has a 90.14% global share among search engines. Mastering  Google Ads improves a brand's visibility and boosts sales, but it may be hard to stand out. Knowing how to check a competitor's Google Ads will allow you to optimize campaigns and make smarter decisions.

But, how do you spy on your rivals' campaigns without crossing any ethical lines? Which platforms can you use to gather valuable data to avoid guesswork?

Read on to understand the importance of spying on your rival's ads and identify the competitor analysis tools you can use.

Why You Should Spy on Competitor Ads

Studying your competitor's Google Ads can help improve your small business marketing strategies. You'll unlock valuable information regarding the keywords they're targeting and use them in your ads, or find related terms with less competition. Other things you may discover include:

• The language they use to grab attention
• The ads they run consistently
• Special offers they use to hook customers

When you look at a competitor's ads, you may also see their weak points. For example, you may discover their ad copy is unclear about their products or services. You could also find that the landing page they're directing leads to is too slow or confusing.

How to Check a Competitor's Google Ads With Competitive Intelligence Tools

You don't need to be a tech expert to understand what your competitors are doing with their ads. With the right tools, you'll gain insights to build stronger campaigns and get better results.

Google Ads Transparency Center

Google has a free tool to show the ads any company is running across platforms like Search, YouTube, and the Display Network. It can help you determine the offers and messages your rivals use to drive sales and generate leads.

Type your competitor's business name in the Google Ads Transparency Center to see their ads. You can filter your search by country, platform, and ad type.

SpyFu

Instead of testing random keywords, you can use SpyFu to focus on the ones already working for other companies in your industry.

The tool lets you see the keywords your most successful competitors use and how their ads perform. It also helps you analyze Google ad campaigns to identify the best-performing ones and determine how long each has run.

SEMrush

SEMrush is a popular solution for search engine optimization and pay-per-click advertising. Its toolkit will show you search and display ads from your competitors.

Besides, it provides their estimated ad budgets and cost-per-click (CPC). You can also use SEMrush to compare your site and your competitors' side by side.

AdSpyder

AdSpyder tracks Google Ads, focusing on creative elements like images, headlines, and calls-to-action (CTAs). Using it, you can do the following:

• See ad designs and wording
• Track engagement
• Analyze trending keywords

Google Ads Auction Insights

If you're already running Google Ads, you can use Auction Insights in your campaign settings to track your competitors' ad activity. Here, you'll see who else is bidding on your keywords and compare how often their ads appear versus yours.

You may also determine where your rival's ads rank compared to yours. If a competitor beats you in search results, Google Ads Auction Insights will help you know how and where to make changes.

Strategies to Leverage When Spying on Competitors' Ads

Once you have the right competitive intelligence tools, identify how to use the data to outsmart your rivals. Here are some helpful strategies.

Identify Your Real Competitors

Before learning from your competitors, you need to know them, beyond the obvious ones. Do a Google search for the top keywords in your industry, focusing on the following aspects:

• Your main products or services
• Location-based searches
• Questions your customers ask

After doing several searches, make a list of 5-10 competitors that consistently show up. Then use the tools to determine who's dominating for your top keywords and check if they're also leading in local SEO.

Taradel can help you outsmart competitors by making Google ads that generate repeat impressions. We offer precise local targeting and can ensure your ads engage customers at every stage.

Break Down Your Competitor's Ad Copy

Once you have your list of competitors, study their Google Ads in detail. Review their headlines to determine if they create urgency with limited coupon offers or speak directly to the target customer's pain points.

Additionally, check the kind of CTAs they use and their value proposition. Are they promising fast turnaround, lower pricing, or premium quality? Or are they offering something free, like a delivery or price quote?

Click Through to Their Landing Pages

Checking your competitors' landing pages lets you determine what's working for them after the click and whether your pages are keeping up. Here's what to look for:

• Whether their offer matches the ad message
• If they have a mobile-optimized landing page
• How easy it is to take action
• If they have lead capture forms

Track Ad Timing

A Taradel survey report, which you can read here, shows that 21% of small business owners find their marketing ineffective.

One reason you may be spending money on Google Ads without seeing the results is poor timing. As you analyze your competitor's ads, check when they appear. Further, assess how often they rotate their ads to identify when they think their audience is most ready to buy.

Test What You Learn

The strategies working for your competitors may not always be effective for your brand. So, instead of copying their Google ads, test their ideas.

Run two ad or landing page versions to see which one performs better. You could also A/B test headlines, offers, and CTAs, but only change one thing at a time to track accurate results.

Reach the Best Prospects With Taradel Google Ad Services

Learning how to check a competitor's Google Ads helps improve your online marketing strategies. Use Google Ads spy tools to identify their keywords and how much they spend on ads.

Explore your competitor's landing pages and analyze their ad copy, then use the information to boost your visibility and improve targeting.

Taradel has a team of seasoned marketing experts with an average tenure of 13 years. We can help you elevate your business by turning your ambitious goals into achievable ones. Plan your campaign with us today.