Google Ads Competitor Analysis: How to Get Ahead

Use Cases
Mamta August 28, 2024

The average conversion rate for Google Ads ranges between 3.1% and 6%. Now, if your numbers are closer to the lower end, it is time to examine what your competitors are doing differently. 

That’s where Google Ads competitor analysis comes into play. By analyzing their strategies—like the keywords they target or the ad copy they use—you can seek inspiration for your own campaigns. 

In this blog, I will dive into in-depth competitor analysis for Google Ads and how you can make the most of it. So, if you’re someone who has never analyzed competitor activity for your PPC campaigns, let’s get started!  

Why Do You Need to Conduct Competitor Google Ads Analysis?  

Competitor Google Ads analysis is all about deriving useful information that helps make your own brand campaigns better. Once you start spotting trends or unique selling points, it gets easier to understand what might attract potential customers. 

Here are a few reasons to conduct detailed Google Ads competitor research before initiating any new marketing campaign:  

Spot Keyword Gaps & Market Trends  

With Google Ads competitor analysis, you can easily discover untapped keyword opportunities and track real-time shifts in market trends. By monitoring competing businesses’ advertising campaigns, you can: 

• Identify high-performing keywords you might have overlooked 

• Spot emerging trends before they become mainstream 

• Adjust your strategy to capitalize on market shifts 

Uncover Creative Strategies and Ad Copy 

More often than not, a dash of creative inspiration can go a long way. Competitor analysis for Google Ads creatives can help you identify winning formulas and unique selling propositions that resonate with your target audience.  

By analyzing the messaging, tone, and visuals of your competitors, you can fine-tune your own approach to be more relevant and distinctive. 

Optimize Your Ads and Reduce Learning Curve 

Once you have a look at successful competitor campaigns, you can fast-track your own ad optimization process.  

With this approach, you can refine your messaging, improve ad creatives, and reduce the time it takes to achieve optimal campaign performance. This way, you can avoid common mistakes and focus on strategies that are more likely to work. 

How to Check Competitors Google Ads?  

Now that we’ve discussed the basics, let’s see how to find competitors Google Ads and analyze their strategies for better insights.  

Primarily, there are three ways to find competitor ads: 

Using Google Ads Transparency Center  

To help you have easy access to ad campaigns, Google offers an Ad Transparency Center.  

It is like a vast library that includes all ads run by verified advertisers. You can search for specific companies, view their active ads, and filter by region or ad type. 

But remember – while Ads Transparency Center is helpful for a quick overview, it doesn’t provide advanced insights like performance metrics or ad variations over time. 

Google Ads Transparency Center screenshot

Reviewing Ads Through Search Engine Results 

One of the simplest ways to see what your competitors are up to is by checking the ads that appear in search engine results.  

Just type in the keywords relevant to your industry or niche into Google. This will show you which ads are currently being displayed at the top and bottom of the search results page. 

Now, you can get a sense of what your competitors are focusing on. Notice the language they use and the offers they promote. Are they emphasizing discounts, unique selling points, or free trials? 

Google screenshot showing sponsored posts

Exploring Results with Competitive Analysis Tools 

With third-party competitive analysis tools, you can check what your competitors are doing with their Google Ads. In a nutshell, these Google AdWords competitor analysis tools work just like the Transparency Center, only with some additional benefits.  

For example: you can compare multiple competitors at once. This means you can see side-by-side comparisons of different ad strategies, making it easier to spot what’s working well and what’s not. 

👉 BONUS TIP: It is also important to check the landing pages linked to their ads.  

A good landing page should make it easy for users to navigate. It should match the message from the ad and help guide visitors to convert.  

Utilizing Vaizle’s Google Ad Spy Tool 

When it comes to competitive analysis tools, Vaizle is one of the easiest and most effective options available.  

With the free ad spy tool, Vaizle lets you check active advertisements for the last 30 days on Google, Meta, & LinkedIn.  

All you need to do is enter the advertiser’s name or keyword for which you want to analyze ads. Now, you can view all active ads for different competitors and platforms on the same dashboard.  

Google Ad Spy tool by Vaizle

Taking Your Google AdWords Competitor Analysis to the Next Level  

To take your competitor Google AdWords competitor analysis free of cost to the next level, you need to dig deeper into their strategies. It’s not just about knowing which keywords they target or what their ad copy looks like.  

You should also analyze how they manage their bids, when they schedule ads to run for maximum impact, and how they optimize for Quality Scores.  

Understanding these details helps you spot patterns and opportunities that could give you a significant edge in your campaigns. By focusing on these advanced aspects, you can refine your own strategy and achieve better results. 

Here’s how you can get started with advanced competitor analysis for Google Ads:  

Monitoring Competitor Ad Frequency and Scheduling  

Observing how often competitor ads appear gives you insights into how they reach their audience. Are they showing ads frequently to stay top of mind, or do they space them out to avoid ad fatigue? 

Additionally, noticing when competitors run their ads can reveal key times they target potential customers.  

Understanding these patterns can help you optimize your own ad timing to reach your audience when they’re most likely to engage, maximizing the impact of your budget. 

Analyzing Competitor Budget Allocation and Bid Strategies  

While it’s easy to find competitors Google Ads using the right tools, determining exactly how much they spend is much more challenging. However, you can get a rough estimate by looking closely at their ads.  

For example: If their ads show up more for certain keywords or if they often rank above your ads for important keywords, this might mean they are spending more.  

Optimize Your Campaigns with Vaizle’s Google Ad Analysis 

Now that you’ve explored how competitor analysis can refine your Google Ads strategy, it’s important to also focus on optimizing your own campaigns. 

Free Google Ad Analysis tool by Vaizle can help you do so instantly. Simply log in with your Google account, select the ad account you want to analyze, and voila – you will now get clear insights into your own ad performance for the past 30 days.  

You can track KPIs, get a graphical overview of daily ad performance, access campaign-level analysis, and more.

Conclusion 

In conclusion, Google Ads competitor analysis is a powerful way to enhance your ad strategy. By understanding the tactics and strategies used by industry leaders, you can make more informed decisions for your own campaigns. Tools like Vaizle simplify this process by providing valuable insights that can boost your ad performance. 

Beyond competitor analysis, Vaizle also offers comprehensive analytics for various social media and ad platforms. Start your 7-day trial today and simplify your marketing tasks today.

google ads competitor analysis

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I identify who my main competitors are?

You can begin by looking for your target keywords in search engine results. Take note of the websites that keep showing up and check which businesses consistently rank well in your niche. Also, you can use tools to discover who bids on the same keywords as you. 

Once done, you can find competitors Google Ads and start optimizing your own campaigns accordingly.  

What tools can I use for Google Ads competitor analysis?

You can use tools like Google Ads Transparency Center and Vaizle’s Ad Spy tool to conduct Google Ads competitor analysis. Here, you can find competitors’ Google Ads creatives and copy by simply entering the advertiser’s name.  

 Also, an advertising research tool can help you find other competitors. This will show you who is bidding on the same keywords. It can also provide insights into their search campaigns. This information can give you a useful competitive edge. 

About the Author

Mamta

Mamta

Mamta is an SEO Analyst with 2 years of experience. Currently, she is spending her time on content roadmapping to drive organic growth and engagement for SaaS businesses. Mamta is also an avid cinephile who spends her spare time watching latest action and sci-fi flicks from around the world.

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