How to Spy on Your Competitors' LinkedIn Ads: A Guide

Getting started on spying on your competitor's ads

There are a few different ways to spy on your competitors' LinkedIn Ads. The first is to use LinkedIn's own built-in tools. LinkedIn provides a tool called the Campaign Manager, which allows you to see all of the ads that have been run by a specific company. You can use this tool to see what kinds of ads your competitors are running and get an idea of their overall strategy.But...You can also easily see what ads any company is running on LinkedIn by first visiting their LinkedIn company page, clicking on the Posts Tab and then the Ads button, as seen below.

Use Third-Party tools

Another way to spy on your competitors' LinkedIn Ads is to use third-party tools. There are a number of these available, but one of the most popular is SocialPilot. SocialPilot allows you to track all of the social media activity for a specific company, including their LinkedIn Ads. This too can be a great way to get the inside scoop.

What about your own LinkedIn Ads strategy?

Once you have a good idea of what your competitors are up to, it's time to start thinking about your own LinkedIn Ads strategy. What can you do to make your ads stand out? How can you target your audience more effectively? And how can you make sure your ads are getting seen by the right people? These are all important questions to ask as you develop your LinkedIn Ads strategy.Spying on your competitors' LinkedIn Ads can be a great way to get inspiration and ideas for your own campaigns. By using the built-in tools or third-party software, you can get a detailed look at what's working well for them, and adapt and improve upon it for your own business.

How to come up with good LinkedIn ads ideas

Another way to generate good ideas is simply to brainstorm your ideal customers' pains and challenges. If you know what their day-to-day looks like and the main problems they're trying to solve, you can create an ad that directly addresses those needs. For example, if you sell software that helps with project management, you could target people who have recently been promoted to a leadership position and are looking for help managing their team's workload.

Now it's time to start creating those ads

Once you have some ideas for your LinkedIn Ads, it's time to start creating! If you need some help getting started, check out our guide to creating high-performing Paid Social Ads. Start with your goals, what do you actually want to achieve with this ad? Are you looking for awareness, then perhaps a video ad would be a good option. Or are you looking for conversions, in which case a lead generation form might be a better option? Keep your goals in mind as you create your ad, and make sure the content and call-to-action are aligned with what you're trying to achieve.

Make sure you have the right budget

Once you know your goals and have selected the best type of ads, it's time to look into your budget. Typically LinkedIn ads cost between $0.50 and $40 per click, so you'll want to make sure you have a budget that can sustain your campaigns. The best way to find out is by testing different ad types and budgets to see what works best for your business.Keep in mind that clicks aren't always the best way to go, awareness campaigns aim to create good cost-per-impression or cost-per-mile metrics. While conversion campaigns you'll want to focus on cost-per-conversion or return-on-ad spend.

How to stand out with your LinkedIn Ads

It's important when creating your LinkedIn ads that you aim to stand out. You can do this by creating ads that are visually appealing and target a specific audience. Keep in mind that your ad should be relevant to what you're trying to sell and that it should also be timely. For example, if you're selling winter coats, you'll want to create an ad that's relevant to the season.When creating your ad, make sure to use strong imagery and headlines. Your headline should be attention-grabbing and relevant to the product or service you're promoting. The image you use should also be high quality and relevant to the ad copy. Keep in mind that people are more likely to engage with ads that are visually appealing, so make sure your ads are well-designed and eye-catching.

Here's a good example of a well-designed and eye-catching ad on Linkedin:

[caption id="attachment_4069" align="aligncenter" width="534"]

Linkedin ad example by Salesforce[/caption]You can also go another route and use what we call Lo-Fi content. This is content that is less polished and more authentic. This can be a great way to connect with your audience on a more personal level. For example, if you're selling software that helps small businesses, you could create an ad that features a testimonial from one of your customers, and it can be simply produced using your phone's photo and video features.

Here's a good example of a LoFi content ad on LinkedIn:

[caption id="attachment_4070" align="aligncenter" width="594"]

Linkedin ad example by Citrix[/caption]

And that's it!

LinkedIn Ads are a great way to reach out to potential customers on the world's largest professional network. By using the built-in tools or third-party software, you can get a detailed look at what's working well for them, and adapt and improve upon it for your own business. With a little creativity, you can create ads that stand out and target your ideal customer. And by keeping your goals in mind, you can ensure that your LinkedIn Ads are successful.Now you know how to spy on your competitor's LinkedIn Ads and create your own campaigns. Remember to keep your goals in mind, test different ad types and budgets, and always be thinking about ways to improve your ads. With a little effort, you'll be running successful LinkedIn Ads campaigns in no time!Still, have questions? Our team of social media experts would be happy to help you out. Contact us today for a free consultation!