Ad research

21/09/2026 3 min read

Competitor ad research: start with the public libraries

The topic hub for ad research: what the three public libraries hold, how to read them, and what is definitely not in there.

21/09/2026 6 min read

Large platforms are required to publish the ads they run. Reading those libraries tells you where a rival is putting money, for free.

21/09/2026 3 min read

Top ads by country and industry, not searchable by brand name. How to use what it actually holds.

21/09/2026 3 min read

Nobody knows a competitor's budget. But how long an ad has been alive is the best substitute, and it is public.

21/09/2026 3 min read

A five-question frame for taking apart any video ad, and how to turn the result into a brief.

21/09/2026 3 min read

The landing page says more than the creative: it tells you what action they are optimising for, and what they measure.

21/09/2026 3 min read

Every competitor budget figure is a guess. Four measurable substitutes, and they answer the question you actually have.

21/09/2026 3 min read

A folder of images nobody opens is worthless. How to structure a swipe file so the edit team finds what they need.

21/09/2026 3 min read

Fifteen boxes to fill per competitor, in three groups. Print it and fill it in an afternoon.

21/09/2026 3 min read

The beauty industry has its own advertising conventions. How to read the industry pattern, and three content limits to remember.

21/09/2026 3 min read

Which industry runs the most ads is a measurable question, but not by counting ads. Three substitutes that work.