---
name: competitive-ads-extractor
description: Extracts and analyzes competitors' ads from ad libraries (Facebook, LinkedIn, etc.) to understand what messaging, problems, and creative approaches are working. Helps inspire and improve your own ad campaigns.
---

# Competitive Ads Extractor

This skill extracts your competitors' ads from ad libraries and analyzes what's working—the problems they're highlighting, use cases they're targeting, and copy/creative that's resonating.

## Prerequisites

- **Web scraping tools**: For accessing ad libraries (Selenium, Playwright, or direct APIs)
- **Optional**: Facebook Business API or LinkedIn Ads API for programmatic access

## When to Use This Skill

- Researching competitor ad strategies
- Finding inspiration for your own ads
- Understanding market positioning
- Identifying successful ad patterns
- Analyzing messaging that works
- Discovering new use cases or pain points
- Planning ad campaigns with proven concepts

## What This Skill Does

1. **Extracts Ads**: Scrapes ads from Facebook Ad Library, LinkedIn, etc.
2. **Captures Screenshots**: Saves visual copies of all ads
3. **Analyzes Messaging**: Identifies problems, use cases, and value props
4. **Categorizes Ads**: Groups by theme, audience, or format
5. **Identifies Patterns**: Finds common successful approaches
6. **Provides Insights**: Explains why certain ads likely perform well

## How to Use

### Basic Extraction

```
Extract all current ads from [Competitor Name] on Facebook Ad Library
```

```
Scrape ads from [Company] and analyze their messaging
```

### Specific Analysis

```
Get all ads from [Competitor] focusing on their messaging 
about [specific problem]. What pain points are they highlighting?
```

### Competitive Set

```
Extract ads from these 5 competitors: [list]. 
Compare their approaches and tell me what's working.
```

### Specific Platform

```
Get LinkedIn ads from [Competitor] and analyze their 
B2B positioning strategy
```

## Example

**User**: "Extract ads from Notion on Facebook Ad Library and tell me what messaging is working for them."

**Process**:
```
Accessing Facebook Ad Library...
Searching for: Notion
Found: 23 active ads

Extracting screenshots...
[████████████████████] 100%

Saved to: competitor-ads/notion/
- ad-001-collaboration.png
- ad-002-productivity.png
- ad-003-templates.png
...

Analyzing messaging...
```

**Output**:
```
# Notion Ad Analysis

## Overview
- Total Ads: 23 active
- Primary Themes: Productivity (35%), Collaboration (30%), 
  Templates (20%), AI Features (15%)
- Ad Formats: Static images (60%), Video (40%)
- CTA Patterns: "Try for free", "Get started"

## Key Problems They're Highlighting

1. **Scattered Information** (8 ads)
   Copy: "Stop switching between 10 different tools"
   Why it works: Direct pain point many teams face

2. **Meeting Overload** (5 ads)
   Copy: "Replace unnecessary meetings with async updates"
   Why it works: Post-COVID remote work pain point

3. **Lost Documentation** (4 ads)
   Copy: "Never ask 'where is that doc?' again"
   Why it works: Universal workplace frustration

## Successful Creative Patterns

### Pattern 1: Before/After Split
- Shows chaotic tool landscape → Clean Notion workspace
- Used in 6 high-performing ads
- Visual metaphor is immediately clear

### Pattern 2: Feature Showcase
- GIF of actual product usage
- Shows specific feature in 5 seconds
- Used for new features (AI, templates)

### Pattern 3: Social Proof
- "Join 20M users" messaging
- Customer logos
- Used in 4 ads targeting enterprise

## Copy That's Working

Best Headlines:
1. "Your team's knowledge, finally in one place"
   → Benefit-focused, addresses pain directly
   
2. "The all-in-one workspace"
   → Clear positioning, broad appeal
   
3. "AI that actually helps you work"
   → Addresses AI skepticism, practical angle

Best Body Copy Patterns:
- Short sentences (under 10 words)
- Focus on outcomes not features
- Include specific numbers ("Cut meetings by 50%")

## Audience Targeting Insights

Based on ad variations:
- Startup founders: Solo productivity angle
- Team leads: Collaboration and alignment
- Enterprise: Security and compliance mentions
- Students: Free plan, templates, organization

## Recommendations for Your Ads

1. **Test the "tool sprawl" pain point**
   → Strong resonance based on their ad frequency

2. **Use product screenshots over abstract visuals**
   → All their top ads show actual UI

3. **Lead with the problem, not the solution**
   → "Tired of X?" performs better than "Introducing Y"

4. **Keep copy under 100 characters**
   → Their shortest ads seem most frequent

5. **Test before/after visual formats**
   → Proven pattern in their creative

## Files Saved
- All ads: ~/competitor-ads/notion/
- Analysis: ~/competitor-ads/notion/analysis.md
- Best performers: ~/competitor-ads/notion/top-10/
```

**Inspired by:** Sumant Subrahmanya's use case from Lenny's Newsletter

## What You Can Learn

### Messaging Analysis
- What problems they emphasize
- How they position against competition
- Value propositions that resonate
- Target audience segments

### Creative Patterns
- Visual styles that work
- Video vs. static image performance
- Color schemes and branding
- Layout patterns

### Copy Formulas
- Headline structures
- Call-to-action patterns
- Length and tone
- Emotional triggers

### Campaign Strategy
- Seasonal campaigns
- Product launch approaches
- Feature announcement tactics
- Retargeting patterns

## Best Practices

### Legal & Ethical
✓ Only use for research and inspiration
✓ Don't copy ads directly
✓ Respect intellectual property
✓ Use insights to inform original creative
✗ Don't plagiarize copy or steal designs

### Analysis Tips
1. **Look for patterns**: What themes repeat?
2. **Track over time**: Save ads monthly to see evolution
3. **Test hypotheses**: Adapt successful patterns for your brand
4. **Segment by audience**: Different messages for different targets
5. **Compare platforms**: LinkedIn vs Facebook messaging differs

## Advanced Features

### Trend Tracking
```
Compare [Competitor]'s ads from Q1 vs Q2. 
What messaging has changed?
```

### Multi-Competitor Analysis
```
Extract ads from [Company A], [Company B], [Company C]. 
What are the common patterns? Where do they differ?
```

### Industry Benchmarks
```
Show me ad patterns across the top 10 project management 
tools. What problems do they all focus on?
```

### Format Analysis
```
Analyze video ads vs static image ads from [Competitor]. 
Which gets more engagement? (if data available)
```

## Common Workflows

### Ad Campaign Planning
1. Extract competitor ads
2. Identify successful patterns
3. Note gaps in their messaging
4. Brainstorm unique angles
5. Draft test ad variations

### Positioning Research
1. Get ads from 5 competitors
2. Map their positioning
3. Find underserved angles
4. Develop differentiated messaging
5. Test against their approaches

### Creative Inspiration
1. Extract ads by theme
2. Analyze visual patterns
3. Note color and layout trends
4. Adapt successful patterns
5. Create original variations

## Tips for Success

1. **Regular Monitoring**: Check monthly for changes
2. **Broad Research**: Look at adjacent competitors too
3. **Save Everything**: Build a reference library
4. **Test Insights**: Run your own experiments
5. **Track Performance**: A/B test inspired concepts
6. **Stay Original**: Use for inspiration, not copying
7. **Multiple Platforms**: Compare Facebook, LinkedIn, TikTok, etc.

## Output Formats

- **Screenshots**: All ads saved as images
- **Analysis Report**: Markdown summary of insights
- **Spreadsheet**: CSV with ad copy, CTAs, themes
- **Presentation**: Visual deck of top performers
- **Pattern Library**: Categorized by approach

## Related Use Cases

- Writing better ad copy for your campaigns
- Understanding market positioning
- Finding content gaps in your messaging
- Discovering new use cases for your product
- Planning product marketing strategy
- Inspiring social media content

