Why Your Competitors’ Social Media Ads Are Winning (And How to Fix Yours)
If you’ve ever looked at your competitors’ social media ads and thought, “Why are theirs working better than mine?” you’re not alone. Many businesses spend money on ads that don’t deliver results, while others seem to attract customers effortlessly.
But it’s not about luck. It’s about understanding what’s working and using that to your advantage. Let’s break down why their ads might be outperforming yours and how you can start seeing better results without wasting money.
1. They Focus on What’s Already Working
A common mistake in advertising is trying to be completely unique every time. While creativity is important, there’s no need to start from scratch when proven strategies already exist.
What You Can Do: Instead of guessing, look at what’s working for your competitors. Pay attention to the type of ads they run, the way they talk to their audience, and the offers they promote. Take what’s working and apply it in a way that fits your brand.
2. They Know Exactly Who They’re Talking To
The best ads aren’t just seen by more people, they speak to the right people too. If their ads are performing better, it’s likely because they’ve taken the time to understand who their ideal customers are and what they want to see and hear.
Action Step: Think about who buys from you the most. What age group do they fall into? Where do they live? What interests do they have? When you have a clear idea of who your audience is, you can make sure your ads are seen by the people most likely to buy.
3. They Use High-Performing Ad Formats
Right now, short-form video ads are outperforming static images for most industries. This could be a quick win if you don’t already use them. Platforms like Instagram Reels, TikTok, and Facebook Video Ads are delivering much higher engagement.
Why It Works: People scroll fast. Videos grab attention quicker than images, and they feel more like regular content than an ad. People need to be WOW’d enough to stop their “doom-scrolling” on social media.
What You Can Do: If you’re only using image-based ads, try adding short video clips. Even simple ones—like showing your product in action or a quick customer testimonial—can make a big difference.
4 They Test & Improve Their Ads Over Time
Successful businesses don’t just launch an ad and hope for the best. They test different versions to see what works best and learn from every campaign. There’s so much you can do, so take an approach that isn’t overwhelming but gets the testing done well.
Action Step: If you’re running ads, try testing different versions with small changes. Something like swapping out the image or tweaking the headline. Keep an eye on which version performs better and put more budget behind that one.
5. They Stay in Front of Customers with Retargeting
Most people don’t buy the first time they see an ad. But smart businesses don’t let them disappear, they bring them back with retargeting ads. A lot of the time you can track people enough to see if they have actually checked out your product, if they haven’t, you’ve already paid money to show them an ad and bring them to your site, so why let them slip away!
Example: Ever looked at a product online and then started seeing ads for it everywhere? That’s retargeting, and it helps turn interested shoppers into actual customers as they get familiar with your brand and build trust the more they see you.
What You Can Do: If you’re running ads, make sure you have a way to follow up with people who have already shown interest. Even a simple reminder ad can boost your sales.
6. They Use Social Proof to Build Trust
Your competitors know that people trust other customers more than they trust businesses. That’s why their best ads feature reviews, testimonials, or real customer stories. Don’t lie, as this can kill your brand entirely. Be clear. Be truthful. Be the best at what you do and the rest will shine through!
How to Apply This: If you’ve got great customer feedback, use it in your ads. Even a simple “Rated 5 stars by 200+ happy customers” can boost trust and improve your results by a mile!
7. Watch Competitors & Learn
Smart businesses keep an eye on what others are doing. Do not always just copy them, but see what’s working, what’s not, and leverage everything you can find to give you and your business the best step forwards.
What You Can Do: Use free tools like Facebook Ad Library to check what ads your competitors are running. If they’ve been using the same ad for months, it’s probably working well. Look at what they’re doing right and use those insights to improve your own ads.
BONUS: What’s Working Well Right Now?
REELS! If you’re selling physical products, one of the best-performing ad types right now is Instagram and Facebook Reels ads.
• Showing your product in real-life situations instead of just a static image
• Using user-generated content (real people demonstrating your product)
• Keeping videos short and fast-paced—under 15 seconds
• Letting the algorithm do the work by targeting broad audiences
Even if you’re already running ads, small tweaks like this could be the missing piece that makes them profitable.
Final Thoughts: Make Ads Work Like Your Kitchen Tap!
What do we mean by that? Well, the best businesses don’t guess with their ads, they create repeatable systems that bring in customers when they need them.
The goal? To turn ads into a tap that you switch on when business is slow and off when you’re at full capacity.
Want a second opinion on your ads? We can take a look at what you’re currently running and see where you might be losing money or missing opportunities. Let’s chat and see how we can help!?
