Understanding how your competition uses Google AdWords can put you ahead while running your PPC campaigns. But what if you don’t have to spend money on costly competitor analysis software? The following tutorial will demonstrate how to use alternative tools and methods to conduct Google AdWords competitor analysis for free. Both beginners and advanced users can use these steps to improve their ads and dominate the competition game.
Why Google AdWords Competitor Analysis is Important
Let’s first understand why analysis of competitors’ Google Ads matters before discussing tools and techniques:
- Identify Winning Strategies – Look at what your competitors have successfully done.
- Discover High-Performing keywords that generate traffic.
- Optimize Your Ad Copy using competitor analysis to Create more effective ad copies.
- Improve Budget Allocation – Do not waste ad spend by knowing how competitors’ bidding behaviour.
- Enhance ROI – Make informed decisions based on data to yield maximum return on investment.
Okay, let’s see how you can get free Google AdWords competitor analysis without spending money on paid tools.
Free Tools for Google AdWords Competitor Analysis
Among the most superior free tools for performing competitor Google Ads analysis are:
1. Google Ads Transparency Center
Google just launched the Ads Transparency Center, through which you can view all active ads currently running on Google.
How to use:
- Go to Google Ads Transparency Center.
- Input your competitor’s website or brand.
- View their active ad copies and learn their strategies.
Best for: Monitoring competitors’ live copy and ads.
2. Google Keyword Planner
Use it to know what keywords your competitors are bidding on.
How to use:
- Go to Google Ads → Tools → Keyword Planner.
- Type in a competitor site in “Discover new keywords.”
- Obtain their paid relevant keywords.
Best for: Competitor PPC keyword discovery.
3. SEMrush (Free Version)
SEMrush provides some free competitor PPC discoveries.
How to use:
- Create a free SEMrush account.
- Put in your competitor domain in “Advertising Research.”
- Discover their top-paid keywords and ad copies.
Best for: Light PPC keyword and ad analysis.
4. SpyFu (Free Plan)
SpyFu gives you a free look at a competitor’s history of Google Ads.
How to use:
- Go to SpyFu and input your competitor’s domain.
- See their paid keywords, ad text, and approximate monthly spending.
Best for keyword tracking and historical records.
5. Google Search & Ad Preview Tool
The easiest way to spy on competitors is to keyword search manually by your niche and view who’s advertising.
How to use:
- Use the Google Ad Preview Tool not to affect your campaign.
- Search your target keywords and check out competitors’ ad copies.
Best for: Seeing actual Google Ads placements.
How to Analyze Competitor Google Ads (Step-by-Step)
- Get Your Top Competitors – Search your main keywords on Google and note down competitors appearing in ads.
- Check Their Ad Copies – Research for trends in headlines, descriptions, and CTAs.
- Inspect Their Landing Pages – Inspect the design of their landing pages, product offerings, and conversion rate.
- Discover Their PPC Keywords – Google Keyword Planner & SEMrush.
- Track Budget & Bidding Strategies – Keep their ad cost estimated with SpyFu.
- Track Shifts Over Time – Keep competitor analysis spreadsheet up to date.
- Comparing Ad Extensions: Look for site links, callouts, and structured snippets your competition is using to provide value from their ads.
- Monitor Ad Frequency & Timings – See when your competition advertises most frequently and place yours at those times.
Pro Tips to Outrank Your Competitors
- Employ High-Intent Keywords – Utilize commercial intent keywords for improved conversion.
- Enhance Your Ad Copy – Craft compelling headlines & descriptions with the right CTAs.
- Optimize Landing Pages – Provide good load speed, mobile friendliness, and CTA.
- Monitor & Adapt – Watch for competitors’ new actions and change your ads accordingly.
- Use Negative Keywords – Find unused keywords for searches most likely competing for that competition and remove them from your campaigns.
- A/B Test Your Ads – Experiment with several different versions of ads to understand what’s superior.
Common Mistakes to Avoid in Google Ads Competitor Analysis
- Unthinkingly Copying the Competitors – Simply because a competitor bids on a keyword does not necessarily mean it will work for you.
- Not Considering Search Intent – Ensure keywords you’re bidding on are also related to user intent.
- Not Monitoring Performance – Monitor your ad performance and adjust based on data.
- Not Remembering Quality Score – A high Quality Score can lower CPC and enhance ad rank.
- Not Testing Various Ad Formats – Test responsive search ads, display ads, and video ads.
Stay Ahead of the Competition
With the right tools and approach, Performing Google AdWords competitor analysis free is possible. By leveraging Google’s free resources and third-party tools, you can gain valuable insights into your competitors’ strategies and improve your campaigns.
Ready to level up your Google Ads strategy? Use these tools and techniques to refine your PPC campaigns and boost ROI!
FAQs
Google Ads Transparency Center and Google Keyword Planner are great free competitor ad and keyword analysis tools.
Yes, competitor ad spend estimates exist, such as SpyFu and SEMrush, but they won’t always be 100% accurate.
You must monitor competitors once a month to keep up with their ad campaigns and make any needed adjustments.
Negative keywords prevent your ads from being displayed on irrelevant searches, thus saving budget and increasing ad relevance.
Yes, but also observe unique, high-intention keywords and maximize your ad copy to outperform the competition.
