Creative Ways to Prospect for Companies With Ad Spend

In today’s competitive market, finding companies that are actively spending on advertising can be a goldmine for sales professionals, marketers, and business development teams. But how do you identify these companies effectively?

In this blog post, we’ll explore some creative and actionable strategies to prospect for companies with ad spend. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just starting out, these tips will help you uncover valuable leads and grow your business.

Why Target Companies With Ad Spend?

Before diving into the strategies, it’s essential to understand why targeting companies with ad spend is beneficial. Companies that invest in advertising are typically:

• Actively seeking growth and new customers
• More likely to have a budget for additional marketing services
• Open to exploring new tools and platforms to enhance their advertising efforts

By focusing on these companies, you can align your offerings with their goals and increase your chances of closing deals.

1. Utilize Ad Intelligence Tools

Ad intelligence tools are a treasure trove of information when it comes to identifying companies with ad spend. These tools provide insights into where companies are advertising, how much they’re spending, and the types of ads they’re running. Some popular ad intelligence tools include:

• SEMrush: Offers detailed reports on paid search and display advertising.
• SpyFu: Allows you to see competitors’ ad spend and keywords.
• Adbeat: Provides data on display advertising across various networks.

Here are some others worth checking out:

• Moat
• SimilarWeb
• Pathmatics
• AdClarity
• WhatRunsWhere
• Comscore
• iSpionage
• Kantar Media
• SocialPeta
• MediaRadar
• – AdGooroo
• AdEspresso

These tools provide various insights into advertising strategies, ad spends, and competitive analysis, helping you understand where companies are investing their ad budgets.

By leveraging these tools, you can create a list of potential prospects and tailor your outreach based on their advertising strategies.

2. Monitor Social Media Ads

Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn are popular advertising channels for many companies. By monitoring these platforms, you can identify businesses that are actively running ads.

1. Facebook Ad Library

Facebook Ad Library is a free and comprehensive tool that lets you explore active ads across Facebook and Instagram. It’s ideal for understanding how brands are positioning themselves and how much they might be investing in their campaigns.

Pros

– Free to use
– Offers insights on ad performance and reach
– User-friendly interface

Cons

– Limited to Facebook and Instagram
– No direct spending metrics available

2. AdEspresso

AdEspresso by Hootsuite is a robust tool designed for those who want to delve deeper into Facebook and Instagram ads. It provides detailed analytics and helps in optimizing ad campaigns.

Pros

– Advanced analytics and reporting
– Ad campaign optimization features
– Comparative analysis of different ad sets

Cons

– Subscription-based pricing
– Limited to Facebook and Instagram

3. SEMrush

SEMrush is widely known for its SEO tools, but it also offers powerful features for social media ad monitoring. You can get insights into competitors’ ad strategies across multiple platforms.

Pros

– Multi-platform support (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, etc.)
– Comprehensive competitor analysis tools
– Detailed reports

Cons

– Can be expensive for small businesses
– Requires familiarity with the platform to make the most of its features

4. SpyFu

SpyFu is another versatile tool that provides insights into competitors’ ad strategies across Google and Bing. While it’s primarily focused on PPC, it offers valuable data on social media ads as well.

Pros

– In-depth competitor analysis
– Historical ad data
– Keyword and domain comparisons

Cons

– Limited to Google and Bing for ad spend details
– Can be complex for beginners

5. Socialbakers

Socialbakers provides a wide array of social media analytics, including ad spend analysis. It’s a great tool for those who want to monitor multiple aspects of social media performance.

Pros

– Supports multiple social media platforms
– Comprehensive analytics dashboard
– Customizable reports

Cons

– Higher pricing tiers
– Steeper learning curve

6. Pathmatics

Pathmatics offers visual and detailed insights into digital advertising, including social media. It’s particularly useful for understanding ad creatives and spend.

Pros

– Visual representation of ad data
– Multi-platform support (including social media and display ads)
– Detailed spend and impression metrics

Cons

– Higher cost
– Requires training to fully utilize its features

7. Adbeat

Adbeat specializes in competitive intelligence and ad monitoring. It’s ideal for tracking how much competitors are spending on their advertising efforts across various platforms.

Pros

– Multi-platform ad monitoring
– Detailed spend and performance metrics
– Historical ad data

Cons

– Can be expensive
– Primarily focused on larger businesses

3. Analyze Competitor Activity

Keeping an eye on your competitors can provide valuable insights into potential prospects. If a competitor is targeting a specific company, there’s a good chance that company is investing in advertising. Here’s how you can analyze competitor activity:

• Google Alerts: Set up alerts for your competitors’ names to receive notifications about their activities.
• Website Analysis: Use tools like SimilarWeb to analyze your competitors’ website traffic and advertising sources.
• Social Media Monitoring: Follow your competitors on social media to see who they’re engaging with and targeting.

By understanding your competitors’ strategies, you can identify potential prospects and position your offerings as a better alternative.

4. Leverage Industry Reports and Publications

Industry reports and publications often highlight companies that are actively investing in advertising. These sources can provide valuable insights into market trends and potential prospects. Some ways to leverage industry reports include:

• Trade Publications: Subscribe to industry-specific magazines and newsletters to stay updated on companies making waves in your field.
• Market Research Reports: Purchase or access reports from firms like Nielsen, Gartner, or Forrester to identify top advertisers in your industry.
• Press Releases: Monitor press releases for announcements about new advertising campaigns or budget increases.

By staying informed about industry trends, you can identify companies with ad spend and tailor your outreach accordingly.

5. Attend Industry Events and Conferences

Industry events and conferences are excellent opportunities to network with companies that are investing in advertising. These events often attract businesses looking to showcase their products and services, making them prime targets for prospecting. Here’s how to make the most of industry events:

• Attend Sessions: Participate in sessions and workshops to learn about companies’ advertising strategies and goals.
• Network: Engage with attendees during networking breaks and exchange contact information.
• Exhibit: If possible, set up a booth to showcase your offerings and attract potential prospects.

By actively participating in industry events, you can build relationships with companies that have ad spend and explore potential collaboration opportunities.

6. Use LinkedIn Sales Navigator

LinkedIn Sales Navigator is a powerful tool for identifying and connecting with potential prospects. It offers advanced search filters that allow you to find companies based on their advertising activities. Here’s how to use LinkedIn Sales Navigator effectively:

• Advanced Search: Use filters like industry, company size, and job title to narrow down your search.
• Lead Recommendations: Take advantage of LinkedIn’s lead recommendations to discover new prospects.
• InMail: Use InMail to send personalized messages to decision-makers at target companies.

By leveraging LinkedIn Sales Navigator, you can identify companies with ad spend and connect with key decision-makers to pitch your offerings.

Comparison of Ad Intelligence Tools

FAQ

What are ad intelligence tools?

Ad intelligence tools provide insights into companies’ advertising activities, including where they advertise, how much they spend, and the types of ads they run.

How can I find companies running social media ads?

You can use tools like Facebook Ad Library, monitor industry hashtags on Instagram, and search for sponsored content on LinkedIn to find companies running social media ads.

Why should I target companies with ad spend?

Companies with ad spend are actively seeking growth, have a budget for marketing services, and are open to exploring new tools and platforms, making them ideal prospects.

What is LinkedIn Sales Navigator?

LinkedIn Sales Navigator is a premium tool that offers advanced search filters, lead recommendations, and InMail capabilities to help you identify and connect with potential prospects.

Conclusion

Prospecting for companies with ad spend requires a combination of creativity, research, and strategic outreach. By utilizing ad intelligence tools, monitoring social media ads, analyzing competitor activity, leveraging industry reports, attending events, and using LinkedIn Sales Navigator, you can uncover valuable leads and grow your business.

Remember, the key to successful prospecting is to stay informed, be proactive, and tailor your approach to meet the specific needs of your target companies.

Happy prospecting!