What Research Do You Need To Do Before Your First Ad?

Throwing money at a problem and hoping it works? Risky.

That’s what running an ad without research feels like.

Paid ads need a plan, a target, and the right message.

Let’s break it down:

1. Get inside your audience’s head

Great ads connect with the right people at the right moment. Ask yourself:

• What problem are you solving? Are they stressed, busy, or treating themselves?
• What motivates them? Price, quality, or trends?
• What’s their daily life like? Timing matters.

Pro tip: Use customer surveys, reviews, or conversations to uncover their real needs. Ads work best when they feel personal.

2. Spy on competitors (nicely)

If they have a bigger budget, they’ve likely nailed their ads already. Learn from them:

• What ads are they running?
• What’s performing well? Look for likes, comments, and shares.
• What’s missing? Find gaps and do it better.

Cool tool:?Meta’s Ad Library lets you peek into other brands’ ads for inspiration.

3. Make it scroll-stopping

The hook is (almost) everything. Think: visual, audio, text.

• Be emotional: Tap into what your audience wants or needs.
• Use bold visuals: Bright colours, funny moments, or striking text.

Test it first: Post your idea organically to see what grabs attention and holds it.

Great ads start with solid research. Know your audience, learn from competitors, and grab attention fast. Start small, test, tweak, and focus on results like clicks and conversions.

See you next week, and if you miss us, follow us on social media for more fun in the meantime.

Cheers, Valerie & Your CoHo Team