Blog
Authors
Zachary Murray

Zachary Murray

Zach is the Founder of the creative workflow software Foreplay and creative director at Triple Whale. Prior to building software for marketers and eCom brands, Zach built and sold Nomadic Fabrics, a bohemian home decor brand while running a motion design and web development studio.

Zachary Murray
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New White-Label Share Boards & Duplication

The way you present your brand matters. Foreplay’s latest update allows you to create branded Share Pages and duplicate boards seamlessly, ensuring your clients get a premium, cohesive experience. Whether you're pitching new clients or showcasing existing work, this update is allows you to lead with your best foot forward.

Zachary Murray
15
min read
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Introducing Content Style Filters

At Foreplay, we believe in empowering creative strategists and media buyers by providing tools that help uncover winning ad inspiration faster. Our latest release introduces Content Style Filters—a powerful new way to refine your ad searches using AI-powered categorization.

Zachary Murray
15
min read
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AI Emotional Analysis & New Ad Details

Success hinges on more than just the format of your ad—it’s about capturing the emotion that connects with your audience and drives action. Today, we’re excited to introduce our latest feature upgrade: the ‘Ad Details’ drawer with AI analysis.

Zachary Murray
15
min read
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Introducing Shuffle | Regenerate Endless Ad Inspiration

With over 20 million ads in the Discovery library, keyword searches and filters don’t always surface the juiciest bits of inspiration to the top. Scrolling through all those ads is far from efficient, and we know your time is better spent creating, not browsing endlessly.

Zachary Murray
15
min read
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Best Ogilvy Ads & What You Can Learn From Them

David Ogilvy, often referred to around the world as the "Father of Advertising," was a British advertising tycoon who founded the renowned agency Ogilvy & Mather, which is still around today. As the author of one of the most loved advertising books of all time, we can learn many core principles from his advertising today. In this article, we are going to break down David Ogilvy's ads and what you can learn as a modern marketer.

Zachary Murray
15
min read
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Top 5 Vintage Ads of All Time

If there is one true statement in all aspects of life, it is that "history repeats itself," and this is even more true in advertising and marketing. As much as we all enjoy a blast from the past, looking at and analyzing vintage ads can be more than a feeling of nostalgia - as marketers, we can apply the first principle of thinking found in vintage ads to improve our copywriting and advertising. Without too much fluff, here are the top 5 vintage ads you can learn from.

Zachary Murray
15
min read
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10 Facebook App Install Ad Examples to Scale App Promotion

The question of "should I run ads" lives in the heads of both founders and growth and marketing teams working to make their mobile app the next big thing.

Zachary Murray
15
min read
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Competitive Research Reimagined, Go Behind The Scenes of Your Top Competitors

From the moment we originally launched Spyder it quickly became one of the most loved products in Foreplay. The new version of Spyder approaches competitor Spying from a creative-first approach allowing you to easily extract and ideate on inspiration.

Zachary Murray
15
min read
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What Happened to Moat Ad Search? Banner Search Alternatives

Moat Ad Search was a loved platform among marketers, advertisers, and researchers. The most well-known feature was the ability to search and spy on competitors’ digital ad placements and creatives. This included ads on connected TV and other digital platforms. If you are looking to use Moat, it is unfortunately unavailable, but don’t worry - in this article, we will break down what happened to the beloved Moat ads library platform and open your eyes to new alternatives available in 2024.

Zachary Murray
15
min read
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All New Ad Tagging in Foreplay

Foreplay has become the default way all marketers organize their advertising inspiration, from large brands to those starting their advertising journey. Folders and boards have been the backbone of Swipe File organization; however, today, the tagging feature gets a massive upgrade.

Zachary Murray
15
min read
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LinkedIn Ad Library - Complete Guide How to Download & Save Ads

It's not often that the words "Foreplay" and "B2B" are used in the same sentence - but today is your lucky day! This is a complete guide on how you can now save & download ads from the LinkedIn ad library using the Foreplay Chrome Extension! Let's get into it.

Zachary Murray
15
min read
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Download YouTube Shorts - Complete Guide to Save YouTube Reels in 2024

Both creators and businesses are starting to go full-in on YouTube shorts (aka YouTube Reels) as a way of gaining massive traction to build notoriety of their personal brand or introduce their product or service to the masses.

Zachary Murray
15
min read
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January 001: Save Instagram Ads on Mobile

Since Foreplay’s inception EVERYBODY wanted to save ads on mobile. But, I had no idea how we would do it … until now. 3 weeks ago I had a call with a customer and they showed me a system they built for their VA to manually go and save ads they sent in their company group chat. Although I was impressed, enough was enough. That day we shifted most of our efforts to figure out how we can make this happen for you.

Zachary Murray
15
min read
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November 001: Our New Chrome Extension!

When we first imagined Foreplay, saving ads from Facebook and Tiktok Ad Libraries was central to this idea. Our Chrome extension is our marque product feature that helps marketers source inspiration directly from these ad libraries and save them immediately to their swipe files and ad boards, just a few clicks. We’re very happy to announce that we’ve just 10x’ed that experience with our Foreplay Chrome Extension 2.0.

Zachary Murray
15
min read
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Beer Desks, The Golden Key & Generative Fill Hack | AD&P No 2

“Sam Altman got booted from OpenAI” … my jaw dropped. The man who successfully launched the most successful product in history, creating over 90B in value in a few months got fired?! How is that possible?

Zachary Murray
15
min read
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Digital Typewriters, Fake Tequila & Podcast Bros | AD&P No 1

Where do you get inspired? Not just for advertising, but more broadly? Often inspiration is bucket-filled drop-by-drop from unrelated sources. The most extreme example of this is Nike’s “JUST DO IT” tagline was inspired by the last words of Gary Gilmore, a convicted murderer who was executed in 1977.I’m going to try not to go that off the rails but …

Zachary Murray
15
min read
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October 002: Foreplay Launches a Mobile App

In a world where inspiration is often a fleeting phenomenon, we believe in providing you with the perfect creative sidekick, right at your fingertips. Welcome to the future of inspiration – the Foreplay Mobile App.

Zachary Murray
15
min read
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October 001: Loom Links, Brief Templates & Table View

Without a clear and concise brief, the creative process can stumble into ambiguity and uncertainty. Today we are launching three new updates to Foreplay Briefs to help you write better, faster and more detailed ad briefs.

Zachary Murray
15
min read
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September 002: Timeline View in Spyder

We are pumped to be launching a timeline view in Spyder today. The new view allows you to see a complete historical timeline of your competitors creative test.

Zachary Murray
15
min read
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Spyder - Automatic Ad Library Scraper

Learn how to scrape ad data from meta libraries automatically. Discover effective methods to collect and utilize ad information. Start spying today.

Zachary Murray
15
min read
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Does YouTube Ads Count as Views?

Imagine you're standing on a bustling city street, trying to catch the attention of passersby. You've got something amazing to share, something that can captivate hearts and minds, but you need an audience first.

Zachary Murray
15
min read
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Are YouTube Ads Based on Your Search History? [Uncovering the Truth]

Imagine stepping into a world where the advertising you encounter feels like a seamless extension of your interests and preferences, rather than an intrusive interruption. That's the magic of personalized advertising on YouTube. As the digital landscape continues to evolve, YouTube ads have taken center stage, captivating users with content that aligns precisely with their passions and needs.

Zachary Murray
15
min read
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August 001: Dashboard, Grid Customization & More

Since the release of 2.0, I have been lucky enough to speak to customers every day, so many of you with incredible ideas on how the platform can evolve. The entire team is stoked and incredibly grateful for your feedback.To ensure speed and quality, we will move into doing bi-weekly release schedules to ship new hallmark features, while announcing minor platform improvements and bug fixes.

Zachary Murray
15
min read
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Facebook Ad Creative: Complete Guide to Winning Creative (With Examples)

Once upon a time, there was a passionate marketer intrigued by the potential of Facebook ads; they set out on a journey to unlock the secrets of effective Facebook marketing. They quickly realized that no matter how many media buying tactics or trends they tried, the real key to unlocking groundbreaking performance marketing was the ad creative itself. This article is a complete guide to Facebook ad creative, what it is, and how you can build actionable workflows to unlock performance at scale.

Zachary Murray
15
min read
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Guide to using Google Ads Transparency Center & Ad Library

For a long time, marketers have enjoyed using tools like the Facebook Ad Library & TikTok Creative Center to to keep a close eye on their competition and gain insights into their competitor's ads. Up until March 29th, this was not available for Google Advertisers, but we can all rejoice with the launch of The Google Ads Transparency Center (aka Google Ads Library). Today we are taking a deep dive into how to use this tool ads marketers to supercharge your advertising workflow.

Zachary Murray
15
min read
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Introducing Foreplay 2.0

One year ago, we became Foreplay, a reimagined yet simple way to collaborate on ad creative. The past 12 months have been incredible, going from a few hundred customers to a few thousand. In that time, we have launched significant features like Discovery, Briefs Beta, Foreplay Experts, along with 100's of minor updates and improvements. All of that pales compared to the massive update we’re launching today; we’re calling it Foreplay 2.0, our most significant update yet, with over 100 new features and improvements.

Zachary Murray
15
min read
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The Ultimate Guide to Setting up a Facebook Collection Ad

In a digital terrain bursting with possibilities, Facebook collection ads emerge as the catalyst for unparalleled reach and engagement. With over 2.8 billion active users, this dynamic platform presents an extraordinary opportunity to captivate your target audience and propel them into a world of immersive shopping experiences. Brace yourself for a thrilling journey as we uncover the hidden gems and untapped potential of Facebook collection ads, empowering you to create campaigns that will leave a lasting impact on both your customers and your business.

Zachary Murray
15
min read
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Maximizing Your ROI with Facebook Ads: An Expert's Guide to Optimization

Facebook ads have quickly become an indispensable tool for businesses of all sizes. With its massive user base and powerful targeting options, Facebook ads provide an excellent opportunity to reach your target audience and drive valuable conversions.However, simply running ads on Facebook is not enough. To truly unlock the potential of this platform, you need to know how to optimize Facebook ads to maximize your return on investment (ROI).

Zachary Murray
15
min read
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Unleash Your Creativity: 5 Steps to Crafting the Perfect Ad Creative Brief

In the world of advertising, creativity is the driving force behind successful campaigns. It's what captures the attention of consumers, sparks their interest, and ultimately leads them to take action.But behind every great ad lies a well-crafted creative brief.The creative brief serves as the roadmap for your ad campaign, guiding your team toward creating compelling advertisements. In this blog post, we'll explore five essential steps to crafting the perfect ad creative brief and unleash your creativity like never before.

Zachary Murray
15
min read
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Revamp Your Facebook Ads with These Winning Templates

Creating engaging and visually appealing ads can be a daunting task. That's where Facebook ad templates come to the rescue. In this blog post, we'll explore the world of Facebook ad templates and how they can revamp your ad campaigns to achieve remarkable success.

Zachary Murray
15
min read
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Everything You Need To Know About Facebook Ads Analytics

Master the world of Facebook Ads Analytics! Learn about metrics, tools, and best practices for measuring campaign performance, audience insights, and conversions.

Zachary Murray
15
min read
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Creative Briefs vs. Marketing Plans: A Comprehensive Comparison You Need to Read

Imagine planning a trip without a map or embarking on a creative endeavor without a vision. The same holds true for marketing campaigns. A creative brief and a marketing plan can help you navigate and accomplish your goals.

Zachary Murray
15
min read
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11 Expert Tips to Take Your Ad Creative Brief from Good to Incredible

A well-crafted ad creative brief can make all the difference between a mediocre marketing campaign and an extraordinary one. An ad creative brief template serves as the schematic for your advertising efforts, outlining the essential components that shape your messaging and visuals.

Zachary Murray
15
min read
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Crafting an Exceptional Ad Creative Brief: The Key Elements You Can't Miss

Let's outline the essential elements that contribute to an outstanding ad creative brief template so you can create compelling campaigns that drive results.

Zachary Murray
15
min read
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Measuring Success: How to Optimize Your Ad Creative Brief for Maximum Impact

In the vast landscape of advertising, ad creative briefs are the unsung heroes that possess the transformative power of a master conductor, orchestrating symphonies of success.

Zachary Murray
15
min read
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The Power of Planning: Why Ad Creative Briefs are Essential for Successful Advertising

Unleash the power of planning with ad creative briefs. Discover what is a creative brief and how you can leverage it for successful advertising.

Zachary Murray
15
min read
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The Facebook Ad Budget Blueprint: How to Set the Perfect Daily Budget

Discover what is a good daily budget for Facebook ads with our comprehensive guide. Learn how to set the perfect daily budget to maximize your advertising reach.

Zachary Murray
15
min read
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Ad Spy Alternatives - 7 Lucky Ad Research Tools to Try in 2024

Have you ever felt like a spy who lost their tool belt while researching your competitors' ad campaigns? It's understandable to feel that way since keeping tabs on your competitors' advertising strategies is crucial to staying on top of your game.

Zachary Murray
15
min read
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Can You Run TikTok Ads on a Personal Account?

TikTok has become one of the most popular social media platforms in recent years, with 150 million Americans creating and sharing videos every day. As the platform has grown, so have its advertising capabilities, with businesses and brands utilizing TikTok ads to reach their target audience.

Zachary Murray
15
min read
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The Blueprint for Effective Ads: What to Include in Your Creative Brief

A creative team uses a well-crafted creative brief to develop compelling ads that capture the attention of their target audience. Let's explore what an ad creative brief include

Zachary Murray
15
min read
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The Ultimate Guide to Understanding What's a Good Cost-Per-Click

In this article, we'll look at factors that influence CPC rates as well as industry benchmarks for CPC that will help inform your decision-making process for your ad campaigns.

Zachary Murray
15
min read
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13 Outstanding Real Estate Facebook Ad Examples

Online marketing with platforms like Facebook Ads is one of the fastest and most capital-efficient ways to scale any business in 2023 and that statement remains true for Real Estate. From agents to brokers and even pre-construction sales, you can use the Meta advertising platform to grow your real estate business.

Zachary Murray
15
min read
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Foreplay Acquires Competitor GetSpyder: Bringing New Features to Customers

Foreplay Ventures Inc. is pleased to announce its acquisition of GetSpyder.com, effective February 20th, 2023.

Zachary Murray
15
min read
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What is a Media Buyer? Salary, Career and Strategy Guide

It was a typical night for you, scrolling through your Instagram feed after a long day at work, and bam! You get hit with an ad for the shoes you discussed with your friend earlier that week. Platforms like Facebook and TikTok have been using data to target you for some time, but you might not have known that there was probably a person in charge of using this data to deploy targeted ad campaigns to get you to buy those shoes. The technical role for this person is known as a Media Buyer. This article is a complete guide to the state of social media buyers, including salary guidelines and how you can hire your own media buying weapon or get hired by your dream company as a buyer.

Zachary Murray
15
min read
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Latest Instagram Ad Sizes for High-Perfoming Ads

Instagram is predicted to reach 1.44 billion monthly active users by 2025, making it one of the most powerful digital marketing platforms. With such a vast audience, creating the perfect Instagram ad has never been more crucial. Step one when designing or editing your nex ad is ensuring you are up to date with the latest instagram sizes. 

Zachary Murray
15
min read
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What is a Swipe File? Examples & Best Practices

Creating effective marketing campaigns can take a lot of work, especially if you’re running low on ideas. Fortunately, there are many ways to get out of a creative block, and making your own swipe file is one of them. You can take inspiration from your competitors and brainstorm project ideas in no time.

Zachary Murray
15
min read
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Facebook Ad Policies You Need to Know to Avoid Getting Banned!

Despite all the talk of Facebook losing its edge with users, the company still dominates the social media landscape.

Zachary Murray
15
min read
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New Google Ad Library - How to Spy on Google & YouTube Ads

When accounting for YouTube, Google is the largest digital ad platform in the world, but until today it was impossible to do creative research without sketchy 3rd party tools. On September 22nd 2022, Google finally answered the prayers of digital marketers and advertisers by launching an Ads Transparency platform, similar to the Facebook Ad Library.

Zachary Murray
15
min read
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How to Download and Save Ads from LinkedIn (3 Steps)

Are you wondering how to see and download your competitors LinkedIn ads? Here are 3 simple steps on how you can do this with 2 clicks using our platform Foreplay.co

Zachary Murray
15
min read
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How to Use TikTok Ad Library to Run Successful TikTok Ad Campaign

Creating a robust TikTok ad campaign will help scale up your business. Here is a guide on how to use TikTok Ad Library to get ad ideas for the campaign.

Zachary Murray
15
min read
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Benefits Of Instagram Ads for Small Businesses In 2023

Getting our small business off the ground can be a lot of work. We have to get the word out about what we're offering, build up a good reputation, and make sure we're providing a quality product or service. And with so much competition, it can be hard to stand out from the crowd. That's where Instagram comes in. As one of the most popular social media platforms, Instagram offers a great opportunity for small businesses to connect with potential customers. And with Instagram ads, we can specifically target people most likely to be interested in what we offer. In this article, we'll look at some of the benefits of Instagram ads for small businesses in 2022.

Zachary Murray
15
min read
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How to see TikTok Ad Comments from Ads Manager

Whether you are a new to TikTok advertising, or a master at running TikTok ad campaigns, something you want to know is "How to see and manage your TikTok ad comments?"Although this can be easy if you're running Spark ads, since you will be able to see the comments from the TikTok post, you have to do a little bit of digging, and as a TikTok advertiser there is a more efficient way to manage your TikTok ad comments from your TikTok ads account.

Zachary Murray
15
min read
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Creative Strategist Definition, Career and Salary Guide

We are living in a world where the definition of creative strategist is rapidly evolving across the marketing strategy and advertising industry. At the intersection of art and science creative strategist have evolved from hybrid roles shared amongst media buyers and designers into key roles that drive not only brand quality but paid media performance. In this article, we discuss what a creative strategist is, what creative strategists actually do, how to become a creative strategist and how to be a better creative strategist yourself!

Zachary Murray
15
min read
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How to Spy on Your Competitors Facebook Ads - 2023 Facebook Ad Spy Guide

Get the most out of the Facebook Ad Library by using it to take a look at your competitor’s ads, gaining inspiration for ad creative ideas. Supercharge this process by using our platform, Foreplay to permanently save ads that you like, something you cannot do using the Ad Library alone.

Zachary Murray
15
min read
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TikTok Ads for Ecommerce Businesses: How-To Guide

New ad platforms offer unique opportunities to reach your target eCommerce audience - Discover how to scale your eCommerce brand using TikTok Ads.

Zachary Murray
15
min read
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How to Run Facebook Ads for Ecommerce Businesses

Running ads on Facebook is a sure-fire way to draw attention to your company. Learn how to run Facebook Ads for ecommerce businesses

Zachary Murray
15
min read
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TikTok Creative Center: How to Download and Save TikTok Video Ads

The article will teach you the best way to save ad inspiration from TikTok and the TikTok Creative Center.

Zachary Murray
15
min read
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How to Use Facebook Ad Library like a Pro - 2024 Complete Guide

Want to lean how to use the Facebook Ads Library? This guide breaks down the 6 critical steps for leveraging this platform and introduces the new tools and tactics you can use to maximize competitor ad spying and marketing success.

Zachary Murray
15
min read
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How to Download and Save Ads From Facebook Ad Library - 3 Steps (Updated 2024)

The Facebook Ad Library is an essential tool for marketers to gather inspiration, discover endless winning ads inspiration, research competitor advertising, and more. Unfortunately, the FB Ad Library has a critical flaw for marketers - it only displays currently active ads, and it is not easy to save videos or images. Luckily, you have come to the right article where we will show you the easiest way to save ads from the Facebook ad library in 2024 and use the most reliable ad library downloader.

Zachary Murray
15
min read
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How to Use Foreplay

Foreplay is the best way to save, organize and share advertising inspiration. This is a guide on how to get started using Foreplay to accelerate your advertising endeavours.

Zachary Murray
15
min read

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