A business running Facebook ads has already decided marketing is worth paying for. That makes it a warmer prospect than a random name from a directory, whether you sell ad management, landing pages, creative, video, or anything that helps paid traffic convert.
The problem is that the Ad Library is built for browsing, not prospecting. You can scroll ads all day and end up with a few screenshots and no contact details. This guide turns it into a working lead list and a campaign.
Step 1: Decide who you want before you search
Write one line describing your ideal advertiser. For example: "Dental clinics in Texas running lead-generation ads" or "Online course creators running ads to a webinar."
Pick three things:
- Niche keywords that appear in ad text or page names ("teeth whitening", "free consultation", "masterclass").
- Country the ads run in.
- The weakness you can fix. Weak creative, no landing page, one stale ad running for months, or no retargeting are all angles you can mention.
If you work with local trades, a niche list like Google Maps niche ideas helps you pick keywords that also show up in ads.
Step 2: Run the search
In GetClient, the Facebook Ad Library source lets you search by keyword and country and save advertisers straight into a folder in My Leads, so you are not copying page names by hand. Whatever tool you use, run several keyword variations, not one. Advertisers phrase the same offer differently.
Save each search into its own folder (for example "FB Ads - Dentists - US"). It keeps later campaigns tidy and lets you compare which keyword sets produce better replies.
Step 3: Qualify the list
Not every advertiser is a fit. Go through this checklist and drop leads that fail it:
| Check | Keep if | Drop if |
|---|---|---|
| Ad activity | Active ads right now | Nothing running |
| Website | Has a site you can review | No site and you sell site-dependent work |
| Contact | Email found or findable | No way to reach them |
| Fit | Matches your niche line | Big brand with an in-house team |
| Angle | You can name one specific improvement | You have nothing specific to say |
The last row matters most. If you cannot write one honest sentence about their ads, skip them.
Step 4: Fill in contacts and verify
Ad Library data tells you who advertises, not who to email. Fill gaps by looking up the business, including on Google Maps if it is local, where you can often find the website, phone, emails and owner name. Add a custom field for your angle (for example "ad_note") when you import or edit leads.
Run email verification before sending. Bounces hurt the sending account you rely on, and advertisers often list role addresses that no longer work.
Step 5: Paste these templates
Write the specific observation into the first line by hand for your best leads. The rest can stay templated.
Email 1: The observation
Subject: your ads for {{params.name}}
Hi {{params.firstname}},
I came across the ads {{params.name}} is running on Facebook and had a look at where they send people on {{params.website}}.
One thing stood out: the ad promises a quick booking, but the page it lands on asks visitors to dig for the booking button. That gap usually costs clicks you already paid for.
I help {{params.category}} businesses tighten the path from ad to enquiry. Would a short list of three fixes for your current ad be useful? No call needed, I can just send it.
Thanks, [Your name]
Email 2: If NOT Opened (3 days later)
Subject: quick idea for {{params.name}}
Hi {{params.firstname}},
Resending in case this got buried. I looked at the Facebook ads {{params.name}} is running and have a few specific suggestions to get more enquiries from the same spend.
Want me to send them over?
[Your name]
Email 2: If Opened (3 days later)
Subject: re: your ads for {{params.name}}
Hi {{params.firstname}},
I put together the notes on your ad and landing page. The short version: match the headline on {{params.website}} to the ad, put the booking button above the fold, and test a second creative so the current one does not wear out.
Happy to send the full version with examples from other {{params.category}} businesses in {{params.city}}. Should I?
[Your name]
Email 3: Final note (5 days later)
Subject: closing the loop
Hi {{params.firstname}},
I will stop here so I am not cluttering your inbox. If improving your Facebook ad results becomes a priority for {{params.name}}, just reply and I will send the notes.
All the best, [Your name]
For more ways to end a sequence politely, see these breakup email templates.
Step 6: Build the flow and send carefully
Set it up as: Email 1, wait 3 days, branch on If Opened / If NOT Opened, wait 5 days, Email 3. Preview each step to check the merge tags fill in correctly, especially {{params.firstname}}, which will be blank for leads without an owner name. For those, consider a version that opens with "Hi there" instead.
Sending tips:
- Start with small daily volumes per account and increase slowly. Check Gmail daily sending limits before you set numbers.
- Use send-day limits to avoid weekends if your niche does not read email then.
- Keep the unsubscribe link on. Rules differ by country, so check what applies to you; the outreach compliance checklist is a good starting point. This is not legal advice.
Step 7: Handle replies and learn from the numbers
Answer replies quickly while the prospect still remembers your note. Reading them in one inbox, rather than across several Gmail tabs, makes that easier.
After each batch, note open and reply rates per keyword folder. If one niche replies and another stays silent, put your next searches into the one that works. Credits for searches and verification are covered on the plans and credits page, and new accounts start with 100 free credits.