Methodology
A durable ad is worth studying. It is not proof of profit.
AdSnoop ranks public commercial-app ads with a transparent proxy based on observed run duration and grouped variants. The score helps a founder decide what to inspect first; it does not reveal spend, ROAS, installs, or revenue.
The score
For each observed creative, AdSnoop calculates 20 * log2(1 + min(daysRunning, 270)) + 10 * log2(1 + collationCount). Ads active for 30 to 270 days receive a 1.25 multiplier. The logarithms keep one ancient ad from overwhelming a current pattern.
| Input | What it captures | Why it is capped |
|---|---|---|
| Days running | How long the ad remained observable | Duration stops growing after 270 days |
| Collation count | Related variants grouped under the creative | A logarithm limits the effect of large batches |
| 30-270 day band | A durable but still current observation | The multiplier expires outside the band |
How to use it without fooling yourself
- Inspect high-scoring ads before short-lived ads when research time is limited.
- Look for repeated hooks or structures across several advertisers, not one isolated creative.
- Treat the score as a prioritization tool, then validate new concepts with your own campaign data.
- Record the observation date because public availability and active status change.
A practical reading
If one creative has run for 73 days with five grouped variants, and another appeared yesterday with one variant, the first deserves analysis sooner. That is the whole claim. The score does not say the first ad had a lower CPI.
Sources
- Meta Ad LibraryMeta public advertising transparency library.
- About the Meta Ad LibraryMeta explanation of library coverage and transparency data.