Proven Strategies to Verify if Your Digital Ads Are Running and Effective

If you’re running digital ads and they don’t seem to be delivering results, you’re not alone. Many campaign managers face this challenge—ads show as ‘eligible’ but generate little to no visible activity. This can lead to frustration and wasted budget, so it’s crucial to know exactly how to tell if your ads are truly running and performing.

Understanding whether your ads are actively delivering depends on more than just a status label. It requires a practical approach to tracking, analyzing, and optimizing your campaign. In this article, you’ll learn how to ensure your ads are running effectively and how to fix common misconceptions that can block your campaign’s success.

Why Your Ads Might Show as ‘Eligible’ but Not Deliver

Many digital advertising platforms, such as Google Ads and Facebook Ads, mark your campaign as ‘eligible’ once it clears the initial checks and qualifies to run. However, this doesn’t guarantee your ads are being viewed or clicked. Some key reasons include:

  • Low budget or bid amounts: If your bids are too low, your ads might not enter the auction frequently.
  • Targeting limitations: Narrow or misaligned audience settings can limit ad delivery.
  • Ad approval issues: Sometimes ads are active but not shown due to policy restrictions or disapproval notices hidden from basic views.
  • Platform delays: It can take time for delivery to ramp up, especially in new campaigns.

How to Verify if Your Ads Are Actually Running

Knowing your ads are running requires more than a quick glance at the status. Follow these steps to get a clear picture:

1. Check Delivery Metrics

Go beyond the campaign status. Look at key metrics such as impressions, clicks, and reach in your ad platform dashboard. If your ads get impressions, they are running even if conversions are low.

2. Use the Platform’s Preview and Debug Tools

Most platforms offer preview tools to see if your ads are shown in the auction. Use these to confirm your ads are eligible to be served and to diagnose potential issues.

3. Set Up Conversion Tracking Correctly

Ensure your tracking pixels or conversion tags are properly installed. Even if your ads are delivered, without tracking, you won’t know if they lead to actions.

4. Review Audience and Bidding Strategy

If your audience is too specific or bids are too low, your ad delivery will suffer. Optimize these elements to increase chances of delivery.

5. Use Platform Analytics and Reports

Use detailed reports to see real-time activity, even if your ad isn’t getting many clicks. Look for impressions and reach data to verify delivery.

Simple Fixes to Improve Ad Delivery

If you find your ads aren’t delivering enough, consider these immediate actions:

  • Boost your bid or daily budget to compete better in the auction.
  • Expand your target audience slightly to increase reach.
  • Ensure your ads meet platform policies and are approved.
  • Increase your campaign’s start time cushion in case initial delivery is slow.
  • Test different ad creatives and formats to see what performs best.

Key Takeaways: Make Your Ads Work Better Today

  • Don’t rely only on the status label; track actual delivery metrics.
  • Use preview and diagnostic tools to confirm your ads are visible in the auction.
  • Set up accurate conversion tracking to measure true success.
  • Optimize bids, targeting, and ad quality to improve delivery and performance.
  • Monitor your campaign frequently and adjust as needed based on data.

Final Thought: Be proactive, not reactive

Many issues in digital ad delivery are fixable with the right checks and adjustments. Don’t wait for results—verify early and often, and optimize based on what the data tells you. If your ads aren’t delivering, it’s your signal to act, tweak, and improve. Your campaign’s success depends on continuous monitoring and smart adjustments.