Ad variations lets you take a ready-made ad you like and create new versions instead of starting over. You decide what to change and what to keep, so you can explore different creative directions while keeping the parts that already work.
You can use the builder in three helpful ways:
What you can do | How it works |
Vary elements | Change individual parts of the ad. For example, keep the product and text in place while trying out new backgrounds, or remove a price tag. |
Merge ads | Bring elements from another ad into the one you are working on. You can add a reference image for a visual element or enter exact text from another creative. |
Localize an ad | Translate or replace the text while keeping the original visuals and composition in place. |
The finished variations work like regular Image ads, so you can edit them, upload them, launch them in campaigns, or use them to create more variations.
Here’s how to create your variations:
Log in to your Zeely account: https://app.zeely.ai/
In the left-hand menu, click Image ads, then select Ad variations.
Choose the image ad you want to work with.
You can drop an image into the upload area, click Drop or upload an image ad, or select an existing creative from Projects. To do this, click the empty image field, select Projects in the window that opens, and then choose a product from Assets.
Uploaded files can be in WEBP, PNG, JPEG, JPG, or HEIC format and must be no larger than 10 MB.
Wait for Zeely to analyze the ad.
Analysis usually takes 30 to 60 seconds. Zeely looks over the creative and identifies editable parts such as text, background, objects, colors, font style, visual effects, and composition. The available elements will depend on what appears in your ad.
Choose how many versions to create.
Under Number of variations, use the minus and plus buttons to set the number you need. You can create up to six variations in one run.
Choose what should change.
Click Elements to vary. Review the elements Zeely found, along with the description shown beneath each one. Then choose what should happen to every element:
Click the lock icon to keep it as it is.
Click Vary to create new versions of it.
Click the trash icon to remove it from the generated variations.
Keeping an element locked is useful when it must remain consistent, such as your product, logo, or visual style.
Set up the selected elements.
Open an element you marked as Vary, then choose Per variation to give each version its own instruction, or Same for all to apply one instruction across the full set.
For each variation, choose the option that best fits what you want to create:
Exact text: Enter the wording exactly as it should appear in the ad.
Prompt: Describe the change you want Zeely to make.
AI choice: Click the sparkle icon to let Zeely come up with a suitable change.
Upload an image: When working with a visual element, click the image icon inside the prompt field to add a reference image.
You can mix these options within the same set. For example, Zeely can choose three new backgrounds while following your specific prompt for the fourth.
Merge elements from another ad, if needed.
To bring in a visual from another creative, select the relevant element, such as Background or Main object, click Vary, and upload the other ad as a reference image. Add a prompt explaining which part you want Zeely to use. Keep the elements you do not want to change locked.To reuse text from another ad, select the relevant text element and enter the wording under Exact text.
Localize the ad, if needed.
To create a version in another language, keep the visual elements locked and select Vary for the text you want to translate. Choose Prompt and tell Zeely which language to use, or choose Exact text and paste in the finished translation.
This keeps the original look of the ad while updating its message for a different market.
Review the Variation brief.
The Variation brief on the right brings together the choices for every version. Check which elements use a prompt, AI choice, or exact text. If a prompt still needs to be filled in, the brief marks it as Missing so you can quickly find it.
To clear your current selections and start again, click Reset in the upper-right corner.
Check the credit cost and generate the variations.
The Generate button shows the total credit cost for your current setup. The amount changes with the number of variations, so check the displayed total before moving on. When everything looks right, click Generate.
Most images are ready in under a minute, although processing time can vary. Each result appears as a separate creative in Projects, and the original ad stays unchanged.
The main idea behind Ad variations is control. You don't have to redesign the whole creative just to test one new idea.
Keep the product, text, and layout, and change the background. Or keep the visual style and try a different color palette. You choose which elements stay and which ones get a new take.
If you have any questions about Ad variations, contact our Support team at [email protected] or use the in-app chat. We'd be glad to help you in your creative journey.