Did you know that Facebook has over 2.9 billion active users? 

With so many eyes on the platform, it is no surprise why so many businesses use it as one of their main digital advertising tools. Paid ads on Facebook are easy to set up, budget-friendly, simple to measure, and can bring an incredible return on investment. 

So, if you’ve been thinking of reaping all the benefits that a paid Facebook ad campaign can bring your business, you’ve come to the right place. Read on for the complete guide on everything you need to know about Facebook ads and how to set up a campaign for success! 

How to Create a Facebook Ad

If you don’t already have one, the first step to creating a killer Facebook ads campaign is to set up a Facebook business page. With a business page, you’ll automatically have access to the Facebook Ads Manager tool, which you’ll need to set up your campaigns.

If you are working on an existing business page, make sure your profile is added as an admin, editor, or advertiser on the page so that you can participate in the creation of all of your business’s campaigns. Do this for all team members who wish to access the ads tool. 

After correctly setting up your business page, open the Facebook Ads Manager tool, and follow these steps: 

  1. Click on the “Create Ad” button 
  2. Choose a campaign objective 
  3. Assign a budget (this can be a daily budget or a total lifetime budget for the duration of the campaign)
  4. Customize your target audience
  5. Pick your ad placements (do you want your ads to show only on Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, or all of the above)
  6. Create your ads by choosing existing posts to advertise or making an ad from scratch
  7. Confirm your campaign, and place your order

The truth is, any of the 2.9 billion users who follow these steps can create a Facebook ads campaign. If you want your campaigns to stand out from the rest, you have to strategize. To do this, you have to pick the right types of ads and objectives for your campaign and carefully define your target audience. 

The Different Types of Facebook Ads

Like any other form of digital advertising, paid Facebook ads are not a “one size fits all” tool. Luckily, the platform features many different types of ads that you can use to bring all of your campaigns to the next level. Some of the most popular options include: 

Image Ads

As their name suggests, image ads contain one photo. This format is great if you are looking to advertise an existing post.

Carousel Ads

If you need more than one image to advertise your product or service, a carousel ad might be the best format for your campaign. You can choose up to 10 photos and/or videos with this ad. 

Video Ads

Do you have a great video clip that beautifully showcases what your business is all about? If so, you should take advantage of Facebook’s video ads. 

Poll Ads

For a fun and interactive way to connect with your target audience through their mobile devices, you can choose to set up a poll ad. This ad format will display two different options to choose from under your image or video ads. 

Collection Ads

If you run an e-commerce business, you might want to consider running a collections ad campaign. With this format, you can easily advertise all of your business’ products and services and have your audience purchase from the ad directly without leaving Facebook!

Other Ads

Other ad formats that you should consider include Instant Experience Ads, Slideshow Ads, Lead Ads, amongst others. Picking the right ad format for your campaign is crucial to being successful. So, if you are not sure what type of ad would work best for your business, you can contact a professional agency like Drive Social Media to help you get a greater ROI. 

Picking an Objective

Another critical step in your paid Facebook ads strategy is to figure out the objective of your campaign.

Do you want to generate leads? Increase reach? Build brand awareness? 

Whatever your main goal is, it is essential to identify it. When creating your campaign, you’ll be able to choose between: 

  • Brand awareness
  • Increase reach
  • Generate leads
  • Get messages
  • Increase traffic
  • Get more app installs
  • Increase video views
  • Increase conversions
  • Increase catalog sales
  • Boost store traffic

Knowing your main objective will make it easier for you to create ads that work.

How to Target Your Audience

A significant advantage of Facebook advertising is that it makes it incredibly easy for businesses to get very specific with their targeting. Within the Ads Manager tool, you’ll be able to target your audience by: 

  • Demographics
  • Behaviors (recent purchases, liked pages, etc.)
  • Income
  • Education 
  • Job history
  • Interests 
  • Spoken languages 
  • Major life events 

With these parameters, you’ll be able to reach people who will genuinely be interested in what your business offers. Remember that targeting everyone is like targeting no one. So, don’t be afraid to get ultra-specific when targeting your desired audience. 

Paid Ads on Facebook that Work

Now that you know the key to setting up paid ads on Facebook, you’ll be able to create killer campaigns that bring your business a fantastic return on investment. Remember to set up a Facebook business page if you don’t already have one, pick the correct ad formats and objectives, and take time to define your target audience. 

Are you looking for professionals who can help you bring your Facebook ad campaign game to the next level? If so, you’ve come to the right place. 

Contact us today to see how Drive Social Media can help.