How Facebook Ads Work – Guide for Dummies

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How Facebook Ads Work – Guide for Dummies

Facebook is a social media platform where you can post comments, share content such as photos or videos, links to interesting news, music etc. You can also chat live or watch short videos. One of Facebook’s features is its ads. This article will reveal how Facebook ads work.

You can see Facebook ads on your mobile device or desktop’s news feed. Ad content relates sometimes to the social actions your friends have taken after liking a Facebook page.

Your friends might be able to see the news about the social actions you performed through Facebook ads. Only your confirmed friends will be able to see this. It all depends on the privacy settings applied for your account.

Getting started and learn how Facebook ads work

how facebook ads workBefore you start creating and using Facebook ads, here is what you need to know:

  • Set your business goal or ask yourself the reason for running the ad.
  • Understand who you want to reach through Facebook ads.
  • Think about a budget for your add. Do you want it to be daily or for a lifetime?
  • Think about the photos and videos that you want to feature in your ad.

Select an objective

In order to select the relevant objective for your ad, ask yourself the next question. “What is the most important result I want by using this ad?”

Learning how Facebook ads work can have a significant impact on your business. They can increase the sales on your website, the number of your application’s downloads or brand awareness.

Target your audience

Knowing some relevant details about the people you want to reach is important. Age or location will help you in choosing the significant demographic details and behaviours that will establish your targeted audience.

Decide where to manage your ad

The next step is to decide where you would like your ad to run. It can be either on Facebook, Instagram or other social media platform. You can also manage ads through all these applications.

Establish your budget

Your budget can be daily or for a lifetime. You can also choose the period of time during which you want your ad to run.

Choose a format

You can select to show only one image or video, or you can add multiple videos and images in your ad. You can also choose to have a canvas ad or a slideshow ad.

Manage and measure your ad

After your ad is up and running, you have the opportunity to keep track of its performance and edit your campaign. You can do this via Power Editor, Ads Manager or Business Manager. These tools will help you know if one of the ad’s versions is having better results than another. In addition, you will be able to make the necessary adjustments if you will notice that one of your ads is not delivering properly.

Knowing how Facebook ads work may have a significant business impact. There are businesses failing when using Facebook advertising because they are not using them in an appropriate way.

An important advice is that you should continuously test new marketing channels. Especially when demand meets the offer. You have to make sure that your business model is a good fit for the network.

Facebook ads are working more like search ads rather than being display ads. They should be oriented to produce demand, not to accomplish it. People use Facebook to keep in touch with their friends and not necessarily to buy new products.

Who should use Facebook ads?

Businesses who are not asking Facebook users to buy their products right after they see them

Learning how Facebook ads work for your business does not mean that a user will buy your product right after he will click on your ad. Successful businesses using ads will ask the users to sign in in the first instance and not to buy. A low friction conversion might have success in this circumstance.

If they will see a commitment of purchase right after they clicked on the ad, it is likely for the Facebook users to return to the main social platform’s page. Instead of doing this, you can use small steps such as submitting an email address, signing up for your page or filling out a short lead form.

Even if you are a seller and not a service provider, you should focus on indirect conversion. Signing up for a newsletter might be a good example in this case. You can later use a marketing email later for upselling purposes.

Business model

Even if in the beginning you are only asking for an email address from random users, you will have to start making a profit at some point. This is how Facebook ads work. The money you earn will let you know if the ads are worth it or not.

You have to keep in mind that through this business model can help you make money a step at a time and not all at once. One user can provide his email address, but he will buy something only after you will build more trust. Maybe the first purchases will not be significant. However, several smaller purchases will make the difference.

Subscriptions and daily deal websites are ideal examples of business models that can prosper on Facebook. Their customers’ lifetime value extends over more than six months.

Characteristics targeted when using Facebook ads

how-facebook-ads-work-3Most marketers are not using correctly the targeting option for their ads. Targeting users is necessary when it comes to Facebook ads. Here are some examples of users’ characteristics that can be targeted:

  • Age
  • Gender
  • Location
  • Relationship status
  • Interests
  • Connections

Knowing how Facebook ads work and using advertising wisely can bring great results to your business. The main keys to success are to target specific interests, use images with visual impact, provide low-friction conversion to the users and keep track of everything. After learning the best way for your business, you will be able to use Facebook as a great marketing channel.

 

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