If you haven’t tried Facebook ads yet, what are you waiting for?
Facebook ads are a fast, cheap and completely measurable way to reach your ideal target audience.
The basics of Facebook Ads are easy to grasp with many DIY advertisers getting great results. In order to get among the ranks of successful Facebook advertisers, try following these five easy steps:
1. Have a clear call to action
You must have an offer, message or directive that is engaging and compelling if you want to attract Facebook users to click on your ads. Think along the lines of:
- “Sign up now for these Exclusive Offers”
- “Get in the Know with the Best Insider Events”
- “Get 50% off this Weekend only”
2. Carefully craft your click destination
Facebook ads work on a pay-per-click basis. This means, if you select the cost-per-click bidding method, you only pay when a user actually clicks on your ad. This is great because it means there is no wastage and you can track exactly how many people have engaged with your ad. The next step is getting your target audience to take action and either sign up or buy your offer. Conversions are closely aligned to the content and layout of the website, landing page or Facebook page that you send your ad traffic to. You must make sure that the page you select follows on from the call to action in your ad. It must be easy for the user to know what you want them to do and compelling enough to make them want to do it. Make your sign-up form king of the page. Try a “Reveal Tab” on Facebook that asks users to Like your page, or have a clearly visible ‘buy now’ button. Make sure your visitors do not have to look too far for the essential information and make sure they do not leave without you being able to contact them again! Think carefully about the advantages of choosing to send your ad traffic to your Facebook page instead of your website. Facebook pages can easily replicate key elements of your website using custom tabs and you get the added benefit of the “sharing” effect of Facebook. You may also find a higher level of trust from your prospects when you keep talking to them on Facebook.
3. Study other Facebook Ads
If you’re new to copywriting and creating great headlines that draw attention, then become a student of effective copywriting. Look at ads online and offline to see what captures your attention and see if you can find some successful examples within your own market to be inspired by. Correct spelling and grammar is a must, but punchy and clear copywriting is always the most effective in Facebook ads. If you can say it in less words, then do. Simple.
4. Curate your image gallery
High quality, relevant images are everything in Facebook Ads. They are the main reason why your ad will get clicks. You only have a small piece of the screen to work with, so make it really count by sourcing great images that work in a small size. Your images should be sized to 110 pixels wide by 80 pixels high and they must be clear and relevant to your message and brand. Use elements from your existing campaigns or get free or cheap stock images from a raft of websites, such as iStockPhoto.com. Bright images of friendly, engaging faces always work if you get stuck.
5. Bid and test to find the sweet spot
Facebook ads require that you bid on the space to get your ad displayed. In order to get the best value out of this process and keep your costs down, you should test several versions of your ad amongst different demographics and likes and interests. You should also test different headlines and images. Facebook display your ad more if it gets a high rate of clicks from users and in turn, you get the cost of each click at a cheaper rate. When you launch your ads, make sure you watch them closely to ensure they are performing well. If they do not receive many clicks, even after they have been displayed over 1,000 times across Facebook, then it is probably time to pause those ads and give life to one of your other ads. Remember: you are in charge of your overall daily or campaign budget, so ensure you set these first so you don’t overspend. Familiarise yourself with the Facebook Ad Manager, which is where you conduct all the production, placement, bidding and optimisation of yourads. Press the green ‘create an ad’ button to get started. Read more online marketing tips by downloading the free 21 Easy Ways to Market Your Business Online eBook. Just fill out the webform below to receive immediate access. [php function=22]
