Are you a small business owner? If you are, then you understand the challenges of reaching new customers and maximizing revenue.
That’s why you need all the help you can get.
It’s no secret that marketing isn’t easy. After all, the goal is to reach your target audience while keeping advertising costs as low as possible. Fortunately, you’ve come to the right place for help.
This article takes a look at the benefits of Facebook marketing services. Keeping to get the inside scoop on how to take your social media marketing to the next level.
1. Robust Analytics
One of the primary benefits of using Facebook ads to market your business is access to incredibly powerful analytics. In fact, this is the type of digital feedback that you really can’t find anywhere else.
Facebook analytics are essentially limitless. They provide a wide variety of reports regarding your ad’s performance so that you’re never having to guess or make assumptions about who’s seeing them and how they are reacting.
You will be provided with metrics that tell you everything you need to know about your weekly reach, the number of pages like, post engagement, and even which ads are performing best.
2. Create Ads that Maximize Specific Objectives
Facebook marketing also provides a range of tools that enable you to create ads that cater to specific objectives. The Facebook ad platform walks you through a series of simple steps, letting you target your audience, set a timeframe that your ad will run, the size of your budget, and the type of ad you’re wanting to create.
It’s important to understand that ads are extremely customizable based on how you hope to accomplish. This allows you to create more effective ads so that you have a better chance of delivering the best results possible.
Here’s a resource that will help you take advantage of Facebook services.
3. The Ability to Micro-Target Your Audience
When it comes to effective marketing, few aspects are more important than targeting a specific audience. After all, targeting everyone in the world is inefficient and expensive. In other words, the only people you really need to make sure see your ads are the people who are likely interested in what you’re selling.
Facebook ads enable you to be incredibly specific, so that you’re limited exposure only to your target audience, thus increasing your rate of click-through.
4. Increase Clicks and Conversions While Keeping Costs Low
Facebook ads also help increase clicks while keeping marketing costs to a minimum. Keep in mind that you want your audience to see your ad, and then respond by clicking the CTA button. Facebook helps you keep costs low while at the same time maximizing your click-through rate. This allows you to squeeze the most value possible out of every dime of your marketing budget.
5. Take Advantage of the Power of Social Media
The simple fact is that people spend a lot of time on social media. Facebook ads put you in a position to take advantage of this by driving Facebook traffic to your website.
A Guide to the Benefits of Using Facebook Marketing Services
This is a great time to be a small business owner. Fortunately, Facebook marketing services can help make your next advertising campaign a big success without spending a fortune.
Keep scrolling to discover more cool business and lifestyle tips on this blog.
‘Tis the season for holiday campaigns and 2021 preparation. We’ve seen a lot of new changes and adaptations this year for brands and retailers in the digital space from curbside pickup and BOPIS (Buy Online Pick Up In-Store) to improved delivery services. Luckily, social media platforms are still releasing new updates to help businesses continue to navigate this time. From Twitter’s new Carousel ad option to Instagram’s keyword search capabilities and shopping on WhatsApp, here are the top social media updates this December. Happy holidays!
Social Media Updates
Instagram
Instagram Adds Shopping Tags to Reels
If you’re looking to generate another stream of income as a creator, you can now add Reels to the list. Businesses and creators can now tag products when they create Reels, enabling creators to add product listings to their clips.
The new feature will also allow creators to add Branded Content Tags for both Reels and Instagram Live in an effort to increase transparency on the platform. With new tags, creators can formulate more deals with brands and make money directly from their Reels content.
Instagram Adds Keyword Search
Great news for all social media managers and search enthusiasts: Instagram will now allow users to search for specific keywords. Previously, searching for a keyword on Instagram yielded results under the Usernames, Locations and Hashtags channels. Now, you can tap on specific search terms and Instagram will populate the posts for those exact words instead of just finding posts through hashtags. This way, you can include some of your keywords in the caption itself to maximize your visibility and Instagram performance.
However, not every word can be searchable. According to Instagram, keyword searches will be “limited to general interest topics and keywords that are within Instagram’s community guidelines”. So, some niche keywords and topics could be unsearchable for now. Instagram will also rank its keyword search results based on the following factors: type of content, captions, when it was posted and more. The social media platform will also highlight the most relevant matches to each user, based on the algorithm.
WhatsApp
WhatsApp Adds ‘Carts’ to its Shopping Experience
Whatsapp is no longer a stranger to eCommerce with their recent business features in place. Now, the messaging platform will continue to make it easier for users to buy items with their latest addition: Carts. This feature will enable WhatsApp users to add items as they engage with a business, then submit a larger order all at once via the app.
As explained by WhatsApp, “with carts, people can browse a catalog, select multiple products and send the order as one message to the business.” Carts will make it easier for businesses to keep track of order inquiries, manage requests from customers and close sales.
Facebook
Facebook Adds ‘Vanish Mode’ in Instagram and Messenger
According to Facebook, some things are just not meant to last. Instagram and Facebook’s Messenger have now activated disappearing messages on their platform, which vanish after they’ve been seen by the recipient or when the sender leaves the chat.
Questions were raised in terms of the safety of this feature, considering the disappearance of offensive messages and the uprise of online bullying in general. However, safety continues to be an important measure here. If someone takes a screenshot while in Vanish Mode, both users will be notified with a message in the thread. Facebook also supports blocking and reporting in Vanish Mode which allows Facebook to review and the conversation and take action.
To turn on Vanish Mode, users can swipe up on the chat then swipe up again to turn it off. As a part of that update, Instagram also received many Messenger-inspired additions — like the ability to change the chat color or react with any emoji. The addition of vanish mode gives Facebook a competitive edge over Snapchat whose default setting is based on disappearing messages.
Twitter
New Carousel Ad Format Option
Twitter’s newest ad format option is here: Carousels. Now, marketers can add up to six images or videos in an ad.
Carousel ads have seen much success on other social platforms with Sprout Social reporting that Carousel ads on Facebook and Instagram drive 10 times more web traffic for businesses than single-image ads. Another Facebook study reports that Carousel ads drive 72% higher click-through rate than single images.
In testing their version of carousel ads, Twitter shared that App carousel ads “boosted installs per impression an average of 24% compared with single-asset formats, while website carousel ads boosted the average clickthrough rate (CTR) about 15%, Twitter found in its testing of the carousel format.”
Carousels are now available globally. Marketers can create these ads in their Ads Manager or through the API.
Quick Recap (Social Media Updates):
Instagram: Instagram Adds Shopping Tags to Reels, Keyword Search to Profiles and Tags
WhatsApp: WhatsApp Adds ‘Carts’ to its Shopping Experience
Facebook: Facebook Adds ‘Vanish Mode’ in Instagram and Messenger
Twitter: New Carousel Ad Format Option
Tune in next month for another round of social media updates!
Facebook ads now come in several varieties. You can promote your Page, posts on your Page, actions users took, or your website itself. Despite Facebook’s increasing focus on native ads and keeping traffic on its site, you can still be successful in sending users to your website.
There are also several ad formats including images, videos, carousel (multiple images), Instant Experiences, and collections.
Facebook ads are targeted to users based on their location, demographic, and profile information.
Many of these options are only available on Facebook. After creating an ad, you set a budget and bid for each click or thousand impressions that your ad will receive.
Users then see your ads in the sidebar on Facebook or in their newsfeed.
This guide will walk you through the best practices for creating CPC ads that drive traffic to your website.
Facebook’s other ad options are great for driving engagement and brand awareness, but ads driving users off-site are still the best option for direct response advertisers looking to make a sale.
Who Should Advertise on Facebook?
Many businesses fail at Facebook advertising because they are not a good fit. You should always test new marketing channels, especially before demand drives up prices, but make sure to consider whether your business model is a good fit for Facebook.
In the past, Facebook ads were more like display ads than search ads — though new versions of ads, like product ads, allow advertisers to sell products directly to users.
Here are a few types of businesses that are likely to succeed with Facebook advertising.
Businesses with Low-Friction Conversions
The businesses that succeed with Facebook ads ask users to sign up, not to buy. You must use a low-friction conversion to be successful.
A visitor to your website wasn’t looking for your product. They clicked your ad on a whim. If you’re relying on them to immediately buy something to make your ad ROI positive, you will fail.
Facebook users are fickle and likely to click back to Facebook if you ask for a big commitment (purchase) upfront. Instead, stick to simple conversions like signing up for your service, filling out a short lead form, or submitting an email address.
Even if you sell products, not services, you should consider focusing on an intermediate conversion like a newsletter signup. Then you can upsell later through email marketing or Facebook retargeting ads.
Daily deal sites like Groupon, AppSumo, and Fab are good examples of businesses that can succeed with Facebook advertising. After you click one of their ads, they just ask for your email address. They’ll sell you on a deal later.
Business Model with Long Sales Cycle or Small Purchases
Even if you only ask for an email address initially, you’ll need to eventually make money from these users if your ads are to be profitable.
The best business model that fits for Facebook ads earn revenue from their users over time, not all at once. A user may have given you their email, but you’ll need to build more trust before they are likely to buy anything.
You shouldn’t depend on one big purchase. Several smaller purchases are ideal.
Daily deal and subscription sites are great examples of business models that can thrive on Facebook. Both have customers whose lifetime value is spread out over six months or more.
At Udemy, they focus on getting users to sign up on their first visit. By aiming to be profitable on ad spend in six months (not one day), they turn Facebook users into long-term customers.
They target a 20% payback on ad spend on day one and 100% payback in six months. These numbers can serve as a rough guide for your business.
Facebook’s ad targeting options are unparalleled. You can target by demographics and create custom or lookalike audiences to target users similar to your best customers. You can also use retargeting ads to target users who have interacted with your page, or visited your website.
On Facebook, you can directly target users by:
Location
Age
Gender
Interests
Connections
Relationship Status
Languages
Education
Workplaces
Each option can be useful, depending on your audience. Most marketers should focus on location, age, gender, and interests.
Location allows you to targets users in the country, state, city, or zip code that you service.
Age and gender targeting should be based on your existing customers. If women 25-44 are the bulk of your customers, start out targeting them. If they prove to be profitable, you can then expand your targeting.
Interest targeting is the most powerful but misused feature of Facebook ads. When creating an ad, you have two options: broad categories or detailed interests.
Broad Category Targeting
Broad categories include topics like Gardening, Horror Movies, and Consumer Electronics. Recently, Facebook has added newer targets like Engaged (1 year), Expecting Parents, Away from Hometown, and Has Birthday in 1 Week.
Broad interests may seem like an efficient way to reach a large audience. However, these users often cost more and spend less. You’ll also need to install the Facebook pixel.
This used to be an ineffective way to reach audiences; however the addition of the Facebook pixel and dynamic ads makes this far more effective.
It is worth testing; but detailed interest targeting is often more effective.
Detailed Interest Targeting
Detailed Interest Targeting allows you to target users based on information in their profile including “listed likes and interests, the Pages they like, apps they use, and other profile (timeline) content they’ve provided” (according to Facebook). You’ll find the best ROI using Detailed Interest targeting.
Facebook has an amazing array of interests to target from Harry Potter to underwater rugby. The hard part is choosing the right ones.
When targeting detailed interests, Facebook provides the size of the audience and other suggested likes and interests. You won’t have any competitive data. Once you select interests for an ad, Facebook will show an aggregate suggested bid.
Many marketers target the largest groups possible.
This is a mistake. These groups are more expensive and less targeted.
Rather than target broad terms for your niche like “yoga” or “digital photography,” focus on specific interests. Research which magazines and blogs your customers read, who they follow on Twitter, and which related products they buy.
If you use laser-focused interests like these, you’ll reach the people who are most interested in your topic and the most willing to spend money on it.
For example, if you wanted to sell a new DJ course, don’t just target the interest “disc jockey.”
Instead, create ads targeting DJ publications like DJ Magazine and Mixmag. Then created another ad targeting DJ brands like Traktor and Vestax.
Combine smaller, related interests into a group with an audience of 50,000 to 1M+. This structure will create ads with large audiences that are likely to convert.
Advanced tip:Use Facebook Login as a sign-up option on your site. When users connect via Facebook, you’ll be able to analyze their interests. Index these interests against the number of fans of their respective Facebook Pages. You’ll be left with your high-affinity interests.
Facebook Lookalike Audiences
In addition to targeting users directly, Facebook gives you the ability to Lookalike Audiences.
So what are Facebook Lookalike Audiences? These are Facebook users that are similar to your current users. You’ll need to have Facebook Pixel or other custom audience data, like an email list. Then, you can ask Facebook to find similar users.
They are highly customizable — for example, you could create a “new customer” ad, then exclude current customers from seeing your ads.
Retargeting ads allow you to reach customers who are already familiar with your brand. You can double down by creating dynamic ads that show people items they are likely to be interested in.
For example, you could retarget users who have visited your site, left items in their cart, or clicked on an ad.
The most important part of your Facebook ad is the image. You can write the most brilliant copy in the world, but if your image doesn’t catch a user’s eye, you won’t get any clicks.
Don’t use low-quality images, generic stock photography, or any images that you don’t have the rights to use. Don’t steal anything from Google Images. Unless you’re a famous brand, don’t use your logo.
Now that we have the no’s out of the way, how should advertisers find images to use? Buy them, create them yourself, or use ones with a Creative Commons license.
Below you’ll learn which types of images work best and where specifically to find them.
People
Images of people work best. Preferably their faces. Use close-ups of attractive faces that resemble your target audience.
Younger isn’t always better. If you’re targeting retirees, test pictures of people over 60. Using a pretty 25 year old girl wouldn’t make sense.
Facebook sidebar ad images are small (254 by 133 pixels). Make sure to focus on a person’s face and crop it if necessary. Don’t use a blurry or dark picture.
Use this ad image guide on Facebook to see the size requirements for other ads, like desk top news feed, mobile news feed, instant articles, stories, etc.
Advanced tip: Use images of people facing to the right. Users will follow the subject’s line of sight and be more likely to read your ad text.
Aside from models, you can also feature the people behind your business and showcase some of your customers (with their permission, of course).
Typography
Clear, readable type can also attract clicks. Bright colors will help your ad stand out.
Just like with text copy, use a question or express a benefit to the user. Treat the text in the image as an extension of your copy.
Funny
Crazy or funny pictures definitely attract clicks. See I Can Has Cheeseburger, 9GAG, or any popular meme.
Unfortunately, even with descriptive ad text, these ads don’t always convert well. If you use this type of ad, set a low budget and track the performance closely. You’ll often attract lots of curiosity clicks that won’t convert.
Users recognize stock photos and will ignore them. Instead, find unique photos and give them personality by cropping or editing them and applying filters. You can use Pixlr, an online image editor, for both.
The third option is to create the images yourself. If you’re a graphic designer, this is easy. If you aren’t, you can still create typographic images or use basic image editing to create something original from existing pictures.
Rotate Ads
Each campaign should have at least three ads with the same interest targets. Using a small number of ads will allow you to gather data on each one. For a given campaign, only one to two ads will get a lot of impressions, so don’t bother running too many at once.
After a few days, delete the ads with the lowest click-through rates (CTRs) and keep iterating on the winners to continually increase your CTR.
Aim for 0.1% as a benchmark. You’ll likely start out closer to the average of 0.04%.
Writing Successful Facebook Ad Copy
After seeing your image, users will (hopefully) read your ad text. Here you can sell them on your product or service and earn their click.
Despite the 40 character headline and 125 character body text limits, we can still use the famous copywriting formula AIDA.
Increasing your bid will help your ad reach more of your target audience. If your ad is performing well but you’re reaching less than 75% of your target audience, you can increase your bid to get more clicks.
If your audience penetration is high, increasing your budget will increase your ad’s frequency: how many times a targeted user will see it.
Landing Pages for Facebook Ads
Getting a click is only the beginning. You still need the visitor to convert.
Make sure to send him to a targeted, high-converting landing page. You know their age, gender, and interests, so show them a page that will solve their problems.
The landing page should also contain the registration form or email submit box that you’ll track as a conversion.
Focus the landing page on this action, not the later sale. If you want visitors to sign up for your newsletter, show them the benefits or offer a free gift for their email.
How to Track Facebook Ads Performance
Facebook no longer offers conversion tracking. Facebook’s Ads Manager is great for data within Facebook but can’t provide information on users who have left the site.
To properly track the performance of your Facebook campaigns, you’ll need to use an analytics program like Google Analytics, or your own back-end system. Tag your links using Google’s URL builder or your own tracking tags.
Conversion Tracking
As mentioned above, make sure to separate campaigns by interest groups so that you can see how each one performs.
You can track them using the utm_campaign parameter. Use the utm_content parameter to differentiate between ads.
Ad-level tracking is useful when testing eye-catching images and before you’ve established a baseline CTR and conversion rate.
Performance Tracking
You will also need to monitor your performance within the Facebook interface. The most important metric to track is the click-through rate. Your CTR affects both the number of clicks you’ll receive and the amount you will pay per click.
Ads with a low CTR will stop serving or become more expensive. Ads with a high CTR will generate as many clicks as will fit within your budget. They will also cost less. Keep a close eye on CTR by interests and ads to learn which audiences work best and which ads resonate with them.
Keep in mind: Even the best ad’s performance will decline over time. The smaller your target audience is, the faster this will happen. Usually, you’ll see your traffic start to drop off in 3-10 days.
When this happens, refresh the ads with new images and copy. Duplicate your existing ads then change the image and ad text.
Do not edit the existing ad. Delete any existing ads not getting clicks. By the next day, you’ll see the new ads accruing impressions and clicks.
Monitor the images’ performance over time to see which generate the best CTR and maintain their traffic the longest. You can rotate high-performing images back in every few weeks until they stop getting clicked at all.
Conclusion
Despite the learning curve, Facebook advertising can be a great marketing channel for the right business. The most important points to remember are target specific interests, use eye-catching images, give users a low-friction conversion, and track everything.