How to Advertise a Business on Facebook for Beginners

Posted 2 years ago by Anastasia Prokofieva

Facebook is桂the桂world�셲 largest social networking site, with almost 2.9桂끓쓩깜깜쓩늡꾈 monthly active users. 깝넨�셲 only natural that entrepreneurs worldwide are wondering how to桂advertise a桂business on桂Facebook.

However, beginner sellers often get overwhelmed when figuring out a桂new advertising platform. We桂get it: social media ads can be桂complicated. That�셲 why there are almost infinite tips on桂social media marketing, and桂the桂Facebook Help Center has thousands of桂pages for桂people to桂navigate. Understandably, it桂can be桂intimidating.

Don�셳 worry, we桂are going to桂help you through the桂process of桂advertising on桂social media. In桂this post, we桂will explain how to桂advertise products on桂Facebook and桂set up桂your first ad桂campaign.

Why Advertise on桂Facebook?

The great thing about Facebook advertising is桂that when you run an桂ad, it桂can not only appear on桂Facebook, but also on桂Instagram, Audience Network, and桂Facebook Messenger. With a桂single campaign, you can reach people on桂all their favorite platforms.

Facebook is桂an桂effective method to桂promote a桂small business for桂many reasons:

깝넨�셲 budget-friendly. Facebook prioritizes ads that perform well and桂shows them more frequently for桂cheaper.
깝넨�셲 beginner-friendly. Even if桂you�셶e never set up桂an桂ad桂campaign before, you can launch yours in桂a桂couple of桂steps.
깝넨�셲 effective. Flexible targeting settings allow you to桂reach potential customers easily.
It桂doesn�셳 take much time. Creating an桂ad桂campaign on桂Facebook will usually take less than 15桂minutes.
It桂fits different marketing goals. Whether you want to桂attract new customers or桂give a桂special offer to桂loyal ones, Facebook helps you do桂it桂all.
It桂can be桂automated. You don�셳 have to桂closely monitor your campaign because most of桂the桂work is桂done automatically.

Okay, now let�셲 see how all these things work.

Ways to桂Advertise on桂Facebook

There are two main ways you can promote your business on桂Facebook:

Boost Your Posts on桂Facebook

When you post organic (aka not paid) posts on桂your Facebook business page, you can see a桂blue Boost Post button at桂the桂bottom of桂some of桂your posts:

The Boost Post button allows you to桂quickly create a桂Facebook ad桂from one of桂your existing posts. This ad桂can appear in桂different places on桂Facebook, and桂you can show it桂to桂the桂people you choose.

Boosting a桂post is桂a桂quick way to桂share your business with people who might be桂interested. Promoting your page with boosted posts helps to桂grow your followers and桂increase engagement, such as桂getting more likes or桂comments.

Run Facebook Ads

While boosting posts can drive engagement and桂grow your page, running ads on桂Facebook helps you attract potential customers and桂encourage people to桂shop in桂your online store.

There are different Facebook ad桂formats you can use:

Photo ad. It桂is桂a桂simple format that works better with engaging photos and桂copy.
Video ad. It桂allows you to桂show off your product or桂brand using a桂video. The format comes in桂a桂range of桂lengths and桂styles.
Ads in桂Stories. As桂you could probably guess, this format is桂used to桂run ads in桂Facebook and桂Instagram stories.
Messenger ads. Use it桂to桂promote your business on桂Facebook Messenger. You can add interactive elements to桂it.
Carousel ads. This format allows you to桂display up桂to桂ten images or桂videos in桂a桂single ad, each with its own link. Great for桂spotlighting different products.
Slideshow ads. These are video-like ads made of桂motion, sound, and桂text. They allow you to桂advertise across various devices and桂connection speeds.
Collection ads. They display a桂primary video or桂image with three smaller images below in桂a桂grid-like layout. A桂great option that allows customers to桂browse what you offer.

Collection ad桂on桂

Should You Boost Posts or桂Run Ads?

Not sure how you should promote your business on桂Facebook? Should you use boosted posts or桂ads? First, you need to桂figure out what you want to桂achieve.

If桂you want to桂increase audience engagement on桂your Facebook business page or桂improve your brand awareness, consider boosting your posts. It桂is桂a桂great way to桂gain visibility and桂grow your audience.

If桂you have specific business goals in桂mind, such as桂getting more website visitors and桂purchases in桂your store, it�셲 better to桂go桂with ads.

Ads are also the桂best choice if桂you want to桂create more advanced ad桂types and桂campaigns. For example, there are various creative and桂formatting options available in桂Ads Manager that aren�셳 available when boosting a桂post from your page.

Facebook ads can also provide you with more advanced tools for桂audience targeting.

When you boost a桂post, you can choose to桂place it桂on桂Instagram in桂addition to桂Facebook news feed. But with Facebook ads, you can choose placements in桂Facebook newsfeed, Messenger ads, Instagram stories, instant articles, and桂Audience Network.

Deciding whether to桂boost a桂post or桂run an桂ad桂really depends on桂your goals, but it桂is桂an桂important decision nonetheless.

How Much Does It桂Cost to桂Advertise on桂Facebook?

깝넨�셲 hard to桂report the桂average cost to桂advertise on桂Facebook because you have to桂decide how much you want to桂spend on桂your ads. In桂fact, you can set a桂limit for桂each campaign.

Facebook uses an桂ads auction system. It桂means that you inform the桂platform how much you�셱e willing to桂pay to桂have your ad桂shown to桂your target audience. Then the桂platform gets you as桂many results as桂possible for桂that amount.

To桂make sure you don�셳 spend more on桂ads than you planned, you can set up桂a桂campaign spending limit and桂an桂account spending limit.

A桂campaign spending limit is桂a桂limit on桂the桂overall amount your ad桂campaign can spend. An桂account spending limit is桂a桂lifetime limit on桂the桂amount your Facebook ad桂account can spend across all the桂ad桂campaigns you�셱e running from the桂time the桂limit is桂set.

Prepare for桂Advertising on桂Facebook

There are a桂few things you should consider before putting up桂your first advertising campaign.

Study Advertising Policies

Did you know that you are not allowed to桂entice likes in桂your ads? Or桂that you can�셳 use images with weapons pointed at桂the桂person who sees the桂ad? Or桂that there are restrictions to桂advertising subscription services?

Before you start coming up桂with an桂ad桂campaign, make sure your business is桂eligible for桂advertising on桂Facebook. Read their closely to桂ensure you can advertise your products or桂services. Be桂aware of桂possible restrictions.

Set Up桂Facebook Pixel

Facebook Pixel is桂an桂analytical tool that helps you understand the桂actions customers take on桂your website. For example, how many site visitors saw a桂certain product page, or桂added that product to桂a桂cart.

Facebook Pixel provides you with data about your customer�셲 behavior. This is桂invaluable for桂creating effective ad桂campaigns. For example, some people visited a桂certain product page in桂your store but left without a桂purchase. Using Facebook Pixel data, you can create an桂ad桂offering a桂discount on桂that product and桂show that ad桂to桂those customers only.

桂

There are many ways to桂use data collected by桂Facebook Pixel when creating your ads. For example, you can find new audiences to桂attract. Or, you can measure conversions (points at桂which your site visitor completes the桂desired goal) and桂sales so桂that you know exactly how your ads are performing.

If桂you want to桂run more effective ad桂campaigns and桂track their results, it桂makes sense to桂set up桂Facebook Pixel as桂soon as桂possible.

With 붚죕쳔, installing Facebook Pixel to桂your store is桂as桂simple as桂copying and桂pasting. No桂tech knowledge required! Here�셲 .

If桂you don�셳 have an桂붚죕쳔 store, you can manually set up桂a桂Facebook Pixel. You need to桂be桂more tech-savvy for桂that, but you can use this .

Learn more: Facebook Pixel Strategies to桂Help You Run More Targeted Ads

How to桂Set Up桂Your First Facebook Ad

Facebook ads are created in桂Ads Manager. It桂is桂a桂Facebook tool that lets you create and桂manage your Facebook ads. It桂also tells you how your ads perform so桂that you can adjust your ad桂campaigns if桂needed.

If桂you have never advertised on桂Facebook before, you should begin to桂familiarize yourself with the桂structure of桂Facebook ads.

Your Facebook ad桂consists of桂three parts: a桂campaign, an桂ad桂set, and桂an桂ad. Campaigns are made up桂of桂ad桂sets. Ad桂sets are groups of桂ads that use the桂same settings for桂when, where, and桂how they will run. And your ads are creative visuals made up桂of桂engaging pictures, videos, and桂text.

At桂the桂campaign level, you set your ad桂objective (for example, driving more people to桂your website.) At桂the桂ad桂set level, you choose your strategy by桂setting up桂targeting, budget and桂schedule. At桂the桂ad桂level, you choose creative visuals that drive the桂audience to桂what you�셱e trying to桂promote.

Now, let�셲 learn how to桂run a桂Facebook ad桂campaign:

Step 1:桂Create a桂Campaign

To桂launch your first ad桂campaign, go桂to桂, find the桂Ads tab and桂click Create. You�셪l be桂asked to桂choose your advertising objective.

To桂choose the桂right ad桂objective, ask yourself: 혫What�셲 the桂most important outcome I桂want from this ad?혬 That could be桂attracting visitors to桂your website, increasing visits to桂your physical store, or桂growing orders in桂your online store.

In桂this example, we�셶e chosen Reach as桂an桂objective. It桂will maximize the桂number of桂people who see our 껸삣�봦껸꾈삣꿎 for桂building brand awareness.

After you choose your objective, you�셪l see a桂page where you can edit the桂campaign name and桂declare if桂your ad桂is桂related to桂special ad桂categories (credit, employment, housing, social issues, elections, or桂politics.) As桂long as桂you�셱e making an桂ad桂for桂an桂online store, you don�셳 need to桂declare those categories.

You can also check campaign details and桂set a桂campaign spending limit on桂that page (this is桂optional):

There is桂also an桂option to桂create an桂A/B test for桂your ad. This test allows you to桂try different images, text, and桂audiences to桂see which combinations perform best. 깝넨�셲 a桂helpful tool but unnecessary, especially if桂this is桂your first ad.

Turn on桂the桂Campaign Budget Optimization if桂you want to桂set up桂a桂daily budget for桂your ads:

Click Next to桂proceed to桂creating your ad桂set.

Step 2:桂Create Your Ad桂Set

Now it�셲 time to桂create your ad桂set. On桂the桂next page, enter a桂name for桂your ad桂set and桂choose the桂Facebook page you want to桂promote from the桂dropdown menu:

You can turn on桂the桂Dynamic creative setting (this is桂optional). You�셪l be桂asked to桂provide creative elements, such as桂images and桂headlines, and桂Facebook will automatically mix and桂match them to桂generate combinations optimized for桂your audience.

Step 3:桂Set Your Budget and桂Schedule

Find the桂Budget &桂schedule section on桂the桂page to桂define your daily or桂lifetime budget. The daily budget is桂the桂average amount you are willing to桂spend on桂a桂specific ad桂set per day. The lifetime budget is桂how much you�셱e willing to桂spend over the桂entire run-time of桂your campaign or桂ad桂set.

In桂this section, you can also set up桂the桂time period during which you want your ads to桂run. This way, you don�셳 keep ads going for桂longer than they are relevant.

Step 4:桂Choose Your Audience

Find the桂Audience section to桂define who you want to桂see your ads.

Choose the桂demographics, interests, and桂behaviors that best represent your target audience by桂combining what you know about them. This can include age, location, languages, interests.

In桂this example, we桂created an桂audience of桂English-speaking young people living in桂the桂US桂who are interested in桂fashion:

Click Save the桂audience to桂use it桂in桂your future campaigns.

Step 5:桂Choose Ad桂Placements

Simply put, decide where to桂run your ad. This includes Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, Audience Network, or桂all of桂them.

Find the桂Placements section and桂choose Automatic or桂Manual placements. Automatic is桂recommended as桂Facebook will allocate your ad桂set�셲 budget across multiple placements based on桂where they�셱e most likely to桂perform well.

You can also choose where to桂show your ad桂manually. Here you can add or桂exclude some placements via a桂simple checkbox:

After you finish choosing ad桂placements, scroll down to桂the桂Optimization &桂delivery section. You can set a桂cost control if桂you have a桂specific spending goal. If桂you don�셳 set one, Facebook will spend your entire budget to桂get the桂most results.

When you�셱e done, click Next.

Step 6:桂Choose Your Ad桂Format and桂Ad桂Creative

We桂discussed Facebook ad桂formats a桂bit earlier, and桂now it�셲 time to桂choose which one you want to桂use. For example, carousel and桂collection ads work best if桂you want to桂showcase your online store�셲 product range.

Select images or桂videos for桂your ad桂in桂the桂Ad桂creative section. Enter your ad桂headline and桂call to桂action. Don�셳 forget a桂link to桂your online store!

You can see how your ad桂will look in桂different placements in桂the桂Preview section on桂the桂right:

Step 7:桂Set Up桂Tracking

Remember we桂talked about Facebook Pixel earlier? Now it�셲 time to桂put it桂to桂use!

For this step, Facebook Pixel must be桂installed in桂your online store (again, here�셲 the桂streamlined , and桂here�셲 how to桂do桂that .)

Find the桂Tracking section and桂check the桂Website Events box (website events are actions that people take on桂your website):

Step 8:桂Publish Your Ad

When you�셱e satisfied with your settings and桂ad桂format, click Publish. After you submit your ad, it桂goes to桂Facebook�셲 ad桂auction to桂get it桂to桂the桂right audience.

Congratulations, you�셶e just launched your first ad桂campaign on桂Facebook!

Step 9:桂Measure Your Campaign Performance

Your advertising adventures are not yet done! Now, you need to桂track your ad桂performance in桂Ads Manager. Check if桂your ad桂is桂being delivered efficiently, and桂edit your campaign if桂needed.

We桂can�셳 stress enough the桂importance of桂measuring your ad桂performance. Not only does that help you see which ad桂formats work best for桂your business, but it桂also helps you discover more about your target audience and桂improve your ads over time.

For example, beginners often want to桂know the桂best days to桂advertise on桂Facebook, or桂the桂best time to桂advertise on桂Facebook. Unfortunately, articles answering these questions are often oversimplified and桂potentially misleading. Just because a桂specific time slot worked for桂one business doesn�셳 mean it�셪l work for桂yours.

But you have ways to桂collect data to桂get a桂better understanding of桂your target audience. You can track sales with Facebook Pixel, set up桂other analytics tools on桂your website (like Google Analytics), and桂look into on桂Facebook. Better data will allow you to桂create more effective and桂budget-friendly ads.

Make the桂Most of桂Facebook Ads for桂Online Stores

We�셶e explained above how to桂create Facebook ads from scratch yourself. Even if桂you are a桂business owner who doesn�셳 have any桂experience with advertising, you can create a桂Facebook ad桂if桂you put enough time and桂effort into it.

If桂you don�셳 have the桂time to桂do桂everything from scratch yourself, or桂if桂anything ad-related overwhelms you, there are some alternative ways to桂advertise your online store on桂뱍껸낌깎끓늡늡곗�봢끅김깎낌쓩껸깜깜꿎 if桂you use 붚죕쳔 by桂Lightspeed! If桂you sell on桂붚죕쳔, you can set up桂Facebook ads without much work at桂all.

붚죕쳔 sellers can create Facebook ads through , a桂marketing tool that simplifies the桂process of桂purchasing, creating, and桂targeting your advertising campaigns.

Kliken drastically simplifies ad桂creation and桂setup compared to桂direct setup on桂Facebook. Your ad桂campaigns will be桂automatically optimized. Kliken will also provide you with campaign statistics.

Best of桂all, you don�셳 have to桂create ads featuring your products from scratch. Kliken will use your product catalog information (product titles, descriptions, prices) to桂make ads that spotlight your products:

Here are some other benefits of桂running Facebook ads with Kliken:

Easier than manual ad桂setup and桂management. If桂you don�셳 have much experience with ads or桂don�셳 feel comfortable running ads without any桂help, Kliken is桂the桂tool for桂you.
Brings back customers who showed interest in桂your products. When implementing a桂Facebook ad桂campaign, Kliken uses information about previous customer activity, like what products shoppers viewed in桂your store or桂added to桂their cart. They will then show those products to桂past visitors to桂bring them back to桂your store.
Cheaper than outsourcing. As桂with most marketing tools, Kliken charges a桂fee. However, it桂is桂much lower than hiring an桂ad桂specialist.

Kliken will run your ad桂campaigns on桂Facebook and桂Facebook Audience Network, excluding Instagram and桂Facebook Messenger.

Follow the桂instructions from the桂 to桂launch your first Facebook ad桂with ease. Or, watch our video below that explains the桂process step by桂step. It桂also shares tips for桂running a桂more effective ad桂campaign with Kliken.

桂

As桂you can see, advertising on桂Facebook is桂much easier when you�셱e an桂붚죕쳔 seller.

If桂you don�셳 have an桂붚죕쳔 store, consider . Apart from simplified Facebook ads setup and桂management, 붚죕쳔 allows you to桂set up桂a桂shop on桂Facebook and桂Instagram so桂that customers can buy your products without leaving their favorite apps.

Many 붚죕쳔 sellers benefit from advertising their products via Facebook, so桂don�셳 hesitate to桂test out this ad桂platform. Here�셲 what Laraine Craig, an桂붚죕쳔 seller and桂the桂owner of桂the桂clothing brand A桂Little Lacey, says about using Facebook ads:

혫Facebook Ads has been one of桂the桂main drivers of桂growth for桂our business over the桂last 12桂months with increased traffic and桂sales through ad桂campaigns.혬Laraine Craig, owner of桂A桂Little Lacey

Start Advertising on桂Facebook

Now that you understand a桂little bit more about how Facebook advertising works, it�셲 time to桂put what you learned into practice.

To桂get started, we桂suggest creating a桂few test campaigns and桂seeing how they perform. Be桂sure to桂track your results so桂you can learn what works for桂your business. Once you have a桂good idea of桂what is桂successful, and桂what isn�셳, you can start scaling up桂your advertising efforts.

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About The Author

Anastasia Prokofieva is a content writer at 붚죕쳔. She writes about online marketing and promotion to make entrepreneurs�� daily routine easier and more rewarding. She also has a soft spot for cats, chocolate, and making kombucha at home.

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