How to Run Facebook and Instagram Ads for Your Business

What you need before you start

• A Meta Business account and an ad account
• A Facebook page, and an Instagram profile if you want ads there
• A website or form where a person can take the action you want
• A clear goal: leads, sales or messages

The steps

1. Choose the goal: leads, sales or messages.
2. Set the audience: location, age and interests. Do not make it too narrow.
3. Placements can usually stay on automatic.
4. Set a daily budget and a duration, and give the campaign a few days before you judge it.
5. Prepare an image or a video, a short text and one clear action.
6. Send people to a page where the offer is easy to understand.
7. Review the ad and publish it.

What to track

• The Meta Pixel, which counts the leads on your website
• The cost of one lead
• The quality of the leads: did they turn into sales

Common mistakes

• Judging the ad after one day
• Sending people to a page that does not explain the offer
• Running ads without tracking
• Choosing an audience that is too narrow
• Aiming at clicks instead of leads

Frequently asked questions

How much should I spend on Facebook ads?

There is no fixed amount. Start with a budget you can keep running long enough to learn something, and judge by the cost of a lead, not by likes.

Do I need a website?

It helps a lot: ads send people to a page where they can act. Without a website, forms and messages inside Meta can work, but you lose control and tracking.

What is the difference between boosting a post and running an ad?

A boost is a quick option inside the app with few settings. Ads Manager gives control over the goal, the audience and the tracking, so it usually suits a business better. If your ads bring people who only ask the price, read why ads bring price-askers, not buyers. More about our service: Meta ads at SEMMA.