When it comes to Facebook advertising, there are specific practices to implement that can truly make or break your campaign. In addition, there are a plethora of common Facebook ad mistakes to avoid. It can all be a bit overwhelming.

Facebook ads can be very tricky, as they are much different than other types of campaigns, such as Google ads.

When you advertise on Facebook, you are advertising to an audience that may not have necessarily been intending or even thinking about purchasing something. Because of this, your ads have to truly make a statement in order to attract the interest of your target audience.

There are a few key practices to keep in mind when conducting a Facebook ad campaign. Important tricks to remember include knowing your target audience, remembering your goals, and, among others, delivering at optimal times.

 

Know your target market

There is no reason to go into Facebook advertising without first completing what is arguably the most important step: getting to know your target audience. Although this is a huge factor, this is one of the most common Facebook ad mistakes.

Spend time researching who you need to target based upon your main goal. By doing this, you can narrow the scope and present your ad to the audience that is most likely to be receptive to your message. Your audience needs to be a size that isn’t too large or too small. It needs to be a size that works with your goals and products.

Once you begin advertising to this audience, remember to carefully set your automations. Do not set content to show up to users that have already clicked through to your product/website. If you continuously show these ads to users that have already clicked through or purchased, you will be wasting your ad dollars.

In addition, do not repeatedly show the same failed ads to the same people over and over again. There is a point where the user is simply not going to proceed with your content. Continuously showing them your ad would, like the point above, be a waste of resources.

 

Choose your ad type carefully

When utilizing Facebook advertising, you must know your main goal. Why are you using Facebook ads in the first place? Do you hope to increase sales? Improve blog traffic? Gain email sign ups? What is the point of your ads?

Once you know your goal, you can choose an ad type that will best align with what you are looking to achieve. There are a bunch of options for this, but here are some of the most popular:

 

• Photos: The most commonly used form of advertising, photos allow you to present content that is to the point. Be sure to use a photo that is engaging and attention grabbing. You want something that will catch the eyes of your target audience.
• GIFs: GIFs are a wonderful way to catch the eyes through movement. They are a bit trendy right now, making them a wonderful option to use if trends are something deemed important by your audience.
• Videos: Videos are also a great tool to use. If implementing a video, pay close attention to the first few seconds. If your user scrolls to an auto-start video, it will catch their attention, so be sure to create something that is going to keep it.
• Carousel Ads: Carousel ads are an incredible way to present a variety of content at one time. These are especially great if you are advertising products, because you can display a bunch at one time. Be sure to choose the focus item (the product that shoes up in the center ad) carefully, as it will determine whether the user chooses to see more.

Keep ads new and exciting

No matter the type of ad you choose to implement, one thing is certain: it is imperative to keep your ads new and exciting. Your ads need to really grab the attention of your audience. Create ads that are visually stunning and are to the point. It is great if a user knows what your ad is about without even clicking on it!

Include an enticing hook or header. Word something that will pull the user in and encourage them to learn more! Be sure to avoid overdoing it with text, and instead include something that is just right for your goals and audience.

 

Deliver ads at optimal times

Delivering your ads at optimal times is crucial. You need to be sure that you are presenting ads when they will be seen by users. Be sure to invest in this knowledge, as it can directly impact the effectiveness of your ads.

There is a lot of research out there that breaks down the best times to schedule your ads. Articles site all sorts of different time frames. Some say that any day and time work except for the hour of 3-4pm. Others state that the best days are Monday and Thursday. Some articles even say that early in the morning, such as 8-9am, is the best time to send ads to optimize reach.

The truth is, these statistics all vary based upon a variety of factors. Your industry, target market, product, and ad type can all have an effect on the best times for you to target. Through researching your target audience, checking out activity times and implementing a bit of trial and error, you can find times that best work for your brand.

Measure specific elements

When running ads, it is important to measure their success. Without measuring the effectiveness of what you are doing, what is the point? If you don’t measure ad results, there will be no way to know what works and what doesn’t. You need this information to know what you should change or implement moving forward.

If you aren’t sure which measurement to focus on, you could choose to measure the advertisement itself (by comparing multiple ad types), click throughs, days of the week, or posting time, as discussed above.

Important:  3 metrics you should very aware of:
1. CTR – Your Click through rate
2. CPC – Your Cost per click

3. ROA – YOUR RETURN ON AD SPEND.

What should those metrics look like.
Well in E-Commerce often the aim is to get your CPC below $1 and your CTR above 1%.

 

Choose one or two things to measure that show whether your work is helping you get closer to your goal.

Finally, as you continuously collect data and measure results, you can better prepare for next time.

 

Avoid common Facebook ad mistakes

No matter your advertising budget, there are ways that you can implement these practices in order to further your reach and get closer to your goals. Through carefully implementing key tips and tricks, you will be able to improve your Facebook ad strategies and bring in new customers.

I can’t wait to see how you are able to implement these tips to help you reach your goals!

Sarah