Needing a little help with Facebook ads? We all could use some pointers from time to time, so here are a some tips to help you create Facebook ads that actually deliver.
The Demographics – Know Thy Audience
Let’s say you are selling hot pink glitter nail polish – do you want to target everyone with your ad, including the guy that spends his free time hunting and fishing? Probably not. You need to know who is buying your products and what their interests are. Facebook has a couple of great tools to help you target those specific demographics. Custom Audiences gives the marketer the ability target specific users and Lookalike Audiences allows the marketer to target a new audience through a list that has already been cultivated of users that have similar interests.
Be Creative – Do Your Research
Before you jump in with both feet, learn what works (and what doesn’t) when creating your ad. According to David Serfaty, the Director of Social Advertising at Matomy Media Group via Inside Facebook, “… marketers need to put more research and focus into the images they use in Facebook ads because the ad size is so large (especially in the News Feed). The relatively short lifespan of a Facebook ad means that brands must have a vast quantity of unique, constantly refreshed images at the ready to keep their ads and content near the top of users’ News Feeds. This is especially true for direct-response advertisers, who must rely on engaging, creative ads to entice a consumer into making a purchasing decision.”
A few other worthwhile notes from James Scherer via Wishpond:
- Make sure your image is landscape oriented and the size is correct
- Make your ad pops – contrasting with Facebook’s blue and white background – orange is a good example
- Unless you are well known to your audience, stay away from logo-only ads
- Use happy people – research has shown a smiling woman is top-ranked
- Offer value, such as an e-book, tips or other “freebie” as a great way to increase click-through
Be Cute – But Clear
Remember, you only have a few seconds to grab your audience’s attention! Your ad needs to be clear, to-the-point and visually appealing. According to Serfaty, via Inside Facebook
“Your ads shouldn’t have to be studied by silent monks in order to figure out what action you wish a user to take. A Facebook user should be able to glance at the ad and immediately know what it means, what action they are supposed to take and what value they are going to derive from that action.”
Try testing some ads to see what your audience responds to, take a look at your Facebook landing page to see what ads stand out, and check out what your competition is doing.