How to Run Social Media Ads

Start With One Platform and Clear Objectives

Don’t try to run ads everywhere. Start with the platform where your audience is most active. Choose one clear campaign goal: awareness, engagement, leads, or sales. Each platform optimizes based on your objective, so clarity is essential.

Set a Realistic Budget and Bidding Strategy

Even $5/day can yield results on platforms like Facebook and Instagram. Start small, then scale. Use campaign budget optimization (CBO) and test both automatic and manual bidding strategies to find what works.

Use Targeted Audiences — Not Guesswork

Create audiences based on demographics, behaviors, and interests. Use lookalike audiences from your existing email list or website visitors. Remarketing campaigns — showing ads to people who visited but didn’t convert — are often the most profitable.

Test Multiple Ad Creatives and Copy Variations

Don’t rely on one ad. Test different headlines, visuals, calls to action, and formats (carousel, video, static). Let your data reveal the winning combo — then optimize accordingly.

Monitor Daily and Optimize Weekly

Check performance metrics like CPC, CTR, frequency, and ROAS. Pause underperformers. Increase spend on top performers. Don’t “set and forget” — even the best campaigns need tuning.

Final Thoughts

Social media ads are a scalable way to grow fast — but only with strategy, testing, and data-driven decisions. Start small, learn fast, and optimize constantly. Consider expert help if you want to avoid burning your budget.

FAQ

1. What platform is best for paid ads?
   Facebook and Instagram offer the most robust tools for SMBs.
   
   
2. What’s a good starting budget?
   $5–$15/day per campaign.
   
   
3. Should I use video or static images?
   Test both — video often performs better, but not always.
   
   
4. How do I know who to target?
   Use customer data, website traffic, or email lists to build audiences.
   
   
5. What’s a lookalike audience?
   A group that shares traits with your existing customers.
   
   
6. Can I run ads without a website?
   Yes — you can promote social content or lead forms.
   
   
7. Do boosted posts count as ads?
   Yes — but full Ads Manager offers better control and results.
   
   
8. Should I hire someone to manage ads?
   If you want pro-level results and time savings, yes.
   
   
9. How long should I run a test campaign?
   At least 7–10 days for useful data.
   
   
10. What’s the biggest mistake people make with ads?
    Poor targeting and lack of testing.