How do I start using Facebook ads?

Here’s what we will cover in this article to help you learn how to start using Facebook ads:

• How to locate Facebook Ad Manager
• How to get a free Facebook Business page
• Basic advice before you start running ads
• Exact steps for how to set up and run your ads
• Information about ad sizes and formats you can choose
• Lastly, where to get the ad artwork files done, if you aren’t doing them yourself

First things first:

The best place to begin is to spend 5-10 hours doing some research and learning about how to best use Facebook ads before you waste a lot of money, and it’s easy to waste money on ads if you don’t know what you’re doing.

Here’s how to locate Facebook Ad Manager:

1. To begin, you’ll need a Business Page on Facebook. It’s free. Just click top right setting area and look for Make A Business Page. Click it, fill out your business page. Now you’re ready.

2. Ad Manager should now be available in your upper right Settings area.

Here are the basics you should know before you begin:

1. Don’t spend more than about $25-$30 a week when you’re starting. Give yourself time to learn about using Facebook Ad Manager and how to optimize your ads.

You can begin spending more if you can learn to get a good response to your ads and you’re seeing some sales conversions. 

Go slowly as you learn to use Facebook Ad Manager – ramp up your spending, making adjustments and paying close attention to your FB Ad Manager data which shows clicks, conversions etc.

2. Learn what optimizing your ads and iterating and A/B testing different ads means and how to do it.

This is learning step is really critical. You should not just run an ad and if it doesn’t work, decide that nobody cares about your business.

Often people need to see an ad 6-8 times before they decide to click on it because they are curious. Running an ad for a week is not a good test.

You really need to run a multi-ad campaign for a week or ten days – then evaluate the results and then run another improved ad and keep doing that process for a few months.

The ad itself is quite important – people respond to some ads and not to others.

It’s up to you to run 5-10 campaigns to learn what people respond to, and to adjust as you go.

Go to Google and read up on “FB ads best practices” and “how to do A/B testing with FB ads”

3. After you’ve really schooled yourself re: Item #2, you can begin. 🙂    But spend 5-10 hours on #2 first.

Here are the exact steps you will take to begin running Facebook and/or Instagram ads:

Before running ads on Facebook and/or Instagram, it is important to have a Facebook Business Page.

If you don’t have a Business Page yet, here’s how to get one easily:

Here are the steps on how to create a Facebook business page:

1. Go to Facebook and log in to your personal account.
2. Click on the “Create Page” button in the top right corner of the page.
3. Select the type of business you have from the drop-down menu.
4. Enter your business name and category.
5. Add a profile photo and cover photo.
6. Write a brief description of your business.
7. Add your business contact information.
8. Click on the “Create Page” button.

Here are the steps to create a Facebook Business Page and run ads once you are logged into Facebook and have a Business page:

1. Log into your Facebook account.
2. Click on the down arrow at the top-right corner of Facebook and select “Create Page” from the dropdown menu.
3. Choose a suitable business category for your page (e.g., Local Business, Company, Brand, Product).
4. Enter the required information for your business, such as the page name, category, and address.
5. Upload a profile picture and cover photo that represent your business visually.
6. Add a short description and other relevant details about your business.
7. Click “Create Page” to create your Facebook Business Page.
8. Once your page is created, navigate to the Facebook Ads Manager by clicking on the down arrow at the top-right corner and selecting “Manage Ads” from the dropdown menu.
9. In the Ads Manager, click on the “Create” button to start creating your ad campaign.
10. Choose your marketing objective for the ad campaign (e.g., brand awareness, traffic, conversions).
11. Define your target audience by selecting demographics, interests, and behaviors.
12. Set the budget and schedule for your ad campaign.
13. Create your ad creative, including images, videos, or text.
14. Select the ad placement options, such as Facebook News Feed, Instagram Feed, or Audience Network.
15. Choose the ad format, such as single image, carousel, or video. (Single image would be easiest to start with.)
16. Configure the ad bidding strategy and optimization settings. BE SURE TO LIMIT YOUR DAILY BUDGET before running live ads! Keep that budget low when you start, and slowly raise it as your ability to run profitable ads and results increase.
17. Review and confirm the ad details.
18. Submit the ad for review by Facebook to ensure compliance with advertising policies.
19. Monitor the performance of your ads using Facebook Ads Manager.
20. Optimize your ads based on key performance metrics (e.g., click-through rate, conversion rate).
21. Make adjustments to your ad campaign as needed to improve results.

Please note that these steps provide a general overview of the process, and there may be additional options and settings available depending on your specific advertising goals and the features offered by Facebook at the time of use.

It’s always recommended to refer to Facebook’s official documentation and resources for the most up-to-date instructions and guidance.

Here’s some important information about ad sizes, formats and how to get your ads ready to upload to Facebook:

When it comes to ad media on Facebook and Instagram, it’s important to consider the size and format requirements.

Here’s an overview of the recommended sizes and formats for ad media:

1. Image Ads:
   • Recommended image size: 1,200 x 628 pixels
   • Accepted formats: JPG or PNG
   • Maximum file size: 30 MB
   • Aspect ratio: 1.91:1
2. Video Ads:
   • Recommended video resolution: At least 720p
   • Accepted formats: MP4, MOV, or GIF
   • Maximum video file size: 4 GB
   • Maximum video length: 240 minutes (recommended video length varies by ad placement)
3. Carousel Ads:
   • Recommended image size: 1,080 x 1,080 pixels
   • Accepted formats: JPG or PNG
   • Maximum file size per image: 30 MB
   • Aspect ratio: 1:1
4. Collection Ads:
   • Recommended image size for the cover: 1,200 x 628 pixels
   • Recommended image size for the products: 1,200 x 1,200 pixels
   • Accepted formats: JPG or PNG
   • Maximum file size per image: 30 MB
   • Aspect ratio for the cover: 1.91:1
   • Aspect ratio for the products: 1:1
5. Story Ads:
   • Recommended image size: 1,080 x 1,920 pixels
   • Accepted formats: JPG or PNG
   • Maximum file size: 30 MB
   • Aspect ratio: 9:16

It’s important to note that these are general guidelines, and ad specifications may vary depending on the specific ad placement and objectives. It’s always recommended to refer to Facebook’s Ad Guidelines and Ads Manager for the most accurate and up-to-date information regarding ad media requirements.

Additionally, it’s a good practice to test your ad creative on different devices and screen sizes to ensure optimal viewing and engagement.