Easy Steps to Set Up Instagram and Facebook Ads
- Natalie Vartanian
- Jan 14
- 3 min read
Running ads on Instagram and Facebook can transform your marketing strategy, helping you reach a larger audience, generate leads, and boost sales. The process might seem overwhelming at first, but with these simple steps, you’ll be ready to launch your first campaign in no time.
Step 1: Define Your Objective
Before you create an ad, think about what you want to achieve. Facebook’s Ads Manager offers several objectives to choose from, such as:
Awareness: Increase brand visibility.
Consideration: Drive traffic to your website, get video views, or gather leads.
Conversions: Encourage purchases or other valuable actions on your site.
Choose one specific goal that aligns with your business priorities. For example, if you’re launching a new product, you might focus on conversions to boost sales.
Step 2: Set Up Your Facebook Business Manager
To run ads, you’ll need a Facebook Business Manager account. Here’s how to set it up:
Go to business.facebook.com.
Click “Create Account” and follow the prompts.
Link your Instagram account and any Facebook Pages you manage to your Business Manager account.
This centralizes your ad management and ensures a smoother workflow.
Step 3: Create Your Campaign in Ads Manager
Navigate to Ads Manager within your Business Manager account and follow these steps:
Start a New Campaign
Click the green “+ Create” button.
Choose your campaign objective (e.g., traffic, engagement, conversions).
Name Your Campaign
Use clear and specific names, like “January Promo - Instagram Stories.”
Set a Budget
Choose between a daily or lifetime budget. For beginners, start with at least $5 per day to ensure your ads reach a reasonable audience size.
Step 4: Define Your Audience
Who do you want to see your ads? Use Ads Manager’s targeting options to reach your ideal customers:
Location: Focus on a specific city, country, or region.
Demographics: Target based on age, gender, and language.
Interests: Reach users based on hobbies, behaviors, or other preferences.
Custom Audiences: Upload your email list or target users who have engaged with your brand.
Start with a warm audience—those familiar with your brand—before expanding to broader groups.
Step 5: Design Your Ad
Your ad’s design plays a crucial role in capturing attention. Follow these tips:
Format: Choose from images, carousels, videos, or Stories.
Visuals: Use high-quality, eye-catching visuals that align with your brand.
Copy: Write compelling text that highlights your offer and includes a clear call-to-action (CTA), like “Shop Now” or “Learn More.”
Use free tools like Canva to create professional-looking graphics if you don’t have a designer.
Step 6: Choose Your Ad Placements
Facebook allows automatic placements, which optimize your ad delivery across platforms like Facebook’s News Feed, Instagram Stories, and more. For beginners, automatic placements are a good choice. Once you’re more experienced, you can manually select placements based on performance data.
Step 7: Monitor and Optimize Your Ads
After launching your ad, monitor its performance in Ads Manager. Key metrics to track include:
Cost per Result: How much you’re spending for each click, lead, or sale.
Click-Through Rate (CTR): The percentage of people who clicked on your ad after seeing it.
Reach and Impressions: The number of unique users who saw your ad versus how many times it was displayed.
If your ad isn’t performing as expected, make adjustments. Experiment with new visuals, update your audience targeting, or tweak the copy to see what resonates.
Final Thoughts
Setting up Instagram and Facebook ads doesn’t have to be complicated. By following these steps, you can create a campaign that connects with your audience and drives results. Remember, the key to success is testing and learning as you go. With time, you’ll discover what works best for your business and refine your strategy for even greater success. If you need a hand throughout any stage, we can help!
Comments