How To Create Your First Facebook Ads, Step By Step

Starting your first Facebook ads can be a daunting task.

With so many steps, and so much to account for, it can seem a little overwhelming.

But don’t fear! Below you’ll find a step-by-step guide to create Facebook ads.

 

Creating Your Facebook Ad Campaign

Step 1: First, you’ll want to make sure you’re logged in under your business account. In the upper right hand corner under pages, select Ads Manager.

 

Step 2: You’re now inside your Facebook Ads Manager account. Select Create Campaign.

 

Step 3: You now have the option to set the goal of your campaign.

Do you want to increase brand awareness? Get people to visit your website? Or boost sales in general? Choose whichever selection best fits your goals for the campaign.

 

Step 4: Finally, set your Campaign Name.

If you plan on running the same campaign throughout the year with some changes, you might consider putting the date in the name.

 

Creating The Audience For Your Facebook Ad

If you have previously created an audience, just used the ‘Saved Audience’ tab, select your audience and proceed to our Placements Section.

Step 1: Determine if you want to use a custom audience.

The Custom Audiences box allows you to include or exclude audiences you have previously built. You might find this useful if you want to target only potential new customers and exclude your current customers, or include/exclude any audience lists you already have saved.

 

Step 2: Next you’ll want to choose the locations you want your ads shown to.

If you are a local business you can select to show your ads only in your city. You can also exclude certain locations if you choose.

 

Step 3: Fill in the applicable Age, Gender and Language information for your business.

 

Step 4: Determine your Detailed Targeting

Detailed Targeting is where you’ll target people with interests similar to your business. Facebook compiles the information people put on their profiles, so you can reach the best audience for your ads. For example, if you run a computer repair service based out of Dallas, you might want to add: computers, computer repair, technology, shop local and Dallas.

Now Facebook is going to target people that match ONE of those things; so if you want to be more specific you can choose to narrow your audience. Then Facebook will target people who are interested in one of the above AND whatever else you include.

 

Building Your Ad Set:

Step 1: Choose the Placement of your ads.

You can do this manually if you know specifically, or you can let Facebook choose for you with their new Automatic Placement Feature. You’re determining where on Facebook you want your ads shown and if you want them shown on Instagram as well.

 

Step 2: Set your Budget and Schedule.

Select your budget per day.  You can also choose to schedule the ad’s start and end date or have it run continuously. In this area, you’re able to adjust the optimization and delivery choices. Facebook presets them for you based on what they think is the best. You can go in and change them if you’d rather. Feel free to play around with these settings as you become more comfortable in Ads Manager.

 

Creating the Ad (or Ads):

Step 1: Add your Media.

This is your ad image or creative. Make sure it’s inviting and has a clear call-to-action. Facebook also has a 20% text rule for images meaning your ad has to have less than 20% text in it. Facebook will also give you some Instagram specifications if you selected Instagram placement in the ‘Placement’ category.

 

Step 2: Write your Headline and Description.

Does your headline encourage people to click on your post? Does the description explain your business or promotion? Does it offer a call-to-action?  You can utilize your headline and description to explain anything you couldn’t include in the creative.

 

Step 3: Choose your Destination.

This is whatever website you want viewers to go to when they click on the ad. Now this can be your website, an event’s website, or a landing page with a special promo. Make sure to UTM tag this URL so you can monitor the traffic and sales in Google Analytics.

 

Step 4: Add your Pixel Tracking.

Ensure you’re tracking the sales and traffic you get from these ads through Facebook using your Facebook pixel. 

 

If you have not yet set up your Facebook pixel, follow these steps:

1. Go to the Pixel section of your Ads Manager Account.
2. Click Create Pixel.
3. Choose a name for your Pixel, and hit Create Pixel. 

If you manage your website yourself, choose the Install Pixel Now button. If you have a developer, choose the Email Pixel Code option.

If the Pixel is working, you should see your website’s activity in the Pixel Page of Ads Manager.

 

Congratulations! Your first ad has now been created!

Optional Step 5: Create additional ads.

You can choose to create similar ads using the same Ad Set settings. This can be useful if you want to play around with different headlines and descriptions.

 

Analyze Your Facebook Ad Performance

Go to Your Account Overview.

There you will see your list of campaigns. This is also where you’ll be able to monitor the results of your ad; for explanations of each result, click on the “i” tooltip next to their names.

This is also where you can turn off entire campaigns, ad sets, or individual ads. To do so, simply use the blue toggle bar shown below.

 

How’d your ad perform? Share your experience in the comments!