We list the do’s and don’ts of Facebook Ads to help you reach your target audience in the “cheapest” way possible.

Facebook Ads is one of the most powerful paid advertising platforms because of its robust analytics, different settings that allow marketers to target a broad or niche audience, and widespread use. According to a 2021 global survey, social media users spent an average of two hours and 32 minutes a day, a 69% increase from 2012. 

Running a Facebook Ads campaign generally requires minimal cost, provided that you use the platform “correctly.” On the other hand, no matter how trivial they appear, mistakes are expensive and damaging to your brand.

To help you avoid some of the most common (and also most expensive) pitfalls of using Facebook Ads, leading digital marketing expert LOJO Marketing shares some do’s and don’ts you have to keep in mind:

The Do's and Don'ts of Facebook Ads

Don't ignore mobile users

Do you know that an ad copy may look good on a desktop but not on a smaller mobile screen, which may cut off the headline? Visually speaking, there are many ways you can ruin your Facebook Ads. 

The general rule of thumb is to create separate Facebook mobile ad campaigns and desktop campaigns. The idea is that mobile ads, because of the limited screen size, require more tweaking to make the ad copy easy to understand even at first glance.

Pro Tip: 

• Experiment with the "Call Now" button.

• Optimize your images (make sure that it conveys a quick, easy-to-digest message despite being shown on a smaller screen).

• Test Facebook Carousel Ad, which allows advertisers to show multiple links and images in the same ad copy.

Do manual placements and adjustments

If you’re pressed for time, you might be tempted to put your campaign on auto-pilot mode. After all, Facebook uses an IA that optimizes the ad set for you. For example, if your mobile ad is performing better than your desktop, it will re-channel your budget to the platform that brings in the most clicks. 

However, Facebook’s AI is not as intelligent as you might think. While your mobile ad might be bringing in more traffic to your website, the algorithm doesn’t take into account that desktop users have the higher purchase intent, or to be exact, they are the ones driving the sales.

Do know your target audience

Your target audience is based on geographical location, online behaviors, and demographics, which include gender, education, religion, marital status, income level, etc.

Consumers who fall into these groups generally value the same products and services, making it easier for advertisers to focus on those with the highest purchase intent.

Don't rule out a broad audience

Facebook is often noted for its impressive targeting capabilities. In fact, you can even target your competitors’ clients and followers. 

In many cases, it’s more cost-effective to target a niche market than a broader audience. However, there are some instances when it is acceptable or even ideal to slightly deviate from this standard rule. 

Many businesses find success by targeting a broader audience and narrowing it down gradually. For example, a new restaurant in Sacramento can benefit from a “broad ad” that targets anyone between 18 and 60 years old in the city. 

In general, a “broad ad” is great for spreading brand awareness, making it an ideal approach if you’re new to Facebook Ads, you just recently started a business, or you need to collect information about your potential customers.  

However, it is almost always better to move away from broad ads once you have collected information or your business has become more established. Remember, specific ads are more useful for converting customers.

Don't bloat your ads with texts

Facebook has conducted a survey showing that the best-performing ads contain images with no or very little text. The company even released its recommended guidelines called the “20% rule,” which states that your text should only account for 20% (or less) of the ad. 

Simply put, rely more on images and use ad copy that follows the “KISS” principle–i.e., keep it short and simple.

Do set the "right" budget

Setting the right budget is arguably the trickiest part of running your Facebook Ads. After all, digital marketing is not an exact science, so your success boils down to how fast you learn from your errors. 

In order to find success in Facebook Ads, having a large amount of patience and being quick to adapt are far more important than having lots of knowledge. 

As a guideline, set your budget low as you run your first campaigns, usually between $1 and $4 a day. The goal here is to see which ads are good at converting before gradually increasing your ad spending.

Do edit and proofread your ad copy

Grammatical errors can make even the most reputable business look sketchy and unprofessional. Thus, it is a sacrosanct rule to edit and proofread your ad copy before publishing it on Facebook Ads. 

Through rigorous editing and proofreading, you can also enhance the clarity of your message, prompting readers to take the desired action.

Don't just randomly select your Facebook ad format

As of this writing, the Facebook Ad formats include the following: 

• Images

• Videos

• Carousels. They show up to ten images or videos in a single ad, each with its own link. 

• Instant Experience. When a user taps your ad, it shows him a full-screen experience. 

• Collections. They feature multiple products and open as an Instant Experience.  

Take note that your Facebook Ad format affects the placements where your ads appear, whether on Facebook, Messenger, Instagram, or Audience Network. 

Also, certain ad formats appeal more to specific demographics. In general, younger consumers prefer 5-10 second funny videos, while the older audience goes for more “explanatory” videos that are not longer than 30 seconds.