You've probably heard that Facebook is the best place to advertise online using First Page services — and it's true. Even companies with no social media presence whatsoever are marketing on Facebook, because the platform is so powerful.



In fact, it can be too powerful: A few years ago, some small businesses were getting hit with massive bills as their ads "went viral." Nowadays, most advertisers set daily budgets to control their costs. Even better, Facebook offers sophisticated targeting tools that let you reach exactly the audience you want.

Here are five tips for creating a successful Facebook ad campaign:

1. Pick a single goal
If you have multiple things you want to accomplish at once, your ads might have trouble reaching any of them. Be realistic about what you can achieve in 30 days or less and focus on that one thing.

2. Use images wisely
People tend to look at an image longer than they read text. They also remember images better than text — as long as the images aren't too generic or overused (like stock photographs). Look for eye-catching photos that capture your product in action or pique interest or curiosity. It is important to add a recognizable photo on your Facebook business page that would be relevant enough to associate with what they are looking for or will ever need. You can even use images from your customers if they're willing to let you share them online.

3. Ideal audience
A crucial part of effective Facebook advertising is targeting your ideal audience. You have the ability to target location, age, gender and interests in your ad campaigns. For example, if you're running a local business, start by targeting only people in your area who fit within the demographic range of customers who would be interested in your product or service.

Make use of all the options Facebook offers. It's important that you understand how each one works so you can choose the best option for your campaign. Here are some good starting points:

• Clicks to Website – Send people to a specific website like your online store
• Website Conversions – Drive people to a specific page on your website, such as "add-to-cart" or "checkout"
• Page Post Engagement – Increase the number of likes and comments on a post
• Page Likes – Encourage people to like your page
• Event Responses – Promote an event and get RSVPs
• Offer Claims – Boost awareness around an offer or discount

4. Create a compelling offer
There's no point in posting ads on Facebook if no one is going to click on them. Make sure that you have a compelling offer with a clear Call-To-Action that will encourage people to click through to your landing page or website.

We asked marketing experts for their tips for creating an effective Facebook ad campaign. Here's what they had to say:

• Make sure you have a clear goal in mind
• Don't be afraid to test multiple ads
• Choose the right image
• Make your content engaging
• Use the data at your fingertips

5. Identify your target audience
You can't target everyone on Facebook — that would be a waste of time and money. Instead, identify who your ideal customer is, and target them. For B2B companies (especially SaaS), this means identifying their job titles and industries, as well as their interests. For B2C companies (especially ecommerce), this means identifying age ranges, genders and locations.