Facebook has over a billion users on any given day. That is a lot of eyes! Estimates show the average Facebook user can view as many as 1,500 stories on their news feed when they log on. Small businesses have the best chance of reaching their target market on these news feeds.
Users will see content that is most relevant to them, so you are not guaranteed to show up on someone’s feed. Facebook notes that of those 1,500 stories that could pop up, their news feed only displays approximately 300. The site prioritizes these stories determined by unique factors for each user. This system will also automatically reduce the reach of brand pages so that there is room for personal content.
With this configuration in place, cracking the news feed system is virtually impossible. This is why paid Facebook Ads and Boosted Posts are the best way to get the valuable exposure that only the world’s largest social media platform can offer.
Facebook Ads
If you are weary of spending money on social media marketing, remember paid Facebook Ads can be not only powerful, but cost-effective too. This is perfect if you’re just launching your Facebook business page. These ads will help you increase followers and likes.
To reap the benefits of your ads, you must do some research on your customers so that you are reaching out to the right audience. Facebook has a wide array of demographics like sex, age, location, interests and behaviors that will assist you in narrowing down your list. Facebook will use your selections to estimate the size of your target audience.
You have the choice of paying for your Facebook ads either per impression or per click. Cost Per Impression (CPM) is charged when your ad is shown, even if the reader doesn’t click on it. Cost Per Click (CPC) option is charged by each click.
When creating your campaign, put plenty of time into your planning. If users see your ad as annoying or spam, they’re likely to ignore it. Users seeing your ad doesn’t mean they’ll click on it, or even remember it for that matter. Utilizing the “call to action” button on your ad will help you get those clicks.
Boost Your Posts
Boosting your posts is another way to get your ads seen without users necessarily realizing they are viewing an ad. They are labeled as “Sponsored” and will appear higher on users’ news feeds, increasing the chances of people seeing them. Boosted posts have already been previously posted. You will not be creating new content like you would with Facebook Ads.
However, similar to Facebook Ads, the cost of boosted posts will depend on the size of your audience. You can either choose to promote the post to followers who have liked your page or only to certain people through targeting.
You will set a lifetime budget for your boosted posts, with the total price depending on the number of impressions the post receives during your specified timeframe. You can start with a minimal $5 budget if you are wanting to test the waters before making a substantial investment.
As with all portions of your marketing campaign, choosing the right content is vital. You are aiming to get as many likes and interactions with the content as you can. Choose pieces that have the highest value. When a user likes or comments on a post, many times it will appear on their friends’ news feeds. This opens the door to a whole new audience separate from those who have liked your page in the past.
Is the Cost of Facebook Advertising Worth It?
Even after reading this article, you may be asking yourself if the cost of Facebook advertising is really worth it. Don’t make the mistake of underestimating the significance of targeted social media marketing.
Of course, this type of marketing isn’t for everyone. There is no way to know if it will work for you until you try it. We encourage you to experiment with both Facebook Ads and Boosted Posts to see how each performs. You can always begin with a small budget, and depending on the results, increase the budget appropriately as time goes on. Facebook provides everything you need to track your ads statistics, including a detailed analytic data report.
