Best Practices for Successful Facebook Marketing

Facebook has become one of the most dynamic and profitable advertising venues in the history of advertising. In just the third quarter of 2013, Facebook earned over $2 billion in revenue thanks to its successful advertising model. There is a reason why Facebook has been able to generate so much revenue: advertisers on Facebook have access to a large and captive audience that can be narrowly targeted based on income, interests, location, etc. for a fraction of the cost of traditional advertising.

However, not everyone that advertises on Facebook is getting their money’s worth. There are certain tactics and strategies that can dramatically increase the effectiveness of your advertising dollar. The following are some best practices everyone should adhere to:

Write simple and straightforward copy: The content of your ad should be simple and easy to understand. People on Facebook aren’t looking to read a long treatise, especially when it is an ad, so make sure your message is clear, specific, and simple.

Include a call to action: This advertising technique has been used for decades, and it remains true today. Every ad should directly ask the viewer to act. Whether this is visiting a website, taking advantage of a limited time offer, or anything else, make sure everyone that sees your ad and is interested in it knows what the next step is.

Narrowly target your advertisement: Facebook offers an advertising experience that traditional outlets like TV and radio simply cannot. With Facebook ads, you can drill down to a very specific audience. This means that an 19 year old single boy will not receive an ad for a retirement home.

Track the data: Facebook offers a suite of tools to track how each specific ad is doing. Use these tools to divert advertising funds away from campaigns that are not working and towards campaigns that are.