How to Do Facebook Ads for Business

So, you own a franchise and want to get the word out. You’ve heard all the buzz about Facebook ads and how they’re basically the secret to getting your business in front of eyeballs by the thousands. Or millions, even.  

But where do you even start? And isn’t it just a tad intimidating with all those buttons, metrics, and options that seem more complicated than trying to fold a fitted sheet?

No need to fret. We’re here to break down the whole Facebook ad game into bite-sized, manageable pieces. Because let’s face it, if there’s a place where your future customers are hanging out and scrolling away, it’s on Facebook. And with the right approach, you can turn that endless scroll into endless opportunities for your franchise.

Before we can crack the code for Facebook ads for franchises together, let’s take a quick detour and talk about the perks these ads can bring to your business, shall we?

Reasons to Run Facebook Ads

So, why should you consider investing in Facebook ads for franchises? Here are seven straightforward reasons:

Massive Reach

With billions of active users, your ads have the potential to reach a vast audience, including the exact group of people who are most likely to be interested in your franchise.

Targeting Superpowers

Facebook’s targeting capabilities are nothing short of magical. You can get super specific, targeting users based on interests, behaviors, location, age, gender, and even their purchasing history.

Flexibility

Whether you’ve got a big budget or you’re counting pennies, Facebook ads can work for you. You can start small, test what works, and adjust your spending based on results.

Insightful Analytics

Facebook provides detailed analytics, making it possible for you to see exactly how your ads are performing. This means you can tweak and improve your strategy in real time for better results.

Visual Appeal

Thanks to the vibrant images, engaging videos, and eye-catching graphics that come with Facebook ads, you can catch attention almost instantly. A visually appealing ad can make a huge difference in a crowded newsfeed.

Speed

You can get your Facebook ad campaign up and running quickly, which makes it a great strategy for promotions, events, or any time-sensitive offers.

Customer Journey Support

Facebook ads can support various parts of the customer journey, from awareness and consideration to conversion. This helps guide your potential customers every step of the way.

Your Guide to Launching Facebook Ads for Franchises

Now that we’ve covered the why, let’s get down to the how. Allow us to walk you through the steps to get your Facebook ads off the ground!

Step 1: Define Your Objectives

First things first, know what it is that you truly want to achieve. With Facebook having a buffet of objectives to choose from, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. So, think about what you really want.

Are more people chatting about your brand? Go for brand awareness. Are those online sales numbers climbing? Conversion is your game. Each objective tailors your ad strategy, and picking the right one is like choosing the right gear before a big race.

And remember, your objective should snugly fit into your broader marketing goals. If your overall mission is to get more foot traffic in your stores, then an objective focusing on local awareness or store traffic could be perfect. It’s all about alignment, ensuring your Facebook ads are pulling in the same direction as your business goals.

Step 2: Know Your Audience

Picture your ideal customers. Whether they’re busy moms, fitness buffs, or tech-savvy college students, you can use Facebook’s targeting as a homing missile to find these people.  

Facebook allows you to slice and dice your audience based on age, location, interests, behaviors, and even the pages they’ve interacted with. Don’t just guess, though. Dive into your business data, look at who’s already loving what you do, and use those insights to inform your targeting.

You might want to take advantage of ‘lookalike audiences’ too, a feature that takes your existing customer data and finds similar people. It’s like cloning your best customers, minus the sci-fi drama. Start with a solid base audience, and then experiment with expanding or refining it as you go. The more you test and learn, the sharper your targeting will become.

Step 3: Set Your Budget

Talking about money can be a drag, but it’s a necessary evil. When setting your budget, find that sweet spot where you’re spending enough to see results but not so much that you’re eating into your profits. You can go with a daily budget to keep things steady or a lifetime budget for a set period, which is ideal for campaigns with a clear start and end date.

What’s fantastic about Facebook’s ad system is that it’s designed to get the most bang for your buck, optimizing your spend based on campaign objectives and targeting.  

Keep an eye on your performance metrics every now and then. If you’re noticing outstanding results, it might be worth loosening those purse strings a bit more. On the flip side, if things aren’t going as planned, it’s time to reassess and adjust without breaking the bank.

Step 4: Craft Your Ads

Here’s where you get to flex those creative muscles of yours. Your franchise ads should be able to stop people in their tracks and make them want to learn more about your brand.  

High-quality images or videos are a must. Think eye-catching, professional, and, most importantly, relevant to your audience and objective. And that copy? Make it snappy, clear, and compelling to keep your audience hooked. Your call-to-action (CTA), which serves as your closer, must align with your objectives so it can nudge people in the right direction.  

Experiment with different ad formats and creative elements. Perform A/B tests to see what resonates best with your audience. Maybe it’s a heartwarming video versus a stunning photo or a playful tone versus a straightforward approach. The insights you gain here are invaluable, helping you refine your approach and connect more effectively with prospects and customers alike.

Step 5: Choose Your Ad Placements

Facebook is no longer just Facebook; it’s Instagram, Messenger, Audience Network, and more. Each platform has its vibe and audience, so think about where your ads will shine brightest.  

Automatic placements can be an excellent starting point. Here, you’re letting Facebook’s algorithms place your ads where they will likely perform best. As you get more comfortable, however, you might want to get hands-on and decide on specific placements based on where your target audience hangs out the most.

Oh, and don’t underestimate the power of Instagram Stories or Messenger ads. With both platforms being a popular hang-out spot for online users, placing your ads in either can be incredibly effective for engaging with your audience in a more personal and direct way.  

Step 6: Launch and Monitor Your Campaign

Launching your Facebook ads for franchises is just the beginning. The real magic happens when you dive into the data. Facebook’s Ad Manager is your command center here, providing real-time insights into your ads' performance.

Pay attention to key metrics such as reach, impressions, click-through rate (CTR), and conversion rate. These numbers tell a story, helping you understand what’s working and what’s not. If an ad isn’t performing as expected, don’t be afraid to tweak your targeting, adjust your budget, or pause the campaign to regroup.  

Step 7: Optimize and Adjust

Now that you’re knee-deep in data, your next move is to optimize. This is where you make informed adjustments to improve your campaign’s performance. Whether refining your audience targeting, tweaking your ad creative, or reallocating your budget to the best-performing ads, the goal is to learn from the data and make your next move smarter.

Bear in mind that optimization is an ongoing process. The digital landscape is always changing; what worked yesterday might not work tomorrow. Stay curious, keep testing, and always look for new opportunities to connect with your audience and achieve your business goals.

Let’s Make Your Franchise Shine Online

Whether you’re looking to get more folks through the door, boost your website traffic, or just get the word out about your brand, getting a grip on Facebook ads can work wonders for your business. By implementing these steps, you’ll be well on your way to hitting your goals.

But let’s be real: while DIY can be rewarding, sometimes you just want to hand over the reins to someone who lives and breathes this stuff. Yes, we’re talking about our team here at Digital Resource!

We’re not just about making your franchise ads look pretty; we’re here to turbocharge your online presence, making sure you get the eyeballs, clicks, and conversions your franchise deserves. And hey, we don’t stop there. Need to jazz up your content marketing? Check. Is your SEO feeling a bit 2010? We’ve got you. Does your website look like it’s from the dial-up era? We’ll bring it into the 2020s. We’re the whole digital marketing package tailored just for you.

So, if you’re ready to take your franchise’s Facebook ads (and honestly, your entire online marketing game) to levels of awesome you’ve only dreamed of, give us a shout. After all, you’ve got a business to run. Let us handle the online world for you.