Facebook Ads: Learn Some Best Practices You Should Use
It’s proven that customers you are connected with on Facebook spend 2 times more with your business than those that are not connected with you. From a Florida advertising agency like us to a mama baking cookies and cakes out of her home, every business can benefit from a little Facebook advertising. Here are a few things to help guide you in your advertising endeavors. Practice makes perfect as they always say. Even with a list of best practices and sample copy, it may take a few tries to get your ads targeted just right for your audience and most appeal. Here are a few tips to get you on the right track: Images The image size is small (110 pixels wide by 80 pixels tall) and not the best quality so make the most of your image by choosing something with bold/bright colors, that clearly represent your product or promotional content. -Try a couple different images to gauge audience response and hone your imagery skills. Copy 1) Make your 135 characters count! 2) Make your call to action clear in the body of the ad or in the title. The audience wants to know what will happen when they click on the link. Use key action words that push an audience to action and explain a bit about where this link will take them. For instance: “See more fashion DIY tips” “Order online” “Enter the cooking contest” 3) Include key information in the title of the ad like your business name, location, or business focus to help make your intent clear and represent yourself better 4) What is your goal with this ad, what do you want to promote? Website, blog post, event, contest, drive customer engagement – make sure that you keep your goals in mind when creating your ad Audience Who to reach out to? Choosing the relevant audience Choose the basic demographics like age, gender, country, interests, and connection to help steer your ads to the right audience. Considering your connections is one of the main ways to increase your click-through rate. It is proven that ads that target existing fans have 7X higher click through rate plus a higher conversion rate than those that simple promote to potential followers or fans [quote] You are exactly the type of audience we’re looking for. Follow us on Facebook for informative posts that will surely enhance your life. [/quote] Ad Set-Up 1) Choose between and Ad or Sponsored Story. Ads – paid advertising to be delivered to specific audience Sponsored Stories – helps promote a connection story within a news feed to increase its chances of being read. For example if Susie likes a link or status update on your fan page, a story is created. These stories can be promoted within Susie’s profile page and could bring her friends attention to your business or fan page – Good for business pages that have at least 100 likes Monitor Results Monitor your ad results. See what works and what doesn’t. This information can help you tailor ads to be more effective in the long run. Check out your ad reach here: http://www.facebook.com/ads/manage/ See how well your page outreach is doing here: https://www.facebook.com/insights/ Helpful Tips 1) Change up your ads every couple of days to keep things fresh and eye catching – Make an easy image change or switch out a key word 2) Make sure your landing page is easy to navigate and is a direct link to what is reference in the ad – your audience will remember this in the future and could dictate if they re-visit your site again. Also be sure to have a current Facebook page for people to feel like your human and fresh in the moment. After all, it’s all about engagement and making connections with your audience. 3) Like Facebook’s “Facebook Marketing” Page to receive updates on how other businesses are using Facebook to their benefit 4) Need some more direction regarding imagery and content? Check out Wildfire, a great resource for all things Facebook. Resources: https://www.facebook.com/business/ads http://www.facebook.com/help/337584869654348/ https://www.facebook.com/business/influence http://www.shopify.com/blog/6295399-facebook-advertising-for-ecommerce http://www.jonloomer.com/2012/07/31/facebook-page-post-ads-best-practices-guide/
Building business with Instagram: The bigger picture
With its very recent, very public and very pricey Facebook acquisition, the mobile photo maven coined Instagram has caught the eye of both big and small marketers, business builders and brands, worldwide. What started in 2010, as a seemingly small point, shoot and post application, has grown up to fulfill the visual needs of today’s tech-savvy social networkers. So, what is Instagram? It’s Insta-awesome! At least we think it is. Instagram allows its 80 million+ users to broadcast their lives visually, vividly and artistically… FOR FREE! With some help from your mobile camera phone and a little photo-finishing, even the most mundane Monday morning office view can be brought into brilliance. Just point, click and share. Its simplicity is inarguable and to be quite honest, it really does make you feel like a pro photo pundit. Its features are few in number, but completely satisfy the bell & whistle requirement to keep this app usable, interesting and easy. Fun filters can turn an average afternoon walk into the embodiment of Ansel Adams. Unfortunate lacks in light can be brightened with a button-swipe. Even the most crowded images can be clarified using blur effects for extra depth of field. New office space? Share images showcasing the exotic interiors of your favorite Florida Advertising Agency and its mapped location, using a Geo-tag. Then invite them to come and see it for themselves. Most of all, Instagram images can be instantly shared with other users. Comment and “Like” capabilities allow for easy user interaction within the application. You can even choose to send your mobile image magic to your Facebook, Twitter or Tumblr feeds with ease. Toss in #hashtag and search ability, and you’ve got a brand building brainchild that rivals marketing perfection. How exactly can your business benefit from this billion dollar baby? By reaching your audience at their most personal levels, paying attention to their daily interactions with your products, listening to what they say (using pictures) about your brand or the business you’re in, and reacting accordingly. Still confused? Let’s say you’re a new business, involved in wholesale. You’re small, but offer great prices to compete with the monsters you model after like BJ’s and Sam’s Club. You’ve recently launched your supercharged and supercool looking website, optimized for greatness, but there’s one problem… It’s been 2 weeks and nothing. Not one hit. So you pull up your Instagram account, slide to search and see what your industry giants are up to these days. “#Costco” Search and BOOM! Long lines and bustling buyers populate the images before you. They’re slammed! And they’re giving away free memberships for the next month! How this detail could have slipped by you is of major concern, but now you know exactly what you need to do. Within a week, your free membership offer is rolled out and the promise of premium and personalized customer service that only a small shop can offer is still on your side. Your big savings coupled with brand names and the same free membership the big guys are dealing makes you a force to be considered in the market. Now, you’re on your way! [quote]Just as important as it is to pay attention to your audience on Instagram, is the equal importance of knowing how to utilize it effectively to push your story into the palms of your audience’s hands.[/quote] You’ve done your research and noted the trends. You’ve even found some unusual ways in which the market puts your product to use. Now what? If a picture truly is worth a thousand words, then this is your chance to TELL YOUR ENTIRE STORY! Imaginatively and strategically, you can populate your market’s minds with images of your brand. Build your web-persona using eye-catching close-ups. Share memorable moments from your most recent events. Entice new audiences to check out your next event. Host a photo contest, urging users to hashtag your business, bringing even more views to your profile. Start a trend centered on your brand! It’s easier than you think if you have a few willing friends or coworkers and some out-of-the-box photo opps. Opening an Instagram account for your business is like opening the curtains for a sneak peek behind the scenes. Users can have the coveted opportunity to see who and what makes you tick. Showcase employees having fun at work. Make it known just how awesome it is to be in the business you’re in. Post your favorite photos to your Facebook page and tweet your tinyurl off with links to each photo capture. Above all, be genuine. They will know if you’re full of Photoshop. Any of this sound insta-interesting? Enter the era of new marketing and contact an Orlando Marketing Agency that’s well-versed in the ways of the web. Integrate the social networks with your digital marketing strategy and see how much farther your reach will go.