Starting Facebook Ads from Scratch
The idea of running Facebook ads can feel overwhelming. Ads Manager looks like a cockpit, there are a million buttons, and you’ve probably heard horror stories of people burning through cash with nothing to show for it. But starting simple is not only possible, it’s the smartest way to learn.
You don’t need a big budget, an agency, or advanced strategy to get your first ad running. What you need is a clear plan: who you want to reach, what you want them to do, and where you’ll send them when they click.
Step 1: Know Your Goal
Facebook will ask you what you want your ad to achieve. Don’t overthink it, start with one of these:
Traffic: Send people to your landing page, blog, or offer.
Leads: Collect emails for your list.
Engagement: Build awareness by promoting a post or Reel.
Pick one. The clearer the goal, the better Facebook can optimize.
Step 2: Define Your Audience
This is where Facebook shines. You can:
Target by interests (e.g., basketball coaching, digital marketing, fitness).
Narrow by age, gender, or location.
Create a “lookalike audience” based on your email list or past visitors.
Tip: Start narrow. It’s better to target 10,000 people who actually care than 1 million randoms.
Step 3: Create a Simple Ad
Your ad doesn’t need to be fancy. Just answer these three things:
Attention: A headline that makes someone stop scrolling.
Value: A quick sentence on what they’ll gain.
Action: A button that tells them where to click (sign up, learn more, watch now).
Images or short videos (Reels-style) usually perform better than text alone.
Step 4: Link to a Focused Landing Page
Don’t send people to your homepage. Send them to one specific page that delivers on what your ad promised. Example: if your ad says “Download the free playbook,” the landing page should be all about that playbook, nothing else.
Step 5: Start Small and Watch the Numbers
Set a small daily budget ($5–$10). Let it run for 5–7 days. Look at:
Cost per click (CPC) → Are people actually clicking?
Cost per lead (CPL) → If collecting emails, how much per sign-up?
Relevance → Are people engaging, or scrolling past?
Don’t kill the ad too early, but don’t let it run forever if it’s not performing. Testing is the whole game.
The Real Key
Starting Facebook ads isn’t about becoming an ad expert overnight. It’s about learning one step at a time, keeping your budget small while you figure out what resonates, and treating every campaign as data.
Your first ad probably won’t be perfect. That’s not failure, that’s feedback.
