As a head of digital marketing, I understand the importance of choosing the right advertising strategy for social media platforms, especially Facebook. In this article, we’ll explore the differences between Boosted Posts and Ads on Facebook, their benefits and limitations, and when to use each option for the best results.
Boosted Posts are a cost-effective way to increase engagement on a specific post, while Ads offer more advanced targeting options and the ability to optimize for specific campaign objectives. By understanding these differences, businesses can make informed decisions and choose the best strategy to achieve their advertising goals on Facebook.
What is a Boosted Post on Facebook?
A Boosted Post is a type of advertising that allows businesses to reach more people in their Facebook news feed. Boosting a post means paying to increase the audience of an existing Facebook post.
This is a quick and easy way to increase engagement on a specific post and get more eyes on your content. It’s an effective method for businesses that want to increase their reach without investing significant time or money into creating an ad campaign. Read also Creating Effective Facebook Carousel Posts for ADS and Organic Boost (2023)
How to Create a Boosted Post?
To create a Boosted Post, simply go to your Facebook Page and select the post you want to promote. Click on the Boost Post button, and you’ll be taken to Facebook’s Ad Manager. From there, you can choose your post’s target audience, budget, and duration. You’ll also have the option to customize your ad with images, text, and a call to action.
What are the benefits of Boosted Posts?
Boosted Posts are a cost-effective way to increase your reach and engagement on a specific post. Here are some of the advantages of using Boosted Posts:
- Quick and easy to set up
- Require little to no design expertise
- Can be targeted to specific audiences
- Boosted Posts are shown in the Facebook news feed, so users are more likely to see them
What are the limitations of Boosted Posts?
While Boosted Posts are a quick and easy way to reach more people on Facebook, there are some drawbacks to consider:
- Less control over targeting options compared to Ads
- Unable to optimize for specific campaign objectives such as increasing website traffic, conversions, or lead generation
- May not be as effective for driving sales as Ads
What is an Ad on Facebook?
A Facebook Ad is a paid form of advertising that allows businesses to reach a targeted audience beyond their current followers. Ads can be customized to fit specific objectives such as brand awareness, lead generation, or sales. Unlike Boosted Posts, Facebook Ads are created in the Ads Manager and require more time and effort to set up. Read also How to manage Facebook ads for clients in 6 steps
How to create an Ad on Facebook?
To create an Ad on Facebook, you must go to the Facebook Ads Manager. From there, you’ll need to select the type of ad you want to create, select the target audience, set your budget and duration, and create your ad. You can choose from various ad formats, such as image ads, video ads, and carousel ads. You’ll also have access to advanced targeting options to reach your desired audience.
What are the benefits of using Ads on Facebook?
Here are some of the advantages of using Ads on Facebook:
- Advanced targeting options to reach your ideal audience
- Ability to optimize for specific campaign objectives
- More control over ad design and customization
- Can be more effective for driving sales and conversions
What are the limitations of using Ads on Facebook?
While Facebook Ads have many benefits, there are some limitations to consider:
- May require more time, effort, and expertise to set up compared to Boosted Posts
- Can be more expensive than Boosted Posts
- May not be as effective for increasing engagement on a specific post compared to Boosted Posts
Boosted Post vs. Ad on Facebook: What’s the Difference?
Now that we’ve covered how Boosted Posts and Ads work let’s explore the differences between the two:
What are the differences in targeting options?
While both Boosted Posts and Ads allow for targeting to some degree, Ads have far greater targeting options. With Ads, you can target users based on demographics, interests, behaviors, and more. Boosted Posts only allow for basic targeting such as age, location, and gender.
What are the differences in ad formats?
Ads offer more customization options than Boosted Posts. Ads can be created in various formats, including images, videos, carousel posts, and more. Boosted Posts, on the other hand, only allow for basic image or video posts to be promoted.
What are the differences in pricing models?
Boosted Posts are priced based on the number of people that see the ad, whereas Facebook Ads are priced based on a specific objective, such as cost per click (CPC) or cost per thousand impressions (CPM). Ads can be more expensive than Boosted Posts, depending on the campaign objectives, target audience, and ad placement.
Table comparing Boosted Posts and Ads on Facebook:
| Boosted Posts | Facebook Advertising | |
|---|---|---|
| PROS | Quick and easy to set up | Advanced targeting options |
| Require little to no design expertise | Ability to optimize for specific campaign objectives | |
| Can be targeted to specific audiences | More control over ad design and customization | |
| Boosted Posts are shown in the Facebook news feed | Can be more effective for driving sales and conversions | |
| CONS | Less control over targeting options compared to Ads | May require more time, effort, and expertise to set up |
| Unable to optimize for specific campaign objectives | Can be more expensive than Boosted Posts | |
| May not be as effective for driving sales as Ads | May not be as effective for increasing engagement on a post | |
| Targeting options | Basic targeting options such as age, location, and gender | Advanced targeting options based on demographics, interests, behaviors, and more |
| Ad formats | Basic image or video posts | Various formats, including images, videos, carousel posts |
| Campaign objectives | Increasing engagement on a specific post | Brand awareness, lead generation, or sales |
When to Use Boosted Posts on Facebook?
When to use Boosted Posts for Engagement?
Boosted Posts can be an effective way to increase engagement on a specific post. Use Boosted Posts when you want to reach a larger audience and get more likes, shares, and comments on a particular post.
When to use Boosted Posts for Traffic?
Boosted Posts can also be used to drive traffic to your website or blog. Use Boosted Posts to increase clicks on a link in your post and drive more traffic to your website.
When to use Boosted Posts for Conversions?
Boosted Posts may not be the best option if your goal is to increase conversions. Since Boosted Posts only allow for basic targeting options, they may not be as effective at driving sales. Instead, consider using Facebook Ads, which allow for more advanced targeting options and the ability to optimize for specific campaign objectives.
When to Use Ads on Facebook?
When to use Ads for Brand Awareness?
If you want to increase brand awareness, Facebook Ads are a great option. Define your target audience by demographics, interests, and behaviors to increase the reach and visibility of your brand to potential customers.
When to use Ads for Lead Generation?
If you want to generate business leads, Facebook Ads can help. You can create ads with lead forms to capture information such as email addresses, phone numbers, and more from interested users.
When to use Ads for Sales?
Facebook Ads can be highly effective at generating sales for your business. Target users based on their interests and behaviors to showcase products or services they are likely to be interested in. You can also optimize your ad campaigns for specific conversion goals to increase sales. Read Test Results: Add To Cart vs Initiate Checkout vs Purchase Facebook Events
Conclusion
Both Boosted Posts and Ads have their benefits and limitations. When choosing between the two, it’s essential to consider your campaign objectives, target audience, and budget. Boosted Posts are a quick and easy way to increase engagement on a specific post. At the same time, Ads offer more advanced targeting options and the ability to optimize for specific campaign objectives.
Whatever option you choose, monitor your campaigns’ performance regularly and adjust your strategy to achieve the best results.
