The Benefits of Running Ads on Social Media

By Leah Sorto, Digital Campaign Manager

Social media has undoubtedly revolutionized the way businesses interact and engage with their customers. The use of social media advertising has exploded and has now become a critical tool for businesses of all sizes. But what are the specific benefits that someone could expect?

Enhanced Customer Reach

Save for people living completely “off-grid”, almost all potential customers use social media in some form. Facebook alone has 2.96 billion active users worldwide, followed by YouTube with 2.5 billion active users, and Instagram with about 1.35 billion. Advertising on social media presents an opportunity to reach a broad, captive, and engaged audience who also falls inline with what you are looking for in a customer base.

While traditional ads may only reach a small fraction of the population, running ads on social media can expose your brand to a global audience. A well-crafted social media campaign can drive brand recognition and help you tap into new markets you would not have reached through traditional marketing.

Targeted Advertising

One of the most beneficial aspects of social media advertising is its advanced targeting capabilities. Most platforms provide extensive targeting options such as age, location, gender, interests, behaviors, and even relationship status. This kind of specificity allows brands to tailor their content to resonate with different audience segments. And with so much of the average user spending time and sharing so much on social media, interest and behavior targeting is stronger than ever before.

For instance, Facebook’s “Custom Audiences” feature allows you to reach customers that have already engaged with your brand with ads tailored to their position in your sales funnel, or micro-target their exact demographic, offering the right products to those who are most likely to make a purchase. This detailed targeting can potentially lead to higher engagement and conversion rates.

Cost-effectiveness

Social media advertising is notably cheaper than traditional advertising channels like television, radio, and print media. It’s not uncommon for a targeted Facebook ad to only require a few dollars per day. Therefore, even small and medium-sized businesses can launch robust ad campaigns and compete with the “big guys” with a much lower budget.

Further, you can control your expenditures by setting daily or campaign-long budgets, meaning you will never spend more than the predetermined limit. This also allows you to allocate funds efficiently and determine the most effective strategies for your audience. 

Detailed Analytics and Reports

 

Traditional marketing efforts are known to be difficult to track. In contrast, social media platforms provide detailed analytics and comprehensive reports on your ad performance. This data includes audience reach, impressions, engagements, click-through rates, conversions, and more.

With this information at your fingertips, you can understand what’s resonating with your audience or what isn’t working, allowing immediate adjustments for improved results. This ability for quick changes is invaluable when wanting to spend your budget wisely.

Boosted Brand Awareness and Loyalty

A consistent social media presence can help build your brand, cultivate customer loyalty, and humanize your organization. Social media ads remind your customers of your brand constantly, reinforcing your message and values. It’s an opportunity to tell your brand story, share your achievements, or provide a glimpse behind the scenes of your business.

Conclusion

Embracing social media advertising is no longer optional for most businesses; it’s mandatory. Connection, communication, and engagement are the heart and soul of social media, and the advertising options on these platforms provide an unparalleled opportunity to grow businesses and cultivate a loyal, engaged customer base.

Engaging with your audience, launching targeted campaigns, tracking your progress, and optimizing your efforts regularly can all be accomplished through social media advertising. Investing in this approach can enable your brand to reach new global audiences, celebrate rapid growth, and most importantly, enhance your bottom line.