Facebook ads have extremely powerful targeting options. For many marketers figuring out how to utilize these tools is a matter of trial and error. However, there are tips and best practices to follow that help speed up the process.

Avoid these common Facebook ad mistakes to get the most out of your Facebook ad campaign.

Broad Targeting

Large companies have massive ad budgets and can launch campaigns that target broad audiences. These campaigns happen because the marketing department doesn’t know who to target, or they want to build awareness of a product or upcoming event. Targeted ads with relevant content in relation to the audience will typically generate the better result.

Ads have a small window of time to capture the attention of an audience. If the ad is irrelevant the consumer’s attention shifts elsewhere. The best way to communicate relevance in your ad is to create multiple versions of the ad that target unique audiences.

Instead of creating a single ad to promote everywhere, create multiple ads that target audiences with similar interests. Experiment with Facebook marketing tools to help you target relevant keywords or interests.

Low Quality Images

The first thing in your advertisement Facebook users will see are the images. Don’t make the mistake of not testing your images. Depending on the topic and audience, different graphics will evoke different responses. It’s easy to assume that a brighter and colorful image may receive the most clicks, but always run tests and analyze the data just to be sure.

You have the ability to test dozens of images and see how users respond to them, so don’t squander the opportunity to grow business by refusing to test images.

Advertising to The Wrong Audience

According to multiple research reports, you can get a 600% higher Click-Through-Rate by targeting people with interests relevant to your product or service. Actual conversions also see a spike when targeting audiences with relevant interests.

It is crucial to build an audience and to take part in fan engagement to nurture the potential of future conversions. Targeting fans is the way to go when it comes to converting with Facebook ads. Obviously the more relevant the ad, the more likely you are to notice it and respond.

We also know the majority of Facebook fans for businesses are already current customers. Ads targeted at existing customers will see a clear spike in success rates compared to ads that target broad audiences.

Have you ever been the target of an ad that had no relevance to you? They are easy to overlook and forget about, especially if they lost your interest within the first few seconds of viewing. Knowing who your audience is and what they like is extraordinarily important for reducing customer acquisition costs and increasing the rate of growth.

Facebook ads are a huge focus for most businesses who want to connect better with their customers. The powerful targeting tools that Facebook provides to help you gain insight into your audience shouldn’t be ignored. You can start by building a Facebook interests list with our Facebook ad tool to help you discover interests you can target to gain an edge over your competitors.