As a business owner, your goal is to get people interested in what you have to offer and make a sale. The internet has made it easy to advertise to potential customers around the world, and with billions of users online, you should be using technology to your advantage. But when it comes to Facebook ads, LinkedIn ads, Instagram ads, or Google ads, which one is the best?
Where Should You Place Ads?
As a business, you more than likely have a limited marketing budget that you can work with. You want to make sure you are maximizing your dollars and getting your information in front of as many people as possible. The internet and social sites have made advertising your business much more cost-effective, but you also run the risk of getting lost in the crowd.
When it comes to deciding which platforms are the best for your ads, there are many factors you need to consider. Depending on your business and what you have to offer, some places are going to be better than others.
Facebook Ads
Facebook is one of the largest social media sites online, with close to two billion daily active users. The sheer number of people on this site alone is a reason why you should consider running Facebook ads. However, there are some other benefits to being on this site as well, including:
You Can Create Customized Ads
While there may be billions of users on Facebook, not all of them are going to be your target audience. To ensure you’re reaching the people who may be interested in what you have to offer, Facebook allows you to create customized ad campaigns. You can choose your audience based on where they live, their age, gender, language spoken, interests, and other parameters.
You also have control over how your ad looks and where it’s placed on the Facebook platform, such as in people’s newsfeeds or other places. You also get to choose how much you spend on the campaign, ensuring you get the most out of your marketing budget.
Instagram Ads
The same parent company that owns Facebook also owns Instagram, so you have the option of running Facebook ads and Instagram ads at the same time. However, should you choose just to run ads on Instagram, some of the benefits of using this site include the following:
Visual Ads May Attract More Attention
The whole premise of Instagram is to share pictures and videos with your audience. People like these mediums because they don’t require a lot of time or effort to engage with. If your business is geared toward the visual, then creating Instagram ads could be a great way to get noticed by your audience and entice them to find out what you have to offer.
LinkedIn Ads
LinkedIn is best known as a site to form business connections, but you can also use it to find potential customers. This site has a bit more of a professional reputation associated with it, so engaging in traditional marketing campaigns may not get you the same attention as it would on other social media sites. However, if you’re looking for a specific type of customer or client, then creating LinkedIn ads could work to your benefit.
You Can Target Audiences in Specific Industries
In addition to reaching a more professional audience with your LinkedIn ads, you can also target specific industries. This includes demographic information, as well as metrics such as:
- A person’s job title
- Their job function
- Where they fall in a company’s hierarchy
- The size of a company
- The skill level of the audience you’re targeting
- A person’s degree name and type
Whether you’re advertising for new employees or have a product that was developed with certain individuals within a specific industry in mind, then using LinkedIn for your marketing campaign could be in your best interest.
Google Ads
Google is probably the most coveted of online places for your ads. The search engine has a massive audience and the potential to get you seen by a lot of people around the world. Since most people use Google to find exactly what they’re looking for, you could be found by your target audience and make sales quickly and easily. Some of the other reasons to consider creating Google ads include:
You Have Total Control Over Your Campaigns
If you decide to create Google ads, you will have a ton of resources at your fingertips. Not only can you tailor your message to reach certain audiences, but you can also decide how much or how little you’re willing to spend on the campaign. You also get data and analytics that let you see how well your ad is doing. If things aren’t working the way you hoped, you can make changes to ensure you’re as successful as possible.
How to Choose Where to Run Your Ads
You know you’re going to run ads online, but knowing where to place them is essential. There are benefits to using Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Google, and you could potentially run ads on all of these platforms if you so desire.
However, if you’re looking to get the most out of your marketing budget and ensure you’re reaching your target audience, choosing the right platform is essential. Here are some questions to help you determine where to run your ads:
1. What Are Your Goals?
The first thing you need to figure out is what you want to achieve with your marketing campaign. Are you looking for a way to get brand exposure, increase traffic to your website to make sales, or generate new leads?
Knowing this can help you figure out where to run your ads. For example, LinkedIn ads are great for brand exposure, while Google ads could potentially increase your website traffic.
2. Where Does Your Audience Hang Out?
In addition to having some goals for your marketing campaign, you also need to know where your audience hangs out. If your target buyer is young, then you’ll more than likely need to create Instagram ads to get noticed. For professionals, LinkedIn is probably a good place to run your ads.
3. What Type of Ad Content Do You Want to Present to Your Audience?
One of the great things about creating ad campaigns online is that you can develop a variety of different types of content to attract the attention of your audience. You don’t have to rely on traditional media to get your message across; you can use images, videos, text, infographics, and other items to your advantage.
Deciding how you want your content to look will help you determine where to place your ad. For example, since Instagram caters to images, this is a good place for visual ads. If you like a lot of text, LinkedIn or Google are good platforms for that type of ad. Facebook is a good place for videos and combining text with images.
As a business owner, you need to be using the internet and social media sites to your advantage. Knowing whether to create Facebook ads, LinkedIn ads, Instagram ads, or Google ads can be confusing and time-consuming, but working with a professional can ensure that you’re getting your message in front of the right audience. Contact Local Business Marketing Solutions today.
