Facebook Ads – Simple yet Effective

From Loan Officer Joy James

Are you harnessing the power of Facebook ads?  If you’re not, you may be missing out… 75% percent of buyers use social networking sites, but just 15% of real estate professionals market on them.  There are millions of prospects spending large chunks of time interacting with “friends” and you could be right there with them, promoting your business.

Facebook ads appear on the right hand side of a person’s wall and advertise almost anything. They are reasonably priced and allow you to market to very specific groups of Facebook users that meet the criteria you choose.

Facebook Ads 101

If you’re not on Facebook yet, you’ll need to be to run a Facebook ad campaign. (It’s also a great networking tool). Once you’re signed up, it’s easy!

Look for the advertising link on the bottom of your wall. Click it, and follow the simple instructions to create your ad.  You will need to write some short, snappy copy; upload an image; decide on a budget; and select the demographics of the market you want to reach.

Decide – What’s the Goal of your Facebook Ad Campaign?

To be successful in advertising on Facebook, you need to know what you want your ads to deliver. Your objective will determine what your ad contains. Here are some common strategies:

• Increase your Facebook “likes”:  Your ad can offer special discounts, daily news, and other benefits for “liking” your page. When someone “likes” you, your updates appear in their newsfeed, keeping your name and posts in front of them daily.
• Obtain new email subscribers: Once a viewer clicks on your ad, they’re taken to your email signup page on your website or blog. The key is to offer something in your ad that makes them want to receive ongoing communication from you.
• Event promotion: Are you holding seminars, open houses, and tours of lake properties for sale?  Whatever you are doing, Facebook ads are a great way to promote an event and drive attendees to it. You can have them RSVP right on your Facebook page if your event is set up there, and offer them the option to share the information with their friends.

Next week: How to choose your target market, design a compelling ad, and work within a budget.