Guide to Creating Facebook Ads for Writers
Facebook, the largest social media platform globally, offers authors a valuable opportunity to promote their work. We've prepared a straightforward guide on implementing Facebook book ads to boost sales efficiently. This guide covers essential aspects, including understanding Facebook book ads, preliminary considerations, advertising strategies, and real-life suggestions from authors.
Understanding Facebook Book Ads
Facebook book ads empower authors and publishers by providing various targeting options to place content in front of the intended audience. Unlike organic posts, Facebook ads require payment, and they may appear in users' newsfeed, Messenger, or Instagram (owned by Facebook). Advertisers can choose where their ads appear by adjusting Facebook Ads Manager settings.
Advertisement is crucial for authors who self-publish and need to promote their books. Facebook ebook ads can direct potential readers to an book's page on Amazon, offering an accessible and cost-effective promotional method. It is possible to run and test ebook ads on Facebook for as little as $1 daily.
Preliminary Considerations: 3 Key Points
Before setting up Facebook book ads, consider addressing the following three essential items:
1. Author Page
While it's technically possible to run Facebook ads for books without a Facebook business page, creating one helps establish an online presence. As your marketing strategy is primarily centered on self-publishing, it makes sense to maintain a consistent author brand across platforms.
An author page allows readers to discover more about you and provides a hub for connection. Even if readers don't purchase your book from a specific ad, they can follow your page for future updates.
2. Book Reviews
Treat book reviews as a top priority for your marketing plan. In e-commerce, buyers tend to be hesitant when purchases lack reviews. Aim to secure at least five solid reviews before diving into Facebook advertising. Request reviews from friends, family, network, bloggers, YouTubers, and podcasters. Check out this list of book reviewers to find potential collaborators.
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3. Professional Cover and Description
A well-designed cover and compelling description are the primary selling points of your book. The cover should be visually engaging and professional, while the description should entice readers with strong hooks in the opening sentences.
Consider these book description hacks for stronger results.
Now, let's discuss the process to start running Facebook book ads.
Advertising a Book on Facebook: 4 Steps
Understand that Facebook advertising for authors will require some learning and experimentation. This guide outlines four simplified steps to help you navigate the process.
1. Setting Up Facebook Ads Manager
To create ads on Facebook, visit the Facebook Ads Manager dashboard after setting up a free Facebook account and author page (if you haven't already). Click on "Go to Ads Manager" at the facebook.com/business/tools/ads-manager URL. To bill for each ad campaign, set up a default payment method under the "Billing" section before getting started.
2. Choosing the Right Targeting
Creating effective Facebook ads hinges on proper targeting and engaging ad copy. This section details what targeting is and offers targeting best practices.
- Utilize targeting options such as author names, book/series titles, TV shows, movies, and genres.
- Focus on a well-defined demographic that matches your target audience.
- Leverage existing customer or follower lists by submitting them for upselling opportunities.
- Consider using lookalike audiences, a method for targeting people similar to your custom audience.
Delve deeper into Facebook ad targeting tips for more insights.
3. Developing the Ad
In addition to targeting, the quality of your ad copy is crucial for capturing readers' attention. This section breaks down three levels required to assemble your ad.
Level 1: Campaigns
This is where you choose the objective of your ad. Aim for "traffic" while you're just starting to familiarize yourself with Facebook advertising, as it sends users who click on your ads to a specific location, such as the Amazon book page. If you're interested in promoting your Facebook Page, opt for the "engagement" objective.
Level 2: Ad Sets
Here's where you set the targeting for your book ads based on previously mentioned factors. Opt for automatic or open targeting to choose a specific location such as the United States.
Level 3: Ad
The final step involves assembling your Facebook book ads with key components: media, primary text, headline, description, and call-to-action button. Learn about Facebook ad copy best practices for further guidance.
4. Measuring Success
Keep track of your ad performance with essential terms such as impressions, clicks, click-through rate, and advertising cost of sales. Test different ads and audiences to better understand what resonates with your target audience and optimize your advertising efforts. Check out how to track your ad performance for more insights.
Real-Life Suggestions from Authors
Close the guide with some tried-and-true advice from authors who have experimented with their Facebook book ads:
"Start by setting up an author Facebook page and launch an ad (or a few) with the goal of attracting people to like your page or follow you on Facebook. Experiment with targeting to cultivate the right audience... Once your ad is running, set a budget of $1/day. In a year or less, you can build followings of 3,000-5,000 engaged Facebook followers by investing $365 or less."
"Explore Facebook contests to attract more followers. Share engaging posts, other authors' work, blog content, and remain consistent in your social media activities."
Good luck with your publishing venture!
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Looking beyond Facebook ads: consider advertising books on Amazon.
- As authors and publishers delve into the world of promoting their works, they can harness the power of technology to reach their intended audience. Facebook book ads, with its wide targeting options, allows the placement of content in various Facebook, Messenger, and Instagram feeds.
- In the realm of education-and-self-development, leveraging modern technology such as Facebook ads can play a crucial role in boosting book sales. By running e-book ads on Facebook, authors can effectively promote their books to potential readers, directing them to the book's page on platforms like Amazon for a budget-friendly promotional method.
