Why Facebook Ads is Bad: 3 Alternatives You Can Try

August 12, 2015 Social Media Marketing

Bill just started a business that specializes in food supplements like slimming pills and glutathione capsules. Aside from his online store that he had put up to cater to online buyers, he had also invested in Facebook ads to increase the reach of his business. Knowing that a lot of people are already on the Internet, he hopes to convert its social media users into prospective buyers. Since he has been convinced by the sheer amount of “positive” results that most businesses claim to have gained, Bill placed a premium on Facebook advertising despite its being too expensive for such a marketing campaign.

Facebook Ads: Not the “One-Size-Fits-All” Option

Going back to the story above, Bill, after three months of “doing business” with Facebook, realized that the conversion rate of Internet surfers to potential customers didn’t hit his target goal and is now getting frustrated because of the high payment that is due. Although his Facebook page has garnered around a thousand “likes,” it confused him that there were only a few direct traffic from the site to his own webpage — if there were any at all.

Such is the predicament of several small business owners regarding Facebook advertising. While it may be argued that the conversion rate also depends on the kind of products or services that are being advertised as well as the reputation of the business, it is still a bummer when a top social media site cannot do something to improve it. According to experts, it is due to the boring ad format and poor audience targeting. Facebook ads — it can be concluded — are not for all and you better think twice before joining its roster of failed businesses.

3 Alternatives to Facebook Ads

If you do not like the idea of paying a premium to increase your online presence, there are still other alternatives that you can try that also tap into the viral power of social media without sucking money out of your pockets. Here are some of the best options that you can use:

• Instagram – Social media is starting to become more visual; hence, your best bet is to incorporate photo-sharing apps in your online marketing campaign. Instagram can help transform your ad into a viral photo that will have people using your specified hashtags for days. For example, Bill can post a “before” and “after” photo of one of his previous clients and use hashtags “#feelsexier” and “#7DaysChallenge.” Instagram users these days are crazy over hashtags so take advantage of these catchy one-word phrases to describe your ad aside from having a relevant caption. It is also said that Instagram has significantly better brand engagement compared to Facebook and Twitter.
• LinkedIn – This is especially useful if your audience consists of professionals. Here, you can choose who could see your ad and where you want it to be seen. You can also specify the payout rate for each click. It saves you money by targeting the clicks from interested users.
• Pinterest – This platform is like Instagram, only with the additional option for advertisers to place a bid on units that are specific to several categories like home décor and fashion.