What is a social media Ad strategy?

Even while you may spend a lot of time analyzing the most recent social media post to go viral in the hopes of discovering the winning formula, the truth is that the most successful social media campaigns owe their success to the Ad strategy that sits behind them.

An organized plan created to use social media platforms for marketing purposes is known as a social media ad strategy.

To create effective advertising, it’s crucial to start with clear goals in mind. These goals could include things like making more people aware of your brand, driving more visitors to your website, or increasing your sales. Having specific objectives will guide your advertising strategy. Next, you need to identify your target audience. This means figuring out exactly who your ideal customers are and creating detailed profiles, often called personas, to understand them better. Knowing your audience is the foundation of creating ads that resonate with them.

Once you have a clear idea of your goals and your target audience, it’s time to choose the right advertising platforms. This decision should take into account your financial constraints and the type of advertising content you want to create. Different platforms offer various opportunities and price points, so you’ll need to align your choices with your goals.

A crucial component of a successful advertising strategy is the creation of compelling ad content. This involves designing eye-catching graphics and crafting ad copy that not only reflects your brand identity but also speaks directly to your target audience. Making sure your ads are visually appealing and have messages that resonate with your audience is key to achieving your advertising goals.

We will know about these steps in detail in a little while.

Why social media ad strategy is important?

To increase brand awareness, consumer trust, and knowledge of your offering, you need to get in front of people – and the people are on social media.

In fact, it’s estimated that one in three people in the world, including children, are active users of social media.

Social media holds the potential to generate a massive amount of leads, but it’s also home to all your competitors with their similar offerings, as well as a whole heap of other distractions.

A social media strategy will help you map out a plan to stand out from the crowd, build an audience of activated and informed followers, and create an environment where you can take leads and massage them through the buying cycle, from awareness to consideration to purchase phase.

It’s also important to have a strategy to ensure you can aim for certain goals. Ad hoc marketing that takes a reactive and haphazard approach is not only risky, it can lead to inconsistent messaging and branding, and a confused and disengaged audience.

How to implement brilliant social media Ad strategies?

To truly stand out on social media, businesses need to implement brilliant social ad strategies that will outsmart their competition.  Let’s explore ten such brilliant social ad strategies that can help you and your business outsmart your competition and achieve success on social media. (along with this para, do pointers 1-9 below)

1 – Targeting the Right Audience

Targeting the right audience is a crucial aspect of social media advertising. Without proper targeting, ads may reach people who are not interested in the product or service being offered, resulting in wasted advertising spend. Social media platforms offer a variety of targeting options that businesses can use to reach their desired audience. For example, Facebook allows advertisers to target users based on demographics, interests, behaviors, and even job titles.

Targeted advertising has been proven to be effective. According to a survey by HubSpot, targeted ads are twice as effective as non-targeted ads at driving purchases. A great example of a company that has successfully targeted its audience on social media is Airbnb. By using Facebook’s targeting capabilities, the company was able to reach people who are interested in traveling and looking for unique accommodation options. Airbnb’s Facebook ads feature stunning photos of unique properties, such as treehouses and yurts, which appeal to travelers seeking one-of-a-kind experiences.

2 – Using Video in Your Social Media Ads

Video is a powerful tool for social media advertising. Video ads can be used to showcase products or services, share customer testimonials, or highlight company culture. According to a survey by Wyzowl, 84% of consumers said they have been convinced to buy a product or service after watching a brand’s video.

Video ads on social media have been proven to be effective at driving engagement and conversions. According to a study by Facebook, video ads on the platform are 1.8 times more memorable than non-video ads. A great example of a company that has successfully used video ads on social media is Nike. The company’s “Dream Crazier” ad campaign, which features powerful female athletes such as Serena Williams and Simone Biles, has been viewed millions of times on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram. The campaign’s message of empowering women through sports resonated with Nike’s target audience, and helped the company stand out from its competitors.

3 – Using Influencer Marketing

Influencer marketing has become a popular strategy for businesses looking to reach new audiences on social media. By partnering with influencers, businesses can tap into their followers’ trust and loyalty and reach a wider audience. According to a survey by Influencer Marketing Hub, 63% of marketers plan to increase their influencer marketing budgets in the next year.

Influencer marketing can be an effective way to generate buzz and excitement around a brand. According to a study by Linqia, 86% of marketers said they used influencer marketing to increase brand awareness. A great example of a company that has successfully used influencer marketing on social media is Glossier. The beauty brand has partnered with a variety of influencers, including beauty bloggers and social media stars, to promote its products. These partnerships have helped Glossier reach a wider audience and increase brand awareness, while also generating buzz and excitement among its existing customers.

4 – Social Media Ads Using User-Generated Content

User-generated content (UGC) is content created by users, such as photos, videos, and reviews, that businesses can use to promote their brand. UGC is a powerful tool for social media advertising, as it allows businesses to showcase their products in a natural and authentic way. According to a survey by Stackla, UGC is 20% more influential than other types of media when it comes to purchasing decisions.

UGC can be an effective way to build trust and credibility with potential customers. According to a study by TurnTo, 90% of consumers say that UGC influences their purchasing decisions. A great example of a company that has successfully used UGC on social media is GoPro. The company’s social media channels are filled with stunning photos and videos taken by its users, showcasing the capabilities of its cameras. By leveraging UGC, GoPro has been able to create a community of brand advocates and build trust with potential customers.

5 – Using Retargeting Ads

Retargeting ads are ads that target people who have previously interacted with a business, such as visiting their website or social media pages. Retargeting ads can be a powerful way to reach people who are already interested in a business’s products or services. According to a study by AdRoll, retargeting ads are 10 times more effective than non-targeted ads at driving clicks.

Retargeting ads can be used to remind people about products they have viewed or abandoned in their online shopping cart, or to promote new products to existing customers. A great example of a company that has successfully used retargeting ads on social media is Warby Parker. The eyewear company uses retargeting ads to promote its try-on program to people who have previously visited its website. By reminding people about the program and showcasing its benefits, Warby Parker has been able to increase conversions and drive sales.

6 – Using Carousel Ads

Carousel ads are ads that allow businesses to showcase multiple products or features in a single ad. Carousel ads can be used to tell a story or showcase a product line, and can be a powerful tool for driving engagement and conversions. According to a study by Kinetic Social, carousel ads on Facebook have a 10 times higher click-through rate than non-carousel ads.

Carousel ads can be used to showcase a variety of products or features, such as different colors or styles of a product, or different features of a software product. A great example of a company that has successfully used carousel ads on social media is Sephora. The beauty retailer uses carousel ads to showcase different products and product lines, such as a series of lipsticks or a collection of skincare products. By showcasing multiple products in a single ad, Sephora has been able to increase engagement and drive sales.

7 – Using Social Proof in Your Social Media Ads

Social proof is a psychological phenomenon where people are influenced by the actions and opinions of others. This can be a powerful tool for social media advertising, as it allows businesses to showcase their popularity and credibility. Social proof can come in many forms, such as customer reviews, social media followers, or media mentions.

You can use social proof to build trust and credibility with potential customers. According to a study by BrightLocal, 92% of consumers read online reviews before making a purchase. A great example of a company that has successfully used social proof on social media is Casper. The mattress company uses customer reviews and media mentions to showcase its credibility and popularity. By leveraging social proof, Casper has been able to build trust with potential customers and increase sales.

8 – Using Interactive Ads

Interactive ads are ads that allow users to interact with the content, such as by swiping, tapping, or playing a game. Interactive ads can be a powerful way to engage with potential customers and create a memorable experience. According to a study by Immersv, interactive ads have a 47% higher click-through rate than non-interactive ads.

Interactive ads can be used to showcase a product’s features or benefits, or to create a memorable brand experience. A great example of a company that has successfully used interactive ads on social media is IKEA. The furniture retailer used Facebook’s Instant Experience ad format to create an interactive quiz that helped people discover their home decor style. By creating a fun and engaging experience, IKEA was able to increase brand awareness and drive sales.

9 – Integrating Chatbots

Chatbots are a great tool to integrate into social media advertising campaigns as they can provide personalized recommendations to customers. For example, a chatbot can ask a customer a series of questions to understand their preferences and recommend products or services based on their responses. This type of advertising is highly effective as it provides customers with a personalized experience and encourages them to engage with a brand.

Chatbots can be used to collect customer data and insights, which can be used to improve social media advertising campaigns. For example, a chatbot can collect information about a customer’s purchase history, preferences, and behavior, which can be used to create more targeted and personalized advertising campaigns.

10 – Running contests on social media

Social media competitions are a fantastic method to interact with potential clients and generate interest in a company’s goods or services. Social media competitions can come in a variety of formats, including photo contests, caption competitions, and giveaways. Businesses can encourage individuals to interact with their social media accounts and share their content with their own followers by providing incentives and prizes.

Social media contests can be used to market new products or services or to boost engagement on a company’s social media accounts. Airbnb is an excellent example of a business that has used social media contests on social media to great effect. In order to enter to win a free trip, the vacation rental firm used Instagram to promote a photo competition. Participants were asked to post their favourite Airbnb experiences. Airbnb was able to raise interaction on its social media pages and raise brand recognition by developing a fun and interesting contest.

Who Will Benefit from Learning about New Social Ad Strategies?

This knowledge will be helpful for social media advertisers and marketers, both new and experienced, who want to discover new tactics. Even if you have extensive expertise managing social media ads across a variety of platforms, you will learn some fresh tactics that can boost your (or your client’s) conversion rates. You will also benefit greatly from these strategies if you have begun to observe a decline in ROAS from your ads. These strategies will also be helpful to business owners who want to grow their market share in their particular field. Along the process, you’ll discover how to outsmart your rivals in addition to learning how to increase the success of your present social media advertising initiatives.

What Businesses Will Benefit from New Social Ad Strategies?

In short: all types of businesses.

While the platforms you choose to work with will vary depending on your target audience and goals, any type of business can benefit from dedicating some of their ad spend to social media.

Let’s dive into some specifics.

If you’re an ecommerce company, Instagram could be an excellent platform for your ads. The visual component of the platform lets you showcase beautiful product images that captivate users and can even allow them to access your very own Instagram shop directly from your ads.

How can you stand out from the competition you may wonder? We will teach you in the webinar.

Platforms like Snapchat and TikTok have gained a lot of popularity with younger generations like millennials and Gen Z. So if you are an ecommerce company or brand focused on targeting younger audiences, advertising on these platforms might be the choice for you.

Our webinar will show you how to capitalize on unique trends and features from Snapchat and TikTok which you can leverage to reach a wider audience in 2022.

Are you a B2B or SaaS company? You may experience more success using more traditional platforms like LinkedIn and YouTube who have a more professional audience. We will cover some unique strategies on how to approach advertising through these platforms in our webinar as well.