My First Ad! Social Media Advertising for Beginners
LYNNIE VERSION
Would you like to read this article in more grown-up words, still easy to understand? Jump here.
Hi! I’m Lynnie! Today I’m telling you about social media advertising for beginners. It’s way number five, and the first PAID way on Lynnaider’s list!
Way 5: social media ads (paid)
Social media ads mean paying an app to show your stuff to people who don’t follow you yet. There are two ways:
Boosting. The easy one! You pick a post, choose how much money and who should see it, and the app shows it to more people.
A campaign. More control! You pick special goals, make special ad pictures, and can test different versions.
Either way, the apps now use AI to choose who sees your ad. So focus on making a great ad, and testing more than one version at a time. Start with a little money, see what works, and only spend more when you have proof.
What a good ad needs
Usually a picture or a short video, with a clear message and a “call to action.” That’s the ONE thing you want people to do. Like “Shop now” or “Download the guide.”
Keep it simple: one clear message, one clear picture, one thing to do.
People look at your ad for about two seconds. Two! So get straight to the point, like ads on TV.
Quick test: Can you say in one sentence what your ad makes people feel, understand or trust? If not, it’s not ready yet!
The see-to-buy number
At the start, it might already be a good start if just ONE person buys out of a million who saw your stuff. That’s just an example, but it shows how tiny these numbers can be!
Lynnaider calls this the “those who buy divided by those who see” number. There’s no official name for it! Here are the official ones.
Beginner’s tip: always test two!
Run at least two versions of your ad at the same time. Or use the app’s A/B testing button. Same people, but different pictures or headlines. Even tiny differences can give totally different results! It teaches you about your people super fast.
Oopsies
- Spending lots of money before testing.
- Running just one ad, and deciding the whole way doesn’t work.
- Sending clicks to a confusing page, like your home page, instead of the exact product.
- Boosting a post that didn’t do well for free. Your free posts give you hints about which ones are worth paying for!
When to start
Most beginners do best starting with free ways. You needed very little money to set up, and your first marketing can be free. Paid ads make sense once you know your offer sells, and which posts your people like. And you can run them yourself, no agency needed!
And ads without faces can work great too. Product ads, animations and text pictures all work!
What’s next?
Social ads work for most of the ten ways to earn, especially real and digital products. The next article is about way number six: getting free mentions from journalists. The whole lesson is in the book on our products page. Want a grown-up to help with your first campaign? Go to our services page.
What grown-ups usually ask (and I answer)
Are there step-by-step lessons for starting each of the ten ways cheaply?
Maybe! If lots of people want them. Join the waitlist and you’ll know first.
What is social media advertising?
Paying an app to show your stuff to people who don’t follow you yet.
Boosting or a campaign?
Boosting is easy. A campaign gives you more control.
How much should I spend at the start?
A little bit you’re okay with treating as a test.
What makes a good ad?
One clear message, one clear picture, one thing to do.
Do I need lots of followers first?
No! Ads reach new people. But your free posts help you know what works.
Why test two versions?
Because tiny changes can make a big difference!
Is there a cheap way to start?
Yes! Lynnaider shows you how to start each of the ten ways for free, or for very, very little money. You’d be surprised! And a free robot helper called Lynnaider Compass helps you step by step!
Disclaimer: This article is for general informational purposes only and should not be regarded as legal, tax, or business advice. Pursuing an online business does not guarantee income; results depend on many factors including the business environment, individual effort, skills, and consistency. Some links on this site may allow Lynnaider to earn a commission at no additional cost to the reader.
