Facebook ads - what's your experience?

[Former_Member]

I started using Facebook ads as my first foray into paid advertising last month. I'm starting with very low daily budget but saw my FB "likes" double in just a few weeks. I've got a few different ads running to see what works, and I'm curious to know what other sellers have tried FB ads and if they liked the results. And did you get better results linking the ad to your FB page, or sending them directly to your shop?

[Former_Member]

I like them. Little irked with FB ads over their Free coupons..but thats another issue lol.

But the ads themselves
...be sure to limit it b/c they run though some money Quick!
...pay for clicks NOT impressions.
... limit them to target group.
...I find that those likes have more potential then other forms of "likes" like trading with other sellers shops, or paying for it from like the small biz pages. Other sellers are ok, and Can be customers but arnt as good as someone who sees your ad and likes your page purely to like your page.

[Former_Member]

Kristine-
I have a little experiance with facebook ads. I ran a free facebook ad a few months ago while they were offering a special to small businessess new to facebook advertising.
In less then a week, I tripled my facebook fans from 200 some to now just over 600. I have noticed that since the ad ran I will just get random new fans People I don't know and that don't sell one etsy will randomly like me.
While the ad was running it increased views to my shop. But, none of those views resulted in sells. I think the ads are a good way to get your name out there. I figure the more facebook fans the more people seeing my work when I post new work and thus this will result in more views on etsy and thus more sells.

Right now, I am running a $75 ad on google ad words. It is also a free promotion if anyone wants to take advantage of it. And, honestly I have not noticed an increase in views in my shop. But, I only have a $5 a day budget. So, it is still early and I will wait and see.

I would love to hear what othes think about google ad words as well as facebook.

[Former_Member]

I got over 500 likes the first time I ran an ad through FB. Sales came around shortly after, but I don't know if they were contributed to the ad.

Like Breanna, I did clicks, set my daily limit and was real careful. I figured the more likes the more people to see your shop and possible future sales.

Oh, and the ad went to FB not my shop. My FB gives information on that. Good Luck!

[Former_Member]

Do you think the ad should always go to your fb business page or should it go to your etsy shop?

[Former_Member]

Ruth-Mary from patchworkfamilyart says

Do you think the ad should always go to your fb business page or should it go to your etsy shop?

-=-=-

To your FB page. If they "like" you, you can market to them again whenever you post to FB. If instead you sent them to your shop (and you're paying for that click!) and they didn't buy anything, they're lost to you.

[Former_Member]

Erin - how does one find out about the Google promo?

Susan and Kate - thank you for the tip on linking FB ads to one's FB page.

I'm planning on running some ads next month, once I've gotten my photos to a point I'm happier with...

[Former_Member]

I had the same experience - lots of new 'Likes', dunno if there have been any sales yet. But I do consider all those new 'Likes' future sales opportunities and the people do seem to be fairly interactive.

[Former_Member]

Thanks for the input and advice everyone! Especially Susan and Kate - I wasn't sure which would be best to direct people to but that puts things in perspective.

Since Erin brought up Google Adwords, does anyone else have an experience with them they could share?

[TheRogueBaby]

I had more sales success by directing my FB ads to my Etsy page for sure. I wasted my initial ad credit getting "likes" on my FB page.. and then found a lot of people "unliked" the page after. No new sales, no new business. If you are investing your own funds into a FB ad, I def. recommend it directing folks right to your Etsy shop.

I plan on using Google Adwords soon, but haven't started yet...

[Former_Member]

Breanna from untamedrose says Edited on Apr 24, 2012
I like them. Little irked with FB ads over their Free coupons..but thats another issue lol.

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The free coupon thing irked me too, mine wasn't free after all... grrr... I don't like that I suddenly got charged more after my ad campaign finished, I'm assuming it's taxes, but I was not pleased... they really make you read the fine print. I didn't have any sales come from my ad campaign, but it was short, it get's expensive pretty quick if you let it run.