Are you interested in beginning a paid search marketing campaign for your business? With options from Google AdWords and Microsoft adCenter to advertising on various social media sites, it can be hard to decide which option is best for your business.

Now, you can obtain success with any of these options. However, if you are trying to advertise your small local business, Facebook may be the road you want to travel. Here are five advantages that Facebook advertising offers to local business.

#1: Location Targeting

Being a local business, you aren’t going to have the millions of dollars per year ad budget that Ford or Coca-Cola have. But let’s be honest, you aren’t trying to target nearly as many people either. By targeting less people, you are going to spend less.

Facebook allows users to create ads that are targeted at very specific locations. You can go as far as targeting specific zip codes. 

#2: Interest Targeting

Have you ever seen an ad on Facebook and thought, “Wow, how did they know I’d like that?” Let me assure you, it was no mistake that that exact advertisement found its way on to your computer screen.

Facebook allows companies to target their ads at an audience who has specific likes or interests.

Example:

Being the Michigan State alumnus that I am, I decide I want to open up a store that sells strictly Michigan State merchandise, and more specifically, Michigan State college basketball memorabilia. I can use the tools on Facebook ads to target specific groups that may be interested in my merchandise.

#3: Visuals, Pictures, Graphics

Facebook has taken note of how big of an impact visuals can have on an individual in this society. Within Facebook’s advertising tools, you can add an image 110 pixels wide by 80 pixels tall.

As a small company, be sure that you are taking advantage of this space and using an image that highlights your company and the products and services you offer.

Example:

#4: More Characters

One of the biggest drawbacks using a service such as Google AdWords or Microsoft adCenter is the limited space offered for text.

Google AdWords & Microsoft adCenter:

Title: 25 Characters

Body: 70 Characters

Facebook PPC:

Title: 25 Characters

Body: 135 Characters

Facebook offers almost twice as much room to advertise your product or service! While this is usually a great feature, be careful to not draw out the message and bore the viewer. If you make your ad too wordy, no one is going to be interested.

#5: Inexpensive

With so many different options for targeting your audience, Facebook has proven to be one of the most cost effective forms of paid search marketing available. Advertising your business has become a necessity. If you are looking for an inexpensive and cost effective way to advertise, Facebook may be for you.

I hope this blog post has been effective in demonstrating the ways in which Facebook advertising is becoming a popular option for many businesses. Look for my posts in the future on how you can refine your Facebook advertising campaign to run as successfully as possible.