Facebook Ads vs Boosted Posts: Which is Better for Your Business?

Are you confused about whether to use Facebook ads vs boosted posts for your advertising needs? In this article, we will clearly differentiate between the two types of advertisements, discuss their ideal use cases, and outline the pros and cons of each. 

Whether you have a tight budget or you're looking to get sales as soon as possible, we will guide you in making the right decision. Read on to find out which option is best for you.

Facebook ads vs Boosted posts: Overview

What Are Facebook Ads?

Facebook Ads are a paid advertising feature that allows businesses to create customized ad campaigns to reach their target audience. These ads appear in various formats, such as image ads, video ads, carousel ads, and more, and can be displayed in the news feed, right column, or as sponsored content on Instagram.

Facebook Ads allow to create custom campaigns

Facebook Ads are ideal for businesses that have specific marketing objectives, such as driving website traffic, generating leads, increasing brand awareness, or promoting website conversions and app installations. These ads provide advanced targeting options, allowing businesses to reach their desired audience based on demographics, interests, behaviors, and more.

Pros of using Facebook Ads:

• Advanced targeting: Facebook Ads offer extensive targeting options, allowing businesses to reach their ideal audience with precision.
• Customization: Businesses can create highly customized ad campaigns with various ad formats and placements.
• Conversion tracking: Facebook Ads provide conversion tracking capabilities, allowing businesses to measure the effectiveness of their campaigns and optimize for better results.
• Ad format variety: With Facebook Ads, businesses can choose from a wide range of ad formats, including images, videos, carousels, collections, and more.

Cons of using Facebook Ads:

• Learning curve: Creating effective Facebook Ads requires a certain level of knowledge and expertise. It may take time and experimentation to find the right targeting options and ad formats that work best for your business.
• Cost: Facebook Ads can be expensive, especially if you're targeting a highly competitive audience. The cost per click (CPC) or cost per impression (CPM) can vary greatly depending on your industry and target audience.

What are Boosted Posts?

What is a Boosted Post?

Boosted Posts are a simplified form of advertising on Facebook that allows businesses to promote their organic posts to a wider audience. When you boost a post, it appears higher in the news feeds of your followers and their friends.

Boosted post example

Boosted Posts are ideal for businesses that want to increase the visibility of their organic content and engage with their existing audience. It's a quick and easy way to reach more people without going through the complexities of creating a full-fledged ad campaign.

Pros of using Boosted Posts:

• Simplicity: Boosting a post is simple and straightforward. You can do it directly from your Facebook Page without the need for any technical knowledge or expertise.
• Increased reach: By boosting a post, you can extend its reach beyond your existing followers and target a wider audience.
• Social proof: When a post is boosted and receives engagement in the form of likes, comments, and shares, it can create social proof and attract more attention from users.

Cons of using Boosted Posts

• Limited targeting options: Unlike Facebook Ads, Boosted Posts have limited targeting options. You can only choose broad targeting parameters such as location, age, gender, and interests.

• Limited placement options: Boosted posts do not offer as many Placement options as Facebook ads, which may negatively impact the number of people who can see your ad

• Lack of ad format variety: When you boost a post, you must use existing posts in the Fanpage. You cannot create customized ad formats like you can with Facebook Ads.

Comparison between Facebook Ads and Boosted Posts

When faced with a tight budget but the need for quick sales, it is crucial to make strategic decisions that maximize your return on investment. Here is a step-by-step guide to help you choose: Facebook Ads vs Boosted Posts:

Comparison of targeting options

Analyze your target audience and consider their demographics, interests, and behaviors. If your audience is relatively broad and can be reached with basic targeting options, boosted posts may be a suitable choice. However, if you require more granular targeting to reach a specific niche audience, Facebook Ads would be the better option.

If your main goal is quick sales, Boosted Posts might be the better option for you. While they have limited targeting options compared to Facebook Ads, you can still choose basic parameters such as location and interests. By targeting users who are more likely to be interested in your limited-time offer, you can increase your chances of driving sales.

Comparing Costs and Budgeting

Take an honest look at your ad budget and determine how much you are willing to allocate to advertising. If you have a limited budget, boosting relevant organic posts can be a cost-effective strategy. On the other hand, if you have more flexibility in your budget and are willing to invest in advanced features and customization options, Facebook Ads may yield better results.

Comparing Conversion tracking capabilities

Conversion tracking is crucial when it comes to measuring the success of your advertising efforts. However, since Boosted Posts do not provide conversion tracking capabilities, it's important to set up alternative tracking methods. For example, you can create unique URLs for your website or use Google Analytics to track the traffic and conversions generated from your boosted post.

Comparing Ad format suitability

Think about the nature of your content and whether it can benefit from enhanced visuals or interactive elements. If your organic posts already contain visually appealing elements such as images or videos, boosting them may be sufficient. However, if you want to create highly engaging ad experiences with multiple formats and Facebook campaign structure, Facebook Ads would be more suitable.

In the case of promoting a limited-time offer, Boosted Posts can be more suitable than Facebook Ads. Boosted Posts appear in the news feed just like regular organic posts, which can create a sense of urgency and drive immediate action from users. Facebook Ads, on the other hand, may require more time and effort to create compelling ad formats that convey the same sense of urgency.

Which is easier to set up and manage: boosted posts or Facebook ads?

When comparing Facebook Ads and Boosted Posts, ease of use is a crucial factor, especially for new advertisers or small business owners with limited digital marketing experience. Facebook Ads, managed through the Facebook Ad Manager, offer advanced customization options, which, while powerful, can seem daunting due to their complexity and the steep learning curve involved. On the other hand, Boosted Posts are much simpler to set up directly from a page's timeline, making them an accessible entry point for those looking to enhance their social media presence without needing deep technical knowledge. This straightforward process involves just a few clicks to increase the visibility of a post, making it a user-friendly option for businesses aiming to quickly amplify their message.

Conclusion

Both Facebook Ads and Boosted Posts have their distinct advantages. By aligning your choice with your marketing goals, budget, and content type, you can maximize your advertising efficiency and impact. Whether you're looking to generate quick sales or build a long-term presence on Facebook, understanding these tools will empower you to make smarter, more effective advertising decisions.