Facebook Ads for Beginners: Everything You Need to Know Before You Start
Simple guide to understanding Facebook ads and getting started without confusion
Starting with Facebook ads can feel scary. There are so many buttons, confusing terms, and the fear that you'll waste your money.
But here's the truth: thousands of business owners just like you have figured this out. You absolutely can too.
This guide covers everything you need to know before spending your first dollar on Facebook ads.
What Are Facebook Ads?
Facebook ads are paid posts that show up in people's Facebook and Instagram feeds. Unlike regular posts from your business page, ads reach people who don't follow you yet.
You can show your ads to specific people based on their age, where they live, what they're interested in, and more. This targeting is what makes Facebook ads so powerful.
Why Use Facebook Ads for Your Business?
Facebook has over 2 billion people using it every day. Your customers are definitely on there.
Here's what Facebook ads can do:
Bring people to your website
Get more phone calls and messages
Increase sales in your store
Fill your appointment calendar
Make more people aware of your brand
Grow your email list
The best part? Start small and only spend more when you see results.
What You Need Before Starting
Get these things ready first:
A Facebook Business Page. You can't run ads from your personal profile. Setting up takes 10 minutes and costs nothing.
A clear goal. What do you want? More website visitors? More sales? Pick one thing to focus on first.
A budget. You can start with as little as $5 per day. Seriously. Don't think you need thousands of dollars.
Something to advertise. A product, service, event, or piece of content. What will people see when they click your ad?
A way to track results. At minimum, you need to know if people are taking action after seeing your ad.
Understanding Facebook Ads Manager
Ads Manager is where you create and manage all your ads. It looks complicated at first, but you'll get used to it.
The main things you'll do in Ads Manager:
Create new campaigns
Choose who sees your ads
Write your ad copy
Set your budget
Check how your ads are doing
Don't worry if it feels overwhelming. Everyone feels that way at first.
The Three Levels of Facebook Ads
Facebook ads have three levels. Think of it like folders inside folders.
Campaign Level - This is where you choose your main goal. Do you want website visits? Video views? Messages?
Ad Set Level - This is where you choose who sees your ad, how much you spend, and where your ad appears.
Ad Level - This is the actual ad people see. Your image, your words, your call-to-action button.
You need all three levels for every ad you run.
How Much Do Facebook Ads Cost?
The honest answer? It depends.
Some businesses pay $0.50 per click. Others pay $5 per click. It depends on your industry, your audience, and how good your ad is.
Here's a safe starting point: $10-20 per day for your first campaign. Run it for at least a week. That gives you enough data to see what's working.
Don't judge your results after one day. Facebook needs time to figure out who responds to your ad.
Types of Facebook Ads You Can Run
Facebook offers lots of ad formats:
Image ads - A single photo with text. The simplest option.
Video ads - A video that plays in people's feeds. Great for explaining things.
Carousel ads - Multiple images people can swipe through. Good for showing several products.
Collection ads - Made for online stores. People can browse and buy without leaving Facebook.
Start with simple image ads. Master those before trying fancy formats.
Where Your Ads Will Show Up
Your ads can appear in multiple places:
Facebook News Feed (the main feed on desktop and mobile)
Instagram Feed
Facebook Stories
Instagram Stories
Facebook right column (that sidebar on desktop)
Messenger
You can choose where your ads appear, or let Facebook decide for you. When starting, let Facebook choose. It knows what works best.
The Biggest Beginner Mistakes to Avoid
Learn from others' mistakes:
Targeting too many people. Don't try to reach everyone. Target specific groups who actually need what you offer.
Giving up too soon. One day of data tells you nothing. Run ads for at least a week.
Using bad images. Blurry photos or clip art won't work. Use clear, eye-catching images.
Writing too much. Keep your ad copy short. People scroll fast.
Not having a clear next step. What do you want people to do? Make it obvious.
What Results Can You Expect?
Be realistic. Facebook ads aren't magic.
In your first month, focus on learning, not making a fortune. Figure out what messages work. Learn who your best audience is. Test different images.
Most businesses need 2-3 months before their ads really perform well. That's normal. The algorithm needs time to learn. You need time to test and improve.
Your First Step
Don't overthink this. Your first ad won't be perfect. That's fine.
Pick one thing to advertise. Choose a simple goal. Set a small budget. Create your ad. Hit publish.
Then watch what happens and improve from there.
The businesses that succeed with Facebook ads are the ones that actually start. Be one of them.
Make Creating Ads Easier
Writing ad copy and coming up with ideas is hard, especially when you're new. That's where tools like Stirling come in handy.
Stirling uses AI to help you create effective Facebook ad copy and creative fast. Just tell it about your business and what you're advertising, and it generates multiple ad options to test. It's perfect for business owners who need quality ads without spending hours writing or hiring an expensive agency.
Start your Facebook ads journey with confidence. You've got this.
