Social media advertising is one of the most effective ways for small and medium-sized businesses to get noticed online. With paid ads, you can deliver tailored messages to your ideal audience on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, and YouTube.
In today’s digital landscape, attention is the most valuable resource. People scroll quickly, switch between apps, and filter out irrelevant content. That’s why advertising on social media has become a powerful tool to reach potential buyers across their entire customer journey. You can launch awareness campaigns before a product release, run targeted ads during peak seasons, and retarget users who already engaged with your website or posts.
We’ve already discussed how SEO and Google Ads bring valuable traffic from search engines. But relying only on search means waiting for people to type in a query. Social media lets you actively reach the right people based on demographics, location, interests, and behavior.
Key reasons to invest in social media advertising:
According to recent industry studies, businesses are steadily increasing ad spend on social media. Brands that adopt smart targeting and creative formats see stronger ROI and brand recognition.
Costs vary depending on the platform, audience, and competition. Ads typically run on an auction model (similar to Google Ads), where you define a maximum bid or daily budget.
Common pricing models include:
What affects cost?
The good news: all major platforms provide ad manager tools with recommendations based on your goals, so you can plan and adjust in real time.
If you’re new to social media advertising, start with a clear plan:
Once you know your goals and audience, pick the platforms that fit best:
The largest user base, powerful targeting, and a broad mix of formats. Ideal for reaching a wide audience and maintaining long-term customer relationships.
Visual-first and highly engaging, especially for younger audiences. Works well for retail, lifestyle, food, beauty, and creative brands. Easily managed via Facebook Ad Manager.
Best for B2B campaigns. Target by job title, company size, or industry. Great for lead generation and professional networking.
Explosive growth among younger demographics. Excellent for brand awareness with short, creative videos. Strong fit for entertainment, retail, and visual-based businesses.
The second largest search engine worldwide. Perfect for “how-to” videos, tutorials, lifestyle content, and product demos.
Popular for inspiration and discovery, particularly among women. Effective for retail, DIY, design, and lifestyle.
Great for Gen Z and millennials. Works best with casual, fun, and interactive content.
Now called X, this platform thrives on trending topics and real-time engagement. Useful for brand awareness, events, and quick updates.
Social media advertising can feel complex, but it doesn’t have to be. With rankingCoach boost posts, small businesses can run impactful campaigns quickly and easily. You can boost posts on Facebook and Instagram at the same time, reaching a broader audience without needing advanced ad management skills. Boosted posts can achieve up to 3x more visibility and engagement, helping your content stand out.
Key advantages:
With rankingCoach, you don’t need to be a marketing expert to advertise effectively. Just boost your posts, track performance, and watch your business grow.