Facebook Ads for Dropshipping: A Beginner’s Guide

When you’re running your own dropshipping business, it’s important to know that attracting interest leads to making sales. To do this effectively, you must send the right message to your target audience at the perfect time. That’s where optimized dropshipping Facebook Ads come in.

It’s easy to create an ad on Facebook platform. It allows you to choose your target audience, set a budget and the types of ads you want to run. You can also track your results to see how your ad is performing.

In this article, I’ll break down the process of running Facebook ads for you, so you can get your message out to the public in a few hours. 

Are Facebook Ads Good for Dropshipping?

Facebook ads are a great choice for dropshipping, especially if you’re just starting and have a limited budget. They’re flexible and customizable, letting you target your ads precisely.

These ads are essential globally, given Facebook’s massive user base of billions. You can build lasting connections with potential customers by linking your ads to your Facebook Page.

To give you an idea, Hootsuite says Facebook Ads can reach a whopping 2.11 billion users, which is 72.5% of its 2.91 billion monthly users.

Demographically, the largest Facebook audience is men aged 25 to 34 (19%), followed by men aged 18 to 24 (15%) and women aged 24 to 35 (13%).

People spend an average of 35 minutes daily on Facebook, making it the second most time-consuming social media platform.

Here’s why Facebook ads are fantastic for your dropshipping business:

  1. Massive User Base: With 1.96 billion daily users in 2022, Facebook is hugely popular worldwide. It expanded its reach even more after acquiring Instagram.

  2. Customizable Call-to-Actions: You can use custom call-to-actions like “Sign up” or “Book now” to boost your ad’s click-through rate by up to 285%.

  3. Effective Tracking and Analytics: Facebook offers tools like the Facebook Pixel to monitor and measure ad performance, helping you make necessary improvements.

So, if you’re considering investing in Facebook ads, it’s definitely worth it. Marketers are still using it for a reason!

How to Create Facebook Ads For Your Dropshipping Store

You don’t need to be an expert to create dropshipping Facebook ads. It’s just a matter of following some steps to make sure our ads reach the right people.

Step 1: Create a Facebook Page

You need a personal Facebook account to create a page. If you don’t have one, create it first.

From your Facebook homepage, click the plus icon next to your name or the drop-down arrow on the toolbar, then select “Create Page.” Select either “Business or Brand” or “Community or Public Figure” depending on your needs .

After that, you can enter Page Information:

  • Page Name: Enter the name of your business or organization.
  • Category: Choose a category that best describes your business. Suggestions will appear as you type.
  • Description: Optionally, write a brief description of your page.

Click “Create Page” to proceed with the following steps:

  1. Upload a profile picture, ideally your business logo. The recommended size is 170×170 pixels.
  2. Add a cover photo with dimensions 851×315 pixels.
  3. Provide your business URL, phone number, and email. You can also add your physical location and operating hours if applicable.
  4. Add a call-to-action button like “Start Order,” “Send Message,” or “Get Tickets” to your page. This can be linked to your reservation software or e-commerce platform.
  5. Add additional information such as your business’s about info, social links, and featured photos. You can also create posts and add a menu if relevant.
  6. Create a custom URL for your page to make it easily shareable. This might require having a certain number of followers first.

If you want others to help manage the page, you can add them as page administrators by going to “Settings” and selecting “Page Roles” .

Step 2: Create a Facebook Ads Account

Once you have set up your Facebook page, it’s time to create a Business Manager account, your control center for ads and other business activities.

On the Business Manager homepage, find the ‘Create Account’ button. A pop-up will appear where you can enter your name, business name, and business email.

Fill in the required details and click ‘Submit.’ Facebook will take you to the Facebook Business Suite page, where you can create your Facebook Ads account and manage various business tasks.

Now, you can move on to create your Facebook ads account: 

  1. Access Ad Accounts: In Business Settings, click on “Ad Accounts” under the “Accounts” section.
  2. Add Ad Account: Click the blue “Add” button. You can choose to add an existing ad account, request access to an ad account, or create a new ad account.
  3. Set Up Ad Account Details: If creating a new ad account, provide a name for the account, select your time zone, and choose your currency. Confirm that you want to use this ad account for your Business Account.
  4. Add Team Members: In Business Settings, you can assign roles to team members. Navigate to “Ad Accounts” and click “Add People”. Assign roles such as Admin or Employee based on their responsibilities.
  5. Set Up Billing and Payment Information: Go to the Payment Settings page by clicking “Ad Account Settings” and add your payment method to enable ad spending.
  6. Create Campaign: From Business Manager, go to Ads Manager. Click “Create” to start a new campaign. Choose your campaign objective, set up your ad set (target audience, budget, and schedule), and create your ad (format, media, and text)

You can adjust your notification settings to receive important updates about your campaigns via email or Facebook notifications.

Step 3: Install the Facebook Pixel in Your Dropshipping Store

The Facebook Pixel (now called the Meta Pixel) is a powerful analytics tool that allows dropshipping businesses to track and optimize their Facebook advertising campaigns.

It’s a small piece of code that you place on your Shopify dropshipping store’s website. It tracks visitor activity and behavior, such as:

  • Page views
  • Clicks
  • Purchases
  • Add to cart actions
  • Initiation of checkout process

This data is then sent back to your Facebook Ads Manager account, providing valuable insights into how users interact with your website and ads.

Facebook can find new users with similar interests and behaviors to your best customers, based on the pixel data. This allows you to reach new high-potential audiences.

Based on visitor behavior tracked by the pixel, you can also create custom audiences for retargeting. For example, you can show specific ads to people who visited certain product pages but didn’t make a purchase.

Here’s how to install the Facebook Pixel on your Shopify dropshipping store:

  1. Go to Facebook Events Manager and click “Connect Data Sources” > “Web”.
  2. Click “Connect” on the pixel creation screen.
  3. Name your pixel (e.g. “Your Store Name Pixel”) and click “Create Pixel”.
  4. On the next screen, enter your Shopify store URL and click “Check for Partner Integration”.
  5. Select “Shopify” from the partner list.

Now, you can move on to integrate the Facebook Pixel with Shopify:

  1. Log into your Shopify admin and go to Online Store > Preferences. Scroll down to the “Facebook Pixel” section.
  2. Click “Set up Facebook” and it will take you to the Facebook app page. Click “Add app”.
  3. Go to Settings > Apps and sales channels. You should see your Facebook Pixel listed. Select it.
  4. Click “Open sales channel” and then go to “Data sharing settings”.
  5. Enable data sharing and select the “Maximum” data sharing level for best tracking.
  6. Choose your pixel from the list and click “Confirm”.

Before completing the setup, it’s important to test your Facebook Pixel to confirm it works:

  1. Go back to Facebook Events Manager and look for a green checkmark next to your pixel, indicating Shopify setup is complete.
  2. Click “Next” and enter your Shopify URL again. Click “Send Test Traffic”.
  3. A new tab will open with your website. Browse a few product pages.
  4. Go back to the Facebook tab. If the pixel is working, you’ll see a green dot indicating test traffic was received.

Step 4: Audience Research

Having a clear picture of your target customer will guide the rest of your audience research. Consider factors like:

  • Demographics (age, gender, location, income, etc.)
  • Interests and hobbies
  • Behaviors and purchase habits
  • Pain points and challenges they face
  • Their goals and aspirations

In the Audience Insights tool, you can build an audience based on demographics, interests, behaviors and drill down into:

  • Page Likes – See the top pages liked by your potential audience
  • Location and Language – Understand where your audience is based
  • Purchase Activities – Get insights into the purchase behavior and spending methods of your audience
  • Household Data – View household sizes, income levels, etc.

After that, you can make a list of interests, pages, groups, influencers, publications, events, and other brands/products that are relevant to your target audience.

  • Use Facebook’s Audience Insights tool to explore Page Likes data and find popular interests for your potential audiences.
  • Search on Facebook for related groups, events, and pages that your audience engages with.
  • Look at your competitors’ ads and the interests they are targeting.
  • Use tools like BuzzSumo to find influential people/pages in your niche.

A successful Facebook ad starts with audience research. It’s all about finding the people who will love what you have to offer. This boosts your marketing success and sets the stage for big wins.

Whenever you create Facebook ads for your dropshipping business, start by targeting as many potential customers as possible. That way, you don’t miss out on any potential customers. Then you can fine-tune it with Facebook’s smart tools, focusing on the people most likely to buy.

You’ll need the Audience Research Spreadsheet to do this.

This spreadsheet focuses on four key questions to help you research your audience. These questions help you understand your target audience’s interests, covering three main areas: events, content, and related products. Check out these four questions:

  1. Who’s in Charge?: Identify the big names, influencers, and major brands in your niche.
  2. What Are They Reading and Clicking?: Find the books, websites, and content your audience can’t resist.
  3. Where Do They Hang Out?: Discover the types of events your audience loves to attend.
  4. What Else Are They Buying?: Explore the products closely tied to your niche that your audience is into.

You can use these questions to target different potential audiences, ensuring you’re connecting with the right people.

In your spreadsheet, these questions are in the left column. You can fill in 4-6 blank cells next to each question with your research findings. You can find this info by searching Google with relevant keywords. Use these questions as a guide to find out what your audience wants.

After you’ve gathered all this valuable info, it’s time to use it in your Facebook ad campaign. Fill out your ad campaign settings with the answers to your questions. That tells Facebook to target people who are interested in your events, products, and content.

More importantly, your research can supercharge your ad content, making it even more appealing to your dream audience. Audience research isn’t just about targeting; it’s about drawing in your ideal audience, sparking their curiosity, and increasing sales.

Step 5: Create Your Facebook Ad

After you’ve researched your target audience for dropshipping Facebook ads, it’s time to craft those ads. There are two kinds of Facebook ads: video and images. The key to grabbing your audience’s attention is to create eye-catching visuals right away.

When it comes to Facebook advertising, video ads rule. They’re more engaging and deliver better results.

The right video ad campaign can make all the difference. People love watching videos featuring products they’re interested in. While image and GIF ads can work, video ads are more effective and have higher conversion rates. Now let’s dig into how to find a great product video.

First things first, you’ll need a product video for the item you’re promoting. This video will be your starting point for customization. Sometimes, suppliers have product videos you can use. However, keep in mind that these videos might not always look professional, and they might have captions in a different language.

If you can’t find a video on a supplier’s product page, you can ask them for one. Or you can order the product and make your own video. It won’t hurt to find a video from another supplier or competitor if all else fails.

Once you’ve got a product video, it’s time to edit it. There are a few good reasons for this:

  • Firstly, your video ad shouldn’t be longer than 30 seconds. Your audience’s attention span drops quickly, so keep it short.
  • Second, your video shouldn’t be a carbon copy of your supplier’s. Dropshipping Facebook ads are your chance to stand out, so duplicating the supplier’s video won’t work.

There are lots of video editing platforms out there. Alimoto is a great option, especially for dropshipping. If you’re feeling creative, you can edit the video from scratch. Whatever you do, make sure your visuals pop. Your ad can even have sound effects or background music.

The first three to five seconds of your Facebook ad are crucial. It’s these first seconds that make or break a potential customer. People are bombarded with ads, so you need to grab their attention right away.

If you want your dropshipping Facebook ad to be the most successful, test out multiple versions. The best strategy is to run three versions of your ad simultaneously. The first 3-5 seconds should be the biggest difference between these three ads.

With split testing, you can figure out which Facebook ad performs best and then scale it up. In addition, you’ll get insights into what works and why, so you can improve your future ads.

Step 6: Configure Your Facebook Ads Campaign Goals & Ad Set

Now, let’s get technical and configure your ad sets and campaign settings in Facebook Business Manager. 

These settings are instructions to Facebook, telling it how you want your ad to work and who you want to reach.

Creating a Campaign for Your Ad Sets

Start by creating a campaign for your ad sets. Once you’re logged into your Facebook Business Manager account, go to ‘All Tools’ on the left and select ‘Ads Manager.’

Next, click ‘Create’ at the top left under ‘Campaigns.’

Before you proceed, think about your campaign objectives – what you want people to do when they see your ad. When you click ‘Create,’ you’ll see various campaign objectives to choose from.

For example, ‘Traffic’ drives people to click on your website link. ‘Conversions’ is a bit pricier but targets folks who are likely to take action, like clicking a Call To Action button.

Starting with ‘Engagement’ is often a good choice. It targets people who like to interact with ads by sharing, liking, or commenting. It’s also more budget-friendly, saving you from overspending on untested products.

Engagement ads typically run at $5 – $10 per day, giving you a chance to see how your product performs before diving into Conversion-focused campaigns.

Creating & Configuring Your Campaign

After picking your campaign objective, hit ‘Continue’ and name your campaign, ad set, and ad. Now, configure your campaign.

Most campaign settings won’t concern you, except for Campaign Budget Optimization. This feature distributes your budget across different ad campaigns.

Running three ads for each product is a smart move. It lets you test different ads and find the best one. If you go this route, use the Budget Optimization tool to distribute your spending evenly.

To turn on Budget Optimization, scroll down and switch it to ‘On’ in the ‘Campaign Budget Optimization’ section. This tool allocates more money to ads that perform well and less to underperforming ones.

Setting Campaign Budgets

Now, it’s time to set your campaign budget. Your goal here is to spend as little as possible while testing different ad variations.

Configure your budget as a ‘Daily Budget’ (not ‘Lifetime’) and set it between $5 – $10. Run the ads for 2-3 days. This window is enough to test various ads on different audiences and analyze the results.

This ‘Engagement’ campaign focused on post-engagement provides valuable insights for future marketing efforts.

Facebook Ad Sets

Now, let’s configure your ad set settings. Start by scheduling your ads. Set the start date and time and leave the end date unchecked. Even if this ‘Engagement’ campaign runs for a few days, it can still perform well and boost your success.

Audience Settings

Customize your audience settings to target the right people for your product.

Location

Configure the location settings. Choose ‘Worldwide’ for faster audience identification and lower spending.

Age & Gender

Define an age range and gender targeting based on your product’s appeal.

Detailed Targeting

Fine-tune your detailed targeting settings. Input behaviors, interests, and characteristics of your target audience. Keep your potential reach around 10 million. If it gets too high, use the ‘Narrow Audience’ option to filter it further.

Language

Set the ad’s language to match your audience’s comprehension. Choose multiple languages if needed.

Choose Ad Location

Customize your ad placement by selecting ‘Manual.’ Opt for ‘All Devices’ and uncheck all options under ‘Platforms’ except ‘Facebook’ and ‘Instagram.’

Now, choose where on Facebook your ad will appear. Stick with ‘Facebook News Feed’ and ‘Facebook Video Feed’ to increase your ad’s visibility.

After completing these ad set configurations, you’re ready to launch your dropshipping Facebook ad.

Step 7: Launch Your Facebook Ad Campaign

Finally, it’s time to launch your dropshipping Facebook ads. This step involves configuring settings for your Campaign, Ad Set, and Ad. We’re focusing on the campaign goal of Post Engagement with a daily budget of $5-$10 and a worldwide audience to gauge product interest. If you plan to run a conversion campaign, you’ll need to adjust your settings accordingly.

Here’s how to do it:

  1. Access Ads Manager: Start by logging into Facebook Ads Manager. Click on ‘All Tools’ and go to ‘Ads Manager,’ where you can see your existing campaigns and ad sets. Click the ‘Edit’ button to open your campaign and locate the ‘Ad’ tab for configuration.

  2. Name Your Ad: Give your dropshipping Facebook ad a name that aligns with your campaign and ad set names for consistency.

  3. Select a Facebook Page: In the ‘Identity’ section, choose the Facebook Page you want to use for your ad. Every Facebook ad is essentially a promoted post, so it must have a designated location.

  4. Choose Post Type: Depending on your situation, you can either use an existing post or create a new one. Since we’re creating an Engagement ad from scratch, select ‘Create Ad’ in the ‘Ad Setup’ section.

  5. Design Your Ad: In the ‘Ad Creative’ section, you’ll decide how your ad looks and what it includes. Start with ‘Media,’ click ‘Add Media,’ and then ‘Add Video.’ This opens a window for you to upload your product video. Make sure your video is between 15 and 30 seconds – an ideal length to grab viewers’ attention. Click ‘Upload,’ select your video, and hit ‘Open.’ Once it finishes uploading, you’ll see it in the Ad Creative section.

  6. Launch Your Ad: Before you hit the ‘Publish’ button, review all your settings one last time. Check the campaign goal, ad set configurations, and the ad itself. If everything looks good, click ‘Publish’ in the bottom right corner.

Running three variations of your video ad is a powerful testing strategy to find the best-performing version. Each variation requires a separate campaign. Here’s how:

  1. Duplicate the Campaign: If you have three different video copies, duplicate the campaign for each one. Change the video content in each duplicated campaign.

  2. Analyze Results: Monitor the performance of each campaign to identify the winning video ad. This approach allows you to see what’s working and why, helping you refine your future Facebook ad campaigns

Step 8: Analyze Your Facebook Ad Results

You’ve launched your ads, and now it’s time to analyze and boost their performance. 

Wait a day or two after your ad goes live, then check the campaign results on the Ads Manager homepage. Click on ‘Campaign,’ ‘Ad Sets,’ or ‘Ads’ and find the results data columns. Customize these columns by clicking ‘Columns: Performance’ and selecting ‘Customize Columns’ from the dropdown menu. Pick the metrics you want to review.

Focus your analysis on specific metrics:

  • Overall results
  • Impressions vs. reach (Impressions tally all views, while reach counts unique viewers)
  • Link clicks
  • Video stats
  • Frequency (how often people view your ad)
  • Cost of ad appearances
  • Post reactions
  • Content views
  • Actions like ‘Add to cart,’ ‘Checkouts initiated,’ and purchases

Remember, reach is about unique viewers, and impressions count all views. Use these metrics to guide your decisions and enhance your ads.

Below are some reasons for poor ad performance: 

  • Low Product Demand: If your ad isn’t performing well, check if the product is in demand. This can influence your dropshipping store product listings.
  • Wrong Targeting: Poor results may stem from targeting or demographic issues. Research and adjust your targeting settings as needed.

If you didn’t run split tests, your ad might not have reached its best version. Keep experimenting to find the most effective ad. To sustain and expand your achievements, follow this ad hierarchy based on milestones:

  • 20 Content Views: Once you reach 20 content (website) views in an engagement campaign, switch to a View Content campaign. This helps Facebook find audiences interested in viewing your product content.
  • 20 Add to Carts: After hitting 20 Add to Carts, upgrade to an ‘Add To Cart’ campaign objective. Facebook will target people likely to add your product to their carts.
  • Minimum 20 Purchases: Wait until you’ve secured at least 20 purchases before moving to a Purchase campaign objective. This gradual approach trains the Facebook pixel to identify the best audience for purchase conversions, leading to increased sales and profits.

What Should You Include In Your Facebook Ads?

In a nutshell, there are crucial elements to consider when creating a Facebook ad for dropshipping. Let’s break down these key factors that should be part of your Facebook ad strategy:

1. Target Audience

When you connect with those who are most likely to purchase your product, you can increase conversions and sales while cutting costs. Don’t spend resources on audiences who aren’t interested in your product. Discovering and connecting with your target audience is vital for business growth.

2. Highly-Quality Visuals

Visuals are key for grabbing your audience’s attention. People naturally gravitate towards images, so making your dropshipping Facebook ad visually appealing ensures your message stands out. ‘

Using high-quality visuals with compelling and relevant information can greatly boost interest and conversions.

3. Call to Action (CTA)

Your Call to Action (CTA) directs your audience’s actions. Whether you want them to buy a product, visit your website, read a blog, or sign up for a newsletter, a clear and persuasive CTA is essential. It serves as a guidepost, showing your customers the way to make a purchase. Without a clear CTA, potential customers might have trouble understanding what you want them to do.

4. Price

Take into account your product price and ad campaign budget. To get a good return on your marketing investment, you must make both of these aspects work well together. It’s crucial to find the right balance between being competitive and making a profit.

FAQs About Using Facebook Ads for Dropshipping

1. Do Facebook Ads Work For Dropshipping?

Yes! Facebook ads are a great way for dropshippers to market their business and reach out to potential customers. They offer a powerful platform to target specific audiences and promote your dropshipping products effectively.

2. How Do I Create A Facebook Dropshipping Ad?

If you want to create a Facebook dropshipping ad, follow these steps:

  1. Create a Facebook Page: Start by creating a Facebook page for your dropshipping store. This page will serve as the foundation for your advertising efforts.

  2. Set Up a Facebook Business Manager Account: Register for a Facebook Business Manager account, which helps you manage your business-related activities on the platform.

  3. Create a Facebook Ads Account: Within the Business Manager, create a Facebook Ads account. This is where you’ll set up and manage your ad campaigns.

  4. Design Your Ad: Use the Facebook Ads Manager to create your dropshipping ad. Customize it with compelling visuals, engaging ad copy, and a clear call-to-action.

  5. Define Your Target Audience: Specify the demographics, interests, and behaviors of your ideal customers to ensure your ad reaches the right people.

  6. Set a Budget: Decide how much you’re willing to spend on your Facebook ad campaign. You can choose between daily or lifetime budgets.

  7. Choose Ad Placements: Select where your ads will appear on Facebook, Instagram, or Audience Network.

  8. Optimize for Conversions: If possible, optimize your ad campaign for conversions to maximize your chances of getting sales.

  9. Launch Your Campaign: Review all settings and launch your Facebook dropshipping ad campaign.

3. Can I Dropship Without Facebook Ads?

Yes, dropshipping without Facebook Ads is possible. While Facebook Ads can be highly effective in driving targeted traffic and sales, there are alternative methods to promote your dropshipping business.

You can explore other digital marketing strategies like influencer marketing, search engine optimization (SEO), email marketing, or social media marketing on different platforms.

However, using Facebook Ads allows you to reach a specific audience that is more likely to purchase your products, increasing your sales potential.

4. How Much Does It Cost To Run Facebook Ads?

The cost of running Facebook Ads can vary depending on various factors, including your target audience, ad objectives, ad quality, and competition.

On average, you can expect to pay between $0.50 and $2.00 per click for your ads. It’s important to note that this is just an estimate, and the actual cost may be higher or lower.

To manage your budget effectively, you can set daily or lifetime spending limits and monitor your campaign’s performance regularly to make necessary adjustments.

Final Words

Facebook ads is a valuable tool to promote your products. It allows you to reach more prospects and scale your dropshipping business more quickly. 

Of course, you need to write high-converting ad copies, use precise targeting and keep analysing the data to optimise your ad campaigns. Otherwise, you might risk losing a lot of money.

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