5 Meta Ads Tips (Facebook & Instagram) – How to Create Ads That Actually Sell

If you’ve ever tried running Facebook or Instagram ads without a strategy, this probably happened to you:

You picked a nice photo, wrote a short caption (“Special promo today!”), hit Boost Post and… surprise! You got a few likes from your cousin in Italy and a comment saying “beautiful 🥰” from your neighbor. Sales? Zero.

The truth is, Meta Ads aren’t just about “boosting posts” – they’re about strategy, targeting, and testing. Here’s how you can turn your ad budget from a black hole into a customer machine:

1. Define the right audience (not the whole planet 🌍)

Classic mistake: “Let’s target all of Romania, surely someone will buy.”
The problem? Your budget gets spread too thin, and your message never reaches the right people.

Real example: an online cosmetics store targeted women 18–65, nationwide. Result? Lots of impressions, few sales.

After adjusting: only women 25–40, big cities, interest in premium skincare. Result? Cost per conversion cut in half.

2. Create visuals that stop the scroll 🛑

On Facebook and Instagram, your competition isn’t just other brands – it’s cat pictures, memes, and baby videos.
If your visual doesn’t make people stop scrolling, you’ve already lost.

Quick trick: use high-contrast images, short text overlays, or better yet – short videos (Reels).

A fitness client switched from stock images to 10-second clips of real trainers. CTR? Tripled.

3. Write short, meaningful copy

On social media, people don’t read novels. They want short, clear, and (why not?) funny messages.

• Boring: “We have discounts on shoes.”

• Better: “Your favorite shoes just went on a diet: –40%.”

Humor works because people share it, comment on it, and most importantly – remember your brand.

4. Test different formats (don’t get stuck on one)

Facebook and Instagram give you tons of formats: carousel, video, collection, stories, reels.
There’s no “one best format for everyone.”

A jewelry brand found carousel ads (multiple products) drove way more conversions than single images.
A coffee brand? The exact opposite – one strong single image outperformed everything.

Moral of the story: test. A/B testing is your best friend.

5. Optimize for conversions, not likes

Likes don’t pay the bills.
If you’re spending money on ads, tell Facebook exactly what you want: leads, sales, website traffic.

Example: a real estate client ran campaigns optimized for Engagement. Lots of likes, zero apartment viewings.
After switching to Leads → instant lead forms directly in the ad → pipeline full of scheduled visits.

Conclusion: Meta Ads are a tool, not a magic wand

If you rely on “boost post,” you’ll only get polite likes.
If you set campaigns up properly and apply the tips above, you’ll start seeing real customers, not just heart emojis and “super cool!” comments.

👉 Want ads that bring clients, not just likes?
Book a Meta Ads audit now and find out how we can optimize your campaigns.

FAQ – How We Can Help

Why work with an agency for Meta Ads?
Because you shorten the learning curve. We already know what works (and what doesn’t), we test constantly, and we optimize for fast results.

Do you only offer audits or full campaign management too?
Both. You can start with an audit to see where you’re losing money, then we can fully manage your campaigns.

How do I start working with you?
Simple: book a free call via Calendly, we talk for 20 minutes, and you’ll see exactly what we can do for your business.