Facebook Announce Free UK Advertising For Small Busineses

[JPM]

A direct result of the competition from Google+? Perhaps, but it can't be a bad thing.

Facebook has today announced it will offer £4.2m worth of free advertising to small businesses across Europe in the near future.
Sheryl Sandberg, the company’s chief operating officer, announced that 50,000 small businesses across five nations; UK, France, Germany, Spain and Italy will have the chance to claim up to £80 each of credits to use on Facebook advertising.

Taken from the social media blog at SocialColleague.com

[Mark]

I suppose it sounds a lot but is it about four nanoseconds of exposure?

[KevJaques]

Without looking at any stats I would think most have ads turned off (mine are turned off!!) (from the so called pessimist in me lol (although I like to think of it as still living in reality world! )
There is a huge market to be tapped into there though and it will be a numbers game same as ppc etc...

[Mark]

I was just thinking in terms of exposure. Facebook is so vast as a network that any advertising will surely be unnoticeable?

[JPM]

The advertising on Facebook is highly targetable.

One of the most recent campaigns we ran for a client was targeted to the following criteria.

Females in Birmingham, aged between 25-40. Who state their interest as 'fashion, shoes and men'.

Facebook have one of the most highly effective and targeted advertising platforms i've seen.

[Adam H]

Originally Posted by JPM

The advertising on Facebook is highly targetable.

One of the most recent campaigns we ran for a client was targeted to the following criteria.

Females in Birmingham, aged between 25-40. Who state their interest as 'fashion, shoes and men'.

Facebook have one of the most highly effective and targeted advertising platforms i've seen.

Surely there are only a few of those type of women in Birmingham though ? I mean Fashion in Birmingham ? Almost reminds me of Liverpool and the shell suits

[KevJaques]

Originally Posted by Adam H

shell suits

hahah

[Adam H]

Originally Posted by KevJaques

hahah

[AtriumLegal]

£80 won't go too far but is a good starter
At my privious company I was offered £200 voucher for ads but the account manager messed be about
Does anyone know how you would get this free advertising?

[Ventutec]

I'd be keen to know more too.

[South East Snooker Academy]

I'd like to know more as well.

[Emma]

I haven't seen anything since the above. Mind you after they float the cost of this little promo will be a drop in their ocean-sized pockets!

[Azolla]

If this is true then this can only be a good thing for the savvy small business owner. Google ads have been great for some small businesses so maybe Facebook business ads may be OK too.
I'd certainly like to try some free ads!

[MASSEY]

Originally Posted by Azolla

If this is true then this can only be a good thing for the savvy small business owner. Google ads have been great for some small businesses so maybe Facebook business ads may be OK too.
I'd certainly like to try some free ads!

I think facebook are being a bit stingy when you consider google hands out free advertising like sweets. I guess it's because they know the facebook platform gives shed loads of impressions but not that many clicks from what i have seen.

[JPM]

Originally Posted by AtriumLegal

£80 won't go too far but is a good starter
At my privious company I was offered £200 voucher for ads but the account manager messed be about
Does anyone know how you would get this free advertising?

Facebook will be announcing this in the next couple of months.

Originally Posted by Ventutec

I'd be keen to know more too.

Originally Posted by The Cue Store

I'd like to know more as well.

I can't really tell you more at this stage, they haven't released any more details, but we'll update the news on our blog at SocialColleague when it's announced.

Originally Posted by Azolla

If this is true then this can only be a good thing for the savvy small business owner. Google ads have been great for some small businesses so maybe Facebook business ads may be OK too.
I'd certainly like to try some free ads!

Originally Posted by MASSEY

I think facebook are being a bit stingy when you consider google hands out free advertising like sweets. I guess it's because they know the facebook platform gives shed loads of impressions but not that many clicks from what i have seen.

Well we've run a few campaigns for some of our clients. One was primarily to get more likes to a page and the other visits to a site. Both were fairly successful due to the highly targeted nature of the campaigns.

[Alan2011]

If could advise my business in facebook then will get more traffic ...so there we have more social media tool .

[Replacemyscreen.co.uk]

When people go to google they are there to search for something.

When someone signs in to facebook, they want to know what their friends had for dinner or if they slept well.

[mediyeah]

I'd agree with that.

Generally the best way to use Facebook ads is (and this is very simplified):

1) Have some kind of offer/freebie someone will get when they like your page
2) Use ads to drive traffic to that page to build up your fan base
3) Market to them on long term basis - just by having a fun page

When this free ads thing is announced, it would be good to give it a go for anyone who hasn't before.

Also, would recommend checking out Facebook's own guide here:
https://www.facebook.com/marketing?s...22738017797863

Not sure if the free ad credits are still available when you get that guide, but worth a go.

- Abhi

[JPM]

Originally Posted by Alan2011

If could advise my business in facebook then will get more traffic ...so there we have more social media tool .

I'll drop you a PM now.

[Mark]

Any updates on this topic? Who's using their advertising?