15 Common Mistakes in Instagram and Facebook Advertising

Mistake 1: No Clear Objective

Running ads without a specific goal. Always define what success looks like before starting.

Mistake 2: Targeting Too Broad

Trying to reach everyone reaches no one effectively. Narrow your audience.

Mistake 3: Targeting Too Narrow

Over-targeting limits reach and increases costs. Find the balance.

Mistake 4: Poor Visual Quality

Low-quality images/videos hurt performance. Invest in good creative.

Mistake 5: Ignoring Mobile

Most users are on mobile. Design for mobile first.

Mistake 6: Too Much Text in Images

Facebook penalizes text-heavy images. Keep text minimal.

Mistake 7: No Pixel/Tracking

Running ads without proper tracking is flying blind. Set up tracking first.

Mistake 8: Impatience

Changing or stopping ads too quickly. Let campaigns optimize.

Mistake 9: No Testing

Assuming you know what works. Always test variations.

Mistake 10: Wrong Campaign Objective

Using engagement objective when you want sales. Match objective to goal.

Mistake 11: Ignoring Analytics

Not reviewing performance data. Check and optimize regularly.

Mistake 12: Set and Forget

Launching ads and forgetting them. Ads need ongoing attention.

Mistake 13: Bad Landing Pages

Great ad, terrible landing page. Ensure consistency.

Mistake 14: No Retargeting

Missing the low-hanging fruit. Always retarget.

Mistake 15: Copying Competitors

What works for them may not work for you. Find your own voice.

How to Avoid These Mistakes

Plan Before You Start

• Define objectives
• Know your audience
• Prepare tracking

Monitor and Optimize

• Check performance daily/weekly
• Make data-driven changes
• Test continuously

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