3 Facebook Ad Copy Tips to Get You Started with Words
When it comes to drafting up your copy for a Facebook ad, you can’t just one-and-done apply the copywriting techniques you’d use for Google ads, or the copywriting techniques you’d use for a sales page.
Facebook ads are a new bear, and here’s why you need to tackle them a little bit differently!
It pains my little copywriter heart a bit, but, unlike a lot of web marketing, your images actually count for more here: upwards of 75% of your ad’s conversion rate is all thanks to your image, show studies from Consumer Acquisition.
BUT, I would follow that up with two things:
100% of your ad’s conversion is due to the offer itself, so nailing messaging for that is primo.
And if only a tiny piece of the pie is due to that copy, then buddy, it’d better be good.
Read on for 3 Facebook ad copy tips to get you started with your words, and keep in mind for your next launch!
TIP ONE: Play to the 20%-of-your-image-can’t-be-text rule.
If you’ve ever run a Facebook ad with text over the image, you know that Facebook wags their finger at an image loaded up with text.
I’m all for you testing some options, but I do think that one of your ad sets should include an ad with copy over the image!
Here’s my trick. Want the copy to pop a little more? Blur the image a bit, up the exposure, or feature a flat-lay shot that’s heavy on one product. These are little tweaks you can implement to accurately adhere to FB’s guidelines, but still get your wily words in front of your tribe instead of posting super busy imagery.
Oh, and don’t forget about Facebook’s free text overlay tool, so you can test your copy-to-image ratio first (just make sure your copy isn’t bleeding over one of the gridlines — keep it right, keep it tight!).
OH, and yes, the 20% rule is starting to disapparate Harry Potter-style in a few countries, but most Facebook ad experts recommend stickin’ with it for a while.
TIP TWO: Write ad copy for folks at the top of your funnel (TOFU) … and different copy for folks at the bottom of your funnel (BOFU).
As a launch copywriter, I write a bunch of ads, and clients and I daydream a bit at the beginning when we’re funnel mapping their launch: “they go here and here, then they get this and go here, but if they click this they get this and go here, but if not they go here.”
It’s never confusing at all.
Anyway, it’s super helpful if you think of your copy in two formats: TOFU and BOFU (and I learned those adorable acronyms from my favorite copywriter ever, so take credit I cannot).
First, write a set of ads (or a few sets) pre-launch speaking to those you want to turn into leads or subscribers.
If you’re familiar with Eugene Schwartz at all, you may have seen this guy:
So, without getting TOO nerdy on you, the messaging on these tends to fall in that first little group: pain-aware. They’re unaware of your specific solution, so don’t even mention it. Talk to their pain.
Later on, in BOFU, you’ll be redirecting ads to those who landed their pretty selves on your sales page, webinar, etc. — and for those, your goal is a sale. This is where you add in copy faves like urgency, scarcity, and bonuses. For example, this ad — a redirect at me — gives more nitty-gritty about what is in the offer, since yes, she’s right, I’ve been on her landing page!
TIP THREE: Swing for some message matching … it doesn’t feel creative, but it works!
Message matching is when you write copy … and then when your reader takes the action you want them to, the next thing they see is that last message.
Like, when I click on “Get 30% off this weekend only” on a Pottery Barn ad, I need to be landing on a page that says “30% off Memorial Day sale this weekend only!”
Does that make sense? It’s not super-duper creative-feeling, but it’s best practice to lean on in your copywriting, especially for Facebook ads.
You can practice message matching by:
Having your over-the-image copy match the Facebook ad’s body copy
Having your Leadpage copy reflect the Facebook ad copy
Having your sales page copy reflect your Facebook ad copy.
Take it from this pro copywriter: “If Facebook users are going to stop and look at the image first, the copy will get them to click.”
And that’s it! Want 3 extra lightning round tips? Ok, I’m glad you asked! First, keep it short and snappy — again, they always win on rankings. Second, putting a background color behind copy tended to convert well in some Consumer Acquisition studies, so try color blocking. Finally, treat your headline like a call-to-action all of it’s own … write for the click.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ashlyn writes bespoke, meaningful words for creative women as a copywriter & calligrapher. She left her job as a publicist to go full-time with her calligraphy biz for brides -- and realized there were lots of creative women fumbling with their message and sales copy (you can take the girl out of the PR agency... ).
Trading clients like Delta Air Lines, Ford Fry, and Chick-fil-A to work with creative industry dreamies like Jenna Kutcher, Katelyn James, Hilary Rushford, and Mary Marantz is just the bee's knees. Her calligraphy has been featured in The Knot & Southern Weddings. When not writing about herself in third person, she’s usually trying to scratch the ink off her fingernails or grabbing margs and tacos with her husband.
Ashlyn Carter, Ashlyn Writes
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Photo: Callie Lindsey
