Marketing and advertising get more competitive with every new tool available, especially online. But that doesn’t mean they're getting harder. Advertisers just have to find the right tools to most-effectively reach their audience. Like Facebook advertising.

Maybe you think of Facebook as a place to keep up with family events and share funny cat videos, but it’s more than that. You’ve seen ads pop up every now and then when scrolling down your news feed (or maybe you haven't noticed them because of the wonderful art of "native advertising!). That’s because 92% of social marketers are using Facebook for advertising.

There’s a reason why businesses are paying 122% more per ad unit on Facebook than they did in 2014 – because it works. We love recommending Facebook advertising for our clients, and here are 5 reasons why.

1. It’s cost-effective

Businesses’ organic posts just aren’t getting the reach they used to with new Facebook updates and algorithms. In 2012, Facebook basically told businesses you’re going to have to pay to get a decent social reach. That’s when companies started to realize only about 15% of their page “fans” actually saw their content.

To reach all of your fans plus some, there’s Facebook advertising. And it’s affordable! Compared to other forms of online advertising, Facebook advertising feels like stealing candy from a baby (which we don't endorse).

Brian Carter of Moz says “if you spend $1 per day on Facebook ads, you will get in front of 4,000 people that wouldn’t have seen you otherwise…if you can’t spare $30/month, you shouldn’t be in business.”

2. Your audience is there

You're on Facebook. Your friends are on Facebook. Your mom is on Facebook (and leaves embarrassing comments on your cool status updates). 71% of all Internet users are on Facebook. The odds are, the person you are trying to reach with your message is on Facebook. If that’s true, then why wouldn’t you invest in Facebook ads to make sure you reach that person?

3. You can choose from a library of great targeting options

From location, gender and age all the way to interest, behavior and economic status, the targeting options on Facebook are unreal. Not only does this help your ads perform well, but it also goes back to Facebook ads being cost-effective. The more targeted your ads are to the person you are trying to reach with your message, the further your dollar spent reaches.

4. It’s easy to get feedback

You see it with news and politics – everyone has an opinion on Facebook. It’s the perfect platform for people to voice their thoughts on issues because it’s so easy to do so. That’s why it’s a great place to get feedback on your ads and services.

When your ads are published on Facebook, they’re published like any normal post. And just like any normal post, users have the ability to like, comment or share those posts. So you better believe that if someone does or does not like your ad or service – more so the latter – they will comment on your ad to let you know. You will get the feedback you need. You may see this as either a blessing or a curse and it speaks to the importance of spending time not only posting on Facebook, but also monitoring your account.

5. Ads are easy to measure

Facebook also has its own internal analytics reporting allowing you to analyze how your ads are performing. You can see how far your ads have reached, how many clicks and the cost-per-click. And you can even see a breakdown of precisely where those clicks are coming from – age, gender, location, etc. You can see which ads are converting to sales, and where exactly those conversions are coming from. This helps you spread your dollar further and get the most bang for your buck.

So what does all of this mean?

Facebook advertising is great – maybe even a must - for any company. Your consumers are on Facebook, it’s just a matter of choosing the right creative, message and targeting options to put your brand in front of them in the most effective way. This is where experienced Facebook advertisers can help your business thrive.

Are you interested in advertising on Facebook? Let's chat.