Yes, you can post video ads on Facebook. Facebook offers video ad formats that allow businesses to showcase video content to engage their target audience.
Why should you use video ads on Facebook?
Here are some key reasons businesses should consider using video ads on Facebook:
- Higher engagement – Video ads tend to get higher engagement in terms of comments, shares, and reactions compared to image ads or text-only ads.
- Brand storytelling – Video ads allow you to tell an engaging brand story through sight, sound and motion.
- Higher conversion rates – Video ads have been found to have higher conversion rates compared to image and text ads.
- Flexible targeting – You can target your video ads to specific demographics and audiences on Facebook.
- Works across devices – Facebook video ads work seamlessly across mobile, desktop and tablet.
In short, video ads allow you to connect with your target audience at a deeper level through storytelling and engaging video content.
What video ad formats does Facebook offer?
Facebook offers the following video ad formats:
In-Stream Video Ads
In-stream video ads play automatically when people scroll through their News Feeds on Facebook. There are two types:
- Video Feed Ads – These autoplay inline with organic content in the News Feed.
- Instant Experience Ads – These are full-screen immersive videos that cover the entire mobile screen.
Story Video Ads
These are short, mobile-optimized vertical videos up to 15 seconds long that play in the Facebook Stories format.
Collection Video Ads
These are video ads that showcase multiple products or services from your brand within a single video ad unit.
Canvas Video Ads
These are full-screen vertical video ads similar to Instagram Stories ads that appear in the Facebook News Feed.
Video ad specifications
Here are the specifications for Facebook video ads:
Video Ad Format | Length | Aspect Ratio | File Size |
---|---|---|---|
In-Stream Video Ads | Up to 240 minutes | Horizontal (16:9) | Up to 4GB |
Story Video Ads | Up to 15 seconds | Vertical (9:16) | Up to 4GB |
Collection Video Ads | Up to 240 minutes | Horizontal (16:9) | Up to 4GB |
Canvas Video Ads | Up to 60 seconds | Vertical (9:16) | Up to 4GB |
Supported video formats include .MP4, .MOV, and .AVI. It’s recommended to use high resolution videos for best quality.
How to create a Facebook video ad?
Follow these steps to create a video ad on Facebook:
Step 1: Upload your video file
Upload your desired video file to Facebook’s Ad Manager. Make sure the video meets the recommended specifications.
Step 2: Set up ad details
Set up details like your ad objectives, target audience, placements, budget, and schedule.
Step 3: Customize the video ad
Customize the look and feel of your video ad with elements like a thumbnail image, headline, call-to-action button etc.
Step 4: Place the order
Place your video ad order and submit it for approval. Facebook will review your ad content as per its advertising policies.
Step 5: Monitor and optimize
Once approved and live, monitor the performance of your video ad and optimize accordingly.
Carefully targeting your video ads and testing different creative approaches is key to success on Facebook’s advertising platform.
Video ad best practices
Here are some best practices to follow when running video ads on Facebook:
- Hook viewers in the first 3 seconds with an interesting opening.
- Use captions and keep important info on the screen longer for sound-off viewing.
- Use high-quality and professionally shot video for best results.
- Keep the video length relevant to maximize viewership.
- Include a strong, relevant call-to-action.
- Test different video styles and formats for your audience.
- Optimize for both landscape and vertical formats.
- Use Facebook video creation tools if needed.
Analyzing video ad results
Make sure to analyze the following metrics to gauge video ad performance on Facebook:
- Reach
- Impressions
- Frequency
- Completion rates
- Click-through rates
- Engagement
- Conversions
- Cost per results
Compare different versions of your video ad to see what resonates best with your target audience.
Conclusion
Facebook video ads allow you to use sight, sound, and motion to tell compelling brand stories that engage users. Take advantage of Facebook’s video ad formats and follow best practices to create high-quality and effective video ads. Analyze important metrics like completion rate and conversions to optimize your video ads for success.