Facebook ads for retail stores are a great way to connect with new customers, showcase your best products, and grow your business.
Jump ahead to learn more about retail store marketing & ads:
1. Why do retail stores need Facebook ads?
2. Is Facebook a good place to advertise my business?
3. What kind of ads can you run on Facebook?
4. Examples of Facebook ads for retail stores
5. Start your Facebook marketing plan
Keep reading to find out more about using Facebook to expand your store. Or, you can reach out to us at Relevantly and we’ll personally help you develop a perfect marketing plan for your unique business.
why do retail stores need facebook ads?
Did you know that as of early 2022, Facebook had over 2.9 billion users? In Canada alone, over 75% of the entire population has an active Facebook account.
So, it’s safe to say that almost everyone - including your new potential customers - is on Facebook.
Facebook is still one of the largest social media platforms and is widely used by businesses in all types of fields.
Due to this, if you want your business to stay competitive, it’s important that you utilize Facebook marketing as well.
As of 2020, there were over 10 million active advertisers on Facebook - that number most definitely includes your retail store competitors!
Facebook is also one of the easiest and most cost-effective platforms to advertise on. So, if you are just getting started with your social media marketing plan, Facebook is an excellent place to start.
Some other reasons why retail stores can benefit from Facebook ads include:
Consistent branding and marketing establish trust with your customers. Facebook allows customers to get to know you and your brand better. Brand awareness is key to establishing trust with customers, which in turn makes people more comfortable buying from you. Retail scams are becoming more common, so this is more important than ever.
Facebook ads allow you to target your ideal demographic. It’s likely that you have a very particular customer in mind when it comes to your clothes or products. Facebook makes it easy to target users based on age, location, and even interests.
Facebook allows you to set up a shop directly on their platform. This means you can not only link to your website to sell products, but you can make it even easier for customers to buy directly from your Facebook page.
As more people enjoy online shopping and even look to social media platforms to purchase new items, it’s more important than ever to invest in Facebook marketing.
Is Facebook a Good Place To Advertise My Business?
The short answer is yes!
The longer answer is still yes, but here’s why. In the past, Facebook was seen exclusively as a social media platform, not a place to shop.
But things have shifted over the last few years, and users not only expect to see advertisements, but they also want to use Facebook to shop.
For example, a recent study found that 50% of users want to discover new products through Facebook stories. They aren’t just tolerating ads, users are actively using social media to shop.
Customers are actively using Facebook to shop for items
As we mentioned before, there are a lot of people on Facebook.
Because of the sheer number of people with Facebook accounts, it is a guarantee that you will have a large audience to advertise to, even if you narrow down your target audience to a relatively select group of people.
With Facebook ads, you can target your “ideal customer”
Let’s take a look at the example ad above.
This Facebook ad for our mock retail business is targeting:
Women
Ages 18-35
Within 25 miles (40 km) of Hamilton, ON
Take a look at the right side of the sample ad. It shows an estimate of the ad’s audience, calculating that:
This ad could be seen by 230,000+ users in the Hamilton area
This ad could reach 1,700 - 4,900 people per day
This ad could result in 56 - 166 landing page views* per day
* A landing page view is when someone clicks on your advertisement link and is redirected to a page on your website, such as your contact page
Facebook ads allow you to target specific groups - such as new moms looking for baby clothing and items
In our mock ad above, the budget was only $200.00! And yet, with just $200.00, Facebook estimated that this ad could reach a total of 230,000 people or more who fit the unique profile of the “ideal customer.”
Typically, retail stores will have a very specific ideal customer, whether it’s young women’s clothing, kid and baby products, business attire, etc.
Facebook allows you to target your customer based not only on their age and gender but also on a number of other interests and demographics.
No matter what type of retail store you own and no matter who your target audience is, Facebook allows you to narrow down your ads to target only those most likely to buy from your store.
What kind of ads can you run on Facebook?
Facebook has the option to run a wide range of ads. Each has its own benefits and may be best used for a particular goal. Learn more about some of the most popular choices below.
SINGLE IMAGE ADS
Single image ads are simple, one-image advertisements that allow you to showcase one large image. This is a great choice if you are showcasing a model wearing one of your pieces or if you want to show a large image of your store.
CAROUSEL ADS
Carousel ads display a collection of images that allow the user to scroll through using the arrows provided.
Carousel ads are a great choice if you want to display a gallery of related products such as seasonal clothing or items of a similar style/colour.
An example of a carousel ad for a retail store
When it comes to retail marketing, product displays are important. Choosing high quality images for your carousel ads can make all the difference!
VIDEO ADS
With Facebook, you can also set up video advertisements. These are a great opportunity to introduce you and your business to customers. You can also use video ads to talk about your company’s values, a fundraiser you are planning, or other events your company is involved with.
Examples of Facebook Ads For retail stores
Here at Relevantly, we specialize in creating unique, high-quality advertisements for small businesses across Ontario, Canada, and North America.
When it comes to Facebook ads for retail stores, we understand that it can be challenging to create something both eye-catching and unique.
Unlike some other types of businesses, retail stores really thrive on Facebook as product showcases perform very well. However, getting the perfect image, text, and call-to-actions can still be tricky, and can make or break your ad.
Here, we’ve made a few examples for you to get some inspiration from and to see what’s possible when it comes to Facebook advertising.
Ad Example #1: eye-catching imagery
Often, we see clothes on display ads with neutral, white backgrounds. While that is a good strategy, sometimes it’s good to be bold and stand out!
If you have a particular piece you really want to showcase, or a great item on sale that you know will be a winner, consider choosing that as a single-image ad.
Using bright, bold colours can really help your ad stand out from the rest.
Example Ad #2: simple product Showcase
Now, as we mentioned above, a lot of retail ads are simple product showcases with a plain white background. Although that might not seem all that creative, we know that it works!
Customers who are looking to buy can easily see the product and scroll through a number of related items - whether it’s similar sizes or styles, or the same product in different colours.
This is a simple ad that works, as long as you have high-quality photos of your products!
Ad Example #3: video for a cause
When producing Facebook ads for retail stores, video ads can be a bit more difficult to make. However, video ads get a lot of engagement, so it’s a great idea to try to find ways to utilize them as well as image ads.
One great idea is to create a short 3-5 minute video outlining something important your business is doing. Did you know that a recent survey found that 81% of consumers expect the companies they buy from to be environmentally conscious?
As more and more businesses, including retail stores, focus on ethical business practices, this is a great thing to focus on and show your consumer base in a video ad.
Facebook Ads For Retail Stores
Start your digital advertising plan
We understand that small business owners are busy and often don’t have the time to put into digital marketing strategies. On top of your regular work, it can feel overwhelming!
However, investing in digital marketing is important. As more consumers shop online and expect to see brands they shop from actively engaging with them on social media, businesses need to keep up with this changing landscape.
One of the best ways to ensure you get the most out of your marketing plan and budget is by working with marketing professionals.
When you work with the pros, they have the experience and expertise needed to create highly effective ads that target the right demographic.
Facebook ads for retail stores do work. However, your marketing strategy needs to be carefully crafted, planned, and executed to get the results you’re looking for.
At Relevantly, we have helped small businesses across Ontario, Canada, and North America take better control of their marketing strategy.
We have over 15 years of combined marketing experience and have worked with businesses ranging from local home improvement companies to overseas non-profits!
If you’re ready to learn more about growing your retail business, gaining new customers, and improving your brand, fill out the contact form below to get in touch with someone from our team.
During business hours, we’ll be in touch within 60 minutes of your email!
