Recent Facebook shoe ads show how the footwear market has significantly expanded over the last few years.
Many big name brands such as Sketchers and Nike have become even more involved in digital advertising as more shoppers turn to e-commence due to changing shopping habits and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Our Facebook shoe ads marketing case study take a deep-dive into some current ad trends to help you with your own strategy.
To learn more, jump ahead:
1. Nike Shoe Ads #1 - Tell Your Story
2. Nike Shoe Ads #2 - Sleek and Simple
3. Adidas Shoe Ad - Bold and Bright Videos
4. Converse Shoe Ad - New and Improved
5. New Balance Shoe Ad - Name Power
Continue reading to find out more about each ad, or contact us today at Relevantly to learn about creating your own digital marketing strategy.
Facebook Shoe Ads
A Digital Marketing Case Study
1. Nike Shoe Ads #1 - tell your story
Image Source: Nike Facebook Ads From Facebook Ad’s Library
Nike is a huge brand when it comes to shoes - they may be one of, if not the most, recognizable brands out there.
They’ve done an amazing job marketing themselves as a top-tier shoe company for everyone, whether you’re an athlete or simply looking for stylish, everyday footwear.
Often, product advertisements are simple images of the product being sold. And while they are a good tactic as well (we’ll even take a look at an example of this below!) getting a bit more creative can work too.
These ads shown above are not just selling you a shoe, they are trying to sell you a lifestyle. The ads tell the viewer that wearing something like Nike’s shoes can:
Help you belong in your community
Make a statement/impression
Feel confident in your personal journey
Of course, the ad is not overtly saying these things, but it’s implied by the stories shared.
When it comes to your own marketing strategy, using personal stories and testimonials can help you make statements like these.
Choosing to showcase personal stories helps users feel connected to your product, service, or brand. It evokes emotion and makes it easier for people to imagine what it would be like to use or wear a particular product.
2. Nike Shoe Ad #2 - Sleek and Simple
Image Source: Nike Facebook Ads From Facebook Ad’s Library
When selling products, a simple product showcase is actually an excellent Facebook advertising strategy.
While creative, bold, and unique advertisements work too, simply showing an image of your product in front of a neutral backdrop is proven to work. It’s sleek, simple, and effective.
This shoe ad includes a shorten caption in comparison to the ‘stories’ style Facebook ad. However, it’s still packed with information. It’s telling the user:
What style to expect - classic, or 80’s style
What it will feel like - comfortable
What to use them for - versatile, everyday and sports wear
As well, this ad uses a subtle background strip that includes additional information: “Always $100 & under” - informing users that these shoes are affordable, and always will be.
They’re both reliable shoes and reliably priced.
Simple advertisements that get straight to the point work well when you use well thought out wording and high quality images.
Nike can do this easily because they are already a trusted brand, but all companies can take these ideas and utilize them in their marketing strategies as well.
3. Adidas Shoe Ad - Bold and Bright Videos
Image Source: Adidas Facebook Ads From Facebook Ad’s Library
In complete contrast to the Nike ad we just looked at above, these Adidas ads are bold, colourful, and instantly eye-catching due to the large product placements.
These video ads are actually super simple. When you press play, the video begins scrolling through a variety of limited edition Adidas products, including shoes and clothing.
The colours change as the video scrolls you through the products, and the “Only At Adidas” border snakes around the border, creating a simple yet highly captivating video.
This ad could easily have been made as a carousel ad instead. However, video ads often get more engagement from users.
This is a good strategy to note. If you are considering making a carousel ad for your products, it could be more beneficial to turn that into a video ad instead. It may time a bit more time, but the results could be worth it.
This ad also uses exclusivity to sell. In only a few short lines, this ad says:
“Limited Editions”
“One-Off Collabs”
“Exclusive Products”
“Only Available At…”
“Only At Adidas” (multiple times via border)
This entire ad is screaming exclusivity, and the fact is, this tactic works too.
When it comes to your own business, you may not want to be as overt in selling exclusivity as this ad is, however, it is a good method to occasionally use.
For example, if you do have a sale, limited time offer, or new product available that will sell out fast, urging your customers to act now can generate buzz and get you more sales.
4. Converse Shoe Ad - New and Improved
Image Source: Converse Facebook Ads From Facebook Ad’s Library
Converse is a well-known company that has been around for decades. Their classic shoes are instantly recognizable, and that’s a good thing.
However, even the biggest brands need to evolve and change to keep up with ever-changing style trends and target demographics.
This ad is a great example of how Converse is working to evolve some of their classic products, and appeal to the consumer’s desire for all things new and improved.
The ad uses key words such as:
“Revolutionized” - Giving the impression that this product has been scientifically improved
“A new cut” - A fun way to say that product has changed, but not that much!
“Transforms” - A significant change, but implies improvement
The ads text also emphasizes both comfort and style, which are important factors when consumers think about what they want from their footwear.
5. New Balance Shoe Ad - Name Power
Image Source: New Balance Facebook Ads From Facebook Ad’s Library
It’s a pretty well known tactic now, but it remains true - star power sells. While consumers know that brands push famous names to sell, this method still works to increase engagement and sales.
“celebrity and association marketing carry powerful effects in advertisements.”
Often, we see celebrities endorse products that they would probably never actually use, and consumers may see right through that.
However, this advertisement by New Balance includes a real athlete - someone who can and maybe actually does use their product in their personal and professional life.
Of course, it can be difficult for small businesses to utilize the name power of big, A-list celebrities. It’s just not realistic to expect to get product endorsements from celebrities in most cases.
However, this is a great example of using the name power of someone who may actually enjoy and use your product or service, and it’s a more relevant connection to show your customers too.
Get Started With Your Own Facebook Advertising Strategy
If taking a closer look at these Facebook shoe ads and reading about these company’s marketing strategies grabbed your attention, we’re here to help.
Are you ready to begin working on your own marketing strategy? You can rely on the experience marketing team at Relevantly.
At Relevantly, we have over 15 years of combined marketing experience and have helped small businesses across Ontario, Canada, and North America build their brand online.
If you want to begin creating an effective social media marketing strategy for your own business, contact us today!
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