This article will show you how to use Ads Manager to run ads on Facebook and Instagram.
Latest Version of Phorest Required
This feature requires Phorest version 8.4.59 or higher. You can get the latest version here on our Downloads page.
In this Article
Creating an Ad
Go to Marketing > Manage my ads.
First time Using Ads Manager?
If this is your first time managing ads through Phorest, you'll be prompted to Connect to Facebook before continuing. Check out this guide if you need help getting connected.
Once you've connected to Facebook, choose one of the Create ad options to begin.
You will need to have a minimum of 100 clients with a phone number or email address in your Phorest system to create an ad.
Find new clients: This option pairs your top-spending clients in Phorest with Meta's ad algorithm in order to attract ideal new clients to your business. Existing clients will not see this ad.
Reach existing clients: Your ad will appear to clients that already exist in your current client list in Phorest. Clients are identified on Facebook by their email and/or mobile number.
Save overdue clients: Your ad will appear to existing clients who have visited your business at least three times in the past but have not visited it in the last six months.
Creating Your Ad
When creating your ad, you'll need to update each of the four sections highlighted below.
After you complete each section, your ad will be saved as a draft so you can start and return to it later if necessary.
Ad Name & Ad Placement
Give your ad a name. Use something memorable about the ad you're creating.
The Ad Name is not visible to your clients. It will appear on your Ads Manager page on Facebook, and each ad created in Phorest will automatically have 'Phorest' added to the end of the ad name within Facebook, so you know it was created through your Phorest system.
Under Ad Placement, choose if you want this ad to show on either Facebook, Instagram, or both. You can also choose if you want the ad to only appear in people's Feeds or if you want it to also appear in Reels and Stories.
If you see a message saying Instagram account not connected, this means you didn't choose an Instagram page when setting up the initial Ads Manager connection.
You can choose only to show the ad on Facebook or to connect to Instagram, but you will need to disconnect and reconnect your Meta account. To do this, go to Manager > Settings > Online > Instagram & Facebook > Disconnect. Once disconnected, go back to Marketing > Manage my ads, and make sure to choose an Instagram page when reconnecting.
Budget and Duration
The budget is the amount you are willing to spend each day your ad is running. Your ad will never cost you more per day than the daily budget you set.
The budget spend goes to Meta and does not go to Phorest.
Set your ad budget by choosing the amount you would like to spend per day under Daily Budget and the number of days you would like your ad to run under Duration.
Typically, with Meta, the higher your budget, the larger your audience. However, this varies depending on your business size, location, audience, etc. To begin with, if you want to run a small-budget ad, here's a Meta article on best practices for minimum budgets. You can also find some information about daily budgets here.
For more information on how Meta charges for ads, please read this Meta help article.
The duration you set is completely up to you. However, it's worth mentioning that Meta's ad approval time is included in this duration. For example, if you choose a 3-day duration and Meta takes 1 day to approve, then your ad will run for the remaining 2 days. Please see here for more information on Meta's ad review process.
Meta/Facebook sets the minimum spend per day.
Content
Finally, create your Ad Content by uploading an Image or Video, then add your Primary Text and Headline, and click Save to finish.
Square images (at a 1:1 ratio) are recommended for Facebook and Instagram feeds.
Videos are only supported in Phorest version 8.4.59 or later. Click here to download the latest version of Phorest.
You can also customize an image before uploading it using image editing software. Canva is a popular example of image editing software.
You can find some information about best practices when designing your ad here from Meta. You can also find Meta's recommended image size and format here.
Auto-Generating Text & Headline
You can use the Generate Primary Text and Generate Headline buttons to create attention-grabbing content. The templates generated can then be edited according to your preference.
Templates are generated from a thoughtfully curated selection created by Phorest's team of content experts.
Meta's Personal Health and Appearance Advertising Policy
Meta's policy does not allow advertisers to run ads for health or appearance-related products that imply or attempt to generate negative self-perception. This includes not allowing before and after images with idealised results.
Failure to adhere to this policy may result in your Facebook or Instagram account being restricted.
For more information, see Meta's article on Personal Health and Appearance.
Custom Link
When creating your ad, you can use a Custom link. However, note that the ad call-to-action currently cannot be edited and will always include the text "Schedule your appointment" along with a Book Now button.
Your ad performance will still be tracked, even if a Custom link is used.
Reviewing and Submitting Your Ad
Once you've finished setting up your ad, click the Review and Submit button to see a final overview of the ad, then click the Submit for Approval button once you're ready to submit the ad.
After submitting, your ad will be sent to Meta for approval. Once it has been approved, Meta will send an email notification to the email address associated with your Facebook business account. According to Meta, most ads are approved in 24 hours.
You can also return to the Review Campaign screen later by clicking on an ad and then clicking Review Ad.
Ad Performance & Analytics
You can review the current status and performance of each ad that you create in the Facebook & Instagram Ads dashboard (found under Marketing > Manage my ads).
Click on an ad to see how it performed or, if the ad is still active, how it's currently performing.
How are Bookings Tracked?
Bookings refer to the total number of services booked by clients who viewed the ad and subsequently booked an appointment, either online or in person.
In order for the appointment to be attributed to the ad, the booking needs to be made within a certain time window after the client has viewed the ad. This time window differs depending on what type of campaign you have launched. The time windows are:
Find new clients: 28 Days
Reach existing clients: 7 Days
Save overdue clients: 28 Days
Reach existing clients has a shorter attribution window to reflect a more accurate return on investment based on typical existing client booking windows. Previously, this campaign type was also 28 days, but this was reduced on Jan 18th, 2024, based on user feedback.
Phorest matches a client's email address or phone number with their Facebook or Instagram account to determine whether they viewed the ad. The booking window is necessary as ads often require time to influence clients and encourage them to make a booking.
FAQs
Can I run an ad to sell a product or a gift card online?
The call to action button in your ad will be related to booking an appointment. Advertising products or gift cards through Ads Manager is not currently possible.
Can I see which specific clients made a booking after seeing my ad?
Due to Meta's data privacy policy, you cannot see specific client details. However, you can track your ad performance by viewing the Ad Performance Summary.
I am a multi-location business. How does this work for me?
Find new clients: Your ad will be targeted toward people who are similar to the top-spending clients in the location you're logged into when you create the ad. This means that if you have very different client bases between your locations, you'll need to ensure to log into the correct location to target the right audience. The targeted audience will also be directed to the Online Booking link for the location that you're logged into when you create the ad.
Reach existing clients & Save overdue clients: Your ad will target existing or overdue clients from the location where the ad was created. For clients who visit multiple locations, targeting will depend on the location of their most recent visit.
Can I run multiple ads from multiple locations at the same time?
Yes, you can run multiple ads simultaneously and from multiple locations. However, it's important to note that if you only have one Facebook or Instagram page but multiple locations in Phorest, then all ads will run on that one page.