Facebook advertising slaps Google?

[rrakausk]

I am watching with interest the buildup regarding Ryan Deiss' new product that gives us the ins and outs of Facebook advertising.

Seems it is way more targeted than Google, and once you understand the constraints, you will get a much better bang for your buck.
I have heard they are out to eat Googles lunch as far as their own subscribers are concerned.
Which is why Google have launched "Buzz" to try and circumvent it.

My thinking is Google is losing market share and revenue because they are acting like a spoiled brat.
One of my mentors reckons they will have only half or even less of the total overall search market inside 12-18 months.

If facebook can get it's act together, I am sure it will be a much more fertile field to sow with our clients advertising dollars
then Google and their PPC ever can be...

Stay Awesome
Rick

[ramprof]

I am testing Facebook traffic for a number of campaigns right now. Basically investing what I might have spent on the course to learn it for myself (pretty much do this with almost all of the "big" product launches). So far a lot of impressions, very few clicks and the traffic is not nearly as cheap as Ryan (and others) make it seem.

[Tanner]

I've used Facebook ads to drive traffic to squeeze pages for free offers, and when I got the targeting right I would get TONS of subscribers. I always pay by the impression as well.

A word of warning though, do not use double opt in with facebook, because 90% never click the confirmation emails, but with single opt in it works well and the lists are still responsive.

[RussReynolds]

I guess it depends on what your advertising. What I don't like about Facebook advertising is that it is still interruption marketing where as with Google people are actively looking for what you have to offer.

Of course no reason you can't use both..

[ramprof]

Russ -

Excellent point. I recently surveyed my college students (about 100 of them) to see if they click on Facebook ads. These are people who basically live on Facebook (some are updating their profile during class). The overwhelming response was "Facebook doesn't have ads"!!!! None of these people, all heavy Facebook users, even notice the ads.

I've been doing some small tests that I think bear this out. Huge impressions, very small CTR. In addition, as you increase your targeting the cost per click skyrockets to Google Adwords levels and beyond.

If anyone has had success with this and is willing to share I would love to hear about it (asked this over on the Warrior Forum also and nobody responded).

[Dexx]

I dunno ramprof, I might have to disagree with you on their, FaceBook + CPA is HUGE ROI for targeted ads!

While doing offline marketing, I've still had my finger on the pulse of CPA/PPC and FaceBook is killin' it for advertisers!

I think the thing is FaceBooks (if done properly) don't come across as advertisements, because they are so targeted to the user.

For example, I'm always seeing the "Amber is a single lady looking to find a boyfriend at www.xxxxxxx.com" type ads, or the "Attend our free SEO workshop by visiting www.xxxxxx.com"

To the untrained eye these ads can fit in perfectly with the users other messages and stuff on screen, and when I did my first FaceBook PPC campaign for a Nintendo WII giveaway I got a TON of CTR (but the bid prices are insane)

So the traffic is there, just needs to not be obvious.

I might be testing out some FB ads for a free report for business owners, and to promote my upcoming Amazon book, and I'll let you guys know how it goes =)

Cheers,

~Dexx

[Anthony696]

I don't think that Facebook advertising can replace the Google Advertising. I have working on both advertising methods from last three years and i think Google is best advertising platform then Facebook. I am agree on that point that Facebook advertising is cheaper than Google and they is no need to manage it again and again but Facebook is not the listed company.

I noticed many times that if Facebook is showing 200 clicks then you website only getting 170 visits which creates a confusion, there is no idea from where these clicks are coming but in Google we can track that from where we are getting clicks and leads. There are some projects like if you are into the retail and want to sell some thing on Facebook like cloths shoes and other accessories then Facebook is good option.

[lizatailor23]

If you do use them, just make sure your content is good, original, and offers value to all of your readers. If you do that, Google will always love you, and you will have higher rankings.