Short answer
Open the Facebook or Instagram app and tap Boost on a post for the quickest ad, or install Meta's Ads Manager app to create a full campaign: choose the goal, the audience and area, the daily budget, and the pictures and text, then publish. If you would rather not make each choice, an app such as SocialMetis drafts the whole ad from your business details and publishes it after you approve.
Before you start
- A Facebook Page for the business (how to create one). Instagram ads need an Instagram professional account linked to the Page if you want them to show your Instagram name.
- A Meta ad account with a payment method added.
- One clear offer and two or three good photos or a short vertical video.
Option 1: Boost a post (2 minutes)
- Open your Page in the Facebook app, or your profile in the Instagram app.
- Pick a post and tap Boost post.
- Choose what you want people to do, the audience (or the suggested one), the daily budget and how many days.
- Check the payment method and tap Boost. Meta reviews the ad before it runs.
Boosting is fine for reach. For calls, enquiries or sales, a full ad usually does better; see Boost post vs Facebook ads.
Option 2: Meta's Ads Manager app (10–20 minutes)
- Install Meta Ads Manager from Google Play or the App Store and pick your ad account.
- Tap Create and choose an objective: Awareness, Traffic, Engagement, Leads, App promotion or Sales.
- Set the audience: location (a radius around your business for local customers), age and any details.
- Set the daily budget and schedule. Leave placements on Advantage+ unless you have a reason to change them.
- Add the ad: pictures or video in square and vertical sizes, primary text, headline and a button.
- Review and publish. Then leave it alone for a few days while it learns.
Option 3: Let an app plan it for you (5 minutes)
SocialMetis asks for your business details, studies your business, what customers search for and similar businesses, and drafts the goal, audience, area, budget, text and pictures, with 2 to 6 versions of the ad. You change what you do not like, approve, and it publishes to your own ad account. After that it checks results daily and suggests changes, which apply only when you say yes.
After the ad goes live
- Wait. New ads go through a learning period; Meta says an ad set leaves it after about 50 results in 7 days. Numbers jump around before that.
- Reply fast. Call or message every enquiry the same day.
- Refresh the ad when results drop after a few weeks, with new pictures or a new offer.
Questions people ask
Can I run Facebook ads without a computer?
Yes. The Boost button, the Ads Manager app and apps like SocialMetis all work entirely from a phone.
What is the minimum budget for Facebook ads?
Meta allows very small daily budgets, but tiny budgets get few results and stay in the learning period. Use the budget calculator to pick a realistic number.
How long does Meta take to approve an ad?
Meta reviews every ad before it runs; most are reviewed within 24 hours, often sooner.