Should I Boost Posts or Run Ads?
A Practical Guide for Small Businesses
As a small business owner, you’ve likely wondered whether it’s worth boosting your social media posts or running full ad campaigns. The choice can feel confusing, but understanding the difference—and when to use each—can make a huge impact on your marketing results.
What is Boosting?
Boosting a post is essentially paying to show a post you’ve already shared to a wider audience. It’s simple: choose your post, select your target audience, and set a budget. Boosting works well when:
You want more visibility for a specific post.
Your goal is engagement, like likes, shares, or comments.
You’re promoting news, announcements, or local events.
Pros of boosting:
Quick and easy to set up.
Can increase engagement with minimal effort.
Uses content your audience already knows.
Cons of boosting:
Limited targeting options compared to ads.
Harder to track conversions like sales or sign-ups.
Less control over optimisation and testing.
What is Running Ads?
Running ads through platforms like Meta Ads Manager gives you full control over targeting, objectives, and creative. Ads can be tailored for:
Lead generation, like getting customers to book a call.
Website traffic or online sales.
Building brand awareness in specific locations, such as the Midlands.
Pros of running ads:
Highly specific targeting, including age, location, and interests.
Better tracking of ROI and conversions.
More flexibility with objectives, formats, and A/B testing.
Cons of running ads:
Takes more time and planning to set up correctly.
Can be overwhelming for first-timers without guidance.
Costs can escalate if campaigns aren’t monitored.
When to Boost and When to Run Ads
Think of boosting as a quick visibility boost, and ads as a strategic tool to achieve business goals. A simple rule:
Boost posts for engagement and awareness.
Run ads when you want measurable business outcomes like bookings, leads, or sales.
Key Takeaway for Midlands Businesses
For local services, like landscaping or tree surgery, combining both strategies can work well. Boost posts to showcase completed work and engage your local community, then run targeted ads to bring in new enquiries and bookings.
If you want help deciding the best approach for your business, book a discovery call with GrowUp today. Let’s make sure your marketing budget works hard for you.
