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10 Facebook Ad Examples From Successful Campaigns
Here are some examples of successful Facebook Ad campaigns, with creative copy and images. Get inspired and cultivate ideas for your social media campaigns.
With Facebook on track to pass 3 billion active monthly users, the platform provides marketers a great way to connect with their audience, increase awareness, and build brand loyalty.
Facebook marketing isn’t limited to organic Facebook posts. Brands can also interact with their target audience and generate conversions through paid Facebook ad campaigns.
As more businesses realize the value of Facebook marketing, brands enter a battle for attention with well-developed marketing campaigns.
Below, we review a few Facebook ad examples that have won their audiences’ minds and hearts—and what you can learn from them.
1. Nike
True to its vision, this Nike ad uses high-quality action shots of professional basketball players to increase brand affinity, find new customers, and drive sales.
Using celebrities or influencers in marketing campaigns is an effective marketing tactic to connect emotionally with your target audience and impact purchase decisions.
What inspiration can you take from this ad?
- It’s visual. This is the kind of ad that makes sports fans stop scrolling and stare at their Facebook news feed. Action-packed shots, world-class athletes, and punchy copywriting seem to hit the right spot for increasing top-of-mind brand awareness and generating sales.
- It has strong branding. Nike’s branding is present throughout the ad, even without a direct reference. How? The ad builds on the brand’s narrative: Just do it.
- It uses social proof. This ad is upfront and straightforward; if these world-class NBA players wear Nike products, you should too.
2. Spotify
A figure in a kitchen flipping vegetables in a pan is all you need to gain user attention. In this ad example, Spotify uses repetitive animation, punchy colors, and concise copy to create an occasion-based need to buy their product.
What inspiration can you take from this ad?
- It has a clear benefit. Instead of promoting Spotify’s features, this ad puts potential customers first by highlighting user benefits: entertainment while you cook. We’ll take it.
- It has a clear CTA. Telling people what they need to do after seeing an ad is imperative for driving Facebook users down the marketing funnel. “Listen free” is about as strong as it gets.
- It’s relevant. Identifying consumer needs is essential for building brand rapport and trust. This type of ad resonates with its audience by addressing everyday scenarios.
3. Shopify
If you’re going to target your competitors, this is the way to do it. Shopify uses competitive Facebook advertising to highlight the platform’s features and key benefits. Clever enough, right?
What inspiration can you take from this ad?
- It’s bold. A competitive advertising strategy is a proven tactic for earning your prospects’ attention. That’s exactly what Shopify is trying to do through a bold and competitive move.
- It’s valuable. Knowing where other e-commerce platforms fall short, Shopify positions itself as a leader in the market by outlining the exact reasons.
- It’s simple. Clean design and convincing copy are the key ingredients for making this ad successful. The CTA also prompts the user to take the next step, which is no other than to start a free trial.
4. Squarespace
Using text-only image ads in your Facebook campaigns might not seem like a good idea at first, but brands like Squarespace are testing this approach.
Easily create this type of ad with a Canva template, and do a/b testing on Ads Manager to discover the best-performing headlines for your audience. Play with bold fonts, emojis, and eye-catching colors to make it more interesting.
What inspiration can you take from this ad?
- It’s different. With hundreds of brands fighting for attention, doing something different can help you stand out. Squarespace takes full advantage of its unique selling proposition to create a unique ad.
- It has a clear CTA. The ad’s text provides a clear invitation to connect your online store with Squarespace. It doesn’t get more direct than that.
- It’s valuable. This ad focuses on user benefits instead of bragging about its features.
5. Snickers
Snickers is famous for the humor and playfulness it brings into its brand messaging, and it shows in this Facebook video ad.
If you’re speaking to millennials, there’s definitely something to learn from this video ad.
What inspiration can you take from this ad?
- It’s clear and concise. You don’t have to read the headline to understand this ad. Snickers manages to convey the message with an animated video and a simple tagline, “Let’s Chill.”
- It uses emojis. Using emojis in your paid ads can communicate a lot about the emotions you’re trying to pass on to your audience. Plus, using emojis leads to higher purchase intentions.
- It uses short-form videos. Gone are the days when people would watch videos over one minute long. Per Facebook, the focus today is on short-form videos under 15 seconds.
6. A&E
We’ve all seen holiday campaigns that bore audiences with the same ordinary ad format, creative, and copy. But that’s not the case with A&E.
In this great Facebook Ad example, A&E takes a dark approach to Mother’s Day advertising with a picture of a handwritten card with a clever P.S. at the end: “For the love of Mother, don’t miss Monday’s episode.”
What inspiration can you take from this ad?
- It’s trendy. When executed well, pop culture references can be very effective in drawing attention and pausing viewers for a moment. How? They focus on entertaining users instead of following the usual product-centric route.
- It’s simple. Simple ads can be both effective and inexpensive in capturing attention and generating conversions. Thanks for the inspiration, A&E.
- It’s nothing like the rest. Key takeaway? You don’t need an extraordinary graphic to differentiate yourself from others. This ad teaches us that all you need is a little creativity.
7. Slack
Between the unicorns and clouds, this ad brings Slack’s unique value proposition to the forefront: making work better by bringing communication together in one place.
What inspiration can you take from this ad?
- It’s fun. If you’re not entertaining users while advertising, you should reconsider your advertising! Slack prioritizes entertainment with imaginative ad creatives and playful copy.
- It’s memorable. The colors, high-quality imagery, and headline bring all sorts of work-related emotions to the table. That way, a user is much more likely to remember (or click on) an ad.
- It uses simple messaging. The ad’s key message is straightforward and clear—no jargon or buzzwords.
8. Porsche
Porsche is perhaps one of the most luxurious automotive brands in the world, and it’s not without reason. The car manufacturer uses high-quality interior materials, advanced technology, and powerful engines to stand out from the crowd.
What makes this ad different? Through an aesthetically minimal creative and a spot-on caption, this ad from Porsche speaks to a broader audience (rather than just sports car fans).
9. Sephora
Advertising gift cards or memberships can be a daunting task for many marketers, but clearly not for Sephora.
The brand manages to cleverly advertise its members-only benefits with a unique creative that goes beyond the ordinary image ads you see every day.
What inspiration can you take from this ad?
- It creates urgency. Phrases like “don’t miss out” and “limited time” create a sense of urgency, while exclusive words like “members only” instantly create fear of missing out (FOMO)—a winning combination for increasing conversion rates.
- It’s clever. This ad is based on the need for people to feel included. It leaves people wondering what benefits they get from their membership, which is all you need to drive the user to the next step: Visit the website, Facebook page, or landing page.
- It has a clear CTA button. It doesn't get clearer than “Sign Up,” does it?
10. Dollar Shave Club
Dollar Shave Club is famous for its humorous advertisements. This ad hooks you with a punchy headline, “The perfect gift for anyone with a face,” and lets the creative do the rest.
This ad serves as a great retargeting ad example, targeting users who are already aware of the brand and are more likely to commit to gift purchases.
What inspiration can you take from this ad?
- It’s product-centric. The ad clearly shows what the gift set includes, which is important when selling a subscription box, coupon, or product bundle.
- It addresses pain points and gives a solution. Searching for a gift can be a nightmare for many. This ad from Dollar Shave Club gives people a solution to their gift-finding problem and convinces them to shop with a clear “Shop Now” CTA.
- It’s congruent with the brand. Everything from the creative to the copy is attuned to the brand’s humorous and fun personality.
Run a successful Facebook Ad campaign with expert help
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