If you’re spending money each month on ads and wondering what it’s doing for your business, you’re not alone. Many business owners running ads on Facebook and Instagram don’t know what to do next, or how to identify if they’re working. Knowing whether your ads are actually working is easier than you think. That’s why we’re here!
In this guide, we’ll break down how to measure ad performance and what to do if your ads aren’t delivering real return on your investment.
📈 What Does It Mean for an Ad to “Work”?
Before we get into metrics, it’s important to define success. What you consider a “working ad” depends on your goal.
Are you trying to:
Get more leads?
Drive traffic to your website?
Sell a product?
Build brand awareness?
Your campaign objective should always align with your business goal. If those two things don’t match, it doesn’t matter how many people saw or clicked on your ad—it won’t feel like it worked.
🔧 Need a better website for your customers? Try Modern Marketing 4 Agent’s Website in a Week Power Up to upgrade your site fast.
🚫 Signs Your Ads Aren’t Working
If you’re spending money but not seeing results, here are some red flags in your metrics:
Low Click Through Rate (under 1%)
High cost per result
No conversions or sales
High frequency with no engagement
Clicks but no action on your site
🛠️ Not sure how to track your results? Use MM4A’s user friendly and easy to understand Custom Analytics Dashboard Power Up!
🔍 What To Do If Your Ads Aren’t Performing
1. Check Your Objective
Make sure your campaign objective matches your end goal. If you want leads, don’t run an engagement ad.
2. Test New Creatives
Swap out your images, videos, or headlines. A fresh look can dramatically boost performance.
🎥 Need scroll-stopping content? Check out this Custom Video Ad Power Up to upgrade your visuals.
3. Refine Your Targeting
Test different audiences. Too broad? Too narrow? Not aligned with your ideal customer?
🔍 Use MM4A’s SEO Boost Power Up to attract the right traffic and strengthen your ad audience.
4. Improve Your Website or Landing Page
The best ad in the world won’t convert if your website doesn’t load fast or isn’t mobile-friendly.
🔥 That Website in a Week Power Up is sounding really good right about now, isn’t it?
5. Let the Pros Handle It
If you’re tired of watching ad dollars disappear with little to show for it, it might be time to outsource.
💼 Carroll Media’s Monthly Ad Services give you a done-for-you system that’s built to perform and constantly optimized.
🚀 Bonus: Common Questions About Ad Performance
Q: How long should I run an ad before deciding if it’s working?
A: Give it at least 14–28 days, especially if you’re testing something new. It takes time for Facebook/Instagram to optimize delivery.
Q: Should I boost posts or run ads through Ads Manager?
A: Never Boost. Always choose Ads Manager. Boosting posts limits your targeting and tracking options.
Q: What’s a good ROAS (Return on Ad Spend)?
A: That depends on your industry, but anything above 3x is typically solid.
The Bottom Line
Running social media ads without understanding the numbers is like driving blindfolded. You might get somewhere, but probably not where you want to be.
Knowing your metrics and making informed decisions is the difference between guessing and growing.
Ready to stop wondering if your ads are working and start knowing? Let’s build a campaign that delivers real results.
