Creating great Facebook ads

Like social media, the map to creating a good Facebook ad is always changing - because of user expectations and the innovation of the technology driving Facebook.

Whether you are in small business or a larger national or worldwide business Facebook advertising offers a highly targeted advertising option and at the fraction of the cost when compared to traditional, print, television, and radio advertising - and better still campaign data is 100% measurable and immediate.

Creating a great or standout Facebook advert comes down to two campaign fundamentals: the first is the goal you want to achieve, for example you may want to get customers to subscribe to an enewsletter or sell a product and the second is the targeting you choose and the audience you are going to target.

Then it is down to 4 simple variables that you control, including:

1. The title of your ad
2. The image you choose
3. The copy of the ad
4. And the destination URL

Firstly lets look at the title of your ad. The title of your ad should reflect what you want the customer to do - use a way to directly engage the customer to a desired action - and get straight to the point as you only have 25 characters. And mostly importantly talk to your target audience or audience segment. For example, if you looking to attract more female apprentices to a particular occupation or trade, or should use the targeting tools in Facebook to really drill down to a specific audience - the more you can use language to personalise the ad (so your audience can relate to it) - the more successful your ad will be.

Tip: Try to avoid running generic campaigns - run a series of segmented campaigns that better connect with your customer - then review accordingly.

Secondly - the image literally speaks a thousand words. Choose an image that will get your target audience excited and engage them. For example if your targeting is right, use a picture of your product and use colourful images. Importantly, like your title and body copy, refresh the image regularly - say between every 8 - 12 days. The size of the image you can use is 110 x 80 pixels so use the space.


Thirdly - the body copy. Again use language your customer will use - and get straight to the point - just because you have 125 characters does not mean you need to use all the space! Give a strong call to action, tell the customer what you want them to do and why they should do it. Use words like free, discounts, limited time, subscribe now. And use terms which would be specific to that particular audience segment.

Tip: Refresh your campaign regularly - just like that ad on TV becomes annoying - so to does a Facebook ad that has not been refreshed.

Finally - don't leave your customer hanging. Whatever you do, create a landing page on your website specifically for the purpose of the ad, if it's an ad designed to sell a product, take the customer to the URL where they can buy the product or get more information about the product - if you want the customer to subscribe to an enewsletter send them to the subscription page - avoid sending customers to a generic home page, this is one guaranteed way to lose a customer.

If you have any questions about your Facebook advertising just leave a post and i will be in touch soon!

Urban Food Store + Café | hits the mark

“We could be in any major city in the world."

That's what my friend said when visiting Canberra recently, and it is true, the Saturday afternoon we had a late lunch at Urban Food Store +Café, a DJ mixed the latest lounge music from Norway, whilst we chatted over some of the best coffee Canberra has to offer.

What makes this place so unique is everything in the store and on the menu is organic, and better still the breakfast menu is available till late afternoon – plus there is also plenty of vegetarian and gluten free options and with a very modern twist.

The design of the store has a distinctly raw industrial feel but with comforting signatures like the cushioned bench seating, the creation of some cute little nooks and the placement of some fabulous art – and with seating in and out doors – Urban Food Store + Café is a great place for a summer snack or a place to bunker down with a good book in winter.

Set on the fringe of Civic and right in the heart of the stylish New Acton on the corner of Marcus Clarke and Edinburgh streets, – Urban Food is easily accessed and is guaranteed to leave a lasting impression.

(Pictured: The French toast served with bacon - the pieces of toast were door stops in the true sense of the word)

Quick tips for taking pictures for your website

Getting strong images for your website doesn’t have to cost a fortune, and quite simply, if you have a reliable camera, the chances are you can do it yourself and save lots of money.

But before you reach for the camera, why not pay a visit to iStockphoto. At iStockphoto you can search for and purchase any type of image you maybe looking for, and for a small fee (approximately $1.50 Australian) purchase the rights to use a professional image.

Failing iStockphoto, we have put together four quick tips for taking pictures for your website.

1. Lighting, lighting and lighting. Depending on your subject be sure to make sure the lighting is right, and if you are using a flash, you should take into account how the flash might effect the picture, for example it may cast shadows for reflect off different surfaces. If you are taking internal shots you may want to switch on all the lights and use portable lamps to get the light just the way you want it. For example if you are a real estate agent, an external shot of a house at dusk, with all the lights on is always appealing.

2. Be creative! – Use Angles. Find a more interesting angle to present your item or shot. Don’t just take the same shot anyone would by just standing there. Try dropping to eye level or taking an overhead shot (depending on what you are taking a picture of). Also keep in mind if you are taking a picture of a person, a shot which is taken looking up to them gives the subject more power, whilst a shot with a downward look gives the subject less power, whilst straight on is neutral.

3. Hold the camera steady - Nothing worse than a bunch of blurry shots. Use a tripod as much as possible to keep your shots steady. Especially when photographing people.

And finally, if you are planning to integrate the images you use on your website into other marketing collateral like brochures, make sure you take the highest resolution possible, because, images used on the web are much smaller than those required for brochures and posters.

Friday drinks with a bit of verve

What better way to end the working week - than sipping on Verve Clicquot in the stunning surrounds of the Sculpture Garden at the National Gallery of Australia.

Then add the groovy tunes of the guest DJ and you have the perfect start to a weekend in Canberra.

The Verve Clicquot Sculpture Bar is open from 5.00pm each Friday evening for the Summer months.

For more information about the Sculpture Bar click National Gallery.

(Pictured: All smiles - Stylist Nicole Dimoff with ActewAGL Retail General Manager Ayesha Razzaq)

5 things To Do Over Christmas

Ecco Bar

For years now Ecco Bistro has been synonymous with stylish urban cuisine right in the heart of Brisbane. But now there is something more, the recently opened Ecco Bar.

The Ecco Bar offers the same style and class of the Ecco Bistro, but with a contemporary underground urban feel.

Ecco Bar is the perfect place for a pre-dinner Martini or a TGIF end of work Stella.

Find out more about Ecco Bar.

Dieci e mezzo

Stylish dinning has a new name in Canberra. Dieci e mezzo at 40 Bunda Street in the city offers a stunning menu and in what can only be described as an contemporary artistic setting which features the amazing ‘The Journey’ light installation.

The menu is modern Italian with local Canberra signatures, like the stunning, Chestnut pappardelee, braised Yass rabbit, chestnuts and bortotti beans and lemon tyme.

To book for lunch or dinner call or visit www.dieciemezzo.com.au

NGA invading new space

If you thought the National Gallery of Australia was only for Renoir loving toffs, think again. This month make sure you get along to two stand out events.

The first is the incredible ‘Space Invaders’ exhibition – which features a world first street art exhibition from leading Australian artists. The exhibition features a collection of graffiti, stencils, paste-ups and other forms of street art.

The second event is the Ballets Russes: The Art of Costume exhibition that comes to life from 10 December 2010 through to 20 March 2011.

To get more info on the National Gallery.

Barefoot Barista (Palm Beach)

Treat your taste buds to a coffee sensation at the Barefoot Barista. Tucked away, just off the Gold Coast highway in Palm Beach, the Barefoot Barista is arguably the Gold Coast’s funkiest place to enjoy a Campos coffee and a quick snack.

Set in amongst urban street art and contemporary décor the Barefoot Barista is a coffee oasis on the southern Gold Coast.

To find more about Barefoot Barista

Petries Cottage Currumbin

Petries Cottage of Natural Therapies has become the place to relax and look good on the Gold Coast. Offering relaxing massages, natural medicines and organic spray tans.

The Cottage is located on Currumbin Creek Road and features themed rooms, so you can completely loose yourself in your treatment.

To book a pre-Christmas spray tan or to purchase a massage gift voucher click Petries Cottage