Want to get the most out of your online ads? Here’s how to use simple tips and tricks to spend less, get more customers, and grow your business without wasting money on stuff that doesn’t actually work.
Shirin Niasati
Author
Shirin Niasati is a Product Owner and Website Developer at Persisca Technologies, specializing in digital solutions.
Running ads online can feel like tossing money into a hole sometimes. You spend a little here, a little there, and it’s hard to tell what’s actually working. But the truth is, it doesn’t have to be that way. With the right approach, you can turn every dollar you spend into more money in your pocket. Let’s break it all down in simple steps so you can make the most out of your online advertising efforts.
1. Know Who You’re Talking To
Think about it this way: you wouldn’t try to sell sunglasses to someone living in the Arctic, right? The same logic applies to your ads. The first step to getting good results is to know exactly who you’re trying to reach.
Ask yourself:
- Who is my customer?
- What do they care about?
- Where do they spend their time online?
Ad platforms like Google, Facebook, and Instagram let you choose your audience based on age, location, interests, and even what they’ve been searching for. Use these tools to your advantage. The better you target the right people, the less money you’ll waste showing your ads to folks who aren’t interested.
2. Keep Your Ads Simple and Direct
Nobody has time to figure out a complicated ad. You have a few seconds to grab someone’s attention, so make those seconds count. Use clear language, and get to the point fast.
Here’s what a good ad looks like:
- Headline: Make it clear what you’re offering. For example, “Save 50% on Sneakers This Week” is better than “Great Deals Await!”
- Image or Video: Use something that stands out, whether it’s a bright color, a smiling face, or your product in action.
- Call to Action (CTA): Tell people exactly what to do next, like “Shop Now,” “Learn More,” or “Sign Up Today.”
Don’t overthink it clarity wins every time.
3. Start Small and Grow Your Budget
Here’s a mistake a lot of people make: they throw a ton of money into ads right away, hoping for big results. But what if those ads don’t work? That’s a lot of wasted cash.
Instead, start with a small daily budget something like $5 or $10. Run your ad for a week and see what happens. Are people clicking on it? Are they buying? Once you see what’s working, you can put more money into the ads that perform well. It’s like testing the water before diving in.
4. Watch the Numbers Like a Hawk
Every ad platform gives you numbers to track how your ads are doing. This is called analytics, and it’s super important. Here are the main things to look for:
- Impressions: How many people saw your ad.
- Clicks: How many people clicked on your ad.
- Conversions: How many people actually bought something or signed up after clicking.
If an ad has a lot of clicks but no conversions, it might mean your website isn’t convincing enough. If nobody is clicking on your ad, maybe the picture or text needs to change. Always keep an eye on the data and adjust your strategy.
5. Make Sure Your Website Is Ready
Even the best ad won’t help if your website is a mess. Imagine clicking on an ad for a cool product and landing on a website that’s slow, confusing, or hard to navigate. You’d probably leave, right?
Here’s how to make your website work for you:
- Make it load fast—nobody waits more than a few seconds.
- Keep it simple so people can find what they’re looking for.
- Make sure it works on phones because that’s where most people shop these days.
- Make it easy for customers to buy or sign up no extra steps.
Your website is like your store. If it’s clean, easy to use, and welcoming, more people will stick around and buy something.
6. Try Different Ads Until Something Sticks
Not every ad will be a hit, and that’s okay. The trick is to try different things and see what works. Run a few ads with different headlines, pictures, or offers. For example, you could test one ad that says “Free Shipping This Week” and another that says “Buy One, Get One Free.”
After a week or two, look at the numbers. Which ad got more clicks? Which one brought in more sales? Focus on the winners and stop running the ones that don’t perform well.
7. Keep Customers Coming Back
Getting a new customer is great, but keeping them is even better. It’s cheaper to sell to someone who already knows your business than to convince a new person to give you a try.
Here’s how to keep your customers happy:
- Send them a thank-you email after they buy.
- Offer special deals for returning customers.
- Share helpful tips, updates, or new product launches to stay on their radar.
When people feel valued, they’re more likely to shop with you again—and even tell their friends about you.
8. Be Patient and Stay Consistent
Online ads aren’t magic they take time to work. You might not see big results right away, and that’s normal. The key is to keep testing, tweaking, and improving over time.
If something isn’t working, don’t panic. Adjust your approach, try new ideas, and keep moving forward. The more you stick with it, the better you’ll get at figuring out what works for your business.
Getting results from online ads doesn’t have to be complicated. By knowing your audience, keeping your ads clear, starting with a small budget, and paying attention to what works, you can make your money work harder for you. Take it one step at a time, and soon enough, you’ll start to see the payoff.