What is the difference between boosting a post and running ads on Meta?
1. Boosting a Post: The "Easy Button" for Visibility
Boosting is the quickest way to put money behind an organic post. It’s simple, fast, and doesn’t require deep ad expertise.
When to Use It:
✅ When you already have an organic post performing well and want more reach & engagement
✅ If your goal is to get likes, comments, shares, and profile visits
✅ If you’re looking for brand awareness rather than direct conversions
How It Works:
You choose an existing post
Set a budget & duration
Select a basic audience (age, location, interests)
Click “Boost” and let it run
Limitations of Boosting:
🚨 Less control over audience targeting
🚨 Limited ad placements (mainly News Feed & Instagram Feed)
🚨 Not optimized for conversions (it’s more about engagement)
2. Running Paid Ads: The Pro-Level Strategy
Paid ads are run through Meta Ads Manager, giving you full control over every aspect of your campaign. You can create different ad formats, target highly specific audiences, and optimize for actual business goals (like bookings).
When to Use It:
✅ When you want more than just engagement—think website clicks, leads, or purchases
✅ When you need precise targeting, such as retargeting people who visited your website but didn’t book
✅ When you’re running seasonal promos, discounts, or direct booking campaigns
How It Works:
You create a campaign from scratch in Meta Ads Manager
Choose a specific objective (traffic, conversions, leads, video views, etc.)
Set up detailed targeting (location, interests, behaviors, even lookalike audiences)
Use different ad formats (carousel, video, story ads, reels, etc.)
Select multiple placements (Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, Audience Network)
Optimize for better ROI with A/B testing
Benefits of Running Paid Ads:
✅ More precise audience targeting (custom, lookalike, retargeting)
✅ Better ad formats & placements (stories, reels, carousels, etc.)
✅ Optimized for conversions & bookings (not just likes)
✅ Advanced tracking & insights via the Meta Pixel
Bottom Line: Which One Should You Use?
Boosting = Best for quick engagement and increasing visibility (but limited targeting & conversion power)
Paid Ads = Best for driving real business results like website traffic, bookings, and lead generation
Pro Tip:
Use both! Start by boosting a well-performing post to increase visibility. Then, for serious results, run a full paid campaign using Ads Manager to drive targeted traffic and bookings.
Would you like help setting up a basic ad strategy for your hotel?
