5 Mistakes People Make When DIY-ing Their Ads and How to Avoid Them

I see so many ads out there that just miss the mark, and I want to save you from making those same mistakes! In this episode, I shine a light on the common pitfalls that can derail your advertising efforts and I share how to fix them.

When you invest your hard-earned money into ads, you deserve to see results. I’ll guide you through the crucial adjustments you can make and we’ll tackle the missteps head-on to turn them into opportunities for success.

Topics covered in this episode:

1. Common Advertising Mistakes

Running ads without proper knowledge can lead to wasted money and missed opportunities.

Some frequent mistakes include:

  • Targeting the wrong audience.

  • Creating ads that don’t engage or resonate.

  • Failing to track performance metrics.

  • Neglecting to adjust campaigns based on results.

2. Fixing Location Setting Errors in Ads

One of the simplest yet most costly errors is running ads in the wrong location. For example, promoting a local business in another state can waste your ad budget.

It’s important to always double-check your location settings and define the geographic regions you want to target before launching your campaign.

3. Separating Campaign Planning from Execution

A common pitfall is jumping straight into creating and launching ads without a detailed plan. This often leads to inconsistencies and errors.

What’s the solution to this? Treat campaign planning and execution as two distinct steps.

4. Creating Attention-Grabbing Ad Creatives

In a world of endless scrolling, your ads need to stand out. Ads that fail to "stop the scroll" are less likely to convert.
For better creative content use a strong hook, test different formats, and identify your best audience.

5. The Importance of Video Captions in Ads

With many users browsing without sound, captions are a must for video ads. They make your content more accessible and improve engagement.

How to Add Captions:

  • Use tools like CapCut or Instagram’s built-in captions feature.

  • Ensure captions fit across different ad placements (e.g., feed vs. stories).

  • Keep them concise and aligned with the video's message.

This simple addition can significantly increase your ad’s effectiveness.

6. Improving Ad Tracking Methods

Accurate tracking is vital for evaluating the success of your campaigns. Without it, you’re left guessing what’s working and what isn’t.

Steps to Better Tracking:

  • Install tracking pixels on your website (e.g., Facebook Pixel, Google Analytics).

  • Embed external forms like Calendly directly into your site so you can measure page traffic and conversions.

  • Create dedicated landing pages for specific campaigns to streamline tracking and retargeting.

Even with limitations like iOS privacy updates, tracking tools help you gain valuable insights and refine your strategy.

By addressing these common mistakes, you can create ads that click, connect, and convert. Whether it’s refining your location settings, adding captions, or tracking results more effectively, small changes can have a big impact on your ad performance.

For more specific, actionable insights on this topic, tune into this episode of the Clicks and Giggles podcast. Let’s make your marketing work smarter, not harder!


Click here to listen to my podcast episode on this topic!

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