How to run Facebook ads — step by step

Updated 5 October 2026 · GigaEasy

Running your first Facebook ad takes about half an hour once you know the steps. Here is the whole process, in order, written for business owners rather than marketers.

Step 1 — Create a Facebook Page for your business

Ads are shown from a Facebook Page, not your personal profile. Create a Page with your shop's name, a clear profile photo (your logo or shopfront), your address, phone number and opening hours.

Step 2 — Set up an ad account and payment

Meta charges for ads through an ad account. Add a payment method — in India this can be a debit/credit card or UPI, depending on what Meta offers your account. This money goes directly to Meta for showing your ads.

Step 3 — Decide what you want people to do

Pick one action: message you on WhatsApp, call you, or visit your website. For most local shops, WhatsApp works best because customers can ask questions before they visit.

Step 4 — Choose your audience

• Location: your city with a radius (Meta allows 17–80 km around a city), or a whole state.
• Age and gender: who actually buys from you — keep it realistic, not 18–65 by default.
• Interests: a handful of interests linked to what you sell (for a bakery: "Baking", "Desserts", "Birthday cakes").

Step 5 — Set a daily budget

Start with an amount you're comfortable spending for a week — many shops start at ₹200–₹500 a day. You can pause or change it any time. See how Facebook ad costs work in India.

Step 6 — Write the ad

• Headline (about 40 characters show on most phones): the offer — "Fresh cakes, same-day delivery".
• Primary text (about 125 characters show before "See more"): put the hook first, then details, then the action.
• Photo or video: a real, bright photo of your product or shop. Square (1:1) or slightly tall (4:5) images fill more of the phone screen.

Step 7 — Submit and wait for review

Meta reviews every ad, usually within a few hours. Once approved it starts showing, and it often takes a few days for Meta to learn who responds best. Avoid editing the ad every day — let it settle.

Step 8 — Reply fast and measure

Count the messages, calls and visits the ad brings each day. Reply quickly — leads go cold within hours. After a week, keep what works and change one thing at a time (photo, offer, or audience).

Skip the hard parts with GigaEasy

GigaEasy does steps 3 to 7 for you. Fill a simple form about your shop; our AI writes the headline and text, suggests the audience using Meta's real interest list, shows Meta's own reach estimate, and a person on our team reviews the ad before it goes live on Facebook and Instagram. The one-time Facebook setup (steps 1–2) is guided in about 10 minutes.