Facebook ads have become an incredibly popular way for businesses and marketers to promote their products, services, causes, and more. With billions of active users, Facebook provides an unparalleled platform to connect with target audiences across demographics, interests, behaviors, and more.
But running successful Facebook ad campaigns requires strategy, expertise, testing, optimization, and often a significant budget. This leaves many individuals and smaller businesses unable to effectively leverage Facebook ads on their own. And this is where the opportunity arises for people to actually get paid to run Facebook ads for others.
Getting paid to manage Facebook ads
There are several ways individuals can get paid to run Facebook ads for other brands and businesses:
- Become a freelance Facebook ads manager
- Provide Facebook ads management services through an agency
- Find clients looking for help with Facebook ads through online marketplaces
- Get hired by a company to handle their Facebook advertising
The most popular options are working as a freelancer or through an existing digital marketing agency. But there are also opportunities to connect with clients through sites like Upwork, Fiverr, Freelancer.com and more. And some businesses will bring on an in-house Facebook ads manager as part of their marketing team.
How much can you get paid?
Earnings potential for running Facebook ads can vary quite a bit depending on your skills, experience level, client budgets, location, and other factors. Here is an overview of potential earnings:
- Entry-level freelancers may charge $20 – $50 per hour
- Experienced freelancers typically charge $50 – $150 per hour
- Agencies often have monthly retainer fees starting at $1,000 – $2,000 per month
- In-house Facebook ad managers may earn $40,000 – $90,000 per year
Top Facebook advertising experts can potentially charge over $200 per hour or command five-figure monthly retainers. And in-house managers at large corporations may earn well over $100,000 per year.
Skills needed to succeed
To succeed at running Facebook ads for others and get paid well, you’ll need a specific skillset. Here are some of the most important skills:
- Facebook Ads management expertise
- Copywriting
- Data analysis
- Creative content development
- Understanding of marketing KPIs
- Advertising campaign optimization
- Project management
- Communication and client services
It’s also important to stay up-to-date with Facebook Ads platform updates, emerging trends, new ad formats like carousels and collections, and overall best practices. Many clients are also looking for experts in Facebook conversion tracking and attribution modeling.
Getting the experience
One of the biggest challenges is getting the hands-on Facebook Ads management experience to demonstrate your skills and start attracting clients. Here are some recommendations:
- Take Facebook ads courses to learn the fundamentals
- Apply to entry-level Facebook ads roles at agencies
- Run ads for your own projects to practice
- Volunteer to help manage Facebook ads for nonprofits
- Offer discounted services through online marketplaces to get reviews
- List yourself as an advertising expert on platforms like LinkedIn
The more experience you can build up, the easier it will be to start charging higher rates and attracting bigger clients.
Getting clients and running ads
Once you have the skills and experience, here are some tips for getting Facebook advertising clients and running successful campaigns for them:
- Network and pitch local businesses in your area
- Reach out to relevant agencies about freelance work
- Create an appealing website and online portfolio
- Promote your services on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook
- Respond to clientRequests in marketplaces like Upwork
- Craft attractive proposals tailored to each prospect
- Follow a structured onboarding process with new clients
- Set proper expectations upfront about ad performance
- Analyze clients’ businesses, audiences, and competitors
- Develop campaign strategies aligned with client goals
- Create high-converting ad creative assets
- Continuously A/B test ads and landing pages
- Monitor KPIs and optimize based on data
- Communicate progress and insights with clients
- Upsell additional services like creative, web design, etc.
The most successful Facebook ad managers follow a process to ensure they meet clients’ expectations and deliver maximum ROI.
Pros of getting paid to run Facebook ads
Here are some of the biggest pros to running Facebook ads for other businesses and brands:
- Flexibility – Freelancing allows you to work when and where you want
- Income potential – Top Facebook ad experts can earn $100k+ per year
- Creativity – You get to develop innovative ad creative and campaigns
- Ownership – It’s your own business so you set your services and rates
- Variety – You work with different clients across industries
- Impact – Your work directly generates leads, sales and growth
- New challenges – Every client project brings fresh tests of your skills
- Latest knowledge – You stay on top of new ad formats, features and best practices
For many people, the opportunity to turn their Facebook advertising skills and passion into a lucrative and fulfilling career is incredibly appealing.
Cons to consider
Running Facebook ads for other businesses also comes with some potential downsides:
- Self-employment challenges – No regular salary or employer benefits
- Sales and marketing – You’ll need business development skills to attract clients
- Irregular income – Earnings fluctuate month-to-month
- Client management – Communicating and setting expectations with clients can be difficult
- Trouble clients – Some clients can be demanding, pushy or refuse to pay
- Non-payers – You’ll sometimes encounter clients unwilling or unable to pay
- Burnout potential – Running ads around the clock can be fatiguing
- Ad account bans – Having a client’s ad account shut down damages your reputation
Successfully balancing client work along with the sales, admin, financial, and operational aspects of the business can also be extremely challenging.
Getting started tips
Follow this step-by-step guide if you’re looking to start getting paid to run Facebook ads:
- Take online courses and get Facebook ads certified
- Practice running ads for yourself or volunteer with a nonprofit
- Build up your Facebook ads portfolio and track results
- Create profiles on Upwork, Fiverr, Freelancer and other marketplaces
- Define your target clients and services offered
- Set your rates and contracts for services
- Develop processes for client onboarding, ad launches, reporting, etc.
- Create a website, LinkedIn profile, and other marketing assets
- Start networking, pitching clients, and responding to ad requests
- Deliver exceptional service and results for initial clients
- Ask satisfied clients for reviews to build credibility
- Use case studies, testimonials, and results to attract higher-paying clients
With the right combination of skills, preparation, marketing, and persistence – almost anyone can succeed in this exciting and profitable niche.
Frequently Asked Questions
What qualifications do I need?
No specific degrees or certifications are required, but hands-on Facebook ads experience, expertise across the platform and tools, marketing knowledge, analytical skills, and client service skills are highly recommended. Taking courses in Facebook ads and getting certified demonstrates your knowledge.
How much should I charge?
When first starting out, hourly rates of $20 – $50 are typical based on your skill level. As you gain experience and demonstrate results, you can charge hourly rates of $50 – $150+. Retainers often range from $1,000 – $5,000+ per month for established freelancers and agencies.
What skills are most important?
Expert-level Facebook ads platform knowledge, copywriting, data analysis, creative content development, marketing strategy, and client service skills are the most vital. Staying updated as Facebook releases new products, formats, and features is also crucial.
How do I attract clients initially?
The best ways to find your first clients include networking locally, offering discounted services on platforms like Fiverr, volunteering with nonprofits, responding to ads requests on Upwork, LinkedIn, and other channels, or taking on freelance work with agencies.
What’s the growth potential?
With the demand for Facebook advertising experts booming, there is tremendous potential. Top freelancers can earn over $200 per hour while managers at big companies can earn $150,000+ per year. Agencies often earn 5-6 figures in monthly retainers from larger clients.
Conclusion
Getting paid to successfully run Facebook ads for businesses and brands is an incredible opportunity right now. With more demand than ever for Facebook advertising expertise, huge audience reach, and unparalleled targeting capabilities, Facebook ads offer immense potential value.
By developing specialized skills in Facebook advertising, creative content, data analysis, and client services – many individuals are able to build lucrative careers managing Facebook ads. However, it requires a strategic approach, tireless dedication, ongoing education, and persistence through challenges. The financial upside of succeeding makes the effort worthwhile.
For those passionate about Facebook advertising and creative marketing, getting paid to handle Facebook ads for business clients enables you to turn your skills and interests into a profitable profession with plenty of room for growth. And it empowers businesses to effectively leverage the platform to achieve their goals.