Ad Portal Basics
Q: What are blueprints?
Blueprints are ad templates used to create online marketing ads. Blueprints are optimized based on 100,000+ Facebook ads to deliver the best results. Ad Blueprints follow Facebook's policies and guidelines and are compliant with the Fair Housing Act and Special Ad Category.
Q: Who has access to blueprints in Ad Portal?
All LionDesk users will have access to the Facebook Ad Portal. Users include, but not limited to those with a Starter, Pro+, Elite, or MLS member accounts.
LionDesk users will have access to the Real Estate Listing and Create Your Own blueprints.
Q: How are my ads optimized?
Your ads are optimized by the LionDesk Ad Blueprints. Blueprints are optimized for performance based on 100,000+ ads that have run through the system. In addition, the blueprints are compliant with Facebook's guidelines and policies such as the Fair Housing Act and Special Ad Category.
Q: How is the LionDesk Facebook Ad Portal different from running an ad from Facebook? Does it cost more?
There is no additional charge to use the Facebook Ad Portal!
By using the LionDesk Facebook Ad Portal, you can create ads in a matter of minutes saving you time and overall saving you money. Your total ad spend, which is determined when creating your ad, will go a lot further with Ad Portal because:
- our blueprints have been optimized for performance, based on hundreds of thousands of ads being run through the system
- your leads can be directly connected to LionDesk for automatic nurturing
- Your time is valuable and using ad portal is the most efficient and effective way
Q: What is a Program?
A "Program" is the name that you give to your Facebook Ad.
As you create multiple ads, the program name will help you stay organized. You will also use the program name for lead routing and follow up campaigns. You can create multiple Facebook ads and have a different lead follow up campaigns for each ad. Click here to learn how to connect your Facebook Ad Portal leads with LionDesk.
Q: What is a carousel ad?
A "carousel ad" is an ad that features multiple images.
With the LionDesk FB Ad Portal, you can create a carousel ad with the Real Estate Listing Blueprint. With the carousel ad, you can feature multiple listings and capture contact information for interested buyers. Click here to learn how to create a carousel ad.
Q: Can I advertise another real estate agent's listing? Can I advertise a listing that is not my own?
As a licensed real estate agent, it is always advisable to follow both your local board and national associations of realtors' rules and guidelines. See NAR's rule here: https://www.nar.realtor/legal/risk-management/nar-internet-advertising-policy.
Ad Portal Setup
Q: What are the specs for video ads?
The LionDesk FB Ad Portal follows the same video specs as Facebook. Click here to see Facebook's latest video guidelines here.
Q: Best practices for video ads?
We recommend keeping it short!!!
Many high-converting video ads are 30 seconds or less. But if you'd like your video ad to automatically play when a consumer scrolls by it, keep your video to 15 seconds or less!
Q: How can I confirm that my ad is running?
You can confirm your ad is published in the Facebook Ad Portal.
Your ads will not appear in your Business or Personal Facebook page. Click here to learn how to confirm your ad is published.
Q: What does the matching audience size mean?
The "matching audience size" is in reference to Custom Audiences.
Custom Audiences allow you to create an ad and target your existing contact database. This allows you to reengage your contacts by running online marketing ads in their feeds.
You can create and sync your LionDesk static lists to the FB Ad portal to create a custom audience. For the custom audience, Facebook requires a minimum of 100 matching audience size to run the ad. This means your list must have 100 positive matches on Facebook. Since not all your LionDesk contacts can be matched to their Facebook account, we suggest creating custom audience lists with a minimum of 300 contacts. Click here to learn more about creating a custom audience for your Facebook ads.
Q: How does the ad capture lead information?
You can create an ad using a Listing or Create Your Own Blueprint.
If you are using the Listing Blueprint, the contact will complete a form before going to the listing page. The form will auto-populate with their Facebook information but are able to edit any of the information. The form will capture and ask for the following information:
- First Name
- Last Name
- Phone Number
- Email Address
- How soon are you looking to move?
- Are you currently working with an agent?
- How would you prefer to be contacted?
If you are using a Create Your Own Blueprint, the lead will be redirected to your website or landing page without completing a lead capture form. Your website or landing page needs to capture lead information. You can route the new lead information from your website to LionDesk. Click here to learn how to connect your leads to LionDesk.
Q: How can I automatically start a drip campaign for a lead I captured from my ad?
With the LionDesk FB Ad Portal, you can now generate and nurture new leads with just one system. You can create a lead follow up plan to schedule emails, texts, and task reminders over the course a few weeks, months, or even years. Click here to learn how to assign a follow-up plan to all new leads from the LionDesk FB Ad Portal.
Q: Can I edit the pre-filled copy on a real estate listing blueprint?
The Real Estate Listing Blueprint pulls MLS listing information into your ad. If any information for the listings changes in the MLS, your ad will automatically update with the correct information.
You are able to remove any and all of the MLS pre-filled copy in your ad (Headline, Description, Body). However, the ad will not update if the information from the MLS changes. You will need to manually edit the ad to have the most up-to-date information. Click here to learn how to edit your ad.
Note: the edits you make on your ad will NOT affect the details in the MLS.
Ad Portal Settings
Q: How do I connect to my MLS board?
LionDesk currently has access to the following MLS Boards:
- Arizona Regional MLS
- Beaches MLS
To connect your MLS board, you must add your role and industry in the Ad Portal Settings page. Once you add your role and industry, you will have access to connect your board. Click here to learn how to add your role and industry.
If you are MLS is not available, you can still create ads using the Create Your Own blueprint. You can create an ad of your listing using your own images or videos. You can submit a request to add your MLS to the approved list. Click here to request the addition of your MLS Board.
Q: How can I change my role/industry in the Ad Portal section of LionDesk?
In order to change your role or industry, please contact support@liondesk.com.
Q: What Facebook page will publish my ad?
LionDesk recommends that you connect your personal or business Facebook page. You can connect with multiple pages and decide which page will publish your Facebook ads. Once you select which Facebook page will publish your ad, you cannot change it. Click here to learn how to connect to your Facebook page.
Note: You must be the Admin of your Facebook page in order to connect.
If you don’t have your own Facebook page or don’t want to link one, you can use the LionDesk provided page, "Trusted Advisor". Keep in mind, you cannot respond to any comments that are posted on the ad or the page.
Q: Will the ad published on my business page also publish on my personal page?
The ad will publish only on 1 page. If you would like to publish your ad on multiple Facebook personal or business pages, you must create an ad for each page.
Q: If I don't have a Facebook Business Page, how do I create one?
You can create a Facebook business page through Business Ad Manager. Click here to learn how to create a Business Page.
Q: What is Evocalize?
Evocalize is our tech partner that powers Facebook Ad Portal. They connect their Facebook page to LionDesk to run the ads under their page
Q: Why does Evocalize need admin access to my Facebook page?
Evocalize needs admin access only to publish ads and to grab the incoming leads to send to LionDesk. Nothing else.
Real Estate Listing Blueprints
Q: Why is my listing not available to run an ad on?
The first step is to ensure you have the correct MLS board selected. Make sure you select a board/group in the left navigation (at the top). If you still don't see your listing, please submit a ticket to support@liondesk.com.
Q: How often are listings updated? Why am I not seeing the listings I'm looking for?
Varies based on MLS. It typically takes 6hrs for listings to appear in LionDesk FB Ads
Q: What listing categories are available?
LionDesk can pull listing information for all types of listings such as Active, Closed, etc.
* Listing categories vary by MLS.
Q: Can I be removed from an office?
No. Removing users from an office means they will lose the historical results (including ad metrics) associated with that group.
Reporting
Q: When will I see the metrics for my ad
You can view your ad metrics in the LionDesk FB Ad Portal within 24 hours of publishing your ad. Click here to learn how to view your metrics.
Q: What metrics will I see with my Facebook Ads?
Once your ad has published and has been active for 24 hours, you will see the following metrics:
- Views
- Likes
- Comments
- Shares
- Clicks
- Contacts
Click here to learn how to view your metrics.
Ad Portal - Audience
Q: Where will my ads be advertised?
We opt into "auto-placements", per best practices. This means the ads run on Facebook, Instagram, Marketplace, Messenger, and Audience Network.
Q: What platform is Audience Network?
Audience Network is Facebook's 3rd party display network consisting of hundreds of thousands of websites and mobile apps.
Q: What is the target radius?
When you create an ad, you will select a postal code or listing and how many miles from the center point will the ad reach. The target radius has a minimum of 15
Q: What if I want to target multiple zip codes?
You can only run an ad to one zip at a time. If you want to reach multiple zips, you will need to run multiple ads.
Q: Can I exclude an area (postal code, city, state, etc) from my target audience?
Currently, you cannot exclude an area from the target audience.
Q: What are pre-built audiences?
LionDesk users have access to exclusive pre-built audiences that allow you to reach targeted audiences inside of Facebook. Results show that using an exclusive pre-built audience alone or in combination with your own database custom audience, returns better results than Facebook’s general targeting. Click here to learn how to create a custom audience.
Q: Are the pre-built audience available in my area?
The LionDesk pre-built audiences are available in the US, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and US Virgin Islands!
Q: What is typical monthly spending?
Most will spend a minimum of $200 - $300/mo per month.
Q: If I want to start with a $99 ad spend, then modify a week into the campaign, can I do that?
You cannot modify your ad spend on an active ad. If you would like to modify your ad budget, you can cancel your $99 order (receiving a partial refund for the unspent budget), then submit a new order at the new price level you desire. Click here to learn how to cancel your ad.
Q: Is there a minimum spend per day?
Yes, the minimum is set to $2/day minimum. It is very difficult to get adequate performance spending less than $2/day and some of the channels even prohibit spending less than this amount.
Q: How are the minimum spend levels calculated?
We’ve set them up according to best practices for our users for each program based on years of experience getting great performance. Each Blueprint has its own spending suggestions and rules.
Q: My credit card expired. How do I update my credit card?
If your credits card expired or no longer, you will have a 7-day buffer to update your credit card. Your order will be canceled if you do not update your card within 7 days.
Active Ads
Q: What can I change after the ad is published?
You can make changes to the creative of your ad such as image, headline, body, and description. You can also update your audience. You can NOT make changes to the ad budget. Click here to learn how to make updates to your ad.
Q: How long does it take for my ad changes to publish?
It will take approximately15 minutes for your changes to publish.
Q: Can I use text in my image?
FB has a 20% text rule and best practice is to NOT use text on images
Q: How do I respond to comments on my ad?
When you created your ad, you selected a Facebook page to publish the ad. You can respond to any comment through the Facebook page that published the ad.
Note: You can publish ads using the Trusted Advisor page provided by LionDesk. If you publish the ad using the Trusted Advisor page, you will not be able to respond to comments.
Q: Can I see this ad in my FB manager?
Currently, you cannot see your ads in Facebook Business Manager, To view any active ads, you can visit the LionDesk FB Ad Portal.
Q: Why did my ad get rejected?
Rejections are sent from FB, either by FB's AI or false positives. Click here to learn what you can do if your ad was rejected.
Note: Check your age restriction on your Facebook Page. If your page is restricted to 21+, your ad can get flagged and your ad can get rejected. Click here to learn how to edit the age restriction of your Facebook page.
Q: How long do the ads run?
You decide how long to run your ad. You can select the exact start and end date. Keep in mind, the ads have a $2 daily minimum and a $49 total ad spend minimum.
It is best practice for Facebook Ads to run an ad for a minimum of 2 weeks. Facebook takes 1 week to learn about the type of consumers that are clicking on your ad. It will then apply what it learned and update the ad audience.
Q: Can I duplicate or extend a published Facebook Ad?
You are not able to extend or duplicate an active ad. The creative and ad copy will be saved in the Ad Portal. You can create a new ad and copy and paste the creative and ad copy from a previous ad.
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