Paid Ads
Boosting a Post vs. Running an Ad: What’s the Differnce and Which Gets Better Results for Your Business
If you're a local Atlanta business owner whether you run a law office, construction company, vet clinic, restaurant, or medical practice you’ve probably asked yourself, “Should I boost a Facebook post or run an ad?” It’s a common question. Both options are part of Facebook’s advertising tools, but they work differently and deliver different results.
In this blog post, we’ll break down the difference between boosting a post vs running an ad, explain how each works, and help you decide which is the better choice for your business. Plus, we’ll show you when and how to use both as part of a smart Facebook advertising strategy to get the best results.
What is Boosting a Facebook Post?
Boosting a post is the simplest way to promote your content on Facebook or Instagram. If you’ve ever noticed the "Boost Post" button under one of your posts, that’s exactly what it does.
With just a few clicks, you can turn a regular post like a photo, video, or announcement into a paid promotion that reaches more people. You get to choose your audience based on factors like age, location, interests, and a few other basic settings.
Boosting a post is great for:
Getting more likes, comments, and shares on your content
Promoting special announcements, events, or updates
Increasing basic brand awareness and engagement
What is Running a Facebook Ad?
Running an ad means using Facebook Ads Manager, a more advanced tool that gives you full control over your paid social media campaigns.
With Ads Manager, you can:
Choose your campaign goal (website clicks, messages, calls, purchases, and more)
Test different versions of your ad (A/B testing) to see what works best
Track results in detail, including how much each lead or click costs
Use advanced targeting options based on behaviors, job titles, interests, and other factors
Running an ad is great for:
Driving traffic to your website or landing page
Getting phone calls or appointments directly from your ads
Growing your email list or increasing online sales
Boosted Post vs Ad: Key Difference
Let’s compare boost post vs Facebook ad so you can clearly see how they stack up:
Feature | Boosted Post | Facebook Ad (via Ads Manager) |
|---|---|---|
Objective Options | Limited (likes, engagement) | Wide range (conversions, traffic, messages) |
Targeting | Basic | Advanced (custom & lookalike audiences) |
Budget Control | Simple | Flexible, with more control |
Creative Tools | Limited | Full control (carousel, video, CTA buttons) |
Reporting | Basic | Detailed insights & A/B testing |
The difference between Facebook ads and boosted posts mostly comes down to flexibility and goals. If you’re looking to drive real business results like leads, calls, or appointments, Facebook Ads Manager is the better choice.
Which Gets Better Results? Boosting or Advertising?
So, which gets more results: boosting or advertising? The answer depends on what you want to achieve with your campaign.
Boosting a post works well if:
You just want more engagement or basic visibility
You don’t have much time or experience running ads
You have a post that’s already performing well organically
Running an ad is better if:
You want people to take action like calling your business, visiting your website, or booking an appointment
You have a specific audience in mind, such as new homeowners or local business owners
You want to track your results closely and optimize your campaigns over time
Here at Adode Media, we often get asked, “What’s better: boosting a post or running an ad?” The truth is, for most businesses looking to grow, ads win every time when it comes to results, tracking, and control.
When to Boost a Post and When to Run an Ad
Here’s a quick guide on how to choose between boosting and ads on Meta:
Scenario | Best Option |
|---|---|
Promote a viral post | Boost it |
Share a special offer with a goal (calls, sales) | Run an ad |
Reach people quickly with simple setup | Boost it |
Launch a campaign with budget and goals | Run an ad |
Retarget past customers | Run an ad |
Promote a community event | Boost it |
Both options can work together when used strategically. For example, you might boost a post to increase awareness, then retarget the people who engaged with a more direct ad to drive conversions.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Only boosting posts and expecting sales
Not tracking results or analyzing what worked
Ignoring mobile optimization for ads
Using the same strategy for every post or ad
A smart social media advertising plan uses the right tool for the right job. At Adode Media, we help Atlanta businesses run paid social media campaigns that go beyond vanity metrics. We don’t just boost posts, we build full-funnel strategies designed to grow your business.
Boosting a post vs running an ad doesn’t have to be confusing. If you just want to get more eyes on your content, boosting can help. But if your goal is to grow your business, get more calls, or drive traffic to your site, Facebook ads will get you better results.
Ready to take your business to the next level? Contact us today and let our experts create a custom Facebook advertising strategy tailored for your Atlanta business!
Who we are!
Adode |A-doe-day| Media is a podcasting, marketing, and visual content agency specializing in helping brands create meaningful connections with their audience. Adode has revolutionized the podcast industry by providing end to end production services to a variety of clients from corporations to influencers.
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