Facebook Ads Manager is a unified ads creation tool where you can create and publish ads to Facebook, Instagram, Messenger or Audience Network. To get started, go to Ads Manager and select Create.

Ad Creation Workflow

When creating ads from scratch, you can choose from two workflows to create and manage your ads:

1. Guided creation: This option guides you through the steps to create a campaign to completion. Choose this workflow if you are new to Facebook ads and want step-by-step instructions.

2. Quick creation: This option allows you to set up the campaign and then create ad sets and ads later. Choose this workflow if you are an advertiser with more advanced skills and are already familiar with the creation workflow.

The workflow you choose initially will become the default choice each time you select +Create. You can change this default or switch between the two workflows at any time by clicking the Switch button at the top of the creation flow.

Guided Creation Workflow

Step 1: Campaign

First you have to create a campaign. At this level, you have to define your campaign's overall objective.

1. Choose an objective from the list best aligned with your business goals.
2. Enter a descriptive name in the Campaign name field.
3. You have the option to create a split test at this level.
4. You have the option to turn on campaign budget optimization at this level.

Step 2: Ad Set

After you have created your campaign, you can move on to creating your ad set. Here, you have to define targeting, budget, schedule, bidding and placement at the ad set level.

1. Enter a descriptive ad set name in the Ad set name field.
2. Choose your audience. You can choose audience characteristics such as age, gender, location, interests and more. You can select to save this audience, for future use.
3. Select your ad placements. This is where you'd like your ads to appear across Facebook, Instagram or Audience Network.
4. Choose how you want us to deliver ads from the Optimisation for ad delivery drop-down menu.
5. Set your budget and schedule.

Ad Placements: You can select Automatic placements which shows your ads where they are likely to perform best. You can choose your ad placements manually by selecting Edit placements.

Budget: Set a daily budget, the average amount that you are willing to spend on an ad set per day. Or set a lifetime budget, the amount that you are willing to spend over the entire run-time of your ad set.

Step 3: Ad

After you have created your campaign and at least one ad set, you can move on to creating your ad. Here, you select your ad's creative and add text.

1. Select your Page. All ads are required to have an associated Facebook Page.
2. Select an ad format from several ad formats, including: Carousel, single image or video, or collection. You can create a slideshow if you select the single image or video format.
3. Choose the creative, or media, that you want to use for your ad.
4. Add the text that you'd like your ad to display.
5. Preview your ad and select Confirm.

Quick Creation Workflow

Step 1

Fill in your campaign, ad set and ad elements.

1. Campaign: You have the option to create a new campaign (and choose a buying type and campaign objective), or you can select an existing campaign.

2. Ad set: if you chose a new campaign, you have the option to create a new ad set or skip this step for now. If you chose an existing campaign, you have the option to select an existing ad set or create a new ad set.

3. Ad: depending on your campaign and ad set selections, you can either create a new ad or skip this step for now.

Select Save to Draft.

Step 2

In the editing pane, you can edit your campaign elements in any order by selecting the ad, ad set or campaign icons in the left navigational tray.

1. Campaign: Edit your campaign name, objective or buying type. You also have the option to set a campaign spending limit.

2. Ad set: Edit your budget, audience, placement and pricing for the ad set. At this step, you can opt to use dynamic creative.

3. Ad: In the Format section, choose how you'd like your ad to look. You can choose carousel, single image or single video (which also lets you create slideshows), or collection. Some ad format options are dependent on your campaign objective. In the Create ad section you can add creative elements to your ad, such as images, the headline and text. In the Ad name field, enter a name for your ad.

Step 3

After you have edited your campaign details, you have three options:

1. Select Publish to publish your campaign immediately.

2. Select Close to save your campaign details as a draft. You can edit and publish your drafts later by selecting Review and publish from the action bar on the main page of Ads Manager.

3. Select Discard draft to discard all changes.