Why Social Media Advertising Deserves Your Attention

As part of my degree requirements, I took a college course in news writing. As a public relations student, I initially felt out of place in the newsroom — but I quickly grew to enjoy working with editors and advisors.

On more than one occasion, they encouraged me to switch my major from public relations to print journalism. I’d smile and politely decline, but inside, I scoffed — everyone knew print journalism was dying.

And everyone was right… but also wrong.

Yes, many newspapers closed their doors. But others evolved and began thriving in the digital world. That’s what most of us failed to predict: instead of giving up, print journalism adapted — and moved forward into the Internet Age.

Marketing Has Followed the Same Path

It should come as no surprise, then, that the rest of the industry has followed suit. According to Hootsuite, internet advertising surpassed newspaper ad spending for the first time last year. Traditional marketing companies are now adapting to this digital-first world, and — at least in my area — you can’t throw a rock without hitting a new online marketing agency.

With so many choices available, it can be hard to know how to spend your advertising budget. Email campaigns, search ads, video content — the options are endless and often overwhelming.

But if you’re looking for one area to focus on right now, social media advertising should be at the top of your list.

Why Social Media Advertising Is (Still) Booming

Social media advertising isn’t just a trend — it’s a core part of modern marketing.

Research shows that:

• Facebook desktop ads have a click-through rate 8x higher than typical web ads

• Mobile Facebook ads are 9x more effective

That’s a massive performance difference.

In fact, an estimated $23.68 billion was spent globally on social media advertising in 2015, up 33.5% from the year before. Of that, about $8 billion came from U.S. advertisers alone. And by 2017, global spending was projected to hit $36 billion.

Social media advertising is big business — and it’s only growing.

“There’s No More Social Media — Just Advertising”

A recent AdAge article boldly claimed:

“There is no more social media, just advertising.”

As someone trained in public relations, my first reaction mirrored how I felt when my advisor suggested switching to print journalism: disbelief.

“Social media isn’t dead, and it’s not just advertising,” I thought. “Great social media is about conversation, not just one-way communication.”

But again — everyone’s a little bit right, and a little bit wrong.

Social media isn’t dead. And two-way communication still matters. But with every tweet, every post, every photo, your brand is advertising itself — even if you’re not selling anything directly. Whether you realize it or not, you’re constantly shaping your reputation.

Trial, Error, and a Bit of Budget

The simplest way to get started with social media advertising? Trial and error.

Facebook is a great starting point. At the time of this writing, Facebook held around 70% of U.S. social ad revenue, and it continues to dominate the landscape.

If you’ve ever managed a Facebook page, you’ve probably been prompted to boost a post or create an ad. This is exactly what Hootsuite CEO Ryan Holmes recommends:
Use your organic posts to test what resonates. Then promote the best performers.

It’s a low-risk, high-reward strategy — and a great way to get your feet wet without blowing your budget.

When in Doubt, Get Help

If you’re still unsure about how to approach social media advertising, you’re not alone — and you don’t have to go it alone.

At Digital Flavor, we specialize in helping businesses build, design, and execute social media ad strategies that actually work. Whether you’re just getting started or looking to optimize your existing campaigns, we’re here to help.