In the last post, we saw how to run paid ads to increase subscribers.

Now, you might not have a big budget to burn on ads and this tight budget can feel intimidating.

But that does not mean you have to eliminate paid ads altogether.

You can optimize your strategies to make every dollar work hard for you instead.

Today, we’ll look at:

• Platforms with low ad spends

• Tools for DIY Ad creation

Platforms with Low Ad Spends

After over a year of running newsletter ads, 2 channels that have worked best for all our publications are Meta and Google.

Facebook and Instagram Ads

These two platforms, managed through the Meta Ads Manager, are a powerhouse for reaching diverse audiences with precision targeting.

You can run ads for as little as $1/day when you are targeting impressions, making it accessible even for the smallest budgets.

Why Use It?

• Massive Reach:
  With billions of active users across Facebook and Instagram, you’re tapping into one of the largest online audiences in the world.

• Advanced Targeting:
  Meta allows you to target users based on demographics (age, gender, location), behaviors (shopping habits, device usage), and interests (hobbies, favorite brands).

• Diverse Ad Formats:
  Whether it’s image ads, carousels, stories, or reels, you have multiple ways to engage users.

When It’s Best

This platform is ideal if your target audience spends time scrolling through social media, especially if they are visually driven or enjoy engaging with brands on a personal level.

Pro Tip: Start with Retargeting Campaigns

Retargeting campaigns are incredibly cost-effective because they focus on audiences that are already familiar with your brand.

Install the Facebook Pixel on your website to track visitors and use this data to create a retargeting ad campaign.

For example, if you notice that 200 people visited your website but didn’t subscribe, you can retarget to this specific audience with an added incentive.

Google Ads

Google Ads lets you connect with people who are actively searching for what you offer, making it one of the most intent-driven platforms available.

While there’s no strict minimum spend, most campaigns can start as low as $1/day. This flexibility allows you to experiment with small budgets.

Why Use It?

• High Intent Audience:
  People searching on Google are often ready to take action, whether it’s making a purchase, booking a service, or learning more.

• Wider Reach:
  Google Ads doesn’t just cover search; it includes YouTube, Gmail, and Google Display Network, giving you multiple ways to reach users.

• Pay for Results:
  With cost-per-click (CPC) pricing, you only pay when someone clicks on your ad, ensuring your budget goes toward interested users.

When It’s Best

Google Ads is perfect if you’re targeting customers actively searching for solutions, like “marketing news” or “startup case study”

Pro Tip: Focus on Long-Tail Keywords

Long-tail keywords are longer, more specific search phrases that tend to have lower competition and cost-per-click.

Instead of bidding on generic terms which are highly competitive and expensive, you can bid on long tail keywords, drawing a very specific audience that is more likely to subscribe to your newsletter.

Tools for DIY Ad Creation

Creating professional ads doesn’t have to cost a fortune. Here are tools to help:

1. Canva

   • Use It For: Designing ad creatives.

   • Why It’s Great: Free templates tailored for Facebook, Instagram, and more.

2. Google Keyword Planner

   • Use It For: Finding affordable keywords for Google Ads.

   • Why It’s Great: Helps identify keywords with high search volume and low competition.

3. Facebook Ads Library

   • Use It For: Spying on competitors’ ads.

   • Why It’s Great: Gain inspiration from what’s working in your industry.

Or, you can skip all of these steps and create winning ads with ready-to-use templates.

These are proven to work in the newsletter niche and help you make the most out of your campaigns.

That was it for today, hope you found it helpful!

See on on Saturday with 10 trending newsletter ads (and their templates) so you can grow your subscribers fast 🚀

P.S. If you are stuck with your newsletter growth at any point, reply to this and I can help you out! 📈