5 Facebook Ad Strategies That Work for Online Coaches

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard someone say “Facebook Ads didn’t work for me”, when really they just haven’t used Facebook ad strategies that work.

And if you’re an online coach, you’ve probably heard about all the competition in your space, and that to stand out, you need to be active on all the social media channels, and attend networking events, and slide in people’s DMs, and the list goes on and on.

I don’t know about you but I get exhausted just thinking about doing all that.

The truth is, Facebook ads (or Meta ads as they’re now called) are still the most effective way to grow an online business effortlessly.

I’m talking about reaching dream clients while you sleep, filling up your coaching programs without cold pitches in DMs, and finally having the time to binge-watch that show everyone’s been talking about (and there’s a new one every month).

You just need to know what’s working right now. And that’s what we’re about to get into.

In this post, you’ll learn five proven Facebook ad strategies that are working right now for online coaches, complete with step-by-step guidance on how to implement each one.

Plus, you’ll discover how to set yourself up for Facebook ads success with a free guide that’ll save you time, money, and headaches before you spend your first dollar on ads.

This post is all about Facebook ad strategies that work.

Why Facebook Ads Are a Coach’s Secret Weapon

Before we jump into the Facebook ad strategies that work, let’s talk about why Facebook ads are like the Swiss Army knife of marketing for coaches:

1. Laser-Focused Targeting: Meta probably knows more about your ideal clients than their own mothers do. You can target based on interests, behaviors, and even life events. And with how advanced the algorithms have gotten, you can run a campaign pretty much wide open and still reach your target audience.
2. Budget-Friendly: You don’t need a Tony Robbins-sized budget to get started. You can start with as little as $10 a day and scale up as you see results.
3. Measurable Results: Unlike posting endlessly on social media and wondering if it’s working, Facebook ads give you data. Lots of it. You can see exactly what’s working and what’s not, faster than you can say “ROI.”
4. Scalability: Once you find an ad that works, you can scale it up several ways and watch your business grow faster than a kid in a growth spurt.

Now that we’re on the same page about why Facebook ads are the bee’s knees, let’s dive into the strategies.

Strategy #1: The Irresistible Lead Magnet

Remember how excited you’d get as a kid when you found a toy in your cereal box? That’s exactly how your potential clients should feel about your lead magnet. Here’s how to make it happen:

1. Create a Killer Freebie: Think of a problem your ideal client is facing and solve it in a quick, easy-to-consume format. It could be a checklist, a short guide, or even a mini-course. For example, “5 Mindset Shifts to Double Your Income” or “The Ultimate 10-Minute Self-Care Routine for Busy Entrepreneurs.”
2. Design an Eye-Catching Ad: Use a scroll-stopping image or video. Think bright colors, friendly faces, or intriguing graphics. And we’re all human and typos can happen, so it’s always worth taking an extra minute to review your ad copy.
3. Set Up a Landing Page: Keep it focused on your offer. Sometimes we’re so excited about our coaching that we want to share everything at once, but for a landing page, it’s often most effective to stick to one clear offer and one call-to-action.
4. Try Facebook Lead Ads: These are pretty cool because they allow people to sign up right on Facebook or Instagram, rather than on your website. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can even add a few gentle qualifying questions to help you connect with the leads who are the best fit for your coaching.

Pro Tip: Test different lead magnets to see what resonates most with your audience. You might test different topics completely, or just different titles or designs. Test one thing at a time though, or you’ll have a hard time figuring out what’s working and what’s not.

Strategy #2: The “I’m Just Like You” Video Ad

Here’s a shocking revelation: people like working with coaches they can relate to. I know, ground-breaking stuff, right? Here’s how to use this to your advantage:

1. Get Real on Camera: Create a short video (60-90 seconds max) where you share a struggle you’ve overcome that’s relevant to your coaching. Did you go from burned-out corporate girlie to thriving coach? Share that journey!
2. Keep It Raw and Real: You don’t need a full-on Hollywood production value. Your iPhone camera and a well-lit room will do just fine. Authenticity trumps perfection any time.
3. End with a Clear CTA: What do you want viewers to do after watching? Book a call? Join your Facebook group? Download your lead magnet? Make it crystal clear.
4. Use Captions: Remember, 85% of Facebook videos are watched without sound, so you’ll want to include captions or subtitles so people can still follow along as the video plays.

Strategy #3: The Social Proof Carousel

Nothing sells your coaching better than the results you’ve gotten for others. It’s like having a bunch of online cheerleaders shouting about how awesome you are. Here’s how to create a social proof carousel ad:

1. Collect Testimonials: Reach out to your happiest clients and ask for a short testimonial and a photo. If they’re camera shy, a before-and-after stat works great too.
2. Create Eye-Catching Graphics: Use a tool like Canva to create carousel images that showcase each testimonial. Keep the design consistent but vary the colors to make it visually interesting.
3. Write Compelling Ad Copy: Start with a hook that speaks to your ideal client’s pain point, then introduce your carousel as the solution.
4. End with a Strong CTA: Direct viewers to book a call, join your waiting list, or check out your opt-in page.

Strategy #4: The “Limited Time Offer” Ad

FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) is real. Use it to your advantage with a limited-time offer ad. Here’s how:

1. Create a Special Offer: This could be a discount on your coaching package, a bonus for signing up, or exclusive access to a new program.
2. Set a Clear Deadline: Whether it’s 24 hours or 7 days, make sure there’s a ticking clock on your offer.
3. Use Urgency in Your Ad Copy: Words like “Limited spots available,” “Ends soon,” or “Last chance” can work wonders. But make sure this is real, no one likes fake urgency or bro-y tactics.
4. Retarget Warm Audiences: Show this ad to people who have engaged with your content before but haven’t become clients yet.
5. Consider Using a Countdown Timer: Nothing lights a fire under people quite like watching those seconds tick away.

Strategy #5: The Engagement Ad

Building a community around your coaching brand is like creating your own cheer squad. Here’s how to use Facebook ads to boost engagement:

1. Share Valuable Content: Create a post that provides genuine value to your audience. This could be a carousel of tips, a thought-provoking question, or an inspiring quote.
2. Encourage Interaction: Ask questions, invite comments, or create a poll. The more people engage, the more Facebook and Instagram, will show your content to others.
3. Respond to Comments: Don’t just post and ghost. Jump into the comments and start conversations. It’s like you’re hosting a party – you need to mingle!
4. Use the Post Engagement Objective: This tells Facebook to show your ad to people most likely to engage with it.
5. Retarget Engagers: Create a custom audience of people who engaged with your post and show them ads for your services or lead magnet.

Bringing It All Together: Your Facebook Ad Game Plan

Now that you’re armed with these five Facebook ad strategies that work, you might be feeling a mix of excitement and overwhelm. And hey, I get it. It’s like being handed the keys to a sports car when you’ve just learned to drive – thrilling, but a little scary.

Here’s a simple game plan to get you started:

1. Start with Your Lead Magnet: This is your foot in the door. Create a valuable freebie and use Strategy #1 to promote it.
2. Build Trust with Video: Once you’ve got some leads, use Strategy #2 to build a connection with your audience.
3. Showcase Your Results: As you start getting wins for your clients, implement Strategy #3 to let your success stories do the talking.
4. Create Urgency: When you’re ready to fill up your coaching roster, use Strategy #4 to give people that extra push.
5. Keep the Conversation Going: Use Strategy #5 consistently to keep your audience engaged and your brand top-of-mind.

Remember, success with Facebook ads is all about testing and tweaking. What works for one coach might not work for another. It’s like finding the perfect pair of jeans – you might have to try on a few before you find your perfect fit.

Your Next Steps: From Strategy to Success

This post was all about Facebook ad strategies that work for online coaches. So now that you’ve got the strategies and the game plan, what’s next? Well, my friend, it’s time to take action. But before you go all in and start throwing money at Facebook like it’s a casino, there’s one crucial step you need to take.

Remember how I mentioned that I help my clients get 120 – 650 leads per week, often with as little as $30/day ad spend? Well, I didn’t achieve that by just winging it. Nope, I have a secret weapon, and I’m about to share it with you.

Introducing my free guide: “15 Essential Steps to Take Before Spending Your First $1 on Facebook Ads”

This isn’t just any guide. It’s the exact checklist I use with my high-paying clients to set them up for Facebook ads success. We’re talking about:

• A comprehensive 15-point checklist that covers everything from defining your business goals to setting up crucial tracking systems
• Step-by-step guidance on building a rock-solid foundation for your ad campaigns, ensuring you don’t waste a single dollar of your ad budget
• Insider tips on how to stand out in a crowded market, including strategies for refining your unique value proposition and analyzing your competition
• A practical roadmap for transforming your business from ad-ready to ad-supercharged, complete with actionable tasks for each step

Think of it as your pre-flight checklist. Just like a pilot wouldn’t take off without going through their safety checks, you shouldn’t launch your Facebook ads without going through these essential steps.

To get your hands on this game-changing guide, just click the link below:

Get My Free Facebook Ads Checklist

Don’t let another day go by watching other coaches succeed with Facebook ads while you’re still on the sidelines. Grab your free guide now and get ready to take your coaching business to new heights!

Your future clients are out there on Facebook right now, just waiting for your ad to appear in their feed. Let’s make sure you’re ready to wow them when it does!

Yes, I Want Facebook Ads Success!

Here’s to your Facebook ads success, coach. Now go out there and show the world what you’ve got!