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8 Tips for Writing Social Media Ad Copy to Wow Your Audience

Social media ads continue to grow in popularity. However, writing them is easier said than done. It’s not enough just to post a photo of your product or service and hope for the best — you need to write an ad that will get people excited about what you offer and get them to continue the customer journey. You need tips for writing social media ad copy!

We’ve put together this guide to help you write social media ads that work.

Keep reading to learn how to create ad copy for social media, and don’t forget to subscribe to Revenue Weekly for more tips on how to keep your business thriving!

Explore: 8 Social Media Ad Trends for 2025

8 tips for writing social media ad copy

Social media ads can be a powerful tool to reach your audience and convert prospects into customers. Keep these eight tips for writing social media ad copy in mind when creating your ads:

1. Keep it short

On social media, people scroll through their feeds quickly and skim content. For this reason, most marketers recommend keeping your social media ad copy short and to the point. Writing clear and concise headlines will ensure readers understand your ad copy easily. A great way to simplify large blocks of text is by using bullet points and smaller paragraphs.

Additionally, simple language will help ensure as many people as possible understand your message. After all, you want your ad to reach a broad audience!

2. Know your audience

Before you start writing your social media ad copy, you must get to know your audience. Ask yourself three questions:

  1. Who is your target audience?
  2. Do they have specific interests or goals?
  3. What is the primary source of their motivation?

Once you understand your audience well, you can write copy that resonates with them and drives conversions. Understanding your market gives you an inside look into what language they will understand and which industry jargon you should avoid.

Many marketers agree that the best social media ads are approachable, so try to keep your tone friendly and inject some personality into your writing!

Cinnabon ad on Facebook

3. Write with emotion

Have you ever wondered why some ads have more effective results than others? The answer doesn’t lie in ad spend or cost. Usually, the best ads appeal to emotions.

When writing social media ad copy, remember that people often prefer engaging with content that evokes an emotional response. Whether you’re trying to make people laugh, tug at their heartstrings, or simply capture their attention, using emotion in your ad copy can be a powerful way to get people to take notice.

Auntie Anne's pretzel ad

4. Use concrete language

When writing ad copy for social media, try using concrete language. Concrete language is when you use specific words and phrases that describe your offer in a way your audience can easily understand. It must be related to the real-world and real-world situations. This concept is the opposite of ‘abstract language’, where you talk about ideas.

For example, instead of saying, “Our new product is the best thing ever,” try something like, “Our new product is the perfect solution for your needs.” By using concrete language, you’ll more effectively communicate your message and persuade your audience to take action.

5. Spice up your copy with a sense of urgency

When writing social media ad copy, it’s essential to create a sense of urgency. You want to ensure your readers know they need to take action now, or they’ll miss out on something great.

Think about what your prospect experiences on their journey — they are considering taking action, but they don’t know if what you offer is the best option. You can convince them to take the plunge by showing them your desirable offer is too big a benefit to miss out on. Many marketers use language like “limited-time offer” or “last chance” to encourage this speedy action.

6. Get results with a strong call-to-action (CTA)

When writing social media ad copy, using a CTA is the only way to grab your viewer’s attention and see consistent results. The CTA is the portion of your social media ad copy that encourages your audience to take a specific action.

The CTA is one of the most critical components of your ad. If you don’t have a CTA, people may not even realize they should take action.

Your CTA should be clear, concise, and prominent in your ad copy. For example, if you’re promoting a new product, your CTA could be, “Explore Features.” Your CTA should be short, direct, and precise.

7. Supplement your copy with compelling images or videos

Use a striking image that will catch the eye of your target audience. You can also include video content in your ad.

Doordash ad promoting their app/services

You can use images and videos in many ways, including to:

  • Give the viewer a sense of what they’ll get if they click on the ad — like a preview of an item or service
  • Show off your brand’s personality
  • Display new products or services offered by your company

People are more likely to engage with social media ads that feature eye-catching visuals, so ensure you take advantage of this powerful tool. In addition, use descriptive text to explain what your image or video is all about to ensure people understand your message and will take action.

8. Test, test, test

One of the most important things you can do when creating social media ads is to test them. A/B testing gives you tangible data for different ad versions to see which performs better. You can also use analytics tools to track the performance of your ads over time.

Try out different headlines, images, and CTA buttons to see what works best with your target audience. Keeping track of your results allows you to continue improving your ads over the long run.

Drive your social media ad copy success with WebFX

If you’re looking for the best tip for writing social media ads, it’s this — start writing.

The more you practice, the better your social media ad copy will get. Focus on getting 1% better each time you write an ad copy. Over time, those changes will add up to significant results.

Want some expert advice on your copy and implementation of your social media ads? We at WebFX, we’ve managed over $15.7M in ad spend on social media — businesses like yours trust us to create compelling ad copy that generates revenue.

Want to see better results from your social media ads? Contact us today through our form or call us at 888-601-5359 to learn more about our social media advertising services!

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