Boosting Posts vs Paid Ads: Why we believe you should stop boosting posts
If you’ve ever hit that tempting little blue button telling you your post is "performing better than 90% of your content" and could "reach more people for just $30"—you’re not alone. Boosting posts is Meta’s gateway drug for small business owners dipping their toe into paid social. But here’s the truth: in almost every case, you’re better off putting that $30 (and your time) toward proper Meta Ads.
Let’s break down why.
Boosted Posts vs Meta Ads: What’s the difference?
Boosted Posts
On the surface, boosted posts look like ads. They get pushed to more people and show up in more feeds. But behind the scenes, they’re a stripped-down version of what Meta Ads can actually do.
Boosted posts have limited targeting options, barely any control over placement, and minimal insights to help you figure out what’s working. They’re quick and easy—but often quick and easy leads to expensive and ineffective. There’s no scheduling, no real audience segmentation, and your creative options are limited to what you already posted. That might work fine for followers who know you, but ads are a whole different ball game.
Meta Ads
Facebook Ads or Instagram Ads Give You Actual Control
When you build a Meta Ad campaign (through Meta Ads Manager), you’re in the driver’s seat. You can define your objectives—whether it’s traffic, leads, purchases, or brand awareness—and you can create specific versions of your ad for different audiences. You can control when it runs, how much you spend, and where it shows up.
You’re also working with a blank slate. That means you can tailor your creative—headline, copy, image or video—specifically to the people you’re targeting. You’re not just repurposing a post that did okay; you’re creating something that’s designed to convert.
It’s Not Just About the Ad Budget or Ad Spend
Let’s say you boost a post for $30. That might not seem like much, but do it a few times and you’ve sunk $100–$200 into something with very little return. It’s not that Meta Ads are automatically better because they cost more—it’s that they’re smarter, more strategic, and built to give you results.
The learning curve is real, and yes, Ads Manager can feel overwhelming at first. But if you’re spending money to reach people, you want that money doing the best it can.
Our Take on what you should do ?
Stop boosting. Start advertising. Boosted posts are easy, but Meta Ads are effective—and that’s what your business deserves.
Want better results without the guesswork?
Whether you’re ready to hand over the reins or want to sharpen your own skills, we’ve got you covered. Our Paid Ads Coaching pairs you with real marketers (the kind who run high-performing campaigns day in, day out) for fortnightly sessions over 12 weeks. We’ll help you build, optimise and actually understand a campaign that works—for your business, your budget, and your goals.
Prefer to offload it entirely? We also offer done-for-you ad management with none of the jargon and all of the performance.
