What's the Difference Between Boosted Posts and Paid Social Ads?
What's the Difference Between Boosted Posts and Paid Social Ads?
Suppose you're a small business owner trying to grow on social media. In that case, you've probably clicked that tempting "Boost Post" button on Facebook or Instagram. It seems easy—and it is—but boosted posts and true paid social ads are not the same thing.
If you're serious about getting leads or website traffic, it's important to understand the difference.
Boosted Posts vs. Paid Social Ads: A Quick Breakdown
| Feature | Boosted Post | Paid Social Ads |
|---|---|---|
| Where It's Created | Directly on Facebook/Instagram | Ads Manager (Meta, LinkedIn, etc.) |
| Purpose | Increase post engagement (likes, shares, comments) | Drive website traffic, leads, sales, or specific actions |
| Targeting Options | Limited (location, age, gender, interests) | Advanced (lookalike audiences, retargeting, behaviors, custom lists) |
| Creative Options | Uses existing post content | Fully customizable ad copy, format, calls-to-action |
| Tracking | Basic engagement stats | Full conversion tracking, link clicks, form submissions, and more |
Why Boosted Posts Might Not Be Enough
Boosted posts are fine if your only goal is to get more people to see or engage with a post. But if you're trying to:
- Get more website visits
- Capture leads
- Promote a special offer
- Increase appointments or calls
...then you're missing out on the power of true paid social advertising.
What Do Paid Social Ads Actually Do Better?
✅ Smarter Targeting
With paid social ads, you can target people based on past behavior, website visits, interests, or upload your own customer list. You're reaching the right people—not just any people.
✅ More Objective-Based Campaigns
Want more calls? Leads? Purchases? Paid social lets you optimize your campaign based on what really matters to your business.
✅ Clear ROI Tracking
You can track exactly how many people clicked, converted, or filled out a form. Boosted posts can't do that.
So, When Should You Boost a Post?
Use a boosted post when:
- You're promoting a community event or announcement
- You want more visibility on feel-good or branding content
- You're trying to grow your social page with a minimal budget
But when you want real results and strategy behind your spend, paid social advertising is the way to go.
Let Us Handle Your Paid Social the Right Way
At Flypaper, we help local businesses get results with professionally managed paid social campaigns—on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and more.
👉 Want to talk strategy? Contact our team today or ask us how we can turn your next post into a lead-generating machine.
FAQs
Q: Can I turn a boosted post into a paid ad?
A: You can promote the same content, but true paid ads are built separately in Ads Manager for better performance and tracking.
Q: Do I need a big budget to run paid social ads?
A: Not at all. We work with businesses of all sizes to create cost-effective campaigns tailored to your goals.
Q: What platforms do you run paid social ads on?
A: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and even YouTube. We can help you pick the best ones for your audience.
