What's The Difference Between a Facebook Boosted Post and a Facebook Ad?

One of the most common questions I get in one-on-one situations with prospective clients and long term clients alike is - what is the difference between a Facebook Boosted Post and a Facebook Ad?

Can't I just boost a post, since it's way easier and simpler, than running an actual ad?

The answer is yes, but there are actual significant differences between Facebook Boosted Posts and Facebook Ads.

First of all, in order to boost a post, it has to be public on your business page, an ad doesn't.

Secondly, Facebook Ads are always based on an objective, either awareness, consideration or conversions, each of which has it's own set of delivery methodology based on what conversion you're trying to achieve as a marketer.

As a result, the Analytics tracking and ROI reporting off of a Facebook Ad, goes much deeper than that of a Facebook Post.

Next, since the reporting goes deeper, there are more follow up actions marketers can and should take off of Ads than Boosts.

For example, A/B testing different pieces of creative as variables against the same ad settings can be done in Ads, but can't be done in Boosted posts.

These are just some of the top level basics in terms of differences between the two tactics.