The moving parts of a paid social account
A managed paid social account has a handful of pieces, each of which needs attention over time:
- Campaign objective, such as leads or website conversions, which tells the platform what to optimize for.
- Audiences: saved targeting, website visitors, customer lists and lookalikes on Meta; job and company targeting on LinkedIn.
- Creative: single images, short videos, carousels and, on LinkedIn, document ads.
- Copy: the primary text, headline and call to action.
- Destination: a native lead form or a landing page on your site.
- Tracking: the Meta pixel and Conversions API, or the LinkedIn Insight Tag.
- Budget and frequency, which together decide how often the same people see an ad.
Pixel, Conversions API and the Insight Tag
Without tracking, the platforms cannot tell which clicks led to a form submission, and their delivery algorithms work blind. Setting this up is part of the job.
On Meta, the pixel runs in the browser and the Conversions API sends events from your server or a connected tool. Using both, with matching event IDs so events are not counted twice, makes tracking sturdier when browsers block scripts.
On LinkedIn, the Insight Tag records site visits and conversions, and LinkedIn also offers its own Conversions API for server-side events.
Most setups go through Google Tag Manager. The provider tests events after setup, and again after any change to your site or form. Native lead form submissions are recorded by the platform itself, without the pixel.
What you supply for paid social
- Access to your Meta business portfolio (formerly Business Manager) or LinkedIn Campaign Manager, as a partner or user.
- Admin or editor access to your Facebook Page, Instagram account or LinkedIn Company Page.
- Access to Google Tag Manager or your website, for the pixel and Insight Tag.
- Your logo, brand colors and any photos or video you are happy to use.
- A description of your buyer: role, company size, industry.
- Customer or prospect lists for audiences, if you have consent to use them that way.
- A monthly ad budget.
- Someone to approve ads and give feedback on the leads that come in.
Questions about paid social campaigns
Should I use Meta or LinkedIn?
It depends on your buyer. LinkedIn targets by job title, seniority, company size and industry, which suits offers aimed at specific roles, and clicks usually cost more. Meta reaches business owners in their personal feeds and relies on interests, website visitors and customer lists. Many advertisers test one before adding the other.
Do I need the Meta pixel and the Conversions API?
If you send people to your website, yes, ideally both. The pixel records events in the browser; the Conversions API sends them from a server, which helps when browsers block scripts. Set up with matching event IDs, Meta counts each event once. Native lead form submissions are recorded by Meta without either.
How do lead form submissions reach my CRM?
Usually through an integration. HubSpot, Salesforce and Pipedrive offer connections for Meta and LinkedIn lead forms, and connector tools can send submissions to a CRM or shared inbox. A CSV download from the platform is the fallback. The connection should be tested with a real submission after setup.
If your ads, pages or follow-up need attention, describe the problem and get a scoped quote.
Describe the workOther services
Search ads setup
A one-off build of campaigns, conversion actions and budgets in Google Ads, ready for you or a partner to run afterward.
Lead capture forms
Forms with the right fields, consent wording you supply, thank-you pages and connections to your inbox or CRM.
Conversion tracking
Google Tag Manager, GA4, the Meta pixel and the LinkedIn Insight Tag set up, tested and documented in your accounts.