Step 1: Get Your Business Manager Hat On

Ok, step one. We need to make sure we’re set up for success, and that starts with your Meta Business Manager account. You see, you need a Business Manager account as a foundation. Just a heads-up though, Business Manager is also known as “Business Portfolio”, but it’s all the same platform.

To create an account go to https://business.facebook.com/, use your personal Facebook login to create your Meta Business Account. I know it’s annoying but at this point in time you cannot have one without the other.

Fill in all of your business info. Here’s an idea: Create a new folder on your computer or in the cloud and store important files related to your ad campaigns and Business Suite assets. I keep PDFs of my budgets, strategy documents, even screenshots of killer ad copy.

Step 2: Finding the (Somewhat Elusive) Business Suite

Sometimes Meta throws us a bit of a curveball, like when you’re trying to navigate to the actual Business Suite. Let me make this easy because a LOT of folks struggle with this.

1. Login to your Facebook account.
2. Open a new tab in your browser.
3. Go to business.facebook.com
4. Find “Business Settings” to get into the Suite, it’s somewhat hidden.

From your Business Suite home, it’s easy peasy, and this is what I love – one-click access to tons of great features including all of your insights and reporting metrics.

Step 3: Let’s Create That Ad Account.

Alright, ready to actually make that ad account?. I want to make this as easy for you as possible.

1. In the left-hand menu column (Facebook likes to move this all the time so it may take you a minute to find it.), head down to “Settings”. It’s the bottom icon on the left column and will look like a gear if you don’t have the menu titles enabled. It seems hidden, but that’s Meta for you, constantly playing games and keeping us on our toes.
2. Find “Accounts,” You should see a bunch of options, click on “Ad Accounts.”
3. Click “Add”, a drop-down menu with a bunch of options will appear.
4. Select “Create a new ad account”
5. Time to name your account. You also need to set your time zone and your currency – Facebook requires US dollars, and make sure that you click “Create.”
6. Connect Your Assets. Time to link it to your Facebook Business Page, select “Pages” from the “Accounts” tab, click “Add,” and follow the prompts (you can add Instagram accounts too.)
7. Permissions. Carefully assign roles to anyone else who’ll be using the ad account (agency partners, team members). This ensures everyone has the level of access they need and can help manage your accounts. You’re almost there. This stuff is REALLY important.
8. Payment Time. No one likes this part but hey, it keeps the lights on. Facebook lets you choose from multiple options. They deduct funds from your selected payment method based on your chosen billing settings. Select “Payment Settings” in the “Ad Account Settings” tab and follow the instructions.

Step 4: You’re a Meta Mastermind

Seriously though, congratulations, your Facebook ad account is officially ready for action, ready to propel your business forward and navigate the exciting, fast-paced, unpredictable terrain of digital marketing in 2024. You officially learned how to create an ad account in Meta Business Suite. Take some time to celebrate, because it’s time to create amazing campaigns.