Businesses especially in bustling markets like Ahmedabad know that social media marketing in Ahmedabad is no longer optional. But one question still puzzles even experienced marketers and business owners: Should you boost posts or run ads?
Both options are available on platforms like Facebook and Instagram. Both promise reach and engagement. But which one actually drives results that matter leads, conversions, and sales? As a trusted social media marketing agency in Ahmedabad, we at SeoTape help clients navigate this choice daily. So let’s unpack the difference between these two methods and help you make smarter decisions with your social media budget.
Boosting Posts: Quick Visibility, Limited Strategy
Boosting a post is often the first paid step businesses take. It’s easy, fast, and available right below every post. With just a few clicks, you can increase the number of people who see your content, even if they don’t follow you.
Platforms like Facebook encourage this by suggesting that a well-performing post be boosted for “better results.” But what boosting actually does is pay to show your existing post to a broader but often loosely targeted audience.
It’s great for:
- Increasing visibility and brand awareness
- Amplifying viral or engaging organic posts
- Reaching a general local audience
- Quick promotions with minimal setup
But here’s the catch: boosting gives you limited control. You can choose a basic audience, a timeframe, and a budget, but that’s about it. You can’t A/B test creatives, optimize for conversions, or run complex remarketing. It’s a surface-level promotional tool.
So, while boosting might give you more likes or comments, it rarely leads to serious business outcomes like lead generation or purchases.
Running Ads: Precision, Performance, and Power
Now let’s talk about running ads arguably the real engine behind high-impact social media marketing in Ahmedabad.
Ads are created through Meta Ads Manager (or similar ad managers on other platforms), where you can choose specific campaign objectives like:
- Website traffic
- Lead generation
- App installs
- Engagement
- Conversions
With these objectives, you also get advanced features:
- Highly defined targeting (demographics, interests, behaviors, even custom audiences)
- Multiple ad formats (carousel, video, lead form, stories, reels)
- Retargeting options
- Split testing for creatives and copy
- Deeper analytics to measure real ROI
Let’s say you’re a gym in Ahmedabad launching a 7-day trial offer. A boosted post might get shared and liked. But a well-designed ad targeting fitness enthusiasts within 5 km, aged 20–45, showing a 30-second results-driven video can drive direct sign-ups.
That’s why most businesses that are serious about digital growth work with a Social media marketing agency in Ahmedabad like SeoTape, where the focus is not just on visibility, but outcomes.
Key Differences: Strategy vs Simplicity
The difference between boosting and running ads comes down to this: boosting is simple, ads are strategic.
Boosting is like placing a flyer on every car windshield. It may catch someone’s eye. But ads? Ads are like handing that flyer only to people who’ve already shown interest in your service and following up with a phone call.
When you run ads, you’re going deep targeting with precision and tracking what happens after someone sees the ad.
Cost Comparison: Are Ads Really More Expensive?
You can run well-targeted ad campaigns for as low as ₹100–₹200 per day. The real question isn’t cost it’s return on investment (ROI). A boosted post might cost you ₹500 and get 300 likes. That feels nice. But an ad with that same ₹500 might get you 20 website visits, 10 leads, or even 3 direct conversions.
So while boosting appears cheaper upfront, ads often provide better long-term returns, especially when run by professionals like SeoTape, one of the best social media marketing services in Ahmedabad.
When Should You Use Boosting?
There are times when boosting can be useful:
- You’re launching a new store and want people to know.
- You posted an exciting behind-the-scenes video and want it to reach more users.
- You just shared a testimonial or customer story that’s already getting engagement.
- You’re focused on growing page awareness and followers.
If your main goal is visibility and social engagement, a boost can help. It’s fast, easy, and works well for surface-level interaction.
When Should You Run Ads?
If your goals include any of the following, skip boosting and go straight to ads:
- Driving website traffic or app installs
- Getting bookings or purchases
- Generating leads through forms
- Promoting offers with limited time
- Retargeting people who visited your site
This is where performance matters. And it’s why many growing businesses now rely on a dedicated Social Media marketing agency in Ahmedabad like SeoTape to design and optimize ads that deliver.
Real-World Example from Our Clients
One of our clients, a boutique hotel in Ahmedabad, had been boosting Facebook posts regularly pictures of rooms, happy customers, festive events. They got decent likes but saw no measurable rise in bookings.
We stepped in and ran a lead-generation ad campaign targeting newly married couples and travel planners, offering a “Romantic Weekend Getaway” with a lead form. Within the first week, the client received 47 direct inquiries and 11 bookings.
The lesson? Visibility doesn’t always equal results. Strategy does.
