Remember Facebook arbitrage? That magical time when you could drive cheap traffic from Facebook to your website and earn yourself some ad revenue? Many thought those days were long gone, but blogger Hasib Alic is proving them wrong.
In a recent tweet, Alic revealed he achieved a 360% ROI by spending $127 on Facebook ads to promote a single blog post, generating $593 in Mediavine earnings over just 7 days. (He doesn't reveal his website or the exact article, btw.)
In this article, we'll explore the step-by-step process of implementing a successful Facebook arbitrage strategy that can help you increase your ad revenue and diversify your traffic sources.
Here's how he did it (and how you can too):
- Choosing the right article:
- Analyze past performance: Use Facebook analytics (or a tool like Alic's Strevio) to identify your top-performing posts from the past two weeks based on clicks;
- Prioritize high CTR: Focus on posts with a click-through rate (CTR) of 5% or higher;
- Target high RPM: Check your ad network dashboard (Mediavine, AdThrive, etc.) and select articles with a high RPM (revenue per thousand impressions), ideally $30 or more.
- Creating the Facebook Ad:
- Keep it simple: Stick to standard link posts for optimal arbitrage results;
- Target broadly: Aim for a US audience aged 30+, using broad interest targeting within your niche;
- Start small, scale gradually: Begin with a daily budget of $10 and monitor performance closely. Increase your budget gradually (maximum 50% per day) as long as your ROI remains positive;
- Test different scaling methods: Experiment with increasing the budget on a single post or creating multiple ad variations for the same article.
Why this strategy is more crucial than ever for bloggers
Let's face it, relying solely on Google for traffic is like building your dream house on a foundation of sand. One algorithm update, one shift in the digital landscape, and your entire traffic stream could crumble.
Here's why diversifying is non-negotiable:
- Google's constant updates: We've all been there – pouring our hearts into SEO, only to have Google pull the rug out from under us with a new algorithm update. It's a constant game of catch-up that can leave you feeling frustrated and burnt out;
- The rise of AI content: With AI tools churning out content at lightning speed, it's getting tougher to stand out in search results. This means organic traffic is becoming even more competitive and harder to secure;
- Taking control of your destiny: By having multiple traffic sources, you're not at the mercy of a single platform. If one channel takes a hit, you've got others to fall back on. This gives you stability, peace of mind, and the freedom to create without constantly chasing the algorithm.
That's where Facebook arbitrage comes in. It offers a direct line to your ideal audience, bypassing the whims of Google and giving you a powerful way to drive traffic on your terms. It's not about abandoning SEO altogether, but rather adding another powerful tool to your marketing arsenal.
Want to turn this strategy into a side hustle (or even a full-time gig)?
Imagine helping other bloggers rake in extra cash while you do the same! Here’s how:
- Find bloggers you admire who are already killing it with their content;
- Reach out and offer your services as a Facebook ad expert. Let them know you can help them boost their ad revenue using Hasib's proven method;
- Sweeten the deal: To ease any doubts, propose starting with a super-low budget of just $10/day. You could even offer to manage their ads for free for a short trial period until they see those sweet, sweet profits rolling in. Another option is to propose a profit-sharing model where you both benefit from the success of the campaigns.
Conclusion
Facebook arbitrage might just be the revenue stream your blog needs in 2024 and beyond. By carefully selecting articles, strategically targeting your ads, and scaling cautiously, you can unlock a powerful source of traffic and boost your ad revenue significantly.
Here’s a step-by-step breakdown:
- Use Facebook’s meta suite dashboard for free (or log into your Strevio account), select the timeline for the last 2 weeks, and sort your best-performing posts by number of clicks;
- Check the CTR for those posts. It’s a really important metric. I’d recommend looking for a CTR of 5%+ to make sure the arbitrage works;
- Visit your Mediavine/Raptive dashboard and review the RPM of these posts. It needs to be at least $30 to be effective. The higher, the better. Standard link posts are the best for arbitrage;
- Target a US audience, ages 30 and above, and use really broad interests within your niche;
- Set a daily budget of $10;
- Track performance daily, comparing earnings on Mediavine against what you’ve spent on FB ads. If you see a positive ROI, gradually increase your daily budget, but do so cautiously, with a maximum of 50% daily budget increase;
- Scaling can be approached in two ways: either increase the budget on one post or create multiple posts to boost. Both methods are effective.
