What is the Facebook/Meta pixel?
Facebook/Meta pixel is a code snippet that you insert on your website. It collects data that helps you track conversions from Facebook ads, optimize ads, build targeted audiences for future ads, and remarket to people who have already taken some kind of action on your website.
Image source: Hootsuite
Ways the Facebook pixel can help you
- Understand the actions people take on your website
- Find new customers
- Drive more sales
- Measure the results of your ads
Here’s how to set up Facebook/Meta pixel on your website:
- Choose the type of website you have: Facebook offers different code snippets for each kind of site. If you use WordPress, there are plugins that will handle the installation process for you.
- Install the Facebook/Meta pixel code on your website: Once you have chosen your snippet, copy and paste it into the header code of your website. If you’re using a plugin, follow the instructions provided by the plugin author.
- Test your installation: Use Facebook’s Pixel Helper Chrome extension or our tool to make sure that your pixel is working correctly.
With Facebook/Meta pixel installed on your site, you can start tracking conversions, building targeted audiences, and optimizing your Facebook ads.
When to use the Facebook pixel
The Facebook pixel is most useful when you want to track conversions, optimize ads, build targeted audiences and remarket to people who have already taken some kind of action on your website.
Here are a few examples:
- You want to track how many people add items to their shopping cart but don’t checkout
- You want to show ads only to people who have visited your website in the past 30 days
- You want to create a custom audience of people who have made a purchase on your website in the past 180 days
- You want to find out what products are being viewed and purchased the most
Pros and cons of using the Facebook pixel
Pros:
- Helps you track conversions from Facebook ads
- Helps you optimize ads
- Helps you build targeted audiences for future ads
- Helps you remarket to people who have already taken some kind of action on your website
Cons:
- You need to have a Facebook account to use the Facebook pixel
- The Facebook pixel code needs to be inserted into the header code of your website, which can be tricky if you’re not a web developer or don’t have access to your site’s code. There are WordPress plugins that can help with this, but they are not always reliable.