Facebook Configure Social Proof

Learn how to safely update your Facebook ads with SegMetrics tracking parameters while preserving valuable social proof like comments, likes, and shares.

Overview

When connecting Facebook ads to SegMetrics for tracking, you may need to add URL parameters to existing ads that already have significant social proof (comments, likes, shares). This guide shows you how to update these ads without losing that valuable engagement.

Important: Facebook continually changes how they handle social proof and ad edits. Always refer to Facebook's official documentation on Significant Edits and Editing Ads in Ad Manager for the latest information.

Understanding the Risk

Most Facebook ads can be updated without losing social proof, but some scenarios carry higher risk. The most common cause of lost engagement occurs when the ad is a Post Ad using content that is not a published post.

High-risk scenario: Your ad shows the "Use Existing Post" option available but not selected, indicating it's using unpublished content.

Testing Before Making Changes

Critical Step: Always test your changes first by duplicating ads before updating live campaigns.

Step 1: Duplicate Your Ads

1. Create duplicate versions of ads with significant social proof
2. Verify that social proof carries over to the duplicated ads
3. Use these duplicates for testing URL parameter changes

Step 2: Test the Update Process

1. On your duplicate ad, add the SegMetrics URL parameters
2. Check the preview immediately to see if social proof is retained
3. If social proof disappears in the preview, do not proceed with live ads

Important: SegMetrics cannot take responsibility for any lost engagement or social proof. These are best practices based on Facebook's current behavior, which may change.

Safe Update Process

If your test shows that social proof will be retained, follow these steps for your live ads:

For Standard Ad Updates

1. Edit the ad and confirm social proof is visible in the preview
2. Add the SegMetrics URL parameters as specified in the Facebook integration instructions
3. Verify social proof remains visible in the preview
4. Publish the updated ad

If Social Proof Will Be Lost

If the preview shows social proof would be lost, follow this alternative process:

1. Select the duplicate ad you created during testing
2. Click Edit and confirm social proof is visible in the preview pane
3. Click Preview Button and choose "See Post: Facebook Post with Comments" to verify social proof
4. In the Ad Editor, click "Use Existing Post" and confirm social proof is still retained
5. Add URL Parameters per the installation instructions and confirm social proof remains
6. Publish the ad only if social proof is retained throughout all steps

After testing with duplicated ads and confirming engagement is preserved, you can attempt to update your live ads using the same process.

Critical Guidelines

• Never publish an ad if social proof disappears from the preview window at any step
• Always test with duplicates first before touching live ads
• Monitor the preview continuously during the editing process
• Stop immediately if you notice social proof being removed

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Will this process work for all types of Facebook ads?

A: Most ads can be updated safely, but Post Ads using unpublished content carry higher risk. Always test with duplicates first to confirm the process will work for your specific ads.

Q: What exactly counts as "social proof"?

A: Social proof includes likes, comments, shares, and other engagement metrics on your ad posts. This engagement provides credibility and can improve ad performance.

Q: How do I know if my ad uses published or unpublished content?

A: In the ad editor, look for the "Use Existing Post" option. If it's available but not selected, your ad likely uses unpublished content and carries higher risk for losing social proof.

Q: What should I do if I accidentally lose social proof?

A: Unfortunately, once social proof is lost, it cannot be recovered. This is why testing with duplicate ads first is essential. You may need to let the new ad build fresh engagement over time.

Q: Can I update multiple ads at once using this method?

A: It's safer to update ads one at a time so you can carefully monitor each ad's social proof during the process. Bulk changes increase the risk of overlooking issues.

Need additional help? Contact our support team at support@segmetrics.io