Facebook Business Manager vs. Ads Manager: What’s the Difference?

If you’re venturing into Facebook advertising or managing multiple assets for your brand, chances are you’ve come across two pivotal tools: Facebook Business Manager and Facebook Ads Manager. While both are essential for running successful campaigns, they serve different purposes and cater to distinct aspects of digital marketing. Understanding the differences is key to optimizing your workflow and achieving your business goals.

In this blog, we’ll break down what each tool does, how they differ, and when to use them to make your Facebook marketing strategy seamless and efficient.

What Is Facebook Business Manager?

Facebook Business Manager is an all-in-one platform designed for businesses to manage their Facebook assets in one place. It’s particularly useful for companies and agencies that handle multiple pages, ad accounts, or collaborate with teams.

Key Features of Facebook Business Manager:

Centralized Asset Management: Manage multiple Facebook Pages, Instagram accounts, and ad accounts in one dashboard.
Team Collaboration: Assign roles to team members with varying access levels (e.g., Admin, Editor, Analyst).
Security Features: Ensure your assets are protected with two-factor authentication and other security settings.
Partner Integration: Collaborate seamlessly with external partners like agencies or freelancers.
Pixel Management: Easily manage your Facebook Pixel for tracking conversions.

When to Use Facebook Business Manager:

You’re managing multiple Facebook Pages or Instagram accounts.
You work with a team or agency and need role-based access.
You require a secure environment to control your brand’s assets.

What Is Facebook Ads Manager?

Facebook Ads Manager, on the other hand, is a tool specifically designed for creating, managing, and analyzing your ad campaigns. It’s the go-to platform for advertisers looking to execute highly targeted campaigns.

Key Features of Facebook Ads Manager:

Ad Creation: Design and launch ads with advanced targeting options.
Campaign Management: Monitor and optimize campaigns in real-time.
Detailed Analytics: Access performance metrics like reach, engagement, and conversion rates.
Budget Control: Set and adjust daily or lifetime budgets for campaigns.
A/B Testing: Test different creatives or audiences to find the most effective strategy.

When to Use Facebook Ads Manager:

You’re creating and running ad campaigns.
You want to monitor and optimize ad performance in real-time.
You need detailed insights into ad metrics and performance.

Key Differences Between Facebook Business Manager and Ads Manager

Feature	Facebook Business Manager	Facebook Ads Manager
Primary Purpose	Manage assets, team roles, and security	Create, manage, and analyze ad campaigns
Audience	Businesses, agencies, and teams	Advertisers and marketers
Access Control	Assign roles with specific permissions	No role assignment; direct ad management only
Ad Creation	Not available	Full ad creation and optimization tools
Analytics	Limited to asset-level metrics	Detailed campaign-level insights
Security Features	Two-factor authentication and asset protection	Basic account-level security

How Do Facebook Business Manager and Ads Manager Work Together?

While they have distinct functions, Facebook Business Manager and Ads Manager often work hand-in-hand:

Asset Management: Use Business Manager to organize and secure your assets.
Campaign Execution: Switch to Ads Manager to create and manage ad campaigns.
Team Collaboration: Assign roles in Business Manager, enabling team members to access Ads Manager for campaign tasks.

Benefits of Using Both Tools

Efficiency: Streamline workflows by keeping assets organized in Business Manager and focusing on campaigns in Ads Manager.
Security: Protect sensitive information and restrict unauthorized access with Business Manager.
Comprehensive Control: Leverage the combined power of asset management and campaign analytics to drive results.

Conclusion

Both Facebook Business Manager and Ads Manager are powerful tools that cater to different aspects of your marketing strategy. While Business Manager focuses on organization, collaboration, and security, Ads Manager is your go-to platform for creating and optimizing ad campaigns.

By understanding their unique features and how they complement each other, you can create a robust Facebook marketing workflow that maximizes efficiency and results. Whether you’re a small business owner, marketer, or agency professional, mastering these tools is essential for navigating the ever-evolving world of Facebook advertising.

Ready to take your Facebook marketing to the next level? Start exploring these tools today and unlock their full potential!