Ads Manager Overview
Your command center for managing all campaigns, ad sets, and ads across connected ad accounts.
The Ads Manager is your central hub for managing Meta advertising campaigns. Think of it as mission control for your ad spend.
Dashboard Overview
When you open Campaigns (or Ads Manager), you see:
Top Section: Key Metrics
Five stat cards show your overall performance:
| Metric | What It Shows | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Total Spend | Money spent in selected period | Track budget consumption |
| Impressions | Times ads were displayed | Measure visibility |
| Clicks | Times ads were clicked | Gauge interest |
| Conversions | Completed goals (purchases, leads) | Bottom-line results |
| Avg. ROAS | Return on ad spend | Profitability indicator |
Each metric shows a percentage change compared to the previous period (up arrow = improvement, down arrow = decline).
Understanding Stats Cards
Reading the Numbers
Each stat card displays:
- Primary Value - The main metric (e.g., $5,432 spent)
- Change Indicator - Percentage vs previous period
- Trend Arrow - Green up = good, Red down = needs attention
Date Range Impact
The stats reflect your selected date range:
| Range | Best For |
|---|---|
| Today | Real-time monitoring during launches |
| Yesterday | Daily review routine |
| Last 7 Days | Weekly performance check |
| Last 30 Days | Monthly analysis and reporting |
| This Month | Month-to-date vs budget |
Campaigns, Ad Sets & Ads
Three-Level Structure
Meta ads follow a hierarchy:
Campaign (Top Level) ├── Objective (Sales, Traffic, Leads, etc.) ├── Budget (Daily or Lifetime) └── Ad Set (Targeting Level) ├── Audience (Who sees ads) ├── Placements (Where ads appear) ├── Schedule (When ads run) └── Ad (Creative Level) ├── Images/Videos ├── Headlines & Copy └── Call-to-Action
Switching Between Views
Use the tabs to navigate:
| Tab | Shows | Key Columns |
|---|---|---|
| Campaigns | All campaigns with budget and results | Name, Status, Autopilot, Budget, Results, Spend |
| Ad Sets | All ad sets across campaigns | Name, Status, Budget, Results, Spend, Reach |
| Ads | Individual ads with creative performance | Name, Status, Results, Spend, Quality |
Status Badges
| Status | Meaning | Color |
|---|---|---|
| ACTIVE | Currently running and spending | Green |
| PAUSED | Manually stopped, can resume | Amber |
| DELETED | Removed, cannot resume | Red |
| ARCHIVED | Hidden from active view | Gray |
Filtering & Sorting
Available Filters
| Filter | Options | Use Case |
|---|---|---|
| Account | All or specific ad account | Multi-account management |
| Date Range | Today to Last 30 Days | Time-based analysis |
| Status | All, Active, Paused | Focus on active campaigns |
| Search | Text search | Find specific campaigns |
Sorting Columns
Click any column header to sort:
- First click - Sort descending (highest first)
- Second click - Sort ascending (lowest first)
- Arrow indicator - Shows current sort direction
Common sorting strategies:
| Goal | Sort By |
|---|---|
| Find top spenders | Spend (descending) |
| Find best performers | ROAS or Conversions (descending) |
| Find underperformers | CTR or ROAS (ascending) |
Bulk Actions
Selecting Multiple Items
- Single item - Click the checkbox on that row
- All items - Click the header checkbox
- Multiple items - Click checkboxes on each desired row
Available Actions
When items are selected, the bulk action bar appears:
| Action | What It Does | Required Role |
|---|---|---|
| Activate | Resume paused campaigns | Manager+ |
| Pause | Stop active campaigns | Manager+ |
| Delete | Remove campaigns permanently | Admin+ |
Role-Based Permissions
| Role | Can View | Can Create | Can Modify | Can Delete |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Viewer | Yes | No | No | No |
| Manager | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Admin | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Owner | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Column Customization
Showing/Hiding Columns
- Click the gear icon in the table header
- Check/uncheck columns to show/hide
- Click Reset to restore defaults
Available Columns
Campaign Columns:
| Column | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Campaign Name | Visible | Campaign identifier |
| Status | Visible | Active/Paused/Deleted |
| Delivery | Visible | Delivery status |
| Autopilot | Visible | AI management status |
| Daily Budget | Visible | Daily spend limit |
| Results | Visible | Conversions count |
| Amount Spent | Visible | Total spend |
| Start Date | Hidden | Campaign start |
| End Date | Hidden | Campaign end |
| Lifetime Budget | Hidden | Total budget |
| Reach | Hidden | Unique people |
| Impressions | Hidden | Total views |
| Clicks | Hidden | Total clicks |
| CTR | Hidden | Click-through rate |
| CPC | Hidden | Cost per click |
| CPM | Hidden | Cost per 1000 impressions |
| ROAS | Hidden | Return on ad spend |
Quick Actions
From the Campaigns Page
| Action | How | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Sync Data | Click Sync button | Refresh from Meta |
| Export | Click Export button | Download CSV |
| Create Campaign | Click + Create | Open manual wizard |
| AI Create | Click AI Create | Open AI builder |
Row Actions
Click the ... menu on any row for:
- View details
- Edit settings
- Duplicate
- Pause/Activate
- Delete
Autopilot Indicator
Campaigns with AI Autopilot enabled show a special badge:
| Badge | Meaning |
|---|---|
| AI (sparkle icon) | Autopilot is actively managing |
| Off | Manual management only |
Autopilot campaigns automatically:
- Adjust budgets based on performance
- Pause underperformers
- Scale top performers
Recap
Here is what you learned:
- Stats cards show overall performance at a glance
- Three tabs let you drill down from campaigns to ad sets to ads
- Filters and sorting help you focus on what matters
- Bulk actions save time on repetitive tasks
- Column customization tailors the view to your workflow
The Ads Manager is where you spend most of your time. Master it, and campaign management becomes effortless.
Next step: Learn about campaign details to dive deeper into individual campaign performance.
Key Takeaways
- 1View all campaigns, ad sets, and ads in one place
- 2Real-time performance metrics with change indicators
- 3Bulk actions for efficient campaign management
- 4Customizable columns and filters for your workflow
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are my campaigns not showing?
How often does data sync?
Can I edit campaigns from here?
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