How to set up your Meta for advertising

Set up your Meta accounts and assets to get ready for advertising

Introduction

To run ads effectively on Facebook and Instagram, you need to set up your Meta Business portfolio, which includes:

  • Meta Business Account/ Portfolio – The central hub for managing all your business assets.


  • Facebook Page – Required for running ads and connecting to Meta’s advertising tools.


  • Meta Dataset – Helps organize your data for better ad performance.

  • Instagram Account – Needed to advertise on Instagram.


  • Connected Facebook & Instagram Accounts – Enables seamless cross-platform advertising.


    Follow the steps below to set up each asset and prepare your business for advertising.

Step 1: Create a Meta Business Account

Your Meta Business Account allows you to manage your Facebook and Instagram assets, ad accounts, and permissions from one place.


To create a Meta Business Account:

  1. Go to the Meta Business Suite.
  2. Click Create Account and log in with your Facebook credentials.
  3. Enter your business name, email, and details.
  4. Click Submit to complete the setup.

For more details, check out Meta’s Business Manager Guide.


Step 2: Create a Facebook Page

A Facebook Page is required to run ads and connect your business to Meta’s advertising tools. You can create and manage your Page directly through Meta Business Suite, ensuring it's linked to your business account from the start.


To create a Facebook Page in Meta Business Suite:

  1. Go to Meta Business Suite and log in with your Facebook account.
  2. In the left-hand menu, click Business Settings.
  3. Under Accounts, select Pages.
  4. Click Add and choose Create a New Page.
  5. Enter your business name, select a category, and add a brief description.
  6. Click Create Page to finalize the setup.
  7. (Optional) Add a profile picture, cover photo, and contact details for a complete business profile.

For detailed instructions, check out Meta’s Guide on Facebook Pages.


Step 3: Create a Meta Dataset

A Meta Dataset organizes and structures your data for better ad performance. You can set this up in two ways: via Shopify (recommended) or manually through Meta.

Via Shopify (Recommended)

The easiest way to create a Meta Dataset is through the Facebook & Instagram app in Shopify. This method ensures seamless integration and automatic syncing with your store’s product data.


To create a Meta Dataset via Shopify:

  1. Install the Facebook & Instagram app in Shopify.
  2. Open the app and log in with your Facebook account.
  3. In the setup process, navigate to Data Sharing Settings.
  4. Select your Meta Business Account and enable Data Sharing.
  5. Shopify will automatically create a Meta Dataset and sync your store’s data.

For more details, check out Shopify’s guides on Meta Data Sharing and connecting Meta accounts.


Why choose this method?

  • Automatic syncing with Shopify and Meta.
  • Easier to set up with guided steps in the Shopify app.
  • Recommended for most users unless you have a specific use case for manual setup.

Manually via Meta Business Suite

If you have a specific business need (e.g., managing multiple datasets across platforms), you can manually create a Meta Dataset through Meta Business Suite.

To create a Meta Dataset manually:

  1. Go to Meta Business Suite and select your Business Account.
  2. Navigate to Business Settings > Data Sources > Datasets.
  3. Click Add and select Create a Dataset.
  4. Follow the prompts to define your dataset’s purpose and settings.
  5. Click Save to finalize your dataset.

For more details, visit Meta’s help guides on creating datasets and data permissions.


Potential drawbacks of manual setup:

  • More complex and requires manual configuration.
  • No automatic Shopify integration, meaning you may need additional steps to sync data.
  • Recommended only if you have specific data management needs outside of Shopify’s built-in options.

Step 4: Create an Instagram Account

A business Instagram account is necessary for running Instagram ads and linking to your Facebook Page.


To create an Instagram Account:

  1. Go to Instagram Sign-Up.
  2. Enter your email, phone number, or Facebook login.
  3. Set up your username and password.
  4. Follow the instructions to complete your profile.

Convert your account to a business profile by following Instagram’s Business Account Guide.


Step 5: Connect Your Facebook Page & Instagram Account

To run ads across both platforms, you need to link your Facebook Page and Instagram account.


To connect Instagram to your Facebook Page:

  1. Open Meta Business Suite and go to Settings.
  2. Click Business Assets > Instagram Accounts.
  3. Click Connect Account and log in to your Instagram.
  4. Select the Facebook Page you want to link.
  5. Click Confirm to save the connection.

For more details, check out Meta’s Help Article.