Setting up your first ads on Understory lets you reach new guests using Meta (Facebook & Instagram) advertising. Bloom starts broad by letting Meta’s algorithm find the best audience for your region. Then, as your campaign runs, we use your knowledge of your business and guests to refine targeting and scale results.
How to set up your first ads
Requirements: Access to the "Grow" and "Bloom" sections in your Understory dashboard.
Go to your Understory dashboard and select Grow (left menu) – Opens the Grow section
Click on Bloom – Access advertising setup
Select “Get started.” – Begins the ad creation process
Choose what you want to advertise – Set your featured product/service
Upload your photos and videos – Adds media for your ads
Set your advertising budget – Enter your monthly Meta ad spend
Select your advertising languages – Choose one or more languages your guests use
Add your advertising context – Share any relevant info about your business or guests
Connect your Meta account to Bloom – Link your ad account
Set up your payment and billing method in Meta – Complete payment and billing info
Accept the terms and conditions – Confirms you agree to rules
Once you’ve completed all steps, Understory will begin building your ads. This takes one business day, and you’ll be notified by email when they’re ready for you to review in your Bloom back office. Your first ads require a total minimum of four business days to go live on Meta.
You can review ads before launch, but it’s optional. If you ask for revisions, expect a delay of five to eight business days before your ads launch.
How Meta ad targeting works
When you launch your first ad campaign with Bloom, we start with broad targeting. Bloom’s system lets Meta show your ads to a wide audience in your local area, so the algorithm can "learn" who responds best. Meta’s system then focuses on people most likely to book, inquire, or engage.
If you narrow your targeting too soon, the system can’t learn who your ideal guests are.
Meta’s algorithm needs about 50 relevant actions (like bookings or clicks) within a seven-day window to fully optimize ad delivery.
That’s why starting broad helps the system gather enough data before you make changes.
Using your insights for better results
Your business experience is just as valuable as the data Meta collects:
If most of your guests are tourists, let us know – we can set your ads to avoid local targeting, like local language users.
If you aren’t sure about your typical guest, starting broad helps discover who responds best.
Sharing details like nationality, age range, or busy periods helps us tailor creative and strategy, so your ads perform better sooner.
Combining your unique insights with Meta’s data helps us grow the right audience for your experience and boost bookings.
Did this answer your question? If not, please reach out to us in the chat window at the bottom to the right, and we'll be happy to help 🤗