> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.smaq.io/documentation/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.smaq.io/documentation/connections/facebook-ads.md).

# Facebook Ads

The Meta Ads connection is SMAQ's most-used paid-social source. It also powers creative intelligence — ad fatigue detection, audience decay monitoring, and competitor ad scraping via the Meta Ad Library.

### What SMAQ pulls

* Campaign, ad set, and ad-level performance
* Impressions, reach, frequency, clicks, conversions, spend, CPM, CPC, CPA, ROAS
* Ad creative — copy, images, video thumbnails
* Audience and placement breakdowns
* Custom conversion events you've defined

### What you'll need

* A Meta account with access to the **ad account** you want to connect (not just the Page).
* Business Manager access is recommended but not required.

### Steps to connect

1. **Data Source → Add data source**.
2. Pick **Facebook Ads** (this is the Meta Ads connection — covers both Facebook and Instagram placements).
3. Authorize SMAQ via Meta OAuth.
4. Pick the **ad account** from the dropdown.
5. Optionally select specific **campaigns** or **ad sets** to narrow scope.
6. Name (e.g. "Acme - Meta Ads") and click **Connect**.

> **\[Screen video needed]** Meta OAuth flow with ad-account picker. \~60 seconds.

> **\[Screenshot needed]** Ad account picker showing multiple ad accounts available to the Meta login.

### Automations powered by Meta Ads

* [Campaign Performance Check](/documentation/features/automations/reference.md#campaign-performance-check)
* [Ad Fatigue Detector](/documentation/features/creative-intelligence/ad-fatigue-detector.md)
* [Audience Decay Monitor](/documentation/features/creative-intelligence/audience-decay-monitor.md)
* [Competitor Ads Monitor (Meta)](/documentation/features/creative-intelligence/competitor-ads-meta.md)
* [Budget Pacing Alert](/documentation/features/automations/reference.md#budget-pacing-alert)
* [Cross-Channel Attribution](/documentation/features/automations/reference.md#cross-channel-attribution)

### Tips

* **Token refresh** — Meta access tokens expire every \~60 days. SMAQ refreshes automatically, but if the connection's owner changes their Meta password, you'll need to re-authorize.
* **iOS 14+ attribution** — Meta reports modeled conversions for iOS users opted out of tracking. Expect \~10–20% modeled vs observed split.
* **Don't mix prospecting and retargeting in one connection** if you want clean segmentation. Use ad-set-level filtering at connection time, or filter at the dashboard level.

### Troubleshooting

* **"No ad accounts found"** — the Meta account you authorized doesn't have advertising access. Get added as an Advertiser or Admin in Business Manager.
* **Conversion attribution looks wrong** — Meta's attribution window settings (7-click vs 1-click, etc.) live in your ad account. SMAQ uses whatever Meta returns.
* **Creative thumbnails missing** — happens occasionally with video ads; Meta's media API can be flaky. Re-run the fetch.

### Related

* [Instagram](/documentation/connections/instagram.md) — for organic Instagram content (separate connection).
* [Facebook Page](/documentation/connections/facebook-page.md) — for organic Page insights (separate connection).
* [Pre-signup audit (Meta branch)](/documentation/get-started/quick-start/pre-signup-audit.md)