Meta Campaigns in Criteo: A Complete Guide to Setup, Launch, and Evaluation

Why Use Meta Campaigns in Criteo?

Criteo connects Commerce Audiences with Meta’s advertising inventory, expanding opportunities for advertisers and ensuring:

• Maximum Reach – Campaigns target customers at the most relevant moments, whether they’re on social media or browsing the web.
• Cross-Channel Synergy – The mutual learning between open web and social ads can boost Criteo campaign performance by up to 20%.
• A Wide Range of Addressable Users – Meta provides authenticated ad space for effective engagement.
• Easy Activation – Meta inventory can be activated in Criteo with just a few clicks, enabling unified campaign management.
• AI-powered Bidding Optimization – Automatic budget allocation between active channels for maximum efficiency.
• Access to Premium Ad Space – Ads can be displayed where users are spending more and more time, both on premium open websites and within Meta’s inventory (Facebook, Instagram, Reels, Stories, Explore).

How Do Meta Campaigns Work in Criteo?

Criteo allows you to retarget users not only on the open web but also within Meta’s inventory, which helps enhance campaign performance and maximize reach.

How to Link Criteo with Meta?

Login and Select Your Account

After logging into Criteo, select the account where you want to activate Meta campaigns. Then follow these steps:

Setting Up and Launching the Campaign

1. Choose the Ad Set

Once your account is linked, you can continue to launching the campaign. In the Ad Sets section choose which campaign you want to activate the Meta extension for.

2. Create the Ad

• Meta campaigns in Criteo only support dynamic ads, which will appear on Meta as a carousel.
• Upload the logo
• Add dynamic elements (e.g., discount, product rating).
• Set the CTA button and add text (we recommend using emojis, as they increase engagement).

3. Optimization and Performance Expectations

• Campaigns draw the budget dynamically, so it’s not possible to specify the exact percentage invested in Meta.
• Expect the first conversions within a month, with faster results for larger budgets.

Reporting and Performance Evaluation

How to create a report?

• Create a report template that you can always access.
• Break down performance by Ad Channel (open web vs. social).

Further segmentation by Social Platform (Facebook vs. Instagram).

Frequently Asked Questions

Will activating Criteo affect the performance of my regular campaigns?

• It might, but we haven’t seen performance drops with the clients we’ve tested. If a decline occurs, performance typically returns to its original levels within a month.

Which types of campaigns can I apply the extension to?

• Previously, it was only available for remarketing, but now it can also be used for acquisition campaigns.

Can I target only one platform?

• Yes, you can work with a Criteo account manager to focus only on Instagram or Facebook if preferred.

What about coupons in these campaigns?

• Unfortunately, coupons are not applicable to this type of ad, but this could change in the future.

Can I run a campaign focused solely on social?

• Technically yes, but we don’t recommend it, as the campaigns would miss out on data from the open web.

Would you recommend this strategy?

• Yes, it’s a free way to extend your reach on social networks, and the results are very positive.

How many Meta extensions can I have?

• As many as you want, but currently, you can only have one creative version, meaning the same copy for both remarketing and acquisition.

Conclusion

Meta campaigns in Criteo offer an interesting alternative to traditional Meta Ads. With advanced optimization, dynamic retargeting, and extensive targeting options, they can be an effective tool for increasing sales and acquiring new customers. If you haven’t tested them yet, it might be time to give them a try!