You’ve heard LinkedIn Ads can work wonders for B2B marketing. But how do you actually set one up?

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the entire process—from logging in to launching. By the end, you’ll have a live campaign running (and no, you don’t need to be a media buyer to do it).

Step 1: Access LinkedIn Campaign Manager

Start by heading to LinkedIn Campaign Manager. You’ll need:

• A LinkedIn Company Page 
• Admin access (or permission to advertise) 
• A credit card on file for billing 

Step 2: Choose Your Campaign Objective

LinkedIn will ask what you want to achieve. This determines the optimization strategy and available ad formats.

Here are your options:

• Awareness (brand awareness) 
• Consideration (website visits, engagement, video views) 
• Conversions (lead gen, website conversions, job applicants) 

If you’re new, start with “Lead Generation” or “Website Visits” to keep things simple and measurable.

Step 3: Define Your Audience

This is where LinkedIn shines.

You can target by:

• Job Title (e.g., Director of Operations) 
• Company Size (e.g., 200–1,000 employees) 
• Industry (e.g., Manufacturing, SaaS) 
• Skills, Groups, Seniority, Location and more 

Pro Tip: Start narrow. You can always scale later.

Step 4: Set Your Budget & Schedule

You can choose:

• Daily Budget 
• Total Budget 
• Start and End Dates 

For beginners, we recommend:

• $50–$100/day 
• Running the campaign for 7–14 days to gather data 

Note: LinkedIn tends to have higher CPCs than Meta or Google—but that’s because you’re reaching a more qualified audience.

Step 5: Choose Your Ad Format

Select the type of creative you want to run:

• Single Image Ads 
• Video Ads 
• Carousel Ads 
• Event Ads 
• Message or Conversation Ads 

Start with a Single Image Ad or Lead Gen Form if you’re just getting started. Keep it visual, clear, and focused.

Step 6: Upload Creative + Write Copy

• Headline: Keep it short and results-driven (under 70 characters) 
• Body: Speak to pain points. Use strong calls to action (CTAs). 
• Image/Video: Branded, high-quality visuals get the best results. 
• CTA Options: “Learn More,” “Register,” “Download,” etc. 

Step 7: Launch, Monitor & Optimize

Hit “Launch” and LinkedIn will begin delivering your ad.

Monitor:

• Impressions 
• Click-through Rate (CTR) 
• Lead Gen Form Fills (if applicable) 
• Cost per Lead (CPL) 

Give it at least 3–5 days before making major adjustments.

Common Mistakes to Avoid:

• Targeting too broad (or too niche) 
• Using generic copy 
• No clear CTA 
• Not testing variations 

 

Final Tip:

Your first campaign doesn’t need to be perfect. It needs to be live. You’ll learn faster from real data than overthinking the setup.

Want help launching your first campaign the right way? Book a free consult with our LinkedIn Ads experts at Whirlwind Media.