Recently, Facebook announced custom ad targeting was coming.

Information Facebook released at the recent Dreamsforce Conference is turning heads – even those of non-Facebook advocates.

TechCrunch reported:

Custom audience targeted ads will be much more relevant than ads just targeted to a business fan’s or some biographical demographic. They can reach people who a business is sure purchased its products before, or that haven’t thanks to exclusionary targeting. Yes, businesses could just email these existing customers for free. However,  Facebook can help them hone in on certain demographic segments of their customers by overlaying additional targeting parameters, and reach them vividly through the news feed instead of their dry inbox.

Precise targeting of ads is a monumental step towards maximizing a company’s social media strategy. With an existing email list, the possibilities are expanded exponentially, with options to precisely target those who you know have purchased your product or service in the past.

In the advertising world, there has been a long-standing battle between advocates of branding and direct response marketing.

Advocates of branding believe that by building a solid brand and positively exposing your target market to your brand, sales will follow.

Direct response marketers believe a well crafted sales message to a targeted audience will result in sales.

Regardless of where your thoughts are on the debate, Facebook’s newest directed advertising platform may help to resolve what has been a longstanding no-win battle, and the winner of this battle may end up being companies best positioned to target their ideal prospect.