Facebook & Instagram ads for local businesses
Meta ads can put your offer in front of people within a few miles of you this week. They only pay off when the offer, the audience and the page they land on are all right. I handle all three.
Are ads right for you yet?
I'd rather tell you not to run ads than take your budget. Ads work well when most of these are true:
Ads are a good idea when
- You can handle more customers next week
- You have an offer people can act on: a first-visit price, a free quote, a seasonal deal
- Your website or landing page loads fast and has a clear call or booking button
- A new customer is worth noticeably more to you than it costs to get one
Wait a little when
- You're already fully booked
- Your only link is a Facebook page with no prices
- You have almost no reviews anywhere
- You need a guaranteed number of customers by a fixed date
Not ready? Start with a Website design and Google Business Profile. Your ads account setup is free with that package, so you're ready when you are.
The parts that decide your results
Offer
We pick one clear reason to act now. "Book a cleaning" is weak; "First detail $79, this month only, 12 spots" gives people a reason to tap.
Audience
A tight radius around you, the right age range, and in most cases Meta's broad targeting with good creative, which usually beats long lists of interests.
Creative
Ads built from your real photos and short videos. Real work and real faces usually outperform polished stock images for local businesses.
Landing page & tracking
Meta Pixel and conversion events set up so we count calls, forms and bookings, not just clicks. A dedicated landing page if needed.
What it really costs
There are two separate costs, and you should always see both clearly.
Every month you get
- 2–4 fresh ad variations from your photos or clips
- Weekly checks: pausing what's not working, moving budget to what is
- Cost per lead, call or booking, not just reach
- A short monthly summary in plain English, on WhatsApp
- Your ads account, pixel and audiences stay yours if we stop
Ad offers that fit local businesses
Examples of the kind of offers I'd test first. The right one depends on your margins and capacity.
| Business | Offer to test | What we count |
|---|---|---|
| Restaurant or cafe | Free dessert with a weeknight dinner booking | Table bookings, direct-order clicks |
| Barber or salon | New-client price on the slowest weekdays | Online bookings |
| Contractor or landscaper | Free on-site quote within 48 hours | Quote forms and calls |
| Gym or studio | 7-day pass, no card needed | Pass sign-ups who visit |
| Mobile detailing | Limited spots at an intro price in one area | Bookings by area |
More ideas in Marketing campaign examples.
Facebook ads questions
How much should I spend on Facebook ads?
For most local businesses I suggest starting at $300 or more per month in ad budget, paid directly to Meta. Below that, results take longer to show because Meta has less data to learn from. You can raise the budget once we know your cost per lead.
Do Facebook ads work for local businesses?
They can work very well for businesses with a clear offer and capacity for more customers, because you can target people within a few miles of you. They work poorly when the ad sends people to a weak page or when there's no reason to act now.
Are Facebook ads or Google Ads better?
Google Ads catch people already searching for what you sell, so intent is high but clicks cost more. Facebook and Instagram ads create demand by showing your offer to nearby people who weren't searching yet. My SEO vs SEM vs PPC guide compares the options in detail.
Who owns the ads account?
You do. The ads account and billing are in your name, and I get partner access. If we stop working together, you keep the account, pixel data and audiences.
How soon will I see results?
Ads can start getting clicks within a day or two of approval. Steady, predictable results usually take a few weeks of testing offers and creatives, which is why I recommend a 3-month start.
Related pages
See it before you pay
Get a free preview of your new website first. Then decide.