AdAce AdsLocal business advertising on Google and Facebook: where to start
For a café, a salon, a repair service or a clinic, the best customers live nearby. Google and Meta both let you show ads only to people in your area — they just reach them at different moments.
Google or Facebook: which one and when
Google search ads reach people who are already looking: “dentist near me”, “cake delivery in Austin”. Facebook and Instagram ads reach people in your area who aren't searching yet but may like what you offer — good for new products, events and special offers.
Many local businesses start with one channel and add the second once tracking shows the cost per customer. Both let you target a city, a region or a radius around your address.
What local ads do well
- No reach wasted outside your area: you pay only for people who can actually come.
- Calls, messages and form leads can all be tracked as results.
- Small daily budgets work, because the audience is limited to your area.
A simple plan for the first month
- Set up tracking first: a call button, a form or messages on your website that GA4, Google Ads and the Meta pixel can see.
- Start a Google Search campaign for your top services in your city or a radius you can serve.
- Run a Facebook and Instagram campaign for leads or messages with a local audience and your best photos.
- After two weeks, compare the cost per lead of both channels in AdAce Ads and move budget to the better one.
- Keep ads fresh: new photos and offers every few weeks keep costs from creeping up.
Good to know
- A complete Google Business Profile helps people find and trust you on Google Maps next to your ads.
- A radius that is too small makes the audience tiny and results expensive; start wider and narrow down.
Try it on your own accounts
Create a workspace, connect Google or Meta in a couple of clicks and see your accounts clearly. Changes follow your approvals or the policy you configure.
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