Thinking about running Facebook ads for your local business? Good. The simple truth is they work wonders for getting real customers—the kind who live right down the street and actually walk into your shop or call you for a quote.
You don’t need a giant budget or a fancy marketing degree to make this happen. I promise. Let’s cut through the confusing stuff.
Why Facebook Ads Are Your Secret Weapon
Ever feel like your business is the best-kept secret in town? Let’s fix that. Facebook ads are like having a friendly megaphone that only talks to the exact people you want to reach, right in your neighborhood.
It’s less like shouting into an empty canyon and more like handing a personal invitation to your perfect customer.
The best part? You’re the boss. You can start with a budget smaller than your weekly coffee habit and see what works. It’s a powerful, super easy way to get your name out there without needing to rob a bank. You can do this!
Connect With Your Community
Facebook isn’t just for sharing pictures of your cat anymore; it’s a huge local hangout where your future customers are already scrolling. Here’s why it’s so good for businesses like yours:
- You can be super picky: Show your ads to people just a few miles from your front door.
- It’s cheap: You set the budget. You can start with as little as $5 a day. Seriously.
- It feels friendly: Your ads can be like a friendly wave, not a pushy sales pitch.
The goal is simple: turn neighbors into happy customers. Facebook just gives you the perfect tool to say hello.
This is the control panel for creating ads. Looks scary, right? Don’t worry, we’re going to make it simple.
That dashboard might look like a spaceship cockpit, but I’ll show you exactly which buttons to press to get real results. And if you get stuck, we’re here to help.
Get Ready for Real Results
With a little help, you can turn on ads that actually bring customers in, often in just a few minutes. I’m talking about more phone calls, more people walking through your door, and more money in your pocket. This guide will walk you through it all, step-by-step.
Beyond just Facebook, understanding broader proven restaurant marketing strategies can also seriously boost your efforts and pack your schedule.
Facebook is still a giant for local businesses. With over 3 billion users hanging out there every month, it offers an incredible way to find new customers. In fact, some reports show it’s around 80% more effective than a lot of other online stuff. It just flat-out works.
Finding Your Perfect Local Customers
Okay, this is where the magic happens. We’re done yelling into the wind. Now we get to be local detectives and find the exact people who are already looking for what you sell. This is the whole secret to making Facebook ads for local businesses actually work.
Think about it. Shouting about your happy hour special in an empty park is a waste of breath. But whispering it to a group of coworkers leaving the office who are thirsty and hungry? You just made a sale. Facebook lets you do the online version of that.
This isn’t about guessing games. You have the power to put your ad right in front of people who are practically waving their hands to become your next customer. It’s surprisingly simple, and honestly, a little fun once you see it work. You can do this.
Drawing Your Digital Fence
Your first and most powerful tool is something called geo-targeting. All this means is telling Facebook exactly where to show your ads. You can literally draw a digital fence around your business.
Are you a local cafe trying to get the lunchtime crowd? Target a tiny 1-mile circle around your shop. Own a plumbing business? You can pick specific zip codes or even whole towns where your best customers live. This step alone stops you from wasting a single penny on people who are too far away to ever use your service.
Don’t overthink this part. Start with a simple circle around your business address. You can get fancier later. This one simple move is a huge step in the right direction.
For a service business that travels, like a contractor, you can get really specific. We’ve seen amazing results by adding different location types. For more on that, check out our guide on how to run ads for concrete contractors for some pro-level tips.
Getting Inside Your Customer’s Head
Once you’ve set your location, it’s time to think like your customer. What are they into? What pages do they like on Facebook? What problem do they have that you can solve?
Let’s look at some real-world examples:
- For a Local Gym: Instead of just showing your ad to everyone nearby, add interests like ‘weight training,’ ‘yoga,’ or people who follow pages for ‘Planet Fitness’ or ‘Peloton.’ You’re finding people already obsessed with fitness.
- For a Family Dentist: Show your ad to people who have recently moved into your area (yep, Facebook knows this!) or those interested in ‘parenting blogs.’ These are huge clues they might be looking for new local services.
- For a Local Boutique: Try showing ads to people who have an anniversary coming up or whose friends have birthdays soon. Facebook has this info, and it’s a goldmine for any business that sells gifts.
See how that works? You’re just connecting the dots between what you sell and what people have already told Facebook they like. It’s a great way to make your ad feel helpful, not annoying. If this feels like a lot, don’t worry—we’re here to help you get it right.
Creating Ads That Stop the Scroll
Alright, let’s get to the fun part—making an ad that actually gets noticed. Your ad has one job: it has to make someone slam the brakes on their endless scroll through cat videos and vacation photos. It has to be the one thing that catches their eye.
Here’s the good news: you don’t need a fancy design agency or a Hollywood-sized budget. In fact, for local businesses, the super polished, corporate-looking ads often do the worst because they don’t feel real.
People on Facebook are there to connect with other people. A slightly imperfect, real photo you took on your phone of your best-selling pizza or a happy customer can work wonders. This is one place where being a small, local business is a huge advantage. You got this.
Writing Headlines That Actually Work
Your headline and the text in your ad are just as important as the picture. The secret? Stop talking about your business and start talking to your customer about their problems. Nobody wakes up excited to buy a new furnace.
They wake up freezing because their furnace died and it’s 30 degrees outside. Talk directly to that pain!
Instead of this boring headline:
- “We Sell and Install HVAC Systems”
Try this instead:
- “Tired of a Broken AC? Get Cool Air Today!”
See the difference? The first one is all about you. The second one is about them and fixing their problem right now. It’s helpful, it’s easy to understand, and it gets right to the point.
Make Them an Offer They Can’t Say No To
Once you have their attention, you need to give them a great reason to do something right now. A great offer is the single best way to turn a random person scrolling into a paying customer. It doesn’t have to be complicated, either.
Just think, what would make someone actually pick up the phone or walk through your door today?
Here are a few simple ideas that work like magic:
- For a service business: “Show this ad for 10% off your first service!”
- For a restaurant: “Get a free appetizer when you mention this Facebook ad.”
- For a retail store: “First 20 people to show this ad get a free gift with purchase.”
These kinds of offers make people feel like they’re getting a special deal and that they should act fast. This is a huge part of making your Facebook ads for local businesses make you money. You’re not just running an ad; you’re giving them an easy, risk-free reason to give you a try.
The best ad is one that feels less like an ad and more like a helpful tip or a special invitation from a neighbor.
Keeping your ads simple and direct is a big piece of the puzzle. For a deeper look at how this simple approach is evolving, our team put together some great insights on how super simple ads just got even better. This is all about making your business look as amazing online as it is in person. If you get stuck, don’t sweat it—we’re here to help you nail it.
Setting a Smart Ad Budget That Won’t Break the Bank
Alright, let’s talk about the big scary topic: money.
A lot of local business owners think you need a giant pile of cash to run Facebook ads, but that’s just not true. The best part about these ads is that you are in 100% control of every single penny you spend.
You can really start with a budget smaller than your daily coffee run. Seriously. We’re not talking about giant, risky bets here. We’re talking about smart, tiny tests to see what actually gets your phone to ring. The goal is to spend smart, not big.
Daily Budget vs. Lifetime Budget
When you set up your ad, Facebook will ask if you want a “daily” or a “lifetime” budget. Don’t let the fancy words trip you up. It’s simple:
- Daily Budget: This is like giving your kid $5 for lunch money each day. Facebook will spend around $5 every single day. It’s perfect when you want a steady trickle of new customers.
- Lifetime Budget: This is like giving your kid $35 for the whole week. They can spend it however they want. You set a total amount for the ad, and Facebook figures out the best times to spend it.
For most local businesses just getting started, a daily budget is the easiest way to go. Kick things off with just $5 or $10 a day and see what happens. You can always turn it up or shut it off later. You’re in control.
Start Small, Then Bet on the Winner
The smartest way to handle your ad money is to think like a gardener. You’re going to plant a few small seeds (your different ads) and only water the ones that actually start growing into money-making flowers.
Don’t throw your whole budget at one ad and cross your fingers. That’s a rookie mistake. Instead, test a few different ads with small daily budgets. This is the secret to making every dollar count.
After a few days, you’ll see which ad is getting you more calls or website clicks. That’s your winner. Shut off the ads that aren’t working and move their money over to the one that is. It’s a simple, proven way to make sure your money is working as hard as you do.
You might be shocked at how cheap this really is. Research shows many small businesses start with a monthly Facebook ad budget between $100 and $500. The money you get back can be huge, with the average cost for a click hovering around $0.77 for ads built to get website visitors. You can dig into more stats about small business ad spending at mafostmarketing.com.
Feeling a little unsure about where to start? That’s totally okay. We can help you set up a smart starting budget that feels comfortable and gets you on the path to real results. You can do this.
Tracking Your Results (Without the Headache)
Your ads are officially out there! Now for the big question… are they actually working?
Opening up Facebook’s Ads Manager for the first time can feel like you’re looking at the control panel of a spaceship. Don’t worry. We’re going to completely ignore the confusing charts and focus only on the numbers that actually put money in your pocket.
Think of it like checking the scoreboard of a game. You don’t need to know every single stat; you just need to know who’s winning.
The image below shows you how to check your key numbers in a simple way.
This simple view tells you which ads are winners and which ones are duds.
What Really Matters for Your Local Business
Forget about silly numbers like “impressions” or getting a million “likes.” While those might feel good, they don’t pay the bills. For a local business, success is simple.
These are the only numbers you need to care about:
- Phone Calls: How many people saw your ad and called you?
- Direction Clicks: How many new customers tapped the map to find your shop?
- Form Fills: How many people filled out your contact form asking for a price?
That’s it.
If your ad for a lunch special led to 15 reservation calls, it’s a huge winner. If another ad gets tons of likes but zero business, you know it’s time to pause it and put your money on the winner. A big piece of this is knowing how to measure marketing ROI so you know your ad dollars are working for you, not against you.
This whole thing is about making smart choices based on real results, not guesswork.
Making Smart Choices with Simple Info
Looking at your ad results shouldn’t give you a headache. It’s simply a tool that tells you what your customers want.
And right now, the numbers are looking good for local businesses. The average click-through rate is expected to climb to 1.8%, and the cost per click is down to just $0.85. Even better, the cost to get a new lead has dropped to around $22, making it cheaper than ever to bring new people through the door.
Think of it this way: Your ad results are just your local community telling you what they like. All you have to do is listen and give them more of it.
You absolutely can do this. It’s a simple process of trying something, listening to the results, and making small changes. If you ever feel stuck looking at the numbers, just remember what you’re looking for: calls, clicks for directions, and new leads. That’s the whole game.
Your Top Questions Answered
Jumping into something new always brings up a few questions. That’s a good thing! It means you’re thinking like a smart business owner. We’ve heard every question in the book, so we pulled together the ones that come up the most.
You’re about to see this is way easier than you think. You’ve got this.
How Much Money Should I Actually Spend on Facebook Ads?
Let’s bust this myth right now: you do not need a mountain of cash to start. In fact, you shouldn’t spend a lot at first.
Start with a small, test budget of just $5 to $10 per day. Think of this as your “let’s see what happens” money.
That small amount is plenty for Facebook to find some local customers and start showing you what’s working. Let your ads run for about a week to get a real feel for how they’re doing. If an ad starts making the phone ring, that’s your green light to put more money behind it. It’s that simple.
What’s More Important: My Ad Picture or the Words I Write?
For a local business, the picture is what stops the scroll. End of story.
A real, normal photo of your work—that yummy pizza, a happy customer, or your team on the job—will always beat a fake-looking stock photo. People’s eyes go straight to the picture.
Once your picture grabs their attention, your words close the deal. This is where you make your special offer super clear and tell them exactly what to do next.
Start with a great, real photo from your phone. Then, write simple words that solve your customer’s problem. The two together are pure gold.
How Do I Know if My Ads Are Actually Getting People in the Door?
This is the million-dollar question, and the answer is surprisingly simple. Forget fancy tracking stuff.
The easiest way to know for sure is to create an offer that only exists in your ad.
Here are a few ideas that work every single time:
- “Mention this Facebook ad for a free coffee with your purchase.”
- “Show this post on your phone to get 10% off your entire meal.”
- “Use the secret code ‘FACEBOOK’ to get a free appetizer.”
When a customer walks in and uses that special offer, you have 100% proof your ad is working. It draws a straight line from their phone screen to your cash register. This simple trick takes away all the guessing and shows you exactly where your new business is coming from.
Feeling better about this? You should be. These ads are a powerful tool you can start using today. And you can do it!
If you want a partner to help you get it right the first time, the team at The Cherubini Company is here for you. We skip the confusing talk and focus on what actually matters: getting you more customers.
Ready to grow? Let’s talk about a simple ad plan for your business at https://cherubinicompany.com.
