If you’re a local business owner trying to make Facebook Ads for your business work, you’ve probably had this thought: “I’m spending money, but where are the customers?”
Facebook Ads can bring in a steady flow of local leads—but only if you know what you’re doing. Otherwise, you’re just throwing money at Mark Zuckerberg and hoping for the best. Let’s fix that.
Here’s exactly what works for local businesses in 2025, and how you can make your ad budget count.
1. Targeting – Don’t Advertise to Everyone
Facebook’s strength is in hyper-targeting, and yet I see so many businesses setting their audience to “Everyone in a 50-mile radius.” That’s like casting a fishing net in an empty pond.
Instead, narrow it down:
- Location – Keep it tight. If you’re a café, target people within 5-10 miles of your shop.
- Interests & Behaviours – Target people who engage with similar businesses, like “organic skincare” for a local beauty brand.
- Custom Audiences – Retarget people who’ve visited your website, interacted with your page, or signed up for your emails.
The more specific your targeting, the more relevant your audience. And relevance = better results.
2. Run Facebook Ads That Actually Speak to People
Nobody stops scrolling for a bland “We’re the best bakery in town” ad. You need something that makes people pause.
The best ad creatives for local businesses?
- Real Photos & Videos – No one relates to stock images. Show your actual product, service, or team in action.
- Customer Testimonials – Social proof works. Feature a happy customer’s review.
- Limited-Time Offers – Scarcity gets people to act. Try: “50% off for the first 10 customers this weekend!”
3. Use Lead Forms for Easy Conversions (Yes, Facebook Ads offers this for your Local Business)
If the goal with facebook ads for your local business is to get calls, bookings, or inquiries, don’t send people to your website and hope they take action. Use Facebook’s Lead Forms.
Why?
- They auto-fill user info, making sign-ups fast.
- They keep people on Facebook, which means higher conversion rates.
- You can instantly collect leads without needing a complicated website setup.
For example, a local gym could run an ad saying:
“Get 3 Free Trial Classes – Sign Up Below!”
Boom. Instant leads.
4. Budgeting – Start Small, Scale Smart
A big mistake? Throwing a huge budget at ads before testing.
Start with $5-10/day on multiple ad variations, then:
- Kill the underperformers (ads with low engagement & high cost per result).
- Scale the winners by increasing the budget gradually.
5. Retargeting – The Secret Weapon
Most people won’t buy on the first click. That’s why you need to use facebook ads smartly. And that can be done by retargeting them.
Use retargeting ads for:
- People who visited your site but didn’t take action.
- People who watched your video ad but didn’t sign up.
- People who engaged with your posts but didn’t follow your page.
These warm leads already know you—they just need a nudge.
Facebook Ads work for local businesses, but only when done right. Target smart, use real creatives, test your budget, and don’t ignore retargeting.
Set up your next ad campaign with these strategies, and let me know how it goes. Got a question? Drop it below, and let’s get your ads working.