When it comes to marketing your small business or real estate services, word of mouth and organic social media only go so far. Paid advertising, especially on Facebook and Google, can help you reach the right people at the right time—without wasting money on the wrong audience. If the idea of running ads feels overwhelming, don’t worry. This beginner-friendly guide will break it down into simple steps so you can start building campaigns that actually work for your business.
Why Paid Ads Matter for Local Businesses
Whether you’re a boutique shop, a contractor, or a real estate professional, visibility is everything. Paid ads give you three powerful advantages:
- Targeting precision – Show your ads to people in your city, neighborhood, or ZIP code.
- Budget control – Start small; even $5–10 a day can get results when spent strategically.
- Quick results – Unlike organic posts or SEO, paid ads can generate leads, clicks, or calls almost instantly.
Facebook Ads: Building Awareness and Relationships
Facebook is perfect for businesses that want to build trust and stay top-of-mind. Here’s how to make it work for you:
- Audience targeting: Narrow your audience by age, interests, and location. For real estate pros, you can target people moving into or within your market (just remember Facebook’s housing ad policies require special “Housing Category” selection for compliance).
- Ad formats: Use image or video ads for listings, promotions, or storytelling. Carousel ads are great for showcasing multiple products or homes in one post.
- Pro tip: Instead of only promoting listings or products, mix in helpful content—like home-buying tips, local events, or behind-the-scenes stories. This keeps your ads engaging instead of salesy.
Google Ads: Capturing Ready-to-Buy Leads
If Facebook is about building awareness, Google Ads is about capturing intent. People searching “best real estate agent near me” or “coffee shop downtown [city name]” are already in buying mode.
- Keywords matter: Choose search terms your ideal customers are typing into Google. For example: “homes for sale [city],” “open houses near me,” or “[service] in [city].”
- Local focus: Set your ads to only appear in your geographic service area. Why pay for clicks in another state if you only serve your town?
- Pro tip: Use Google’s call extensions so people can dial your business directly from the ad—perfect for capturing leads in the moment.
How Much Should You Spend?
A common question: “What’s a good budget?” The answer depends on your goals, but here are some starting points:
- Facebook: $5–15 per day can help build brand awareness and engagement.
- Google: $10–25 per day is often enough to test keywords and start generating leads.
- Start small, track results, and scale up once you see what’s working.
Tracking and Measuring Success
Ads are only useful if you know they’re working. Pay attention to:
- Click-through rate (CTR) – Are people interested enough to click?
- Conversions – How many leads, calls, or sales did your ad generate?
- Cost per result – How much did you pay for each action?
Both Facebook and Google provide dashboards that make this easy to follow.
Final Thoughts
Paid advertising doesn’t have to be intimidating. Think of it as a digital version of putting your sign in the right place at the right time. For local businesses and real estate professionals, Facebook and Google Ads can be a cost-effective way to stay visible, generate leads, and grow your brand.
Start small, stay consistent, and refine as you go—you’ll be surprised at how quickly you gain traction.
👉 Want help setting up your first campaign or fine-tuning your ad strategy? Let’s connect—I’d love to help you make your marketing dollars work smarter.
LK Marketing and Real Estate 
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