3 Tips for Running Facebook Ads for a Local Business

Are you wondering how to maximize Facebook Ads for a local business?  Have you been boosting posts but not really seeing the results you want?

Often times the type of ad you are running as well as where you are sending the traffic can make a HUGE difference in your results.

Tip #1  Don’t Segment Your Audience Too Small

With local businesses you are going to have a natural restriction on audience size based on the local area.

Because of that, you don’t want to add too many keywords to your targeting so that your audience is restricted.

Even with just the minimal demographics your potential reach can be restricted.

It’s better to keep the reach more open and let the text and the image appeal to your perfect customer.

Targeting Facebook ads for local business

If you are retargeting your website visitors or customers for a sales ad then you can target a narrow audience.  But when trying to reach a new audience, it’s better to keep the targeting open.

Tip #2 Optimize Where You Are Sending the Facebook Ads Traffic

If you are sending the Facebook Ads traffic to your website, make sure the page on your website speaks to that specific promotion or message you have in the ad itself.

For special offers, you can create a page on your site that talks about the offer and then tells them what to do next.

If you can’t send the traffic to your website (maybe your website can’t be updated or changed or it’s not that good) then you may consider something like a Lead Generation ad or an Engagement or Video Ad or even a Messenger Ad where you are keeping the traffic on Facebook.

Tip #3 Use Video!

Video is a great way to engage a potential local audience!  Here are some good ideas on videos you can create:

  • Give a tour of the store
  • Talk about how you started the business and why you are passionate about it
  • Interview an employee
  • Talk about what the experience is like working with your business
  • Interview a customer
  • Show behind the scenes
  • Promote a special deal

The good news is, casual videos are often getting better results than super polished professional videos.  So just grab your phone and do a quick video!  You can then use that video in an ad where you invite people to contact you or come in for more information.

Video is also great for creating a custom audience of people who have watched your video that you can retarget later.

Video Views for local business

Bonus Tip:  Store Visits Objective

A quick bonus tip for choosing the objective of your ad.  Store Visits sounds like a great option for a local business because of course you want people to come in your store!  But that objective is ONLY for businesses on Facebook that have multiple locations such as Starbucks or Home Depot.

If you do have multiple locations you may still not be able to use this feature because it’s still rolling out.  It’s also calculated based on people who have location services enabled on their phone.

You can find out more here:  https://www.facebook.com/business/help/175683976191028

How about you, have you tried Facebook ads for your local business?  Share your results in the comments below!

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