What Local Ads Actually Work (And Which Ones Waste Your Budget)
- Thaddeus Sieverding
- Apr 12
- 2 min read
You’ve got a limited budget. A million things to manage. And a whole lot of people telling you to “just run some ads.”
Cool. But what kind of ads? Where? For how long? And is it actually worth it?
Let’s break it down — what works, what doesn’t, and how to get real results from your local advertising without throwing cash into the void.
🟢 Ads That Work for Local Small Businesses
✅ 1. Google Business Profile Boosting
If you’re a local business with a storefront or service area, this is gold. It puts you right in front of people already searching things like:
“coffee near me”
“massage therapist Concord NH”
“best gift shop in [your town]”
Boosting your Google Business Profile can bring fast visibility with high-intent customers.
✅ 2. Facebook + Instagram Event Ads
Have a sale, class, or launch coming up? Event ads work well because:
They’re local-friendly
You can target by zip code, age, interests
They drive RSVP clicks and awareness
Low cost, high visibility — especially in rural or semi-rural areas.
✅ 3. Retargeting Ads
Ever visit a website and see that brand pop up again later? That’s retargeting — and it works.
We set these up to follow visitors after they check out your site, keeping you top of mind when they’re ready to buy or book.
🔴 Ads That Usually Don’t Work (Unless You’re Huge)
🚫 1. Random Print Ads Without a Clear Call to Action
We love local newspapers — but if you’re running a print ad that just says your name and logo?
It’s not doing much.
Unless it’s part of a campaign or tied to an event, print-only ads are more “brand awareness” than “lead-generating.” Great for big budgets — not small ones.
🚫 2. Boosting Social Posts Without a Strategy
Pressing “Boost Post” is tempting — but it’s not magic. Unless you’ve got:
A clear goal
Strong creative
Targeted audience
...you're basically just paying to show your content to more random people.
🚫 3. Directory Listings With No Traffic
If someone’s selling you space on a “local business guide” but can’t show how many actual visitors they get? Pass.
If no one sees it, it doesn’t matter how pretty the listing is.
🛠 How Boost Canvas Makes Local Ads Work (Without Wasting Money)
We do local differently. We:
Build ad campaigns with a goal in mind (not just “visibility”)
Target real people in your region who match your customer profile
Set clear budgets, timelines, and reports so you know what’s working
No guesswork. No fluff. Just strategy.
Want a Free Local Ad Check-Up?
If you’ve run ads before — or never have — we’ll take a look and tell you what’s worth your time and what’s not.
📞 Book your free consult and we’ll walk you through it.
Comments