If you own a small local business and want more people to know about your services, Meta Ads can help. Meta Ads are advertisements that run on Facebook and Instagram. These platforms are used by millions of people every day, making them perfect for attracting local customers.
This guide will show you how to use Meta Ads to get leads for your local business in a simple and effective way.
Why Knowing How to use Meta Ads to get Leads for your Local Business Matters?
Meta Ads allow you to target the exact people who are most likely to visit or buy from your shop. Here’s why they work so well:
- 🎯 Location-Based Targeting – You can show your ads to people living or working near your shop.
- 💰 Budget-Friendly – You can start advertising with as little as ₹100 per day.
- 📱 Mobile Reach – Most people use Facebook and Instagram on their phones. Your ad reaches them where they scroll the most.
- 📋 Lead Forms Inside the App – Users don’t need to leave Facebook or Instagram to give their information.
Step 1: Set Up Your Meta Business Account
Before creating an ad, set up your Meta Business Manager. Here’s how:
- Go to business.facebook.com.
- Add your Facebook Page and connect your Instagram account.
- Create your ad account and add your payment method.
- If you have a website, install the Meta Pixel to track visitors and retarget them later.
Now you’re ready to start running ads.
Step 2: Choose the Right Objective (Lead Generation)
When you create a new ad, Meta asks for your goal. Since we want to collect leads, choose:
- ✅ Lead Generation – Best for collecting names, phone numbers, or emails directly from the ad.
- 💬 Messages – Good if you want users to chat with you on WhatsApp or Messenger.
- 🌐 Conversions – Useful if you have a website with a contact or booking form.
For most local businesses, Lead Generation is the easiest and fastest way to start.
Step 3: Target the Right People
You don’t need to show your ads to everyone. Instead, target only those who are likely to visit or contact you.
Here’s how to do it:
- 📍 Location: Set a pin around your business area (2–10 km radius).
- 🧑🦱 Age & Gender: Choose the age group and gender who usually buy from you.
- 💡 Interests: If you run a gym, target people interested in fitness or healthy living.
- 📃 Custom Audiences: Upload your customer list and reach them again.
- 🧬 Lookalike Audiences: Meta finds new people who are similar to your past customers.
This makes your ads more effective and saves money.
Step 4: Create a Simple Yet Attractive Ad
Your ad should be clear and visually appealing. You don’t need a fancy video, just good content that speaks directly to your audience.
Tips for a Great Ad:
- Use a high-quality photo or short video showing your service or happy customer.
- Write a clear headline, like “Get 20% Off Your First Visit!”
- Add a short description explaining the offer or benefit.
- Include a Call to Action (CTA) such as “Book Now,” “Call Us,” or “Send Message.”
Make sure your ad looks natural and friendly. Avoid too much text or flashy designs.
Step 5: Set a Budget and Schedule
Meta Ads let you decide how much you want to spend. You can start small and increase once you see results.
Start With:
- 📅 Daily Budget: ₹200–₹500 per day.
- ⏰ Schedule: Run ads during the hours your business is open.
- 🔄 Duration: Let the ad run for at least 5–7 days to gather enough data.
You can also create 2-3 versions of the same ad to see which one performs better. This is called A/B testing.
Step 6: Collect Leads with a Form or Message
If you use the Lead Generation objective, Meta lets you create a form. People can fill it out without leaving the app.
Lead Form Tips:
- Keep it short. Ask only for the name, email, and phone number.
- Write a friendly message, like “Book your free trial today!”
- Add your privacy policy link if needed.
- Use a thank-you message after submission.
If you prefer WhatsApp leads, connect your business number and guide users with an automatic welcome message like:
“Hi 👋 Thanks for contacting us! How can we help you today?”
Step 7: Track and Improve Your Ad
Once your ad is live, you must check its performance using Meta Ads Manager.
Watch These Metrics:
- 📈 Reach – How many people saw your ad?
- 👆 CTR (Click-Through Rate) – Are people clicking on your ad?
- 🧾 Cost Per Lead (CPL) – How much are you paying for each lead?
If you notice low results:
- Change the image or text.
- Adjust the audience.
- Try a different offer.
Small changes can lead to better results.
Step 8: Follow Up Quickly
Getting a lead is just the first step. You must contact them fast to convert them into customers.
Follow-up Methods:
- 📞 Call them within 24 hours.
- 💬 Send a WhatsApp message thanking them for their interest.
- 📧 Email them if your service doesn’t need a call.
Use Google Sheets or a free CRM tool to organize your leads.
The faster you respond, the better your chances of converting the lead into a sale.
Step 9: Retarget Interested People
Not everyone who clicks your ad will fill the form. Some will visit your page or website and leave.
Use retargeting ads to reach those people again. These ads remind them about your offer and increase the chance they’ll convert next time.
Example: Someone watched your service video but didn’t fill out the form—retarget them with a message like:
“Still thinking? Here’s 10% off if you book today!”
Step 10: Use Special Offers, Events, and Reviews
To make your ad more attractive:
- 🎉 Promote a limited-time offer like “Free consultation this weekend only.”
- 📆 Run ads to invite people to your local event or workshop.
- ⭐ Add customer reviews or ratings in your ad to build trust.
People love real stories and deals—they build confidence and drive action.
Real-Life Example for How to use Meta Ads to get Leads for your Local Business
A bakery in Delhi used Meta Ads to promote a “Buy 1 Get 1 Free” offer on cupcakes.
They ran a ₹250/day campaign targeting women aged 20–40 within 5 km.
- Ad headline: “Sweet Deal! Buy 1 Cupcake, Get 1 Free Today Only!”
- Result: 150 leads in 7 days.
- Conversion rate: 65% through WhatsApp follow-ups.
Final Thoughts on how to use Meta Ads to get leads for your local business.
Now you know exactly how to use Meta Ads to get leads for your local business. It doesn’t matter if you own a salon, café, gym, or tuition center—Meta Ads help you reach your local audience and grow faster.
Here’s a quick recap:
- Set up your business account
- Choose lead generation as the goal
- Target the right people nearby
- Use a clear and simple ad
- Collect leads and follow up quickly
- Retarget those who didn’t convert
Start with a small budget, test, learn, and improve. The results will speak for themselves!
Need help setting up your Meta Ads?
Contact us at KhushiDM.com or DM us on Instagram at @khushidigi.
Let’s turn clicks into customers! 🚀