Should You Run Ads on Facebook, Google — or Both?

If you’re a small business owner in New England trying to grow your customer base, chances are you’ve been told to “run some ads” — but no one tells you where to start.

Should you advertise on Google, where people are actively searching?

Or on Facebook and Instagram, where people are scrolling and discovering?

Or… both?

Let’s break down the pros, cons, and best use cases of each — and how to make the most of your budget.

Google Ads: Intent-Driven Advertising

When someone types “plumber near me” or “best pizza in Fall River” into Google, they’re actively looking for something. That’s why Google Ads (specifically Search Ads) are so powerful — they capture demand right when it’s happening.

Pros:

• High-intent traffic = more qualified leads
• Immediate visibility for specific keywords
• Works great for local service-based businesses
• Easy to track conversions (calls, forms, sales)

Cons:

• Can get expensive in competitive industries
• Limited reach if you’re not targeting the right keywords
• Requires tight campaign setup and ongoing optimization

Best for: Contractors, home services, medical/dental offices, and businesses that solve urgent problems

Facebook & Instagram Ads: Interest-Driven Discovery

Facebook and Instagram ads don’t wait for someone to search — they appear in front of your ideal customer based on interests, demographics, and behavior. This makes them great for increasing brand awareness, promoting events, and retargeting past visitors.

Pros:

• Highly visual, brand-building ad formats (images, video, stories)
• Powerful audience targeting tools
• Great for retargeting and growing long-term awareness
• Lower cost per click compared to Google in many industries

Cons:

• Users aren’t actively shopping or searching — lower intent
• Can burn budget fast if not properly targeted
• Creative plays a much bigger role in performance

Best for: Restaurants, eCommerce, event promotion, local shops, and brand awareness campaigns

Why the Best Strategy Might Be… Both

Here’s the truth: Google and Facebook/Instagram ads work best together. They serve different purposes in the customer journey, and combining them builds a full-funnel strategy.

• Use Google Ads to capture customers with immediate buying intent
• Use Facebook/Instagram Ads to build awareness, warm up audiences, and stay top-of-mind
• Use retargeting ads to bring back visitors who didn’t convert the first time

This combo creates a digital one-two punch — building your brand and closing the deal.

What LeadsEasy Does Differently

At LeadsEasy Solutions, we help New England businesses get the best of both worlds. We don’t just “run some ads” — we build cross-platform campaigns that are:

• Targeted by location, audience, and behavior
• Designed with clear calls-to-action
• Measured and optimized for real ROI
• Aligned with your business goals (not just vanity clicks)

Whether you’re just starting out or trying to fix a campaign that’s underperforming, we’ll help you build a strategy that’s smart, efficient, and built to grow.