Social Media Ads vs. Google Ads: Choosing the Right Advertising Platform for Your Business
“I want to advertise online, but I’m not sure where to start or which platform is best for my business.”
Getting Started with Online Advertising
Every business has different goals, and your advertising strategy should align with them. Ask yourself:
– Do I want to increase brand awareness in my local area?
– Am I driving traffic to a blog or landing page?
– Do I need more online sales from people ready to buy?
Starting with your goal and working backward helps you choose the right platform and approach. Let’s explore two of the biggest options: social media ads and Google search ads.
Why Social Media Ads Work for Small Businesses
Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn let businesses promote content and reach targeted audiences. This is an excellent way to build brand awareness and connect with potential customers at a low cost.
Example: Travel Agency Campaign
Imagine you’re a travel agent noticing a spike in interest for warm-weather vacations during winter. You write a blog post: “Top 3 Caribbean Islands for a Family Vacation in 2025.”
With Facebook’s targeting tools, you promote the post to users who:
Follow Caribbean travel pages
Recently searched for family vacations
Engaged with similar content
For just $30, your ad could bring in 20–40 website visitors at about $1–$2 per click. Even if they don’t book immediately, you now have the chance to:
Build trust and credibility
Capture leads via a newsletter signup
Send follow-up content like a welcome email
Social media ads can support many marketing goals, including:
Driving website traffic, growing brand awareness, generating leads, increasing calls, and more.
Want to try social media advertising? Check out my Sponsored Social Media page!
How Google Search Ads Drive Sales for Businesses
While social media ads introduce your business to new audiences, Google search ads target users already looking for what you offer.
Example: Google Ads for a Travel Agency
If someone searches “Caribbean family vacation” on Google, your agency’s ad can appear at the top of the results. With the right keywords and compelling ad copy, you can:
Capture high-intent prospects
Drive clicks from people ready to book
Get the most value from your ad spend
Google Ads can also help with:
Driving website traffic, promoting your store location on Google Maps, encouraging phone calls to your business and more. The adoption of AI Overview results on Google may change how this channel performs. See my recent blog, “AI and the Changing Landscape of Google Ads, PPC, and SEM“.
Want to test Google Ads? Check out my Google Search page!
The Bottom Line
Small businesses can succeed without paid advertising, but it takes time and effort to grow organically. A well-planned campaign can: Free up your time while generating leads Ensure your marketing dollars bring in real results
Help your business reach ready-to-buy customers
I understand the challenges of small business marketing—you’re already handling accounting, hiring, and day-to-day operations. Let me help take marketing off your plate.
If you’re interested in marketing consulting, let’s connect and chat more!