Facebook Ads Strategy for Local Businesses: Targeting Your Neighborhood
If you own a coffee shop, a gym, or a hair salon, you don't need to reach people in a different state. You don't even need people on the other side of town. You need the people who live and work right next door. Facebook is the ultimate tool for this because it knows exactly where everyone is.
Local advertising is different from online sales. Your goal isn't to get them to click; it is to get them to walk through your door.
The "Radius" Setting
When you set up your Ad Set, go to the Location settings. Type in your business address. Then, select "Radius." You can shrink this down to as small as 1 to 5 miles. Now, you are only paying to show ads to your actual neighbors.
The "Local" Hook
Call out the location in your ad text! "Hey [City Name]!" or "Live in [Neighborhood]? Come grab a free coffee." When people see their own town name, they almost always stop scrolling. It feels relevant to them.
Exclude Your Current Customers
You can upload a list of your current email subscribers and "Exclude" them. This ensures you are only spending money finding new people, not advertising to regulars who were coming in anyway.
Visuals that Feel Local
Don't use generic stock photos of a coffee shop. Use a photo of your shop front. People will recognize it. Stirling helps you take your local photos and turn them into polished ads that still feel authentic to your neighborhood.
