Google + Meta advertising
Google Ads vs Meta Ads: which to run, and when to run both.
Google and Meta solve different problems. Google Ads reaches people who already need a service and are searching for it. Meta Ads reaches people earlier, while they browse Facebook and Instagram. Used together, both can send people to the same landing page, the same lead capture and the same tracking.
Two ways customers find a business
One channel catches demand. The other builds it.
Google Ads
Captures demand that already exists.
- 01Customer already needs the serviceTheir roof is leaking.
- 02Searches Google“roof repair Ottawa”
- 03Finds your businessYour ad appears for that search and they click.
Meta Ads
Creates awareness earlier.
- 01Customer is browsingScrolling Instagram in the evening.
- 02Sees your businessA before-and-after photo of a finished job.
- 03Develops interestTaps to see more, or remembers you later.
Both lead into the same system
- 01Landing pageA page about that specific service or offer.
- 02Lead captureCall button, quote form or booking link.
- 03TrackingRecords which channel produced the enquiry.
- 04Follow-upThe business replies quickly.
A simplified diagram of how the two channels connect. Real campaigns are set up around each business, its services and its area.
Why use both
Why a business might run both channels
Most local businesses have two kinds of potential customer. Some need the service now and search for it. Others will need it later but are not looking yet.
Take a heating company. A homeowner whose furnace stopped working searches Google that evening. A homeowner thinking about replacing an old system next year is not searching yet, but might notice an Instagram ad about heat pump installation in their area. Google reaches the first person. Meta reaches the second.
Running both also helps people recognise you. Someone who has seen your work on Facebook or Instagram may be more inclined to choose your name when it appears in a Google search later.
The two channels are only half of it. Both need to send people to a page built for the service, make it easy to call or enquire, and record where each enquiry came from.
Start with Google when
- People already search for what you sell.
- The need is urgent, like a leak, a breakdown or a lockout.
- You want enquiries sooner rather than later.
Start with Meta when
- People do not know your service exists, so they do not search for it.
- The work is visual and looks good in a photo or video.
- The decision takes weeks, and staying in view matters.
- You want to reach people who visited your site and left.
Worth knowing
Starting with one channel is often the right call
Splitting a small budget across two channels from day one can leave both without enough activity to learn what works. It is usually better to run one channel properly, find out what produces enquiries, and then add the second.
On a strategy call we look at your services, your area and how your customers find you now, and recommend where to start. Sometimes the answer is Google first, sometimes Meta first, and sometimes the website needs fixing before either.
How AdVelocity helps
What we manage when both channels run
One plan
- Decide which services each channel should promote.
- Split budget based on where enquiries are coming from, not on guesswork.
Consistent messaging
- The same offer and wording on Google, Facebook, Instagram and the landing page.
- Landing pages built for the services being advertised.
One record of results
- Calls, forms and bookings tracked by channel.
- Plain reporting that compares Google and Meta side by side.
Read more about Google Ads, Meta Ads, landing pages and conversion tracking.
Questions
Google Ads vs Meta Ads: quick answers
Next step
Not sure which channel fits your business?
Book a free strategy call. We will look at how your customers find you now and recommend where to start.
