Never advertised before? How to start with Google or Facebook ads

Your business already gets customers from word of mouth, repeat visits or social media. Ads are the next step: a way to reach people who have not heard of you yet. Here is how to try them without betting the business on it.

Start small, on purpose

You do not need a big-company budget to start. We recommend an ad budget of at least $800 to $1,000 a month. That is enough to learn what works for your type of business and your market.

The first two months are a test. Ads need a little time to learn who responds to them. Two months is enough to truly see if advertising works for your business.
You choose the amount. The ad budget is yours. You can change it anytime.
You grow when you are ready. Once you see what brings customers, you raise the budget at your own pace.

Pick one place to start

If people search for what you sell ("plumber near me", "accountant in San Francisco"), start with Google. If people need to see it before they want it (a restaurant, a med spa, a shop), start with Facebook and Instagram. Our guide Google Ads or Facebook Ads helps you choose.

What it costs

There are two costs, and they are separate:

Your ad budget. It goes straight to Google or Facebook, not to us.
Someone to run the ads. Our Growth plan is $1,250 a month, with a $500 one-time setup and a 2-month minimum. After that, it is month to month.

Not sure ads are right for you yet? Book a Strategy Session: one hour with an expert for $300, an honest answer on what will work, and written next steps. If you join Growth later, the $300 counts toward your first month. More detail in How much do Google Ads cost?

Ads bring the customer. Someone still has to answer.

An ad can bring you a call, an email or a message. If nobody answers quickly, that money is wasted. This is why our Growth plan is more than ads:

Grow One, our app, for you and 2 teammates, set up around your business. When you start, it asks about your business, so what it writes fits you. It drafts your replies to customer emails, your follow-ups and your invoice reminders. You approve them before anything is sent.
A 1-hour call every month about your marketing and how AI can save you time.
An expert you can message anytime, with answers within 24 hours.

What to have ready before you start

A clear offer. What you sell, to whom, and in what area.
A way to reach you. A phone number, a form or a simple page. No website? Grow One builds your landing page.
A way to know what worked. Ask new customers how they found you. We send you a short report every month.

Quick answers

How much money do I need to start advertising?

We recommend an ad budget of at least $800 to $1,000 a month, paid straight to Google or Facebook. Having us run the ads is $1,250 a month on our Growth plan, with a $500 one-time setup.

How long before I know if ads are working?

Give it two months. Ads need a little time to learn what works, and two months is enough to truly see if advertising works for your business. That is why our Growth plan has a 2-month minimum. Every month you get a short report: what you spent and what you got.

Do I have to sign a long contract?

No. The only commitment on our Growth plan is the first 2 months. After that, it is month to month.