Facebook Local Ads: The Ultimate Guide for UK Businesses
Are you a UK business owner looking to get more local customers through your doors?
Facebook local ads could be the game-changer you’ve been searching for.
At Socially Spotted, we specialise in helping businesses like yours reach the right people in your area, boost foot traffic, and drive real results—all without breaking the bank.
In this guide, we’ll show you exactly how to use Facebook local ads to grow your business, step by step.
Why Facebook Local Ads Matter for UK Businesses
Let’s face it: traditional advertising—like flyers, local papers, or radio—can be expensive and hard to track.
Facebook local ads, on the other hand, are designed specifically to help you connect with people nearby who are most likely to become your customers.
Here’s why Facebook local ads are so powerful:
- Hyper-targeted reach: Show your ads only to people within a set distance of your business (even as specific as 1 mile!).
- Affordable: You control your budget and can start with as little as £1 a day.
- Measurable: Track exactly how many people saw, clicked, or acted on your ad.
- Flexible: Promote special offers, events, new products, or just raise awareness about your business.
According to Ofcom’s Online Nation report, over 80% of UK adults use social media regularly, and Facebook remains the most popular platform. That’s a huge local audience you can tap into!
What Are Facebook Local Ads?
Facebook local ads are a type of advertising campaign designed to reach people near your physical business location.
When you set up a local ad, you can choose a specific radius (for example, 3 miles around your shop in Manchester) and target people who live, work, or are just passing through.
Local ads can help you:
- Drive foot traffic to your store, café, restaurant, or event
- Promote time-sensitive offers (like “20% off this weekend!”)
- Build awareness in your neighbourhood
- Encourage calls, messages, or website visits from nearby customers
These ads appear in users’ Facebook and Instagram feeds, Stories, and even Messenger, making them hard to miss.
How to Set Up Facebook Local Ads: Step-by-Step
Ready to get started? Here’s how you can create your first Facebook local ad:
Set Up Your Facebook Business Page
If you haven’t already, create a Facebook Business Page. This is essential for running any ads.
Go to Facebook Ads Manager
Head over to Facebook Ads Manager. This is where you’ll create, manage, and track your ads.
Choose Your Campaign Objective
For local ads, the best objectives are usually:
- Reach: Show your ad to as many people as possible in your area.
- Store Traffic: Encourage people nearby to visit your physical location.
- Messages: Get people to send you a message for more info or to book.
Define Your Audience
This is the most important step for local ads:
- Location: Enter your business address and set a radius (from 1 to 50 miles).
- For most local businesses, 1-5 miles works best.
- Demographics: Choose age, gender, and other factors if needed.
- Detailed Targeting: Add interests or behaviours if you want to narrow your audience further (e.g., people interested in “coffee” for a café).
Set Your Budget & Schedule
- Decide how much you want to spend per day or for the entire campaign.
- Choose your start and end dates, or run your ad continuously.
Create Your Ad
- Format: Use a single image, video, carousel (multiple images), or slideshow.
- Creative: Use high-quality photos of your business, products, or happy customers. Videos work great for showing your vibe!
- Text: Write a clear, friendly message. Mention your location and any special offers.
- Call to Action: Use buttons like “Get Directions,” “Call Now,” “Send Message,” or “Learn More.”
Review & Launch
Double-check your settings, preview your ad, and hit “Publish.” Your ad will start showing to people in your chosen area!
Best Practices for Facebook Local Ads
Want to get the most out of your local ads? Follow these tried-and-tested tips:
Use Local Language and Landmarks
Mention your town, neighbourhood, or nearby landmarks in your ad copy. For example:
“Pop in for a fresh pastry on Oxford Road, just next to the library!”
Highlight Special Offers
Give people a reason to visit now. Limited-time deals, discounts, or freebies work wonders.
Use Eye-Catching Visuals
Bright, clear images of your storefront, products, or happy customers will grab attention as people scroll.
Keep It Simple
Don’t overload your ad with info. Focus on one clear message and call to action.
Test and Optimise
Try different images, headlines, and offers. Use Facebook’s built-in analytics to see what works best, then tweak your ads for better results.
How Facebook Local Ads Help Real UK Businesses
Let’s look at some real-world examples:
- A family-run bakery in Bristol used Facebook local ads to promote a weekend “buy one, get one free” offer. They targeted people within 2 miles of their shop and saw a 30% increase in foot traffic that weekend.
- A hair salon in Glasgow ran ads offering a free consultation for new clients. By targeting women aged 18-45 within 5 miles, they booked out their appointments for two weeks straight.
- A local gym in Leeds used video ads to showcase their facilities and a special “no joining fee” offer. They reached over 10,000 people nearby in just one week and signed up 50 new members.
These are just a few ways local ads can make a real difference—no matter your industry.
Tracking Success: How to Measure Your Results
Facebook makes it easy to see how your local ads are performing:
- Reach: How many people saw your ad
- Impressions: How many times your ad was shown
- Clicks: How many people clicked your call to action
- Store Visits: If you set up the Store Traffic objective, Facebook can estimate how many people visited your location after seeing your ad
You can also use tools like Google Analytics to track website visits from your ads, or simply ask new customers how they heard about you.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Even the best businesses can stumble with Facebook local ads. Watch out for these pitfalls:
- Targeting too wide an area: Don’t waste money showing ads to people who won’t travel to your business.
- Using generic images: Stock photos don’t connect as well as real photos of your business.
- Ignoring comments and messages: Respond quickly to questions—this builds trust and can turn interest into sales.
- Forgetting to update your ads: Refresh your offers and visuals regularly to keep things interesting.
FAQs:
Q.1 How do Facebook local ads work?
Facebook local ads use your business address and a set radius to show your ad to people nearby. You can choose who sees your ad based on location, age, interests, and more.
Q.2 How much do Facebook local ads cost?
You can start with as little as £1 per day. The cost depends on your audience size, competition, and how many people you want to reach.
Q.3 Can I target tourists or people just passing through?
Yes! Facebook lets you target people who live in, have recently visited, or are currently in your chosen area. Perfect for businesses in tourist hotspots.
Q.4 What’s the best type of local ad for my business?
It depends on your goal. For foot traffic, use “Store Traffic” or “Reach.” For bookings or questions, use “Messages.” Test different options to see what works best.
Q.5 Do I need a physical shop to use local ads?
Local ads work best for businesses with a physical location, but you can also use them to promote local events, pop-ups, or services in a specific area.
Conclusion
If you’re looking to boost your local presence, Facebook local ads are one of the smartest and most affordable ways to reach new customers right in your neighbourhood.
With the right targeting, creative content, and a little bit of testing, you can drive real results—whether you’re a café, shop, gym, or service provider.
At Socially Spotted, we help UK businesses like yours get noticed in all the right places.
Ready to see what Facebook local ads can do for you? Let’s get started and put your business on the local map!
