Big Impact, Small Budget: What Meta Ads Can Do For Your Business
- Amanda Hughes
- Aug 15
- 3 min read
Written by Kirsty Wright, owner of Co-Thought Digital helping small business owners grow with ads that convert and awesome member of our social media mentor group Get Seen Get Sales!
You’ve probably heard that Meta Ads (Facebook and Instagram ads) are ‘a
must’ for growing your small business, but when you’re juggling other things
and watching every penny, it’s easy to think: Are they really worth it?
The short answer to this question… Yes, but only if you use them correctly.
This blog breaks down what Meta Ads are (minus the tech jargon), the kind of results they can drive for small businesses, and how to make the most of them, even on a tight budget. Whether you’re brand new, or had a negative experience before – this one is for you!
What Exactly Are Meta Ads?
Meta Ads are the sponsored posts you see on Facebook and Instagram, designed to reach new people or re-engage the ones already in your world.
They can help you:
Reach more of your ideal customers. There are now over 3 billion users on Facebook/Instagram (without waiting forever for organic reach)
Promote offers, services or events
Grow your email list or audience
Drive traffic to your website or shop
The magic lies in the targeting power. Meta targeting allows you to get really specific, for example, showing an ad to only women aged 35-50 who love home interiors, live within 10 miles of a specific location, and have recently shown interest in buying.
That’s a level of precision you just don’t get from traditional marketing.
What Can You Actually Achieve With Meta Ads?
Meta Ads won’t solve every problem in your business. However, they can help in some of the following ways.
Here’s what’s possible (even with small spends):
Brand awareness: Get your business in front of new, local or niche audiences who haven’t discovered you yet.
Website traffic: Send people to specific product pages, blog posts or services.
Lead generation: Collect email addresses by offering a freebie.
Sales: Promote seasonal offers, new product launches or service slots.
You can start as little as £5/day to promote a free downloadable checklist.
How Much Do Meta Ads Cost?
Meta Ads can be incredibly cost-effective, but it’s not quite as simple as picking a number and hoping for the best.
The Minimum Spend
Technically you can start from as little as £1/day, but we recommend £5-£10 a day if you want to see real traction.
Think of Budget as a Learning Tool
The early days of running ads are less about instant results and more about learning what works. Even with a small budget, you will gather valuable data
on:
Which headlines or images grab attention
Who’s clicking through and who’s not
What offers or content people are most interested in
This helps you improve future campaigns and make smarter decisions, even across other marketing channels.
Be Strategic
Create an ad with a clear goal. For instance, if you want more email subscribers? Build a campaign around a lead magnet.
If you want to sell event tickets, then direct people to the booking page not just your homepage.
Tips to Get Started with Meta Ads:
Start with one clear goal. Choose one thing: Grow your audience, get leads, or drive sales.
Keep your audience simple. Use location + age + one interest to begin.
Don’t overcomplicate it.
Use your best content. Your ad should feel native and not salesy. Videos or carousels often work better than static images.
Don’t stress about fancy funnels. A simple ad + strong offer + good landing page = more than enough to begin with.
Let it run. Don’t pause after a day. Give it at least 3-5 days to collect data before tweaking.
Co Thought Digital is a forward-thinking digital marketing agency in Cheshire, helping small to mid-sized businesses grow with expert SEO, Meta or Google Ads, and Email Marketing. We cut through digital noise with clear strategy, transparent reporting, and marketing that works as hard as you do.
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