Are you wasting money on Facebook ads that generate painting leads from outside your service area? This common problem is usually caused by one default setting in Ads Manager.
This quick guide shows you exactly how to fix it. Follow these simple steps to create a powerful Facebook Ads campaign that delivers qualified, local painting leads to your business.
Step 1: Use the Right Campaign Setup
Start with a solid foundation to ensure Facebook optimizes for leads.
- Campaign Objective: In Ads Manager, click “Create” and choose the Leads objective.
- Conversion Location: At the ad set level, select Instant Forms. This makes it easy for users to submit their info without leaving Facebook.
- Budget: Set a daily budget you are comfortable with.
Step 2: Lock In Your Service Area (The Crucial Fix)
This is the most important step to stop getting out-of-area leads. The problem is Facebook’s default “Advantage+ Audience,” which expands your reach too far. Here’s how to fix it:
- In your Ad Set, go to the Audience section.
- Find and click the small link that says “Switch to original audience options.”
- Under Locations, manually enter the specific cities, zip codes, or radius you service. This is now a firm boundary.
- Set the Age range to 30-65+ to better target established homeowners.
By doing this, you force Facebook to only show your ads to people within your actual service area.
Step 3: Create an Ad That Gets Clicks
Now that your targeting is fixed, you need a compelling ad.
Ad Copy
Your text should speak directly to a homeowner’s problem. Use this ChatGPT prompt for a head start:
Write 3 short, punchy Facebook ads for a painting company in [Your City]. The offer is a free estimate. Focus on the pain points of an outdated or faded home.
Ad Creatives
Test these three formats to see what works best:
- Before & After Photos: Your most powerful tool. Nothing sells painting services better.
- Short Video: A quick timelapse of a project or a 15-second clip of your team at work.
- Simple Graphic: Use Canva to create a bold graphic with a headline like “Your Local Painting Experts.”
Run all three creatives, and after a few days, pause the ones that perform poorly and put your budget behind the winner.
Start Getting Qualified Leads Today
That’s it! By taking manual control of your location targeting, you can build profitable Facebook ad campaigns for your painting business. Stop wasting money on irrelevant clicks and start filling your schedule with local, qualified customers.
Need an expert to manage your ads? The team at Brandraz specializes in lead generation for contractors. Contact us today for a free consultation!