Short answer: start with Google Ads if people already search for what you sell, especially when they need it now (plumbers, locksmiths, AC repair, movers). Start with Meta Ads (Facebook and Instagram) if people don’t search for it but buy when they see it (med spas, gyms, photographers, events, new products). Most local businesses end up using both, but the first dollar should go where your customers already are.
The two platforms do different jobs. Google captures demand: someone types “plumber miami” and you show up. Meta creates demand: someone scrolling Instagram sees your offer and decides they want it. Picking the wrong one first is a common way for a small business to burn its first few thousand dollars.
Not sure which fits your business? We’ll look at your market and tell you where we’d start, for free.
How many people in Miami search for your service?
Search volume is the first clue. If thousands of people search for your service every month, Google is where they are. If almost nobody does, Google has little to offer and Meta becomes the better starting point.
| Search in Miami | Searches / month | Average Google CPC | Where we’d usually start |
|---|---|---|---|
| moving company miami | 2,400 | $27.50 | Google, then Meta to remind visitors |
| locksmith miami | 1,900 | $19.69 | |
| plumber miami | 1,600 | $25.73 | |
| house cleaning miami | 1,600 | $13.73 | Google, Meta for recurring offers |
| gym miami | 1,300 | $4.36 | Both: Google for intent, Meta for offers |
| ac repair miami | 880 | $24.92 | |
| botox miami | 590 | $13.20 | Both: Meta for offers, Google for intent |
| med spa miami | 480 | $6.39 | Meta, with Google for brand and treatment searches |
| real estate agent miami | 320 | $1.26 | Meta |
| wedding photographer miami | 260 | $7.21 | Meta (Instagram) |
Search and cost data: Google Ads keyword data for the city of Miami, retrieved October 5, 2026 . The last column is our starting recommendation, not a rule: your offer, budget and competition can change it. Full cost data by industry: what Google Ads costs in Miami.
Four questions that decide it
- Do people search for what you sell? If yes, Google. If they don’t know they need it until they see it, Meta.
- Is it urgent? A burst pipe or a locked door is a Google search, today. A facial or a family photo shoot is a decision people make over days, often after seeing it on Instagram.
- Does it sell visually? Results you can show in a photo or a short video (before and after, a space, a dish, an event) give Meta’s ads something to work with.
- What is one customer worth? Google clicks in Miami cost about $5 (landscaping) to $35 (pest control) for most home services, and over $60 for emergency plumbing and HVAC repair. That works when a job is worth hundreds or thousands. For smaller tickets, Meta’s cheaper reach often fits better.
What each one needs from you
| Google Ads | Meta Ads | |
|---|---|---|
| Who sees it | People searching for your service right now | People who match your customers, while scrolling |
| What sells | A clear answer to the search and a fast way to call | The creative: a strong image or short video and an offer |
| Realistic start (ad spend) | Around $1,500 a month for most Miami local services | Enough for about 50 results a week per ad set (see the math) |
| Ongoing work | Weekly search-term and budget checks | New creative every few weeks |
| Speed | Calls can start in days if the demand exists | Usually takes a few weeks of testing to find what works |
Both need the same foundation: tracking that shows which clicks became calls, forms and customers. Without it you can’t tell which platform is paying for itself, and you end up judging them on clicks and likes.
When to add the second one
Once the first platform brings customers at a cost you’re happy with and tracking is reliable, the second one usually helps the first. A common pattern for local businesses: Google brings in the people already searching, and Meta reminds the ones who visited your site but didn’t call, or reaches people before they ever search. In Miami, running both in English and Spanish widens the reach of each.
How we run it
We manage Google Ads and Meta Ads for businesses in Miami-Dade and Broward, in English and Spanish, with one report that compares both against your sales. Management starts at $1,000 a month for Google Ads and $900 a month for Meta Ads; ad spend is separate and paid by you directly to each platform, and every account stays in your name.
Common questions
Can I run Google Ads and Meta Ads at the same time from day one?
You can, but with a small budget it usually spreads too thin for either to learn. Starting with one, proving it works, then adding the other tends to get to profitable results faster.
Which one gets results faster?
Google, when people already search for your service: calls can start within days. Meta usually needs a few weeks of testing creative and offers before results settle.
Do I need a website for Meta ads?
Not strictly: Meta can collect leads with a form inside Facebook or Instagram. A fast page with tracking usually brings better-qualified leads and lets you measure them properly.
Can you tell me which one fits my business?
Yes. Tell us what you sell and where, and we’ll send a short written recommendation for free. Ask here.