Burned $200 on Facebook ads with no targeting strategy last month

I thought I could just boost a few posts and see what happens, so I threw $200 at a generic audience in Dallas without any custom targeting. Turns out I got 12 clicks and zero conversions, basically lighting money on fire. Anyone else learn this the hard way or have a budget-friendly targeting method that works for local service businesses?

3 comments

3 Comments

dakotab9326d ago

Targeting by zip codes near your business fixed this for me.

janah8326d ago

Tried doing zip code targeting myself and ended up wasting a ton of money showing ads to people in the wrong zip codes because I mixed up the numbers on a map. Like, I was aiming for the nice suburbs and accidentally targeted the industrial park next door. Maybe it's just me but that kind of mistake is pretty on brand for my general life choices. Glad you got it to work though, sounds like it actually made a difference for you. I'll probably give it another shot once I can figure out how to read a map properly.

miller.rowan26d ago

Yeah the "mixing up the numbers" thing got me too. I spent a whole month running ads for a lawn care service in the wrong part of town before I noticed. @dakotab93's suggestion makes sense though if you can keep the zip codes straight. It's wild how one digit can send your whole budget down the drain. I feel your pain on that one.