Meta and Google ads management for local businesses in the UK
Search rankings take months to build. Paid ads can put your business in front of local customers as soon as campaigns are live. Drivn sets up and manages Meta (Facebook and Instagram) and Google ads for UK local businesses, focused on what actually pays the bills: enquiries and booked jobs at a cost per lead you can measure, not impressions or likes.
Google ads catch people who are searching for your service right now. Meta ads reach local people who haven't searched yet but are likely to need you. The two do different jobs, so campaigns are matched to how your customers actually buy.
Key facts
Pay per click
on Google Search ads: you're charged when someone clicks your ad, not every time it is shown
Google Ads billing model
2 intents
Google reaches people searching now; Meta reaches people scrolling who may need you soon
How the two platforms work
Pixel + API
Meta's Pixel and Conversions API let ads be measured and optimised against real enquiries
Meta Business Help Centre
Pay per lead
Google Local Services Ads charge per lead rather than per click, where your trade category is eligible
Google Local Services Ads
30 days
notice to cancel: monthly ad management runs on a rolling basis with no fixed term
Drivn terms
Who this ads management service is for
Trades that need leads now
Emergency and time-sensitive work such as plumbing, heating, electrical and roofing, where customers search on their phone and call the first credible result.
Considered, higher-value local work
Kitchens, extensions, landscaping, installations and similar jobs where people research and compare, and where visual proof and repeated exposure on Meta help win the enquiry.
Lodges, hotels and accommodation
Hospitality businesses that want to fill specific dates and encourage direct bookings, with campaigns timed to seasons, events and quiet periods.
Businesses whose ads have stalled
If you've boosted posts or run ads before with little to show, a proper setup with tracking, tighter targeting and cleaner reporting will show whether the problem is the ads, the page they land on, or the offer.
Benefits
How managed ads benefit your business
- 01
Leads while your SEO builds
SEO and GEO are ongoing, compounding work that takes months. Ads can start producing enquiries once campaigns are live, so you are not waiting on organic visibility to get the phone ringing.
- 02
Your budget goes where your customers are
Campaigns are targeted around your service area, so you are not paying to reach people you can't serve. Location targeting, radius settings and exclusions keep spend local.
- 03
Less wasted spend on the wrong searches
Negative keywords block searches that will never become customers, such as "jobs", "free", "DIY" or "training", and search terms are reviewed regularly so budget follows real enquiries.
- 04
Ads that reach people when they're ready
Google search ads show your business at the moment someone types the service they need. Call-only and call-extension formats suit urgent trades where the customer wants to phone straight away.
- 05
Local awareness that keeps you front of mind
Meta ads put your work in front of local homeowners on Facebook and Instagram before they need you, so you are already a familiar name when they do. Click-to-message and lead-form formats make it easy to enquire without leaving the app.
- 06
Second chances with people who didn't enquire
Remarketing shows relevant ads to people who visited your site but didn't get in touch, so warm interest isn't lost. It runs only for visitors who have consented to tracking, in line with UK PECR.
- 07
Know your cost per lead
Calls, forms and messages are tracked as conversions, so reporting shows cost per lead and which campaigns produce them, rather than surface numbers like reach or clicks.
- 08
Creative that's tested, not guessed
Different images, video, headlines and offers are tested against each other, and the winners get the budget. Over time that lowers the cost of each enquiry.
- 09
Budget you control
You set the monthly budget and can raise it in busy seasons or pull it back in quiet ones. Spend is paid to the platforms, and management runs on a rolling monthly basis, cancellable with 30 days' notice.
- 10
Plain-English reporting
A monthly report says what you spent, what you got, what it cost per enquiry and what changes next. No jargon dashboards to decode.
- 11
Ads and website working together
Ads work best when they land on a fast, focused page built to convert. Because Drivn builds sites as well as running ads, the click-to-enquiry path is designed as one system, not two suppliers pointing at each other.
- 12
Seasonal timing for your trade
Boiler and heating demand, garden and outdoor work, holiday and half-term bookings: campaigns are scaled up when your customers are most likely to buy and dialled back when they aren't.
What's included in ads management
Strategy and account setup
A plan for which platform to lead with and why, then account structure, billing and targeting set up properly from day one.
Google Ads campaigns
Search campaigns built around your services and areas, with keyword research, ad copy, extensions such as call and location, and negative keyword protection.
Meta ad campaigns
Facebook and Instagram campaigns with local audience targeting, ad creative and copy, and lead-form or message-based options where they suit the job.
Conversion tracking
Tracking for calls, form submissions and messages, using the Google tag, Meta Pixel and, where appropriate, Meta's Conversions API, set up behind proper cookie consent.
Creative and copy testing
Multiple ad variations tested against each other, with results feeding the next round.
Ongoing optimisation
Regular reviews of search terms, audiences, placements, bids and budgets, adjusted to cost per lead.
Monthly reporting
A plain-English summary of spend, leads, cost per lead and next steps.
How it works
From first call to results, in 4 steps
- 1
Discovery
We go through your services, areas, average job value, busy seasons and what a good lead is worth to you.
- 2
Setup
Accounts, tracking, audiences and campaigns are built and checked before any budget is spent.
- 3
Launch and learn
Campaigns go live and the first weeks are used to see which searches, audiences and creatives respond.
- 4
Optimise and report
Spend shifts toward what produces enquiries, and you get a clear monthly picture of results.
What to expect, honestly
- Ad results depend on your area, competition, offer, budget and the page people land on. No agency can promise a specific number of leads or a fixed cost per lead in advance.
- The advertising budget itself is paid to Google and Meta and is separate from the management service.
- The first weeks are a learning period, as platforms need data before they optimise well.
FAQ
Common questions about meta & google ads
How much should I spend on Google and Meta ads?
It depends on your area, how competitive your trade is and what a lead is worth to you. During discovery we work out a sensible starting budget and a target cost per lead, and adjust once real data comes in.
Get a tailored quote →Should I start with Google ads or Meta ads?
For urgent, high-intent work such as emergency repairs, Google search ads usually come first because they catch people actively searching. For visual or considered work such as kitchens, landscaping or holiday stays, Meta ads are often the stronger starting point. Many businesses end up running both.
How quickly will I get enquiries?
Ads can begin producing enquiries as soon as campaigns are approved and live, but the first few weeks are a learning period while the platforms and we gather data. Performance is typically steadier after that.
How will I know the ads are working?
Calls, form submissions and messages are tracked as conversions, and a monthly plain-English report shows spend, leads and cost per lead.
Is there a contract?
No fixed-term contract. Monthly services, including ads, run on a rolling basis and can be cancelled with 30 days' notice.
Read the full cancellation terms →Do I need a new website before running ads?
Not always, but ads convert best when they land on a fast, focused page. If your current site is slow or unclear, fixing it will usually improve results more than raising the budget.
See website design →
Ready to talk it through? Get a tailored quote.
- No lock-in contract
- You own the code and domain
- Reply within 1 business day