Hi there,
Thanks for reaching out about getting started with Facebook ads for your local car wash. It's a smart move to use paid advertising to reach people in your area. Getting started can feel a bit confusing, but I'm happy to give you some initial thoughts and guidance based on my experience with local service businesses.
Let's look at scheduling your ads...
Okay, so you're wanting to show your ads only in the evening to save money. That makes perfect sense for a local business like a car wash, maybe people are thinking about getting the car done on the way home or the next day. However, with Facebook Ads, the option to specify exact hours for your ads to run is only available when you set your campaign budget as a Lifetime Budget.
With a daily budget, which is what you're currently using at 500 INR per day, the platform will spend that budget throughout the day whenever it thinks it can get you the best results based on your objective. You can't restrict the hours. To get the scheduling option, you'd need to switch to a lifetime budget and set the total amount you want to spend over the campaign's run time, which you mentioned is 4k INR in total.
So, if scheduling is important for you, you'll need to switch from a daily to a lifetime budget for your campaign setup. Keep in mind that 4k INR total budget isn't huge, so the overall reach and the number of people who see your ads will be limited over the campaign's duration.
Now, what about detailed targeting?
You've already set your location to a 5-mile radius around the car wash, which is the absolutely most crucial piece of targeting for a local business. Beyond that, for a service like a car wash, your ideal customer is essentially anyone who owns or drives a car within that radius. Unless you have a very specific niche (like only detailing luxury cars, or targeting commercial fleets), adding detailed targeting could actually hinder your results.
By adding interests or demographics in detailed targeting, you might unnecessarily restrict the audience Facebook can show your ad to within that 5-mile zone. Often for broad appeal local services, broad targeting within the tight geo-fence works best. The Facebook algorithm is pretty good at finding the right people within the defined area, especially if you have a clear call to action like "call" and a compelling offer.
Think about it - someone who needs a car wash might not fit into a specific interest category you select, but if they live or work within 5 miles, they're a potential customer. Focusing on the location is key here.
Managing Expectations and What Else You Should Know
Starting with a 500 INR daily budget (or 4k INR lifetime) is a modest start, especially when you consider typical costs for local service leads. For example, in some of our campaigns for local services like HVAC in competitive areas, costs per lead or call can range from £40 to £60 (around $50-$75 USD). A car wash might be different, perhaps more impulse-driven, but costs can still add up quickly.
With a small budget, you won't reach a massive number of people or see huge results overnight. The success of this initial campaign will likely hinge heavily on two things:
- The Offer: You mentioned you have a good offer - this is critical! Make sure it's clear, compelling, and stands out. Why should someone come to your car wash *now*?
- The Creative: Your ad image or video needs to grab attention in the feed and clearly communicate your offer and service. High-quality visuals are a must.
Also, monitor your results closely. Since you have "phone number as call to action", track how many calls you're getting. See what your cost per call is. This will give you an idea if the campaign is working and if your offer is resonating. Don't expect profitability immediately; it often takes time to test and optimise campaigns, especially with a limited budget.
Summary of Recommended Actions:
| Issue | Recommendation |
| Scheduling ads for specific hours | Switch from Daily Budget to Lifetime Budget in campaign settings. |
| Detailed Targeting | Consider removing detailed targeting and rely on the 5-mile location target. Let Facebook find the best people within the area. |
| Budget & Expectations | Understand 500 INR/day is limited. Focus heavily on a strong offer and creative. Track calls/leads to measure success. |
Getting paid advertising right, even for a local business, involves a lot of testing and optimising. It takes time to figure out the best approach, especially with budget constraints.
Sometimes having an expert eye can help identify quick wins and build a solid foundation for long-term success, avoiding wasted spend. If you'd like to discuss your specific situation in more detail and explore strategies tailored for your car wash, we offer a free consultation. It could be helpful to map out a more comprehensive plan.
Regards,
Team @ Lukas Holschuh
