What you need to know before you spend a single dollar

If you're considering Facebook ads to bring in consistent leads for your business, this conversation is for you.

I recently sat down with Facebook ads expert Casandra Galvez to get the real scoop on what it takes to make ads work—and what you need to have in place before you start spending money.

Here's what I see all the time: Service-based business owners get excited about the idea of consistent lead flow from ads. They're tired of the feast-or-famine cycle of referrals and organic social media.

But they jump in without understanding what actually makes ads successful.

The result? Wasted ad spend, frustration, and the conclusion that "ads don't work for my business."

So before you turn on your first ad campaign, let me share what Casandra taught me about doing this the right way.

Before You Turn On Your First Ad: The Reality Check

Here's what most people don't realize when they're thinking about running Facebook ads:

The ads themselves are only part of the equation.

You can have the perfect ad copy, beautiful images, and spot-on targeting... but if your backend isn't ready, you're throwing money away.

Think about it: What happens after someone clicks your ad?

Do they land on a simple, clear page that offers them something valuable? Does your email automation welcome them and start building a relationship? Do you have a system to track where they came from and what they do next?

If you're not sure... you're not ready for ads yet.

But the good news? Once you have these pieces in place, ads can be a game-changer for consistent lead generation.

The Good News: You Don't Need a Huge Budget

If you're worried that Facebook ads require thousands of dollars, here's what Casandra shared that will make you feel better:

You can start testing with just $10 a day.

Her recommendation? Run ads for three days at $10/day to test your lead magnet and messaging.

If it's working? Great—keep it running.

If not? You've only spent $30 to learn what doesn't resonate with your audience. Tweak your messaging and test again.

Here's the key insight: When you're running ads, you're not testing your offer—you're testing how you talk about your offer.

Real example from our conversation:

"Get more leads" → got some interest

"Get your time back to spend with family" → created real connections

Same service. Different words. Completely different results.

This is why starting small and testing is so valuable—you discover what actually resonates with your ideal clients before investing heavily.

What You Need in Place Before You Start

This is where my tech-loving heart gets excited. 💡

Casandra emphasized something important:

"The behind-the-scenes is just as important as the ads, if not more."

Think about it: if someone clicks your ad but lands on a confusing page, or downloads your freebie but never hears from you again, or joins your list but you have no way to track where they came from... you're essentially just collecting email addresses with no plan.

But here's the exciting part: Once you have simple systems set up, they work for you 24/7. Whether leads come from ads, referrals, or networking, they all flow into the same nurture system.

Two Quick Tips Before You Start

Casandra shared two insights that will save you time and money:

1. Keep your freebie simple

You don't need a beautifully designed 20-page PDF. A simple Google Doc checklist or guide often performs better because people can actually use it right away. They want practical help, not something pretty that sits in their downloads folder.

2. Think long-term value, not immediate sales

Don't expect someone to see your ad, download your freebie, and immediately buy from you. That's not how it works.

Someone might join your list today and not purchase for six months. But if they invest $2,000 in your program down the line, was that $2 lead worth it? Absolutely.

This is why tracking is so important—you need to know where your best clients actually come from and how long your typical sales cycle is.

Your Next Steps

If you're thinking about running Facebook ads, here's the simple path forward:

First: Get your backend ready

• Create a valuable freebie that solves one specific problem

• Set up a landing page and automated welcome sequence

• Add tagging so you can track where leads come from

• Test it with organic traffic to make sure it converts

Then: Start small with ads

• Begin with $10/day for three days

• Test different messaging to see what resonates

• Track your results and adjust

• Scale gradually once you find what works

Ready to Get Your Systems in Place? 👇

If you're thinking about running Facebook ads but you know your backend systems aren't quite ready, that's where I come in.

I help service-based business owners set up the simple automation that makes lead generation actually work—whether those leads come from ads, referrals, or anywhere else.

No complicated tech. No overwhelming setup. Just simple systems that turn leads into clients.

Want to chat about what this could look like for your business? Drop a comment or send me a message.

Are you currently running Facebook ads, thinking about it, or have you tried them before? I'd love to hear about your experience in the comments. 💬