A Small Business Owner’s Guide to Facebook Ads

Anne Monk • April 3, 2017

Whoa, whoa, whoa. Paid advertising? Isn’t the whole point of inbound marketing that your wisdom and wit bring customers to you rather than your wallet? Well, sort of. Inbound marketing is about creating a reputable and accessible presence for qualified customers to discover along their buyer’s journey. Putting just a small amount of money behind a completely customizable post or ad on your small business’ Facebook Page can help increase local awareness and engagement without the headache of a long-term contract.


Why should my small business use Facebook ads?

With the global accessibility of Facebook, you’re in an astoundingly large pond where your small business is difficult to find and your customers even more so. Facebook advertising and boosted posts help shrink that pond down to size--allowing you to concentrate your content and your advertising budget at a targeted audience of potential customers.


Feel like your ad would be better suited with another image? Upon further inspection, does your ad’s wording lack the oomph you’re looking for? You can also customize the text and attached image(s) at any time—even after the ad is posted! So why not give it a shot? If you decide Facebook advertising isn’t for you, you can cancel and remove the ad or post at any time (without a penalty)!

**Facebook does require that you abide by its advertising policies and will remove the ad if it fails to meet these guidelines at any point after it is published.


Who should my small business target with Facebook ads?

If your business has brick-and-mortar locations, it’s vital that your Facebook ads target audiences based on location, as well as relevant demographics and interests. Failing to do so could result in broad and under-qualified audiences, which can drive up your cost-per-click without any real return on investment (ROI).


What’s the difference between a Facebook ad and a boosted post?

Advertising on Facebook is as involved as you want it to be. If you choose to use boosted posts, they are created by assigning funds to an existing post (or while you are creating a new post) on your small business’ Facebook page. Boosted posts allow you to reach a larger percentage of your audience than you would with an organic posting and you can even do some limited targeting to define your ideal audience. After your boost expires, the post still exists organically on your page! Facebook ads will not appear once the campaigns have ended.


However, if you’re looking for a more customizable option for your small business’ Page, a complete Facebook ad may be the right move for you. Facebook ads provide the most options for advertisers and includes a step-by-step guide based on the goal of your Facebook ad campaign (i.e. likes, clicks to website, app engagement, website conversions, offer claims, local awareness, etc.). Facebook ads do require an ad manager account to get started.


**Check out this helpful guide for setting up your ad account through Facebook Business Manager!**


Facebook ads also allow you to schedule the ad, link a CTA, target audience based on language and behavior, include multiple images, and run simultaneously on Instagram and the right-hand rail of the Facebook page.


Are there any downsides to running Facebook ads for my small business?

Increased engagement means increased monitoring, which can take valuable time away from running your business. When you partner with the inbound marketing experts of Baton Rouge, we’ll handle creating, publishing, and monitoring your social media activity, so that you can give your attention to engaging with your customers and growing your small business.


Call or contact us today to learn more about our inbound marketing services!



The fragmentation of search. Why Being Found Is No Longer Just About Google

The Fragmentation of Search: Why Being Found Is No Longer Just About Google

By Rikki Broussard • July 23, 2026
Your customers are still searching. They are just no longer searching in one place. They may start with Google, ask ChatGPT to compare their options, watch a YouTube video, look for examples on Instagram, read reviews, or open a map to find a nearby business. This does not mean your company needs to chase every new platform. It also does not mean SEO is dead. The best response to fragmented search is to strengthen the foundation you already have. Build a clear, credible website, answer the questions your customers ask, share real expertise, and ensure your business appears consistently on the platforms that matter to your audience. AEO, or Answer Engine Optimization, is part of that approach. It helps search engines and AI tools find and understand your answers, but it works best when it is built on strong SEO . Why Are Customers Searching in So Many Different Places? Customers are searching in more places because they now have more ways to find the type of information they want. Every Monday during our BlinkJar staff meeting, each person brings an industry update to discuss. One recent conversation about artificial intelligence and its impact on search reminded me of what happened to television. Jared, my husband and BlinkJar’s founder , spent years working in television. At one time, a few broadcast networks held most of the audience. Then cable created more choices. Streaming services, YouTube, social video, and on-demand programming divided attention even further. Television did not disappear. People gained more ways to watch. Search is moving in the same direction. A prospective customer may search Google for a service, ask an AI assistant to explain the differences between providers, watch a video to see how something works, and read reviews before visiting a company’s website. The challenge is not that Google has stopped working. It is that businesses can no longer assume every customer will begin there. Does My Business Still Need SEO? Yes, your business absolutely needs SEO as it remains the foundation of being discovered online. Google continues to drive valuable, high-intent traffic for businesses. A strong website also gives AI tools, maps, social platforms, and prospective customers a reliable place to learn who you are and what you offer. Your website needs clear service pages, useful location information, simple navigation, relevant internal links, and a sound technical structure. Search engines must be able to crawl, index, and understand your pages. Traditional SEO is not being replaced. It is supporting a larger discovery ecosystem. Think of your website as your company’s home base. Social media, maps, reviews, search engines, and AI tools may help customers find you, but your website is where you control the complete story. 
Kingsley Working

What I Learned as a Marketing Intern at BlinkJar Media

By Kingsley Lavender • July 20, 2026
Kingsley Lavender shares what he learned as a marketing intern at BlinkJar Media, including SEO, website updates, content marketing, and real-world agency experience.

Why Personal Connections Matter More Than Ever in an AI-Driven Marketing World?

By Caroline Thaxton • July 10, 2026
Artificial intelligence is changing the way businesses approach content marketing , social media marketing , and digital communications. AI can generate ideas, streamline workflows, and help marketers create content faster than ever before. At Blinkjar, we embrace AI as a powerful tool, but we also know the most impactful marketing still begins with something technology can't replicate: a genuine human connection. As a Creative Content Specialist at Blinkjar , some of my most valuable work happens away from my desk. Meeting with clients, visiting their businesses, and building real relationships gives me a deeper understanding of who they are and what makes their brands unique. Those face-to-face interactions help me create authentic content that reflects each client's personality , values, and story. Can AI Really Tell Your Brand's Story? Every business has a story worth telling . While AI can help organize information, brainstorm ideas, and improve efficiency, it can't experience a company's culture, observe customer interactions, or hear the passion behind why a business was started. That’s why every interaction matters. Whether we’re on a call, exchanging emails, meeting in person, capturing photos and videos, or simply talking through new ideas, each touchpoint helps us better understand the businesses we support. These conversations allow us to see how a brand operates, hear the stories behind the work, and uncover the details that make it unique. Those real insights often become the foundation for stronger content because they reveal perspectives that AI simply can’t generate. How Do Client Conversations Lead to Better Content Marketing? The more time I spend with the businesses we support, the better I can represent their brand. Photoshoots are one way those connections happen, but many of my strongest content ideas come from everyday conversations, planning calls, emails, meetings, and moments when a client shares something we would not have known otherwise. Those small details often become the difference between content that feels generic and content that feels true to the brand. Whether we're discussing a new project, talking through their day-to-day operations, or simply catching up, those conversations give me the context I need to write content that's accurate, authentic, and true to their voice. Instead of relying on assumptions, I can pull directly from their experiences, expertise, and personality . That's what transforms content from informative to meaningful.