We get asked this question constantly by Perth small business owners: "Should I be spending my advertising budget on Facebook or Google?" The honest answer is that it depends on your business, your goals and your customers — and often, the best strategy uses both. But they work in fundamentally different ways, and understanding the difference will save you a lot of wasted spend.

The Core Difference: Intent vs Discovery

Google Ads captures demand. When someone searches "plumber Clarkson" or "laptop repair Joondalup", they have an immediate need and are actively looking for a solution. Your ad appears at exactly the right moment. This is called intent-based advertising.

Facebook Ads create demand. People on Facebook aren't searching for your product — they're scrolling through their feed. Your ad interrupts them with something compelling enough to make them stop and pay attention. This is interruption-based advertising. It requires a stronger creative hook but can reach audiences who didn't even know they needed you yet.

Google Ads — Best For

  • Services people actively search for (repairs, emergency trades, IT support)
  • High-intent, ready-to-buy customers
  • Local businesses wanting calls and bookings now
  • Businesses with proven offers and clear pricing
  • Driving immediate leads from northern Perth suburbs

Facebook Ads — Best For

  • Building brand awareness in your local area
  • Products or services people don't know to search for yet
  • Retargeting website visitors who didn't convert
  • Promoting events, offers, and new service launches
  • Visual businesses (food, retail, home improvement)

Cost Comparison for Perth Businesses

Google Ads typically costs more per click — Perth local service keywords can range from $3–$25+ per click depending on competition. But the conversion rate is usually higher because the user is already looking for what you offer.

Facebook Ads generally have a lower cost per click ($0.50–$3 for most Perth audiences), but you need to work harder with your creative and targeting to convert that interest into a lead.

Rule of thumb: If your customers search Google when they need you, start with Google Ads. If they need to be shown why they need you first, start with Facebook. Most established businesses benefit from running both simultaneously.

When to Use Both Together

The most effective strategy for Perth businesses is often a combination: use Google Ads to capture people actively searching, and use Facebook to retarget people who visited your website from those Google searches but didn't call or enquire. This "warm audience" retargeting on Facebook has some of the best ROI of any digital advertising approach.

What Budget Do You Need?

For Google Ads in Perth, we typically recommend a minimum of $500–$800/month in ad spend to see meaningful data and results. Facebook Ads can produce results with smaller budgets — $200–$400/month for a local campaign is often enough to start.

Our digital marketing team manages both platforms for Perth businesses, handling strategy, creative, targeting and reporting from $150/month for Google and $200/month for Facebook. We cover clients across Clarkson, Butler, Joondalup, Wanneroo and all northern Perth suburbs.

Not Sure Which Platform Is Right for You?

We'll assess your business, your market and your goals — and tell you honestly where to start. No lock-in, no jargon.

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