What to Do Before You Spend a Cent on Ads

Don’t waste your ad budget, set yourself up for success first.

You’ve probably heard how powerful Facebook and Instagram ads can be for growing your small business.

And it’s true - they work.
But only if you set them up strategically.

Too many small business owners rush into ads hoping for magic… and walk away frustrated when they get zero clicks, no leads, and a sinking feeling that they just wasted money.

Before you put even $1 into Meta ads, here’s what you need to get right first.

✅ 1. Get Clear on One Goal

The first mistake most people make?
Trying to do too much with one ad.

Before you even open Ads Manager, get clear on:

• Are you trying to grow your list?

• Fill your calendar?

• Build awareness locally?

• Promote a specific offer?

Facebook ads work best when they focus on one clear outcome.

🎯 Quick tip: “Get more eyes on my business” is not a goal. “Book 3 new discovery calls this month” is.

✅ 2. Prep Your Ad Copy (Without Overthinking It)

No need to write a novel. But your ad needs a message that stops the scroll and speaks to your person.

Here’s a simple structure I recommend for first-time advertisers:
👉 Hook → Value → CTA

Example:

Feeling invisible online, even though you're posting nonstop? There’s a better way to get seen (and paid). With just $5/day, this ad strategy helps you bring in leads while you sleep. Start here ➡️ [your link]

🎯 Quick tip: Use your audience’s language, not expert speak.

✅ 3. Have a Place to Send Them

An ad should never be a dead end. You need somewhere for your audience to land and act.

That could be:

• A lead magnet landing page

• A booking link

• A product page

• Or even your Instagram profile with a clear CTA

Make sure the page is mobile-friendly, simple, and easy to navigate.

🎯 Quick tip: Don’t make them scroll to figure out what to do next. Put your CTA above the fold.

✅ 4. Create or Gather Your Visuals

You’ll need at least 1 image or short video that represents your brand and your message.

Options include:

• A selfie (real performs well!)

• A Canva graphic or reel

• A product or workspace shot

• A quote image with a clear hook

Don’t overthink it - done is better than perfect. And you can always swap it out later.

🎯 Quick tip: Keep text light, make it brand-aligned, and choose imagery that feels approachable.

✅ 5. Check Your Facebook Page + Meta Setup

Before you can run a real ad, make sure you’ve got the tech side ready:

• A Facebook Business Page

• Instagram account connected

• Meta Business Suite access

• Ad account created

• Payment method set up

🎯 Bonus tip: Never run ads from your personal profile. Always use Business Manager, it’s safer, smarter, and gives you way more control.

✅ 6. Get in the Right Mindset

If you expect one $5 ad to blow up your business overnight, you’ll be disappointed.

But if you treat ads like a strategic experiment, you’ll win.

Great ads are built over time. Your first one is just the start.

🎯 Mindset tip: Ads are tools, not magic. But when used right, they work while you rest.

🎯 Ready to Go?

If you’ve read through this and thought,
“Okay, I’ve got most of this covered…”
you’re ready to move to the next step.

📘 That’s exactly what my $5/Day Facebook Ad Strategy is for.

I’ll walk you through:

• Setting up your ad the right way

• Choosing the best objective

• Targeting the right audience

• Keeping it simple (and working)

💛 Grab your copy here:
👉 https://www.corinneelisabeth.com/5dayguide

Need help making sure you're ready?
Start with my free Ad Readiness Checklist, it takes 5 minutes and gives you instant clarity.