Are Meta ads worth it for NZ tradies?
Meta ads work well for visual trades — landscaping, renovations, heat pumps — with a minimum budget of $30 a day and strong before-and-after photos. They underperform for emergency or reactive trades like electrical fault-finding or drainage, where Google Ads reaches customers at the moment of need. If you can only run one platform, start with Google Ads.
Meta ads can work well for NZ tradies — but not for every trade. If your work is visual, your budget is at least $30 a day, and you have photos or video of your jobs, they're worth testing. If you're an emergency service trade or working with a tight budget, Google Ads will likely give you better returns.
What are Meta ads?
Meta ads are paid ads that run on Facebook and Instagram. You pick your audience — location, age, interests — and your ad shows up in their feed or Stories. Unlike Google Ads, people aren't searching for you when they see it. You're interrupting their scroll. That means your photo or video does most of the work.
Do Meta ads work for NZ trades businesses?
Yes, for the right trades. Visual services do well — landscaping, heat pumps, bathroom renovations, kitchen upgrades. Before-and-after photos or short job videos give people a reason to stop and look. Less visual trades like electrical fault-finding or drainage work are harder to make compelling. For those, Google Ads tends to outperform because you're reaching people who are already searching.
Is $20 a day enough for Facebook ads in NZ?
$20 a day ($600/month) is the minimum worth testing. At that level you'll get some data, but you won't have room to run multiple ads or test different images. Most tradies seeing consistent leads are spending $30–60 a day. Below $20 the algorithm doesn't have enough budget to optimise and results are unpredictable.
How much do Facebook ads cost in NZ?
For NZ trades businesses, a typical cost per lead runs between $15 and $60 depending on your trade and your creative. Visual trades with strong before-and-after content sit closer to $15–25 per lead. Weaker creative or more competitive trades can push above $50. Cost per click usually runs $0.80–$2.50 for NZ trades audiences.
When should a tradie use Meta ads instead of Google Ads?
Use Meta when your work is visual and you want to build awareness before someone needs you. Use Google Ads when you want to reach people searching for your service right now. The best setup uses both — Google for high-intent search traffic, Meta for building recognition and reaching people earlier in the buying journey. If you can only afford one, Google Ads usually wins first for trades businesses in NZ.
FAQ
Is $20 a day enough for Facebook ads?
$20 a day is the minimum worth testing, but most NZ tradies getting reliable results spend $30–60 a day. Below $20, the algorithm doesn't have enough data to optimise properly and results tend to be inconsistent.
Do Facebook ads work for contractors?
Yes, particularly for visual trades — landscaping, renovations, heat pumps, and anything with a clear before-and-after story. Emergency and reactive trades like electrical faults or drainage usually get better ROI from Google Ads.
How much does a Facebook ad cost in NZ?
Expect $15–60 per lead for NZ trades businesses depending on your trade and creative quality. Cost per click typically runs $0.80–$2.50. Visual trades with strong imagery sit at the lower end of both ranges.
What is the 20 rule for Meta ads?
This was an old guideline saying images with more than 20% text would get reduced reach. Meta dropped it in 2021 — it no longer applies. Clean visuals still outperform text-heavy images, but that's about creative quality, not a technical restriction.
Running Meta ads for your trades business and not sure if they're set up right? Talk to Jelly Digital — we manage Meta and Google Ads campaigns built specifically for NZ tradies.
