Why I think TV ads still beat social media ads for local businesses

I compared two campaigns for a local restaurant in Austin last month. The TV ad cost $1,200 but brought in 85 new customers in one week. The Facebook and Instagram ads cost $900 and only brought in 32. So for local reach, traditional TV still seems king. But does that change for a national brand, or is social just better for younger audiences?

3 comments

3 Comments

uma_martinez1mo ago

For real though, maybe the real secret is just staging a blurry cell phone video and calling it a day. Save the $1200 for tacos lol.

mila_harris1mo ago

My uncle ran a diner in a small town near me and he spent $800 on a local radio ad that got him maybe 10 new people tops... but then his cousin posted a blurry cell phone video of his meatloaf on Facebook and it got shared 400 times in like two days. It's weird how random stuff blows up sometimes versus what you actually pay for. I think it really depends on the product too, like if you're selling something visual like a burger then social just works better for showing it off. But for something like a dentist or a mechanic where people just need to know you exist, I bet a TV spot still hits harder.

wells.karen1mo ago

The blurry cell phone video thing is so real. I did a Facebook ad for a local coffee shop last year that barely did anything, but then someone posted a grainy pic of their latte art and it got shared like crazy. Sometimes the stuff you don't plan ends up working way better than what you actually pay for.