Case Study: How a Small Business Grew with Meta & Google Ads through an Agency Partnership

Background

Business: Maple & Co. Home Services
Industry: Home cleaning & maintenance
Size: Local small business with 6 employees
Challenge: Despite offering high-quality services, Maple & Co. struggled to generate consistent leads online. Their word-of-mouth referrals and occasional boosted Facebook posts were not enough to fuel growth. They needed a structured digital marketing strategy to compete with larger local service providers.

The Challenge

Limited Online Visibility: Ranking low on Google search and no systematic paid ad campaigns.
Inefficient Ad Spend: Occasional DIY boosted posts on Facebook with no targeting strategy.
No Data Tracking: No conversion tracking, making ROI impossible to measure.
Need for Consistency: The business relied heavily on seasonal demand.

The Solution

The business hired a digital marketing agency specializing in small business growth. The agency developed a dual-platform strategy using Meta Ads (Facebook & Instagram) and Google Ads (Search & Display) to maximize reach and conversion opportunities.

Step 1: Research & Strategy

Conducted audience research to identify target demographics (homeowners aged 28–55 in a 25km radius).
Performed keyword analysis for high-intent Google searches like “house cleaning services near me”.
Installed tracking tools (Meta Pixel & Google Tag Manager) to monitor conversions.

Step 2: Campaign Setup

Meta Ads

Created engaging short-form video ads showing “before & after” cleaning transformations.
Used carousel ads highlighting services (deep cleaning, carpet cleaning, move-out cleaning).
Implemented retargeting campaigns for website visitors and people who engaged with posts.

Google Ads

Launched Search campaigns targeting service-based keywords with high buyer intent.
Added location extensions to appear in local searches.
Ran Display retargeting ads to nurture prospects who didn’t convert immediately.

Step 3: Optimization

Split-tested ad creatives and copy to improve CTR.
Adjusted bidding strategies weekly to balance cost per click (CPC) and lead volume.
Paused underperforming keywords and shifted budget to high-converting terms.

The Results (6-Month Campaign)

Leads Generated: 420 qualified leads (average of 70/month).
Cost Per Lead: Reduced from ~$85 (previous DIY ads) to $22.
Conversion Rate: Website booking conversion rate improved from 2% to 8%.
Revenue Growth: 3x increase in monthly recurring service contracts.
ROI: For every $1 spent on ads, the business generated $6 in revenue.

Key Takeaways

Agency Expertise Pays Off – Proper targeting, tracking, and optimization transformed ad spend into predictable growth.
Google Ads Captured Intent, Meta Ads Created Demand – Google Ads brought in high-intent leads actively searching, while Meta Ads built awareness and retargeted warm audiences.
Data-Driven Decisions Matter – Tracking tools revealed what campaigns worked best, enabling continuous improvements.
Consistency is Critical – Running ads year-round helped stabilize bookings and reduce seasonal dips.

Conclusion

By leveraging a marketing agency’s expertise with Meta Ads and Google Ads, Maple & Co. transitioned from inconsistent word-of-mouth growth to a scalable lead-generation engine. This success demonstrates how small businesses can punch above their weight when they combine professional strategy with smart advertising investments.