The digital advertising landscape is changing fast. For years, Google Ads has been a go-to advertising tool for businesses looking to attract leads. But recently, something has shifted: costs are rising, competition is intensifying, and results aren’t keeping pace with the high dollar spend.

According to WordStream by LocalIQ, the Google Ads cost increase has been consistent year over year. In 2021, the average cost per lead sat at $41.40. By 2025, that number has climbed to $70.11 per lead. Rising CPC and increased competition mean businesses are paying more just to stay visible.

For small businesses managing tight marketing budgets, this trend creates a serious challenge. Many are forced to pause campaigns sooner or accept declining performance. With less flexibility and higher costs, Google Ads may no longer be the most efficient growth channel for small businesses focused on a successful ROI and profitability.

Why Meta Advertising Can Be a Game Changer for Small Businesses

At Juuced Marketing, we’ve seen firsthand how Meta ads, including Facebook and Instagram ads, can outperform traditional search advertising for small businesses, maximizing their return on ad spend (ROAS).



Paid social advertising allows brands to reach highly targeted audiences based on interests, behaviors, and demographics, not just keywords. When campaigns are built with strong creative, smart targeting, and continuous optimization, Meta consistently delivers high-performing ads at a much lower cost.

A standout example is our work with a local car service client. After taking over their Meta advertising strategy and implementing a $200 monthly ad spend, the results over a five-month period were dramatic compared to the previous five months without Meta ads:

• Reach increased by over 5,600%
• Total views grew by more than 7,000%
• Social profile visits increased by over 200%
• Website visits surged by more than 370,000%