How to Get Your First 100 Customers With Meta Ads: A Proven Strategy for Local Businesses

Jul 18

Written By Lucas | Marketing Director | FXXK Agency

Starting a local business is exciting — but getting those first 100 customers can feel overwhelming. How do you reach the right people? How do you convince strangers to walk through your doors or buy from your website?

One of the most powerful tools available today is Meta Ads — advertising on Facebook and Instagram. With over 3 billion users combined, Meta’s platforms give you a chance to connect directly with your ideal local customers, often at a surprisingly low cost.

In this article, I’ll walk you through a proven, step-by-step approach to help you get your first 100 customers using Meta Ads, based on real campaigns we’ve managed for local businesses just like yours.

Why Meta Ads Work So Well for Local Businesses

Meta Ads stand out because of their incredible targeting options. You can tailor your ads by location, age, interests, and behaviors, ensuring you’re reaching people who actually want what you offer.

Unlike traditional advertising — like flyers or local radio — Meta Ads let you track exactly how many people saw your ad, clicked it, and took action. This makes it easier to invest your marketing budget wisely and scale what works.

Step 1: Know Exactly Who You’re Trying to Reach

The foundation of any successful ad campaign is a clear understanding of your ideal customer. For local businesses, this usually means focusing on:

People within a specific radius of your store or service area
Age groups most likely to buy your product or service
Interests or habits related to your niche (think hobbies, lifestyle, or other brands they like)

The more precise your targeting, the less you waste money on uninterested audiences.

Step 2: Offer Something They Can’t Resist

Your first offer should be compelling enough to get attention and motivate people to act. That could be:

A welcome discount, like 20% off your first purchase
A limited-time deal, such as buy one, get one free
A free consultation or bonus gift with purchase

Whatever you choose, make it clear and easy to understand, with a strong call-to-action (CTA) like “Visit us today” or “Claim your discount now.”

Step 3: Create Ads That Catch the Eye

Social media users scroll quickly, so your ad visuals need to stand out. Use:

High-quality photos of your products, your team, or your store
Short videos that showcase what makes you unique
Real people and authentic moments that build trust

When people recognize and relate to your brand, they’re more likely to stop and learn more.

Step 4: Set Up Your Meta Ads Campaign for Conversions

Choose the traffic campaign objective in Meta Ads Manager — this tells Facebook and Instagram to show your ads to people most likely to take the action you want, whether that’s visiting your store or making a purchase online.

Start with a small daily budget, around $20-$30, and run multiple ad variations (different images, headlines, or audiences) to see what performs best. Don’t forget to install the Facebook Pixel on your website to track conversions and gather valuable data.

Step 5: Watch Your Campaign and Make Adjustments

Launching ads is just the beginning. To get the best results:

Check your ad performance daily
Pause ads that aren’t working
Put more budget behind your top performers
Test new creative or offers based on what you learn

Consistent optimization helps you lower your cost per customer and maximize your return on investment.

What Kind of Results Can You Expect?

Using this strategy, many local businesses have:

Gained their first 100+ customers within 31 days
Achieved an average cost per result (CPr) between $0.06 - $0.18 (Average of $0.40 - $0.50)
Built a loyal customer base that keeps coming back
Increased foot traffic and online sales with measurable, scalable results

These numbers show that even with a modest budget, Meta Ads can drive real growth fast.

Ready to Get Started?

If you’re eager to get your first 100 customers (and then some), Meta Ads are a smart place to start. Focus on:

Defining your local audience
Crafting an irresistible offer
Using eye-catching, authentic creative
Running conversion-focused campaigns
Optimizing your ads regularly

And if you want expert help designing and managing your campaigns, our agency specializes in helping local businesses like yours grow quickly with Meta Ads.

Final Thoughts

There’s never been a better time to harness the power of Meta Ads for your local business. With precise targeting, compelling offers, and smart campaign management, you can turn Facebook and Instagram into powerful customer-generating machines.

Don’t let the challenge of getting those first 100 customers slow you down. Start your Meta Ads campaign today — and watch your business grow.

If you want me to help you build a custom Meta Ads campaign or provide tips on creative, targeting, or budgeting, just let me know!

Lucas | Marketing Director | FXXK Agency

Lucas Mora is the Marketing Director at FXXK Agency, a New Jersey–based firm known for breaking marketing rules—not budgets. His journey into marketing began in 8th grade, running Meta Ads for local lawn care businesses, and evolved into a full-blown passion for helping brands grow with bold, results-driven strategies. At FXXK Agency, Lucas leads campaigns that blend creative direction with data-backed execution, specializing in local SEO, paid ads, and digital storytelling. Outside of work, he's deeply rooted in skateboarding and fashion—two worlds that inspire his authentic approach to branding and content. Through this blog, Lucas shares raw insights on marketing, culture, and growth for brands ready to make noise and stand out.