Google ads vs Facebook ads for electricians
By the Margin Media team · Updated
For electricians, Google ads usually come first because they reach people who are searching for an electrician at that moment, such as a homeowner with a dead circuit. Facebook and Instagram ads reach people who are not searching, so they suit planned work like EV chargers, generators and panel upgrades. A sensible order is Google first, Facebook second.
What is the real difference between the two?
The difference is intent. On Google, the customer has already decided they need an electrician and is choosing which one. On Facebook and Instagram, nobody opened the app to find an electrician, so the ad has to interrupt them with something they were already half thinking about, like a charger for the car they just bought.
How do they compare side by side?
Neither platform is better in general. They do different jobs, and the right one depends on the kind of electrical work you want more of and how quickly you need it.
| Google ads | Facebook and Instagram ads | |
|---|---|---|
| Who sees it | People searching for an electrician now | People in your area who are not searching |
| Best for | Repairs, no-power calls, urgent service | Planned work: chargers, generators, lighting, upgrades |
| What the ad needs | The right search terms and a page that matches | A picture or video that stops the scroll |
| How fast they call | Often quickly, because the need is live | Slower: many need follow-up before they book |
| Main risk | Paying for clicks from searches you never wanted | Enquiries from people who were only curious |
When is Facebook the better choice?
Facebook is the better choice when the work is planned, visual and not yet urgent, and when search ads in your area have become crowded. It also suits an electrician who wants to be remembered before the need arises. It is the wrong first choice if you need service calls this week, because the people who see it have no fault to fix today.
How does Margin run ads for an electrician?
Margin builds and runs the ads for an electrical company on Facebook and Instagram, in an ad account you own. The budget is your money, paid straight to the platform, and each campaign gets its own booking page.
Because slower leads from Facebook need chasing, anyone who asks but does not book keeps hearing from Mia by text until they book or say no. Texting waits on carrier approval of your number. The monthly report shows what each booked job cost in ads.
What Margin sets up for this.
- Ads on Facebook and Instagram, in an account you own
- Follow-up until they book or say no
- A monthly report and strategy call
What a business needs is decided on its audit. It is a one-time setup fee and a monthly fee, with exact numbers on the audit.
How Margin works for electriciansSee the portal with a sample business
Related questions
Should an electrician run Google ads and Facebook ads at the same time?
An electrician can, but it is easier to learn what works by starting with one. Starting with search ads shows what a booked job costs for urgent work. Facebook can then be added for planned work and judged against that number.
Do Facebook ads work for emergency electrical calls?
Poorly. Someone with no power searches for an electrician, they do not scroll a feed. Facebook ads suit electrical work a homeowner plans ahead, where a picture and an offer to come and look can start the conversation.
Why do my electrician ads get clicks but no booked jobs?
Clicks without jobs usually point to one of three things: the ad shows for the wrong searches, the page it lands on makes calling hard, or the calls it produces are not answered. An electrician should check all three before blaming the platform.