Most Minnesota trade businesses have the same problem with Facebook ads. That means you spend money and generate a lot of leads. But those leads don’t turn into paying customers. Instead, you get tire-kickers who won’t answer their phones.
This happens because Facebook Ads trades Minnesota campaigns use the wrong targeting strategies. You’re copying what works for retail stores, not local service businesses.
At Matter Solutions, we help trades businesses fix this problem. We use targeting methods that work for service companies.
In this article, we’ll show you why your Facebook ads fail and how to fix your targeting. You’ll learn budget strategies that work. Plus, you’ll learn how to create ads that attract serious buyers instead of bargain hunters.
Ready to find out what’s killing your Facebook ad results? Let’s get started.
Why Most Facebook Ads for Minnesota Trades Fail?
Most Facebook ads fail for Minnesota trades because you’re using targeting strategies made for online stores instead of local service businesses.
You’re probably copying generic Facebook ad strategies that work poorly for local service industries like yours. These guides tell you to target “people interested in home improvement” across a 50-mile radius. That sounds logical, but it actually wastes your budget.
The problem gets worse when you’re in Minnesota. You face seasonal demand challenges there that national guides completely ignore. For example, winter months bring emergency furnace calls and frozen pipe disasters. Then, summer focuses on AC repairs and deck building.
So, your Facebook ads need to match these seasonal patterns, but most tutorials skip this timing issue entirely.
Then there’s the targeting problem itself. Your “spray and pray” approach wastes money on people who will never hire trades. As a result, you end up paying for leads who are renters or live outside your service area.
Here’s what happens in real situations. One HVAC contractor from Brainerd spent $2,000 targeting “homeowners interested in heating and cooling” within 30 miles. He got 47 leads but only 3 actual service calls. Half his leads were renters, and the rest lived too far away.
This is why you need targeting strategies built specifically for local trades.
Facebook Ads Targeting That Works for Trade Businesses
The best part about Facebook ads targeting is that you can reach homeowners who are actively dealing with HVAC problems or plumbing issues right in your service area.
Here are the three targeting strategies that work best for trades businesses in Minnesota.
Use ZIP Code Targeting Instead of Radius Targeting
You should focus your geographic targeting on specific ZIP codes rather than broad radius targeting around your location. ZIP code targeting gives you precision that radius targeting can’t match.
The reason is simple. When you target a 25-mile radius, you’re hitting rural areas with no customers and competing markets where other trades dominate. This wastes your budget on areas that will never convert.
Alternatively, you can pick the ZIP codes where your best customers live. Then look at your past invoices and identify the areas that pay well and call you back for more work.
Target Homeowners Over 35 Years Old
When you target homeowners combined with age demographics (35+), you can filter out renters and young adults without disposable income. We’ve seen this approach cut lead costs by 40% while improving lead quality.
Here’s why this targeting method delivers better results. Homeowners over 35 have established income, own property that needs maintenance, and make purchasing decisions quickly (especially during emergencies like broken furnaces).
Focus on Home Improvement Interest Behaviors
If you use interest-based targeting with home improvement behaviors and recent home purchases, you can create higher-intent audiences. Facebook tracks people who engage with home improvement content, visit contractor websites, and search for local services.
These behaviors signal someone who might need your services soon, which means your ads reach people who are already thinking about home repairs.
Setting Your Facebook Ads Budget Without Breaking the Bank
What if you could generate quality leads for your trade business without spending thousands per month on Facebook ads that don’t convert?
Most trades businesses worry about spending too much on Facebook ads before they see results. The good news is you don’t need a huge budget to start getting quality leads.
Start With $500-1000 Monthly Budget
You can start with a $500-1000 monthly budget to gather meaningful data without major financial risk to your business. This amount gives Facebook enough spending power to optimize your ads while keeping your costs manageable.
Starting small also lets you test what works before you scale up. You’ll learn which audiences respond best, what ad copy converts, and which times of day generate the most calls.
Use Daily Budgets for Consistent Results
You’ll find that daily budgets work better than lifetime budgets for consistent lead flow throughout your month. Daily budgets spread your spending evenly, which means you get leads regularly instead of burning through your entire budget in the first week (when Facebook is still learning who to target).
Daily budgets also give you more control over your spending. If an ad performs poorly, you can pause it before it wastes your entire monthly budget.
Split Your Budget Between Testing and Proven Campaigns
You should allocate 70% to proven campaigns and 30% to testing new audiences and ad creative approaches. This 70/30 split ensures steady lead flow while giving you room to discover better targeting options.
Once you’ve been running Facebook ads for a few months, you’ll know which campaigns consistently deliver quality leads for your business.
How to Create Facebook Ads That Get You Quality Leads
You can create quality Facebook ads by adding screening questions and showing your prices upfront. Our suggestion is to target people who need immediate help to maximise your ad effectiveness.
Remember that Facebook ads are the fastest way for you to attract homeowners who need your services immediately and have the budget to pay for quality work.
Then, most trade businesses create ads that attract everyone, including people who will never hire them. Let’s find out how to fix that:
Add Screening Questions to Lead Forms:
- Ask “What’s your budget range for this project?” right in the Facebook form.
- Include “When do you need this work completed?” to filter out tire-kickers.
- People who won’t answer basic questions usually aren’t ready to hire anyone.
Show Your Prices Upfront:
- Mention “emergency service calls starting at $150” directly in your ad copy.
- Don’t worry about scaring people off because the ones you lose weren’t buying anyway.
- Price transparency attracts customers who value quality work (and it saves you from cheap customers).
Highlight Emergency Services:
- Use phrases like “Available 24/7” or “Same-day emergency repairs” in headlines.
- Emergency calls convert way better because people need immediate help.
- These urgent situations often become your highest-paying customers.
We’ve seen trades businesses double their conversion rates just by adding one qualification question to their lead forms. It’s that simple.
Start Getting Quality Facebook Ad Leads for Your Trade Business
Facebook ads work for Minnesota trades when you target the right people with the right message. All you need to do is focus on ZIP code targeting, screen your leads with qualification questions, and start with a manageable budget.
At Matter Solutions, we help trades businesses turn Facebook ads into reliable lead generators. If you’re ready to stop wasting money on tire-kickers and start attracting quality customers, get in touch with us today.