Why Being #1 on Google Doesn’t Always Mean You Should Run Meta Ads! (Yet)

I was talking to a client the other day who was absolutely thrilled and rightfully so. For the second month in a row, they were sitting at the top of Google for their niche. That’s a big win!

Now, don’t get me wrong, they definitely played a big part in the success. They’ve been posting photos regularly and staying active by responding to reviews, which really helped build trust and engagement. Behind the scenes, I focused on optimizing their online presence and fine-tuning their SEO strategy. It’s been a true team effort; their consistency paired with my strategy helped them reach (and stay) at the top of Google.

Naturally, the next thing they wanted to do was start running paid ads, on both Meta (Facebook and Instagram) and Google Ads. They were excited to keep the momentum going and reach even more people.

But here’s where I had to pump the brakes a little.

I told them, “You don’t need to run Google Ads right now.”

Here’s why 👇

1. You’re Already Winning on Google (For Free!)

If you’re already ranking at the top of Google organically, you’re capturing the clicks that Google Ads are designed to bring in. Running paid search ads on top of that can actually mean paying for traffic you’re already getting for free.

Instead of doubling down on what’s already working organically, it’s often smarter to invest your marketing dollars in another area that needs development, like building a strong sales funnel or improving conversions.

2. You Need a Showroom - Not Just Social Media Listings

Right now, this client’s entire product catalog lives on Facebook and Instagram. While that’s great for visibility, it’s limiting. When you’re running ads, especially on Meta, you need a destination.

That’s where a website comes in. Think of it as your digital showroom.

A website lets you:

• Build trust and credibility with customers

• Control the experience and tell your brand story

• Create a smooth path from ad click → product → checkout

• Collect data and insights to optimize future campaigns

Without a website or landing page, your ads are like a billboard without a store — people might see it, but they don’t know where to go next.

3. Use Meta Ads to Drive Awareness and Traffic to Your Site

Once the website (or even a simple landing page) is in place, then it makes sense to start running ads on Meta.

Meta ads are fantastic for awareness and engagement, showing off your products, introducing your brand, and driving traffic to your site where people can browse and buy.

And when that traffic starts flowing to your new website, you’ll have a place to convert visitors into paying customers and retarget them later with even more relevant offers.

The Takeaway

Just because you can run ads everywhere doesn’t mean you should not yet anyway.

Start with the foundation: ✅ A strong organic presence (check!) ✅ A professional website or landing page (next step) ✅ A well-planned ad strategy that complements, not competes with, what’s already working

Once all those pieces are in place, you’re not just running ads, you’re running a system that brings in leads and sales consistently.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

If you’re ready to turn your online presence into a system that actually drives results, let’s talk! 👉 Schedule a free consultation and we’ll map out the best next steps for your business growth.