"I tried paid ads and got nothing" — we hear it constantly, and in 90% of cases the problem isn't Facebook, it's how the money was spent. This article answers the two questions that matter: how much to start with, and when to judge.
How much to start with?
As a practical rule for the Egyptian market: - Small local business (restaurant, clinic, shop): start with 3,000–5,000 EGP monthly ad spend - E-commerce store: 5,000–15,000 EGP monthly depending on products and margins - Launch campaign or peak season: temporarily double it
Important: this is the ad spend paid to Facebook — campaign management fees are a separate line, which works in your favor: you know exactly where your money goes.
Why are the first two weeks "testing"?
Facebook's algorithm needs data to learn who engages with your ad and who buys. The first two weeks answer two questions: which audience responds, and which creative (image/video/copy) wins. Whoever kills the campaign after 3 days "because it isn't selling" pays the learning cost without collecting its reward.
How do you know your money is working?
Forget likes — watch 3 numbers: - Cost per result: how many pounds per message/order/call? - Conversion rate: out of every 10 messages, how many actually buy? (If it's weak, the problem is your replies or offer, not the ad) - ROAS: how many pounds of sales does each ad pound return?
4 mistakes that burn budgets
- The "Boost post" button with no real targeting — the easiest way to pay a lot for a little - Targeting all of Egypt for a local business serving one area - One ad running for months — audiences fatigue and costs climb; refresh creatives - No tracking (Pixel) — spending blind, not knowing who bought or from where
Bottom line
Paid ads are the fastest customer channel — given a sensible budget, a fair testing period, and proper measurement. If you've spent before with no result, one of the four mistakes above is probably why. Send us your business details and we'll suggest a realistic starting budget for your exact niche — free consultation.