Published: July 17, 2025

“You need to be on both platforms.”

That’s what every PPC agency tells every client. Facebook AND Google. Instagram AND YouTube. LinkedIn AND TikTok. Because why choose one revenue stream when you can sell them all?

Here’s what they don’t tell you: Most businesses should focus on one platform first, master it completely, then expand strategically. The “omnichannel approach” agencies love to sell often leads to mediocre results across multiple platforms instead of excellent results on the right platform.

The truth is, Facebook ads and Google ads serve fundamentally different purposes, target different buyer behaviors, and require completely different strategies. Choosing the right platform for your business isn’t about budget size or industry—it’s about understanding where your customers are in their buying journey and how they prefer to discover solutions.

Big agencies don’t want you to make this choice because focused strategies require less management time and generate smaller retainers. It’s more profitable for them to manage campaigns across multiple platforms than to excel on the one platform that actually drives your revenue.

Let’s expose how the “more platforms = better results” myth serves agencies better than clients, and give you the framework to choose the platform that will actually grow your business.

The Multi-Platform Profit Machine

How Agencies Multiply Revenue With Platform Proliferation

The Multi-Platform Profit Machine

The Pitch: “Your competitors are advertising on both Facebook and Google. You need omnichannel presence to capture customers at every touchpoint.”

The Reality: Most businesses get better ROI from dominating one platform than struggling across multiple platforms.

The Agency Benefit: Instead of one $3,000/month Google Ads retainer, they now have:

Your Benefit: Diluted attention, smaller budgets per platform, less expertise per channel, mediocre results everywhere.

The Platform Expansion Upsell Cycle

Month 1-3: “Let’s start with Google Ads to capture high-intent traffic”

Month 4: “We’re seeing great Google results. Now we should add Facebook to capture earlier-stage prospects”

Month 6: “Facebook is generating awareness. Let’s add retargeting to close the loop”

Month 8: “Your competitors are on LinkedIn. We should test B2B targeting there too”

Month 12 Results:

Real Agency Email (Anonymized)

“Your Google Ads performance has been solid, which means we’ve captured the high-intent market. To grow beyond this level, we need to expand your funnel with Facebook Ads to capture prospects before they’re actively searching.

I’ve prepared a Facebook strategy that complements your Google campaigns perfectly. The cross-platform synergy should increase your overall ROAS by 30-40%.

Investment: $2,800/month for Facebook management + $500/month for cross-platform reporting.

Can we schedule a call this week to discuss expansion?”

Translation: “We’ve maxed out the growth we can deliver on Google with our current strategy. Instead of improving our Google approach, let’s add complexity and double our revenue.”

What They Don’t Say:

Do Facebook or Google Ads Work Better?

Google ads or Meta ads image

The answer isn’t which platform works better—it’s which platform works better for your specific business. This question reveals the core problem with how agencies approach platform selection: they treat it like a universal truth instead of a business-specific decision.

Google Ads: Capturing Active Intent

How Google Ads Work:

Best For:

Google Ads Strengths:High-intent traffic – People are actively searching for solutions ✅ Immediate results – Can generate leads within hours of launch ✅ Predictable costs – Cost-per-click relatively stable and measurable ✅ Local targeting – Excellent for location-based businesses ✅ Search term data – See exactly what triggered your ads

Google Ads Weaknesses:Limited audience size – Only people actively searching ❌ Higher competition – Established players bid up costs ❌ Keyword research required – Need to understand search behavior ❌ Limited creative format – Mostly text-based ads

Facebook Ads: Creating Demand and Interest

How Facebook Ads Work:

Best For:

Facebook Ads Strengths:Massive audience size – 2.9 billion active users ✅ Detailed targeting – Demographics, interests, behaviors, lookalikes ✅ Visual creativity – Images, videos, carousels, stories ✅ Lower cost per click – Generally cheaper than Google ✅ Viral potential – Content can be shared and amplified

Facebook Ads Weaknesses:Lower intent – People aren’t actively searching for your solution ❌ Longer sales cycles – More touchpoints needed for conversion ❌ Platform dependency – Algorithm changes can devastate performance ❌ Creative fatigue – Ads lose effectiveness quickly and need constant refresh

Are Meta Ads Really Worth It?

meta ads work

Meta Ads (Facebook and Instagram advertising) are worth it for businesses that fit the platform’s strengths, but agencies often oversell their universal effectiveness.

Meta Ads are worth it when:

Meta Ads are NOT worth it when:

The “worth it” question depends entirely on your business model, not the platform’s general effectiveness.

What Are the Disadvantages of Meta Ads?

Disadvantages of Meta Ads

Unlike agency presentations that focus only on Meta’s benefits, here are the real disadvantages:

Creative Burnout: Meta ads lose effectiveness quickly, requiring constant creative refresh that many businesses can’t sustain.

Low Intent Traffic: People on Facebook aren’t looking to buy—they’re looking to socialize. Converting social media browsers into buyers requires significantly more skill and patience.

Algorithm Dependency: Your ad performance can change overnight based on Meta’s algorithm updates, with no advance warning or explanation.

Attribution Challenges: Meta’s attribution system often overclaims credit for conversions, making ROI measurement difficult and unreliable.

Audience Saturation: Popular targeting options become oversaturated quickly, driving up costs and reducing effectiveness.

Platform Instability: Business account restrictions, ad disapprovals, and policy changes can shut down campaigns without warning.

What Are the Disadvantages of Using Google Ads?

Disadvantages of Google Ads

Google Ads has significant disadvantages that agencies often downplay:

High Competition: Established players bid up popular keywords, making entry expensive for new advertisers.

Limited Audience Size: You can only reach people actively searching for your keywords—missing potential customers who don’t know to search.

Keyword Complexity: Success requires extensive keyword research, negative keyword management, and constant optimization.

Click Fraud: Competitors and bots can click your ads maliciously, wasting budget with no protection.

Landing Page Requirements: Google Ads require dedicated, optimized landing pages to be effective—adding complexity and cost.

Learning Curve: The platform is complex with numerous settings that can dramatically impact performance if configured incorrectly.

Are Meta or Google Ads Better?

Google Ads or Meta Ads Image

This question assumes there’s a universal “better” platform, which serves agency interests more than client interests. The real answer depends on your specific business context.

When Agencies Steer You Wrong

The “Best Practice” Manipulations

Google and Meta ads with Marketing Agencies

Agency Claim: “Best practice is to run both platforms simultaneously for maximum reach”

Reality Check: Best practice varies dramatically by business model, target audience, and buying behavior. Cookie-cutter approaches serve agency efficiency, not client results.

Agency Claim: “You need Facebook for brand awareness and Google for conversions”

Reality Check: Many businesses generate excellent brand awareness through Google Ads, and many close sales directly through Facebook. This artificial separation justifies dual platform management.

Agency Claim: “Cross-platform attribution shows how Facebook assists Google conversions”

Reality Check: Attribution modeling is often manipulated to show interaction between platforms, even when the connection is weak or coincidental.

Platform Selection Red Flags

🚩 Immediate recommendation for both platforms before understanding your business 🚩 Generic “omnichannel” strategy not tailored to your specific customer journey 🚩 Platform recommendations that coincidentally increase their management fees 🚩 Inability to explain why one platform would be better than the other for your business 🚩 Pressure to “test everything” instead of focusing on the most promising platform 🚩 Cross-platform reporting that obscures individual platform performance

Questions Your Agency Should Answer Before Platform Selection

  1. Where do your customers go when they have the problem you solve?
  2. Do they search for solutions, or do they need to be educated about solutions?
  3. What’s your typical sales cycle length?
  4. How visual is your product or service?
  5. What’s your customer lifetime value vs. acquisition cost tolerance?
  6. Do you have capacity to manage multiple campaigns simultaneously?
  7. What’s your total advertising budget and how should it be allocated?

If your agency can’t answer these questions specifically for your business, they’re not qualified to make platform recommendations.

The Platform Selection Framework

Step 1: Analyze Your Customer Journey

High-Intent Indicators (Google Ads Priority):

Low-Intent Indicators (Facebook Ads Priority):

Step 2: Evaluate Your Business Model

Google Ads Advantages:

Facebook Ads Advantages:

Step 3: Assess Your Resources and Constraints

Budget Considerations:

Creative Requirements:

Management Complexity:

Step 4: Consider Your Competitive Landscape

Google Ads Competition Analysis:

Facebook Ads Competition Analysis:

Industry-Specific Platform Recommendations

Google Ads Priority Industries

Meta and Google Ads Platform Recommendations Image

Professional Services:

Home Services:

Healthcare:

B2B Services:

High-Consideration Purchases:

Facebook Ads Priority Industries

E-commerce:

Food & Beverage:

Fitness & Wellness:

Entertainment:

Consumer Services:

Industries That Work Well on Both Platforms

Software/SaaS:

Real Estate:

Education:

The Single-Platform Mastery Approach

Why Focus Beats Fragmentation

Simple Platform approach image

Concentrated Expertise:

Budget Efficiency:

Measurement Clarity:

The Platform Mastery Timeline

Months 1-3: Foundation

Months 4-6: Optimization

Months 7-12: Mastery

Year 2+: Strategic Expansion

Should I Learn Facebook Ads or Google Ads First?

Which one should we learn first meta ads or google ads

If you’re learning advertising yourself, start with the platform that matches your business model, not the platform that seems easier.

Learn Google Ads First If:

Learn Facebook Ads First If:

The Agency Myth: “Learn Facebook first because it’s easier”

The Reality: Neither platform is easy to master. Facebook appears simpler because it’s more visual, but effective audience targeting and creative testing require just as much expertise as Google’s keyword research and bid management.

How Much Does a Google Ad Cost?

How much to spend on google ads

Google ad costs vary dramatically by industry, competition, and targeting, but agencies often manipulate cost discussions to justify higher management fees.

Average Cost-Per-Click by Industry:

What Agencies Don’t Tell You About Costs:

Cost Control Strategies Agencies Rarely Implement:

Is There Anything Better Than Google Ads?

Anything better than google ads image

For search-based marketing, Google Ads dominates market share for a reason—it works. But “better” depends on your definition and business needs.

Alternatives to Google Ads:

The Agency Perspective: “Google is best because we’re certified partners”

The Reality: Platform expertise should drive recommendations, not partnership status or management convenience.

What Is the Difference Between Google Ads Manager and Meta Ads Manager?

which is better meta or google ads manager image

The platform interfaces reflect different advertising philosophies and user behaviors:

Google Ads Manager Focus:

Meta Ads Manager Focus:

The Agency Advantage: Agencies use both platforms daily and understand these differences. The question is whether they choose platforms based on what works for your business or what’s convenient for their operations.

Why Choose Meta Ads?

meta ads image

Choose Meta Ads when they align with your business model and customer behavior, not because an agency needs to diversify their service offerings.

Strategic Reasons to Choose Meta:

Revenue-Driven Agency Reasons (Red Flags):

Are Meta Ads Still Worth It?

facebok meta ads worth ito

Despite platform changes and increased competition, Meta Ads remain effective for businesses that fit the platform’s strengths.

2025 Meta Ads Reality:

When Meta Ads Are Still Worth It:

When to Reconsider Meta Ads:

Can I Use Meta Ads Without Facebook?

Can I Use Meta Ads Without Facebook?

Yes, but with limitations that agencies often don’t fully explain.

Instagram-Only Advertising:

WhatsApp Business Advertising:

Agency Considerations: Most agencies will push for full Facebook + Instagram access because it:

How to Choose: The Platform Decision Matrix

Answer These Questions Honestly:

which platform image

1. Where do your customers go when they need what you sell?

2. How urgently do customers need your solution?

3. How visual is your product or service?

4. What’s your typical customer lifetime value?

5. Do you have capacity for creative production?

6. How long is your typical sales cycle?

Scoring Your Platform Fit

Google Ads Indicators (Score 1-5 for each):

Facebook Ads Indicators (Score 1-5 for each):

Interpretation:

When to Expand to Multiple Platforms

Prerequisites for Platform Expansion

When to Expand to Multiple Platforms

Platform #1 Mastery Indicators:Consistent positive ROI for 6+ months ✅ Predictable cost-per-acquisition and scaling patterns ✅ Advanced optimization strategies implemented successfully ✅ Creative and targeting systems working efficiently ✅ Budget capacity for meaningful testing on second platform

Business Readiness Indicators:Additional budget available (minimum $3,000/month for second platform) ✅ Creative production capacity for multiple formats ✅ Management bandwidth for increased complexity ✅ Clear success metrics for cross-platform attribution ✅ Demand exceeding current platform’s reach

Strategic Expansion Approach

Phase 1: Platform Mastery (Months 1-12)

Phase 2: Secondary Testing (Months 13-15)

Phase 3: Balanced Growth (Months 16+)

The Navu Platform Selection Process

How We Actually Choose Platforms for Clients

Discovery Phase:

Strategic Recommendation:

Transparent Implementation:

What Makes Our Approach Different

No Multi-Platform Upsells: We recommend expansion only when it makes strategic sense, not when it increases our revenue

Platform Agnostic: We choose based on your business needs, not our platform preferences or expertise limitations

Mastery Focus: Deep expertise on one platform beats superficial management across multiple platforms

Transparent ROI: Clear attribution and performance measurement without cross-platform confusion

Strategic Patience: Expansion when you’re ready, not when we want larger retainers

Red Flags: When Your Agency Fails Platform Selection

Warning Signs Your Agency Is Platform-Shopping for Revenue

red flag marketing warning

🚩 Immediate recommendation for multiple platforms without thorough business analysis 🚩 “Test everything” approach that spreads budget too thin 🚩 Inability to clearly explain why they chose specific platforms 🚩 Cross-platform packages that coincidentally match their service offerings 🚩 Pressure to add platforms when current performance could be improved 🚩 Vague success metrics that make platform performance hard to evaluate

Questions to Ask Your Agency

  1. “Why did you choose this platform specifically for our business?”
  2. “What would have to be true for the other platform to be better?”
  3. “How will we measure success on each platform independently?”
  4. “What’s your expertise level on each platform you’re recommending?”
  5. “How does adding platforms impact the attention our account receives?”

Professional agencies will have specific, data-driven answers. Agencies focused on revenue will give vague, generic responses.

Your Platform Selection Action Plan

Week 1: Self-Assessment

Use our Platform Decision Matrix to evaluate your business:

Week 2: Strategy Development

Based on your assessment:

Week 3: Implementation Planning

Prepare for platform mastery:

Week 4: Launch and Monitor

Begin focused platform approach:

Free Platform Selection Consultation

platform selection tool

Tired of agencies pushing multi-platform strategies that dilute your results and inflate their revenues?

We’re offering Free Platform Selection Consultations for businesses ready to focus their advertising efforts where they’ll actually drive growth.

What You’ll Get:

What You Won’t Get:

Ready to stop spreading your budget thin across multiple platforms?

Schedule Your Free Platform Selection Consultation

Platform Selection Worksheet Included:

Because focused excellence beats distributed mediocrity.

Focus on one platform. Master it completely. Then expand strategically.

Your business deserves advertising expertise, not advertising complexity.


Stop letting agencies multiply their revenue by multiplying your platforms. Choose the right platform for your business and dominate it. Choose Navu Marketing

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