It’s easy to assume that ads are the missing piece. It’s easy to think: “I just need to run some ads and then things will finally click.”

But here’s the thing most Facebook and Instagram ads managers won’t tell you: not every business is quite ready for ads yet and that’s okay.

In fact, trying to scale with ads before your foundation is solid can lead to wasted budget, frustration, and the false belief that “ads just don’t work for me.”

So let’s do a quick gut check. Before you throw your money into the Meta machine, ask yourself these five questions:

1. Do I have one clear, validated offer?

If you’re still tweaking your offer or changing your price every week, it might be too soon to run ads. Ads amplify what’s already working. They don’t magically fix unclear positioning.

✅ You’re ready if: People have said yes (preferably many people, more than once) to this offer organically, and you can explain it in one sentence.

2. Is my audience clearly defined (and reachable)?

Do you know who you’re talking to? Not just in your head but in your copy, in your emails, on your sales page? Ads work best when your message is specific and emotionally resonant.

✅ You’re ready if: You know your dream client’s pain points and what they want most so you can reflect that in your ad messaging.

3. Do I have a funnel or next step ready?

Running ads to “check out my Instagram” or a homepage usually doesn’t move the needle. You need a next step that turns attention into action.

✅ You’re ready if: You have a lead magnet, sales page, or booking link that guides new traffic toward a specific conversion.

4. Have I tested my messaging organically?

If you’re not getting responses, clicks, or engagement from your existing audience, it’s unlikely a cold audience will react differently. Organic success is often a green light.

✅ You’re ready if: You’ve posted or emailed messaging that got replies, saves, or DMs asking for more.

5. Do I have a realistic budget and timeline?

Ads are an investment, not a lottery ticket. It takes time to test, learn, and optimize. You’re building a system that can sell for you in the background while you spend your time

✅ You’re ready if: You can set aside at least 2-3 months weeks of consistent spend, with clear goals and patience for data.

TL;DR: Run ads after you’ve got clarity, not before.

If you answered yes to most of these, congrats! You’re in a great place to start amplifying.

If you answered “hmm, not sure” or “not yet” to a few? That’s totally normal. In fact, those insights are gold, too. They show you exactly what to tighten before spending a dollar.

Want a second set of eyes on where you stand? That’s exactly what my Ads Power Hour is for: strategic clarity without guesswork.

Because if you’re doing the work to create something meaningful and valuable, your efforts should lead somewhere, not get swallowed by the algorithm void.