Advertising for SLP Entrepreneurs: Five Tips to Create Paid Ads That Work

Running paid ads for your speech-language pathology business can feel intimidating—especially if you’ve never done it before. With so many platforms, design options, and budget concerns, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed or worry about wasting money. But when done right, paid ads can help you reach the right people faster and grow your client base with confidence.

In this post, we’re breaking down simple, smart strategies to help you get started with paid ads—without draining your budget or your time.

1. Start with a Clear Goal

Before you spend a dollar, ask: What do I want this ad to do? Common goals include:

• Getting more people to visit your website

• Encouraging email list signups

• Promoting a specific service (like a summer speech group)

• Booking consultations or evaluations

Your goal should shape every decision—from your platform to your wording to your visuals.

2. Choose the Right Platform

Not all ad platforms are created equal. Pick one based on where your audience spends time:

• Facebook/Instagram

• Google Ads

• LinkedIn 

Tip: Don’t try to be everywhere at once. Start with one platform and test before expanding.

3. Keep Your Visuals Simple and Clean

Design matters—but simple usually wins. Stick to:

• A clean image or graphic with minimal text

• Easy-to-read fonts and high contrast colors

• One clear call to action (CTA), like “Book Now” or “Learn More”

Free tools like Canva offer ad templates and design tools that make creating professional visuals easy—even if you’re not a designer.

4. Write Clear, Client-Focused Copy

Great ad copy speaks to your audience’s needs—not just your services. Use simple language that:

• Identifies their problem (“Worried about your child’s speech delay?”)

• Offers a solution (“Get a free consultation with a licensed SLP”)

• Encourages action (“Click here to book now”)

Avoid jargon, and keep your message short. People should understand what you offer in three seconds or less.

5. Set a Small Test Budget

You don’t need to spend hundreds to see results. Start with a low daily budget and run your ad for 5–7 days. Then:

• Look at the results (clicks, signups, bookings)

• See what’s working and what’s not

• Tweak your image, text, or audience and try again

This approach helps you learn what resonates without blowing your budget.

Final Thoughts: You Don’t Need to Be a Marketing Expert

Start small. Track what works. Tweak and improve over time.

Paid ads can amplify your efforts—but they’re most effective when combined with a strong social media strategy, clear messaging, and a focused call to action. If you’re ready to get more confident about using social media to market your SLP business, watch our Unlocking Success with your Social Media Strategy + Tools Workshop Series. Learn how to choose the right platforms, create engaging content, and confidently run ads that convert. 

If you need more customized or one-on-one business coaching, sign up for one of our coaching packages.