Facebook Ads vs Google Ads: Which One Is Better for Clinics

Dinesh Kumar
1 day ago
4 min read

In the increasingly competitive world of health care, clinics can’t just provide outstanding service to separate themselves from the pack — they also need effective digital marketing. When it comes to online ad campaigns, two major players control the majority of the web: Facebook Ads vs Google Ads. Each provides a plethora of opportunities to gain access to potential patients, but which is more effective for clinics?

If you’re a clinic owner or health marketer and you want to make the best choice, learning the differences, strengths, and limitations of these two platforms can really help you. Let’s get into a comparison.

Why Are Online Ads Important for Clinics

Why invest in online advertising, anyway? Before comparing the platforms to one another, we might ask. Why should clinics invest in online advertising at all?

Greater Exposure: Patients are increasingly turning to the internet when seeking medical services. Paid advertising can allow your clinic to appear in front of them immediately.
Targeted Advertising: Ads can be targeted to location, demographics, interest etc to reach those most likely to require your services.
There was a great emphasis on measurable results- far from the traditional ad campaign.
Competitive Advantage: As more and more clinics are shifting towards marketing online, the paid ads can still cut through the noise.

What Are Google Ads?

Google Ads is a pay-per-click (PPC) advertising platform where businesses pay to have their website displayed at the top of the search results (among other places) based on the keywords they target. For clinics, that means when someone searches for terms like “dentist near me,” or “best IVF clinic in [city],” your ad has the potential to pop up right away.

Advantages Available to Clinics with Google Ads

High-Intent Patients: Google Ads attract patients actively searching for healthcare now.
Local Reach: Ideal for clinics wanting to attract local patients.
Measurable ROI: Specific analytics make clear what works.
Multiple Formats: Search ads, display ads, YouTube ads, and more.
Quick Wins: You don’t have to wait 4 to 6 months to see results, either, like you do with SEO.

Limitations of Google Ads

High Competition: The competition can be very high, particularly for healthcare niches.
Narrow Branding: Ads reach intent, but may not create awareness.
Complex Administration: It needs skillful keyword research and budget handling.

What Are Facebook Ads?

Facebook Ads (and Instagram, as Meta owns both) cater to social media advertising. Facebook Ads, unlike intent-based searches, target the user, focusing the user's profile, online behavior, and interests. Everyone has an account In fact they spend on average 35 minutes per day there.

Advantages of Facebook Ads for Clinics

Advanced Targeting: Target users by age, sex, location, and lifestyle.
Excellent for Awareness: Ideal for the promotion of trust and raising visibility of your clinic.
Visual Storytelling: Draw attention using photos, videos, and testimonials.
Affordable: Much less expensive than Google Ads per click on average.
Engagement-Focused: The ads get likes, shares, and comments to build trust with the community.

Limitations of Facebook Ads

Lower Intent: These users aren’t actively looking for services — they’re potentially just looking around.
Ad Fatigue: People might get tired of seeing your ad over and over.
Privacy Changes: Apple’s iOS updates have further restricted tracking and targeting.

Google Ads vs Facebook Ads: Key Differences

Feature	Google Ads	Facebook Ads
User Intent	High (users actively search for clinics)	Low (users are passively browsing)
Best For	Converting patients ready to book	Building awareness, branding, and trust
Targeting	Keywords, location, device	Demographics, interests, behaviors
Cost	Higher (competitive bidding)	Lower (cost-effective for awareness)
Ad Formats	Search, display, video	Image, carousel, video, stories
Speed of Results	Immediate (for searches)	Gradual (depends on audience engagement)

Which Is Better for Clinics?

The answer isn’t as simple as choosing one over the other—it depends on your clinic’s goals.

When to Use Google Ads

If you want to attract patients actively looking for healthcare services.
For urgent care clinics, dental services, IVF centers, and specialists where timing matters.
If you’re targeting “near me” searches and local patients.

When to Use Facebook Ads

If your goal is to raise brand awareness and trust.
For new clinics looking to establish their presence in the community.
If you want to showcase before-and-after transformations, testimonials, or educational content.

The Best Strategy: Combining Both

For most clinics, the smartest move is to use both platforms together.

Google Ads ensures that when someone needs your services urgently, your clinic appears right away.
Facebook Ads keep your clinic in front of potential patients, building awareness so that when they eventually need a service, they think of you first.

For example:

A dental clinic can run Google Ads for “emergency dentist near me” to capture immediate patients.
At the same time, they can run Facebook Ads showing smile makeovers, tips for oral care, and patient testimonials to build trust over time.

Tips for Clinics to Get the Best Out of Ads

Set Clear Goals: Decide whether you want awareness, leads, or conversions.
Use Location Targeting: Clinics rely on local patients, so geo-targeting is crucial.
Create Compelling Visuals: Especially for Facebook Ads, high-quality images and videos matter.
Track and Optimize: Continuously measure ad performance and adjust your campaigns.
Leverage Both Platforms: Don’t rely solely on one—combine the strengths of both for maximum impact.

Conclusion

Facebook Ads vs Google Ads: The Best for Your Clinic The Best for Your Clinic When comparing Facebook Ads vs Google Ads, it really boils down to your clinic’s focus and marketing goals. Google Ads are great for targeting patients seeking our services right NOW, and Facebook Ads are leveraged to create credibility and validation with hyper-focused content.

For clinics that are trying to get maximum exposure and attract/promote local patients sustainably, combining both is the best strategy.

Kriti Digital Solutions is here to help you write and manage ad campaigns that bring you measurable results and long-term growth and take your clinic’s digital marketing efforts to a new height.