Customers Now Look for You on Their Phones: What Is Advertising and Why Advertise?

It’s 10 pm. Your customer is lying in bed, scrolling through his phone.

Tomorrow he wants somewhere for breakfast. Or someone to fix an awning. Or a new job. He isn’t opening a newspaper and he isn’t waiting for a TV ad. He opens Facebook, TikTok or Google Maps, takes a quick look and sends a message.

At that moment, does he see your shop, or someone else’s?

That is what many business owners in Kuching and Sarawak are really facing today. Advertising, in plain words, is this: letting the right people see you at the moment they need you.

What is advertising?

Advertising is a planned, usually paid way to help more potential customers know you, remember you and get in touch.

It isn’t only for big brands. A signboard, a flyer and a boosted Facebook post are all advertising.

It doesn’t have to cost a lot, and it doesn’t guarantee orders. Its job is simple: to put your business in front of more people.

My shop is open, but nobody nearby knows. What can I do?

Short answer: first let people nearby know you’re there. That is the first thing advertising can do for you.

Many owners know this feeling. The renovation is done, the stock is ready, and after opening day only a few people walk in.

It’s usually not because your product is bad. It’s because people simply don’t know you’re here.

Word of mouth and walk-in traffic are slow. Ads let you show your shop to people in your area, the people you actually want to reach.

I paid for flyers and newspaper ads. How do I know who saw them?

Short answer: with traditional ads it’s hard to know. With phone ads, the platform gives you reports on impressions, clicks and messages.

Before social media, shops mostly relied on:

• TV and radio
• Newspapers and magazines
• Flyers, name cards and posters
• Signboards and roadside billboards
• Word of mouth and regular customers

These aren’t useless. Signboards and word of mouth still matter a lot today.

But there is an old problem: you spent the money, yet it’s hard to tell how many people saw it, who was interested, or which version worked better.

Phone ads come with reports: how many people saw the ad, how many clicked, how many sent a message. You can adjust as you go.

My competitors advertise on phones. Will customers go to them instead?

Short answer: it can happen. Business tends to go where customers’ attention goes.

Your customers scroll their phones every day. If a competitor’s ad keeps showing up and yours doesn’t, they will naturally ask that competitor first.

You don’t need to outspend anyone. Start with a small test budget, see whether people notice and message you, then decide whether to put in more.

I have many regulars. Why are new customers getting fewer?

Short answer: new customers now usually look on their phones first. If they can’t find you, they won’t come.

Many old shops have survived for years on loyal customers. That is valuable.

But when people look for a new place today, most check their phone first: the Facebook page, the photos, the reviews, then a quick WhatsApp message. If they can’t find you, or your page hasn’t been updated for ages, new customers will struggle to find you.

Keep looking after your regulars, but make sure new people can find you too. Ads help you reach people who don’t know you yet.

I tried ads before, got no enquiries and couldn’t read the report. What went wrong?

Short answer: common causes are the wrong objective, an unclear creative, slow replies, or a report nobody explained in plain language.

We hear this a lot. Some owners tried running ads themselves, or hired someone, and few people messaged. The report was full of English terms and numbers, and nobody could say where to look or where the money went.

• Wrong objective: you wanted messages but chose a goal built for reach. See Meta’s official ad objectives guide.
• Unclear creative: the image doesn’t show what you sell, or doesn’t say how to contact you.
• Slow replies: the ad brought messages, but they were answered the next day.
• Reports nobody explains: no one tells you in plain words what the numbers mean.

The better way: a clear objective, a simple creative, quick replies, and a report explained in words you understand.

Ads aren’t magic. They help you get seen; whether people buy still depends on your product, price, reply speed and service. We don’t promise orders, enquiries or sales.

Traditional vs digital advertising: what is the difference?

Short answer: traditional ads reach widely but are harder to track and change. Phone ads let you set the area and budget, read reports and adjust any time. You can use both.

A simple comparison (the real picture varies by business, area and platform):

It isn’t either/or. Keep the signboard and the word of mouth, and add phone ads. That is how many businesses combine them.

How can a Kuching or Sarawak business get started with Facebook ads?

Short answer: set a goal, pick a platform, then prepare your creative and replies. You don’t need to do everything at once.

1. Decide what you want: walk-ins, WhatsApp enquiries, or hiring?
2. Pick a platform: restaurants and local services often start with Facebook ads. If your product looks great on video, consider TikTok ads.
3. Prepare creative and replies: clear photos or a short video, simple wording, and someone ready to answer WhatsApp and messages quickly.

To see how local and East Malaysian businesses did it, read these case studies:

• Pork wholesale Facebook ads case
• Facebook hiring ads case: Sibu food court
• Awning Facebook ads case: Johor Bahru

To see how we work with local businesses, read about our Kuching Facebook ads agency service, or learn more about YF ADS（颖峯）. TikTok’s own creative best practices and TikTok Ads Manager are good places to start if you’re curious about short video.

Which businesses suit phone ads?

Short answer: businesses that need people nearby to know them, and whose customers usually message or WhatsApp before buying, tend to suit them best.

• Restaurants and food businesses: show nearby people your new menu, promotions and opening hours.
• Wholesalers and suppliers: reach shops and buyers who order regularly.
• Renovation, awning and repair services: use photos of your work so people message you first.
• Hiring: let job seekers nearby see your vacancy sooner.
• Beauty, tuition and courses: services that need a little explaining before people decide.

Not sure if you fit? That’s fine. Tell us what you do and what you want to achieve. YF ADS（颖峯） is based in Kuching; we listen first, then explain what could work in plain language.