You can make Instagram advertising way easier by sharing your Instagram content to your Facebook page or experimenting with different Instagram ad formats. With just a little guidance, you can get big results from your Instagram ads.
In this guide, we’ll show you how to run Instagram ads and create campaigns that really work, using some of the latest ad features.
What Are Instagram Ads?
Instagram ads are a way to grow your brand by reaching the right audience with eye-catching content. You can create new ads or boost posts that are already doing well organically.
The cool part? Instagram ads let you reach people across all types of content—posts, Stories, Reels, and even on other Meta platforms.
How Instagram Advertising Works
Instagram ads use Meta’s powerful data to show your content to the right people, whether through DMs, posts, Stories, Reels, or Live.
Here’s the process:
- You create an ad set, where you define your audience, budget, schedule, placements, and bidding strategy.
- You make your ads.
- The Instagram algorithm decides where your ads will perform best.
Instagram Ads: How the Auction Works
Unlike traditional TV or print ads, where you pay for a specific spot, Instagram uses an ad auction. Every ad competes for users’ attention based on three things:
- Bid amount: How much you’re willing to pay. This is different from your total budget.
- Ad quality: How engaging and well-designed your ad is.
- Ad relevance: How closely your ad matches your audience’s interests.
The ad with the highest combined score wins. That means big budgets alone won’t guarantee the best placement—but they help you compete longer. Focus on ad quality and relevance to get the most value from your budget.
Also Read: How to Conduct Technical SEO Audit on Your Website in 2026
Instagram Ad Types and Formats
Instagram ads aren’t limited to boring 30-second videos or static images. You can get creative and measure results at the same time.
Image Ads
A single image can grab attention and make a big impression. Perfect for product highlights, events, or brand building. Keep text minimal—less is usually more.
Video Ads
Videos can range from a few seconds to an hour, depending on where you place them. Stories, Reels, and the feed each have their own purpose and algorithm. Mix image and video ads for best results.
Carousel Ads
Carousel ads let you post 2–10 images or videos in one ad that users can swipe through. Great for showing multiple products, telling a story, or highlighting details of a panoramic photo.
Stories Ads
Stories ads are full-screen, vertical ads that appear between users’ Stories. They can run for longer than 24 hours and use images or videos. Suggested duration? Around seven days for max reach.
Reels Ads
Reels ads are short-form videos (up to 60 seconds) that appear in the Reels feed. Design them for maximum watch time—a higher “relevance score” lowers ad costs and improves placement.
Explore Ads
Your ad can appear in the Explore page, where users discover new content tailored to their interests. You can target Explore specifically or have standout Reels appear there organically.
Shopping Ads
Shopping ads let users browse and buy products directly from your ad. You’ll need a Meta Commerce Manager account with products listed. Collection ads are like carousels but focused on one main product plus additional items.
Tools You’ll Need
Before diving into ads, here are some key Meta tools:
- Meta Business Suite: Manage your accounts, schedule posts, and track ads.
- Meta Ads Manager: Schedule posts, track paid ads, and adjust placements.
- Meta Commerce Manager: Manage products and online sales.
- Meta Audience Insights: Analyze audience behavior to improve targeting.
- Meta Events Manager: Track website conversions using Meta Pixel.
- Meta Creative Hub: Design and test ad creatives.
Meta Pixel is a small piece of code you add to your website. It tracks user actions so you can optimize your ads.
Setting Up Instagram Ads
- Switch to a Professional Account: Only business or creator accounts can run ads.
- Connect Your Facebook Page: This allows ad management across platforms.
- Install Meta Ads Manager: Available on mobile or desktop.
- Set Up Payment Method: Use credit card or PayPal to fund campaigns.
- Verify Your Website Domain: Helps secure your brand and track conversions.
Creating Effective Campaigns
1. Define Your Goals
Pick clear, measurable objectives:
- App Promotion
- Awareness
- Engagement
- Leads
- Sales
- Traffic
Decide where your ad will drive conversions (website clicks, app downloads, messages, etc.) and select the right call-to-action.
2. Identify Your Audience
Consider age, location, income, interests, hobbies, and lifestyle. Use Meta’s Advantage Detailed Targeting if you want the algorithm to optimize for you.
3. Choose the Right Format
Decide between images, videos, carousels, Stories, Reels, or shopping ads. Use the Meta Creative Hub to preview and mock up ads.
4. Write Engaging Copy
Keep it simple, clear, and relevant. Speak directly to your audience and encourage engagement. Include a strong headline and a call-to-action.
5. Add Tracking
Include website URLs with UTM parameters to track traffic and conversions. Use your link-in-bio wisely to guide users.
6. Hashtag Strategy
Create a short, branded hashtag for your campaign to boost visibility. Engage with users who use your hashtag to build excitement.
7. Set Budget and Schedule
- Daily Budget: Spend a set amount every day.
- Lifetime Budget: Spend a set amount over the campaign’s duration.
Choose pacing (standard vs. accelerated) and optimize for clicks, impressions, or unique reach. Decide whether to bid automatically or manually.
Also Read: Role of Backlinks in SEO and How to Build Them in 2026?
8. A/B Testing
Test two versions of your ads to see what works best. Try different images, headlines, or videos to refine your campaigns.
How Much Does Instagram Advertising Cost?
You can start small—$1 a day for ads, or $5 a day for campaigns. There’s no max limit, but remember: bigger budget doesn’t guarantee success. Start small, test, and scale what works.
FAQs
Is Instagram good for advertising?
Yes! With its focus on creative, engaging content, Instagram is hard to ignore.
How do I measure success?
Use Meta Ads Manager to track metrics like clicks, impressions, reach, conversions, and engagement.
Is Instagram good for B2B?
Yes, but test alongside LinkedIn or Google Ads for best ROI comparisons.
Can I advertise without Meta Ads Manager?
You can boost posts organically or use third-party tools like Brandwatch Advertise.
Conclusion
Stay up-to-date with Meta’s new features, test your ads for at least two weeks before scaling, and experiment with different formats like Reels and collection ads. Small changes in your call-to-action can make a big difference.
For added support, explore Brandwatch tools—they pair perfectly with Instagram ad campaigns.
