How to Create Instagram Ads from Start to Finish

This article, titled “How to Create Instagram Ads from Start to Finish,” is a comprehensive tutorial provided by Jason Wardrop. In the video, Jason covers everything you need to know about creating ads on Instagram. He discusses the different types of ads available on the platform, such as story ads, photo ads, video ads, and carousel ads. He also recommends using the Facebook Ads manager for a better user experience. The tutorial walks you through the process of setting up a Facebook campaign, selecting a marketing objective, and choosing your targeting options. Jason provides valuable tips and recommendations for creating effective Instagram ads and explains how to customize your ad based on your specific goals. Whether you’re a beginner or looking to improve your Instagram advertising skills, this tutorial is a must-watch.

In the video, Jason demonstrates the step-by-step process of creating Instagram ads. He advises starting with the Facebook Ads manager instead of the Instagram app for better functionality and features. Jason covers various topics, including selecting the type of ad to create, uploading images or videos, providing a website URL for users to click on, writing engaging ad descriptions, and choosing a call to action. He also discusses additional customization options for advanced users. Jason emphasizes the importance of holding your phone vertically for maximum use of screen space in Instagram stories ads and recommends adding text and a call-to-action in your ads for better results. He highlights the benefit of incorporating short videos to promote events or products and explains how users can swipe up in the ad to get more details. The video concludes with Jason encouraging viewers to ask any questions in the comment section and reminding them about the availability of a free Facebook ads mini-course.

Types of Instagram Ads

Instagram offers various types of ads to help businesses promote their products or services effectively. These ads are designed to capture the attention of users and drive engagement. Here are the different types of Instagram ads:

Story Ads

Story ads are displayed in the Stories section of Instagram, which is located at the top of the home feed. These ads have a vertical format and can include images, videos, or a combination of both. They are a great way to create immersive and interactive content that can capture the interest of the audience.

Photo Ads

Photo ads are single images that appear in the Instagram feed. These ads are highly visual and can be used to showcase products, highlight events, or promote special offers. Photo ads are an effective way to convey a message quickly and grab the attention of your target audience.

Video Ads

Video ads are similar to photo ads but use videos instead of images. They allow businesses to tell a compelling story and engage their audience through motion and sound. Video ads can be up to 60 seconds long and can be used to demonstrate products, promote events, or share customer testimonials.

Carousel Ads

Carousel ads allow businesses to showcase multiple images or videos in a single ad. Users can swipe through the carousel to see more content. This format is perfect for showcasing a variety of products, providing step-by-step tutorials, or telling a visual story. Carousel ads are highly engaging and can drive higher levels of interaction with your brand.

Creating Instagram Ads through Facebook Ads Manager

To create Instagram ads, it is recommended to use Facebook Ads Manager. This platform provides a seamless experience and offers advanced targeting options for reaching your desired audience. Here’s how you can create Instagram ads through Facebook Ads Manager:

Benefits of Using Facebook Ads Manager

Facebook Ads Manager offers several benefits for creating Instagram ads. It provides a centralized platform to manage your ad campaigns, targeting options, and ad creatives. This integration allows you to easily create, monitor, and analyze the performance of your Instagram ads.

Setting Up a Facebook Campaign

To get started, you need to set up a campaign in Facebook Ads Manager. This involves choosing your marketing objective, such as traffic, engagement, or conversions. The marketing objective will determine the actions you want users to take when they see your Instagram ad.

Choosing a Marketing Objective

Selecting the right marketing objective is crucial for achieving your advertising goals. Whether you want to drive traffic to your website, increase brand awareness, or generate leads, Facebook Ads Manager offers a range of marketing objectives to choose from. Select the objective that aligns with your business goals and the desired outcome of your Instagram ad campaign.

Targeting Options

One of the key advantages of using Facebook Ads Manager to create Instagram ads is the extensive targeting options available. These options allow you to reach a specific audience that is most likely to be interested in your products or services. Here are two important targeting options to consider:

Selecting Specific Locations

Facebook Ads Manager allows you to target users based on their location. You can choose to target a specific country, region, city, or even a radius around a location. This is particularly useful for local businesses that want to target users in their area.

Excluding Demographics

In addition to selecting the desired demographics for your target audience, Facebook Ads Manager also allows you to exclude certain demographics. This means you can exclude specific groups of people from seeing your Instagram ads. For example, if you are a real estate agent, you might want to exclude other real estate agents from your target audience.

Tips for Creating Effective Instagram Ads

Creating effective Instagram ads is essential for driving engagement and achieving your marketing goals. Here are some tips to help you create impactful Instagram ads:

Using Real Estate Agent Job Titles for Targeting

If you are in the real estate industry, using job titles such as “real estate agent” or “realtor” can be useful for targeting your desired audience. These job titles can help you reach individuals who are interested in real estate or are currently in the market for a new home.

Advertising on Every Platform vs. Focusing on Instagram Only

Facebook encourages advertisers to show their ads on every possible platform to meet the increasing demands of advertisers. However, if your business is specific to Instagram or if you have identified Instagram as the most effective platform for reaching your target audience, it may be more beneficial to focus solely on advertising on Instagram.

Ad Placements on Instagram

When creating Instagram ads, you have the option to choose where your ads will be displayed on the platform. Here are the two main ad placements on Instagram:

In the Feed

Ads in the feed appear as sponsored posts within the user’s Instagram feed. These ads seamlessly blend with organic content, providing a non-disruptive experience for users. In-feed ads are highly visible and can reach a large audience.

In Stories

Ads in Stories appear in the Stories section at the top of the home feed. These ads can be images or videos and are displayed between user-generated Stories. Stories ads are full-screen and immersive, capturing the full attention of the audience.

Setting a Budget

Setting a budget is an important aspect of creating Instagram ads. Here are two considerations to keep in mind:

Suggested Daily Budget

Facebook Ads Manager provides a suggested daily budget based on your chosen marketing objective and ad settings. This budget is a recommended starting point and can be adjusted according to your advertising goals and resources.

Benefit of Any Budget

Regardless of the budget, Instagram ads can offer benefits for your business. Even a small budget can help increase brand visibility, drive traffic to your website, and generate leads. It is important to allocate a budget that aligns with your overall marketing strategy and objectives.

Choosing the Type of Ad

Before creating your Instagram ad, you need to choose the type of ad format that best suits your campaign goals. Here are three types of ad formats to consider:

Single Image or Video Ad

A single image or video ad allows you to showcase your products or services in a visual and engaging way. This format is ideal for creating visually compelling content that can capture the attention of users as they scroll through their Instagram feeds.

Carousel Ad

A carousel ad enables you to showcase multiple images or videos within a single ad. Users can swipe through the carousel to view additional content. This format is suitable for showcasing a range of products or telling a visual story with multiple images.

Collection Ad

A collection ad combines a primary image or video with other product images or videos below it. When users tap on the ad, they are taken to a full-screen experience that showcases a collection of products. This format is effective for e-commerce businesses or brands with multiple products to promote.

Uploading Media

Once you have selected your ad format, you need to upload the media that will be used in your Instagram ad. Here are some considerations for uploading media:

Preferred Image Types for Newsfeed and Stories

For newsfeed ads, it is recommended to use square images with a resolution of 1080 x 1080 pixels. For Stories ads, vertical images with a resolution of 1080 x 1920 pixels work best. Using the correct image dimensions ensures that your ads look visually appealing and fit well within the Instagram platform.

Providing Website URL

When creating your Instagram ad, make sure to include a website URL. This URL will be the destination where users are directed when they click on your ad. Providing a clear and relevant URL can help drive traffic to your website and increase conversions.

Writing Ad Description and Call to Action

The ad description and call to action are essential components of your Instagram ad. Here are some tips for writing effective ad descriptions and call-to-action:

Primary Text

The primary text is the main description that accompanies your Instagram ad. It should be concise, engaging, and provide relevant information about your product or service. Keep the primary text short and compelling to capture the attention of users.

Call to Action

A call to action (CTA) is a prompt to encourage users to take a specific action, such as “Learn More,” “Shop Now,” or “Sign Up.” Including a clear and compelling CTA can increase the chances of users clicking on your ad and taking the desired action.

Conclusion

Creating Instagram ads through Facebook Ads Manager provides a comprehensive and user-friendly experience. By selecting the right ad type, targeting the right audience, and effectively crafting your ad content, you can create impactful and engaging Instagram ads. With the tips and recommendations mentioned in this article, you can maximize the effectiveness of your Instagram ad campaigns. Thank you for reading, and remember to subscribe for more valuable content.