Do you remember the last time you saw an Instagram ad? Perhaps you saw one while scrolling through your feed. Advertising on Instagram is a creative and inexpensive way to grow your following and boost sales.
Instagram has over 1 billion users worldwide. No wonder marketers have turned to Instagram for targeted advertising and other ways to grow brands. Like Facebook advertising, advertising on Instagram takes strategy.
The photo sharing platform has come a long way since its creation in 2010. The following guide shows you, step-by-step, how to make the most out of Instagram marketing this year. While advertising on Instagram may sound intimidating, the truth is any business can create a successful Instagram ad. You just need to know the basics.
For those who have experience with Facebook advertising, you're in luck! Setting up an Instagram ad is more or less the same process.
Facebook purchased Instagram in 2012 primarily because Mark Zuckerberg thought the company was a threat. This billion dollar purchase shows that Instagram is worth investing your time and resources.
While you don't need an Instagram business page to set up an Instagram ad, you do need a Facebook business page. Your Facebook business page will help you set up your Instagram ad.
Instagram ads may look simple, but the most successful ads are a result of time and hard work. If you're going to invest time and money into Instagram advertising, you might as well be strategic.
Take a look at your monthly S.M.A.R.T goal(s) and see how Instagram advertising can come into play. For example, perhaps you want your followers to view more videos as a way to improve your video marketing. If so, chances are you'll want your Instagram ad to include strong video content as a way to engage your followers.
While you don't need an Instagram business page to set up an Instagram ad, you do need a Facebook business page. Your Facebook business page will help you set up your Instagram ad.
Your Instagram ad content is king, and nothing rules like a quality video or photo. Organic images or videos go a long way. Instagram users care about authenticity. They don't want to feel as though they are viewing one sales pitch after another while scrolling through their feed.
Below are a few Instagram Ad Design Recommendations from our partners at HubSpot:
Design recommendations Image
ratio: 1:1 Image size: 1,080 x 1,080 pixels Your image may not include more than 20% text Caption: Text only, 125 characters recommended Technical requirements
Image ratio: 1.9:1 to 1:1 Minimum resolution: 600 x 315 pixels (1.9:1 landscape) / 600 x 600 pixels (square) Caption: Text only, max. 2,200 characters
As mentioned, you can set up your Instagram Ad through your business's Facebook Page. Advertising on Instagram via Facebook Business is very straightforward.
Just follow the same process as you would setting up your Facebook ad. Remember to choose the best images and copy for your ad. Facebook allows you to crop images and add relevant hashtags as needed.
Be sure you've connected your Instagram business account to Ads Manager. This is done by clicking "add account" under the listed Instagram accounts
As always, be sure to keep an eye on your ads' metrics. These metrics will help your business understand your latest's ad's strengths and weaknesses. If at first you don't succeed, never be afraid to try again!
