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Why Use Instagram Ads?
Instagram is hugely popular around the World, and its users have high engagement rates with businesses, brands and content creators.
- Over 200 million users visit at least one business a day.
- 80% of Instagram users follow a business.
- 72% of users have bought products influenced by Instagram.
- 65% of the best performing posts contain products.
Instagram continues to create immense value for businesses interested in targeting a specific audience. Lets check out some of Instagram’s precise targeting options.
Location
Instagram advertising allows you to target people based on their location — This includes cities, states, provinces and countries. This is a very valuable feature for those interested in promoting events, live performances or building a local brand.
Demographics
The Demographics targeting option allows you to refine your audience based on gender, age and languages.
Behaviors
This is a key targeting option when it comes to product advertisement. This includes ‘Behaviors’ on Facebook as well. For example, those customers who are interested in outdoor activities (such as hiking, camping and water sports)
Interests
The ‘Interests’ targeting option is different from ‘Behaviors’ in a way that it focuses more on app usage, the accounts you follow and the advertisements customers have clicked on.
Custom Audiences
Do you have an ever-growing email list? Or thinking about starting one? This targeting option is a great way to create an audience based on phone numbers and email addresses.
Lookalike Audiences
The ‘Lookalike’ feature on Instagram advertising is a great way to utilize brand association. This targeting option allows you pinpoint user that are similar to your existing customers.
Automated Targeting
This is one of Instagram’s in-house services. The social media platform creates an audience who might be interested in your content, product or services. The audience is based on a number of factors including interests, location and demographics.
Understanding The Different Campaign Objectives
Facebook Ads Manager allows you to choose the focus surrounding your ads so that they are targeted at the right people, at the right time, for right reasons.
Brand Awareness
Choose this objective to increase visibility and get seen by people who could be interested in your services or products but are unaware of your content, company or services.
Ad Formats Supported
- Photo Ads
- Video Ads
- Carousel Ads
- Stories Ads
- Explore Ads
Reach
Choose this objective to maximize the number of people who see your advertisements on Instagram. Reach focuses more on location rather than interests.
Ads Formats Supported
- Photo Ads
- Video Ads
- Carousel Ads
- Stories Ads
- Explore Ads
Traffic
Choose this objective to bring more visitors to your brand’s website, content or app store page.
Ads Format Supported
- Photo Ads
- Video Ads
- Carousel Ads
- Stories Ads
App Installs
Choose this objective to get more people on Instagram to download and install your app.
Ad Formats Supported
- Photo Ads
- Video Ads
- Carousel Ads
- Stories Ads
Engagements
Choose this advertisement objective to promote offers, further interaction with your account and to get Instagram users to engage with previous posts.
Ad Formats Supported
- Photo Ads
- Video Ads
- Explore Ads
Video Views
Choose this objective to increase awareness of your videos and get more Instagram user to discover your content. This advertising objective is a great way to promote your catalog and build a fan base.
Ad Formats Supported
- Explore Ads
- Video Ads
- Carousel Ads
- Stories Ads
Conversions
Choose this advertising objective to get people to take specific actions. For example: download your app, purchase merchandise through an online store or sign up for your newsletter.
Ad Formats Supported
- Explore Ads
- Video Ads
- Carousel Ads
- Collection Ads
Lead Generation
Choose this objective to improve your overall marketing capabilities by collecting information from potential customers, such as email addresses or account follows on Instagram.
Ad Formats Supported
- Photo Ads
- Video Ads
- Carousel Ads
- Collection Ads
The Anatomy of a Successful Instagram Ad
Create ads like a pro following these simple tips.
- Use high quality visuals that will stand out. Don’t rely on text to convey your message, visuals alone should make it clear what the ad is about.
- Keep text to a minimum. Use as few words as possible and never at the top of the image.
- Use the CTA button. Prompt your audience to follow through with an action.
- Use the right dimensions. 94% of users view their phone vertically so don’t shoot horizontal videos or images.
- Effective hashtag usage. Research the most common hashtags in your field and add them to each post.
- Include subtle branding. Place your product naturally in the image.
- Short and to the point captions. Use short sentences or key facts in the image caption rather than trying to explain things.
How To Make Your Ad Stand Out
Be strategic to maximize the effectiveness of your Instagram ad.
Choose The Best Day And Time To Post
- Instagram user engagement is highest at: Wednesday — 3pm, Thursday — 5am/11am/3–4pm, Friday — 5am
Create Your Own Branded Hashtag To Tie A Campaign Together
- 70% of Instagram hashtags are branded, they provide continuity and make it easy to determine a brand’s popularity.
Test Different Visuals On Your Audience
- The statistics that you can analyze through Instagram Insights allows you to experiment with your advertisements to determine what content your audience likes best.
Include User-Generated Content
- People trust people, especially those they know. So include feedback, testimonials or images from your brand community on Instagram.
Instagram ads are an effective and cheap way to connect with a wider audience.
Use our full Instagram guide to help you create ads that can make a difference for your content, business and brand.
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