Everything You Need to Know about Instagram Ads

If you have been promoting your business online for some time by running ad campaigns on Facebook, Google, Youtube, etc., you’re on the right track. Digital marketing is an important factor in the success of businesses today. No brand can expect to be successful having organic SEO experts developing unique and effective strategies for their business. 

However, one thing that we have noticed among business owners is that while they focus on Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, etc, they completely ignore Instagram. Let us tell you that this is not the time to ignore Instagram. It might be a newer platform, but it was the fastest-growing social media platform before TikTok. It has over 2 billion users, which makes it one of the most used platforms in the world. Hence, ignoring Instagram might not be the best move for your business. The platform mainly has a young audience, but the older generation is also getting a taste of it these days. You can find all age groups on Instagram, and the ads on this platform are also very beneficial.

What are Instagram Ads?

Instagram is a busy platform. With over 2 billion users and new ones continuously joining in, it can be difficult to stand out. Businesses are also understanding the importance of marketing on Instagram, which has made competition quite intense for small brands. This is where Instagram ads come in. Instagram ads allow you to focus on the right people with your campaigns so you can reach relevant audiences. It is similar to Facebook ads but different. You need to spend some money to boost your post on the platform, and it will reach your target audience. You can create unique ads with the right message and imagery, and people will find them interesting and engaging.

A local digital marketing agency in the UK can help you run effective Instagram ads that will help increase your brand’s visibility. In this blog, we will discuss everything you need to know about Instagram ads so you can also benefit from this mighty social media platform.

Is Instagram the Right Platform?

Every social media platform has its strengths. You might have used Facebook and Twitter because they are more commonly used platforms, and Instagram is comparatively new. However, Instagram has a lot of potential. It offers uniqueness to the users as they can share their videos and pictures with their friends and family on a platform that is specifically designed for this purpose.

When Instagram was new, it was mainly considered a platform for the young, which is still quite true. The majority of the users on Instagram are young people who like to post pictures and videos, but things are changing for the better. Nowadays, you can easily find middle-aged people also sharing their happy moments with their friends on the platform. 

The social media platform you choose to market your product should vary depending on your business. If your products cater to a young audience, you have all the reasons to choose Instagram ads for your promotion. While Facebook can also be used to target young audiences, Instagram is a better option. If you ask youngsters which platform they prefer to use between Facebook and Instagram, we bet the answer will be Instagram because the platform is designed in a way to intrigue young users.

If targeting a young audience is not your goal, you still shouldn’t dismiss Instagram ads completely. The platform is still one of the most used social media platforms in the world; hence, it will surely bring something to the table. You can get a London SEO service to make sure you choose the right social media marketing for your platform.

Read our blog about Facebook vs. Instagram ads to know which platform is better for your business.

How Much Do Instagram Ads Cost?

There’s no fixed cost when we talk about the cost of Instagram ads. It depends on your budget, duration, and objectives of the campaign. The longer you run an ad, the more it will cost you. You can set the duration depending on your budget, so it’s entirely up to you. However, it is recommended that you should at least start with $5.00 per day. Following are some cost factors that can affect your ad’s price.

• • The competitiveness of the market

• • Your target audience

• • The time of the year

Businesses can set their maximum bids for auctions, and Instagram automatically optimises them. If it’s your first time running an ad on Instagram, it’s best to choose a low bid because you will need some experience to understand Instagram ads completely. Once you know how it works, you can increase your budget for the auctions.

Steps to Start Advertising on Instagram

Following are some steps that will help you start running ads on Instagram.

1. Set Your Objectives

You cannot design an ad campaign for Instagram or any platform without having an objective. There must be something you are aiming to achieve with advertisement. It could be awareness, traffic, reach, app installs, or anything, but you need to determine your objective for it to work. 

2. Set Your Target Audience

Determining your target audience is also important before designing your campaign. Whether you are running an ad on Facebook or Instagram, you need to specify what type of audience you wish to reach. It will help the platform in pushing your content to the right audience. You can choose your target audience according to their age, location, gender, interests, etc.

3. Set Your Budget and Schedule

You also need to set the budget and schedule for your ads. If you have worked on Facebook ads before, you might already have a slight idea about how ads work, and this step should not be as challenging for you. However, if you are new to Instagram ads, getting help from a local digital marketing agency in the UK might be better.

4. Create an Instagram Ad

Once you have gone through the above-mentioned steps, all you need to do is create an Instagram ad. However, the work is not done yet. There are several types of ads on Instagram, and you should know which type of ad works best for the users. 

Types of Instagram Ads

Video Ads

Videos are an effective way to market your products. You can show how your product works and what the users can do with it. You can also create videos highlighting the unique features of your products, which intrigues users more than average ads. Your videos can be up to 60 minutes long, but shorter videos are more effective and get better results.

Image Ads

Another popular type of Instagram ad is image ads. It allows businesses to post single images to advertise their brand and products. This type is best for your brand if you have compelling visuals and the message can be conveyed with a single image. You can also add text to your image but remember that Instagram advises you to keep it as minimal as possible for better results.

Story Ads

Story ads on Instagram appear on full screen on the user’s phone. They appear in between users’ stories. Instagram stories might be a newer feature on the platform as compared to images and videos on the feed, but it brings better results. The engagement is often higher on story ads because the feature appears on full screen, which is much more impressive and easier for users to see. The ads on stories also don’t look like ads and appear as normal stories, which is another reason for better engagement.

Carousel Ads

Carousel ads allow you to post multiple photos and videos in a single post. This feature can be used in both posts and stories with a call to action button that leads users to the official website of your business. You can use carousel ads to showcase your collection, as you can post multiple pictures at once. Instagram allows you to post up to 10 pictures or videos in a single post with carousel ads.

Explore Ads

If you have used Instagram before, you must already know about the Explore tab on the app. This section enables users to find new content and accounts. The content on this tab is usually recommended by Instagram, depending on the type of accounts you follow and the content you like. The ads on the Explore tab are shown when the user has clicked on a picture or a video from Explore. The content on this tab also rapidly changes; hence, it keeps the ads trendy.

Shopping Ads

Instagram is continuously trying to make shopping easier for users. Shopping ads are the best for e-commerce businesses as with these ads; the users can purchase their products from the platform itself. They don’t have to leave the platform to place an order on their website. Instead, they can do it on Instagram.

Collection Ads

Collection ads on Instagram are a combination of carousel ads and shopping ads. In these ads, the products are directly showcased from the product catalog. These types of ads are perfect for e-commerce businesses that want users to purchase directly from their ads. When the users click on these ads, they are directed to Instagram Instant Experience Storefront to learn more about the product details.

Reels Ads

Reels are also one of the new features of Instagram. They were just introduced a few years ago and made the platform more fun for the users. Instagram also allows businesses to advertise their products on reels. Similar to story ads, reel ads are also shown in between the users’ reels, and the videos can be up to 60 seconds long. They should also have music or sound to make their way to the users. All the reel ads come with a “sponsored” label underneath the account’s name.

Tips for Successful Instagram Ads

Running ads on Instagram might not be difficult, but it is also not as easy as it may seem. You need some level of experience and expertise to know which ad will work for your business and what might be a waste. Our organic SEO experts have implemented the following tips on Instagram ads, and they have worked wonders.

Make Mobile-Friendly Content

Most internet users access social media platforms with their mobile phones nowadays. You should focus on mobile-first designs when you work on your ad. Make sure the size of your ad is the right fit for mobile viewing, keep the text as minimal as possible, add animations and graphic designs to engage viewers, and keep videos short. No one has the time to spend several minutes looking at an ad; make sure that your content is short and concise so users get the idea sooner.

Use Hashtags

Hashtags are not dead; they are just as relevant as they were in the past. Using hashtags in your ads is crucial because it allows you to reach your relevant audience and makes things easier for Instagram. However, don’t use hashtags like #love, #shopping, #food, etc.; try to be creative. Do some research about the hashtags that might be relevant to your target audience and incorporate them in your ads.

Keep Message Upfront

Most users judge ads within the first 3 seconds of the video. You need to ensure that you keep the branding and message of your ad upfront so users can choose whether the ad is valuable for them or not.

Do Giveaways

Giveaways are a popular technique of advertising these days, especially on Instagram. Users are always excited about free stuff, and when you place it as your ad, it reaches a much wider audience, and people are interested in engaging. Giveaways are the best way to get the users excited about your brand.

Use Multiple Ad Types

All ad types on Instagram might not be right for your business, but only choosing one is also not the right approach. Every ad type is different and provides unique benefits; hence, you need to ensure that you use multiple ad types. If you take professional London SEO services for your business, the experts can help you identify which ad types are best for your business.

Make Your Ads More Humane

If your ads sound and look robotic, you will not be able to get good engagement. Whether your posts are funny, emotional, patriotic, or according to a specific culture, make sure that it has a personality. The more humanised your ads are, the better engagement and reach they will get. Users will also like the ads better as they will look more trustworthy.

Use Sound to Delight

Many Instagram users view the ads and content with the sound-off. While adding sound or music in your ads is important, your content should also be understandable for the users who view it with the sound-off. You can add captions on the screen if the sound on your ad is relevant to your ad so that all users can understand your message.

Post at Optimal Time

Making a schedule for ads is important. You cannot make your ad live at the time most of your followers are asleep and expect to get good engagement. If you know your audience well, it shouldn’t be too hard for you, but as a new business, you might have to struggle with it a little. Think about the most appropriate time for users to be active on Instagram. If you are an e-commerce store for shoes, think about the time when people would shop for shoes.

Check Analytics

Checking analytics is extremely important when you are running an ad campaign on a social media platform. One of the biggest benefits of digital marketing is that you can check the progress of your campaigns in real-time and see what’s working in your favor and what needs changing. If you are not checking analytics, you are making huge mistakes.

While it can be challenging to understand the analytics of Instagram ads in the beginning, hiring a local digital marketing agency in the UK should be your way. They have expert marketers who are knowledgeable and experienced with Instagram ads. They can help you check and understand the analytics so you can make changes in your campaign accordingly.

Looking for Assistance?

If you are looking for a local digital marketing agency in the UK, visit Trajital UK. We are a leading digital marketing agency with organic SEO experts and marketers working on our team. We aim to build a dependable and trusting relationship with our clients and have succeeded in doing so thus far. We provide professional SEO services at affordable rates for businesses in the UK. Our expertise in SEO and digital marketing has helped clients reach new heights of success, and our marketers are ready to make the same happen for you. Our team has good communication skills and understanding of different niches. With our talent, expertise, and knowledge, we can bring the best results for your business.