3 Types of Instagram Ads and When to Use Them

Instagram is the fourth most used social media platform worldwide, with over 2 billion daily users. Any business has the power to engage its target market on Instagram.

It’s just a matter of how? Choosing the right types of Instagram ads is a large part of the equation. There is a lot of noise out there about creating an effective Instagram ad. We’re here to serve facts. In this guide, we break down the three types of Instagram ads and the right time to use each one.

As they say, ideas are cheap. But a winning strategy is what makes millions.

1. Photo Ads

Photo ads are the first type of advertisement to ever appear on Instagram, and they remain the most popular. This is because they can be created in a matter of minutes from already existing Instagram posts. Before jumping into a photo ad, it is important to determine your intended goal.

Instagram will walk you through some questions that will help you understand how to create an Instagram ad. They’ll ask you your intended goals which can be one of the following:

• Brand awareness
• Reach
• Traffic (for clicks to your website or app)
• App installs.
• Engagement (for post engagement only)
• Video views.
• Conversions (for conversions on your website or app)

Then they will ask for you to use an already existing audience or create a new one. This determines who your ad will be shown to. It is important to filter your audience to people you want to see your ad.

For example, if you make bras for 30-year-old women, make sure to filter out men and people under or above their 30s. This will ensure your ad dollars aren’t wasted on people who aren’t interested.

You also have the option to have Instagram just target people like your current followers or create a lookalike audience. As the duration of your ad continues, Instagram will refine who it is shown to based on who engages with your advertisement.

Classic photos still leave room for words. You can include captions, hashtags, and overlays in your photos. These can be used as hooks to reel people in before they simply swipe past your ad.

Benefits of single photo ads:

• Easy to produce
• Simple A/B testing to see what content resonates
• Turn an existing post into an ad
• The proven success rate on Instagram

Carousel Ads

Carousel ads are compilations of photos that appear in one ad. Users can swipe left to view all the different photos while viewing the same ad.

Benefits of carousel Ads:

• Show multiple images while only paying for one ad (it’s the same price as a static ad)
• Give the consumer a holistic view of your company
• No need to stress about which image to use
• On Instagram, these ads perform better than single static ads

2. Video Ads

We live in a three-second world. That is the amount of time you have to grab someone’s attention. Video is one of the most effective ways to do that. Here, you can find some of the best video marketing trends of 2022.

Most Instagram video ads are under 30 seconds, while some range up to 60 seconds. Video ads are an excellent way to increase engagement rates. Views on video ads can explode in a matter of minutes if the promotion is executed correctly.

Instagram is even transitioning from a photo-sharing app to a video-centric feed with a shoppable marketplace. They realize that video is the future, and so they are promoting businesses that use Instagram video tools.

There are two ways to make a video ad for Instagram. You can either upload your video clip as a post or advertise it as a sponsored post. Alternatively, you can upload an Instagram Reel and sponsor your Reel.

The main difference is that the Reel will be shown when people are scrolling through Reels, and the posted video will be shown when people are scrolling through their feed.

Reels are performing well right now, so it might be smart to make an Instagram Reels advertisement. Regardless video is a powerful advertising tool. Below are some of the benefits:

• More effective at capturing the viewer’s attention
• Communicate more of your brand in less time
• Proven higher engagement rates of likes, follows, and comments

You can further boost engagement rates on Instagram with this product!

3. Story Ads

While stories are a great place to show the authentic, messy bits of a business, they’re also a powerful promotional tool. Instagram story ads are often overlooked, but they can be extremely effective.

Nearly 80% of Instagram users are in their stories every week. Stories are no longer a new optional feature but a must for brands. Followers want to see what you are doing behind the scenes, what new products are on the way, and what you did that day.

Below are some benefits of Instagram Story ads:

• Less competition- one of the most profitable but underused types of Instagram ads
• Swipe up feature that links directly to your website
• Trust- discreet advertising that sometimes convinces the consumer into thinking they already follow you
• Supports in-app purchases

Combine These Three Types of Instagram Ads for Maximum Reach

With the combination of these three types of Instagram ads, you are reaching potential consumers in the most popular “hangouts” of Instagram. Most users are either scrolling through their feed in which your sponsored static or carousel photo ad will appear.

Or they are watching videos on Reels, a perfect stage for your video ad. If they’re not in one of those two spots, they are in Instagram Stories, in which your ad has the chance to magically appear.

By covering all of your bases, you’ll engage your target market. For more business strategies, check out our blog!