Advertising on Instagram: A Marketer's Guide

Updated as of 3/2023

Instagram has been expanding its advertising platform to make it available to businesses of all sizes. Now available through an Instagram ads API as well as Facebook ad buying interfaces, Instagram is truly empowering advertisers to do more. If you’re interested in utilizing Instagram in your next digital campaign, check out a few of the tips and suggestions we’ve compiled below.

Why Instagram is Still Good for Businesses?

In recent years, Instagram has become one of the most popular social media platforms, boasting an impressive one billion active users. As such, businesses are taking advantage of this unique opportunity to reach a huge audience by advertising their products and services on Instagram. So, why should you consider advertising your business on Instagram?

Platform’s Enormous Audience

Instagram has an impressive user base, with over one billion people actively using the platform. Even better, more than half of those users log in daily. This is amazing news for businesses, as it gives them a great chance to advertise to a huge and dedicated audience.

Cost-Effective Advertising

Advertising on Instagram can be a great way to get the most bang for your buck. Compared to the traditional methods of advertising like print and TV, Instagram is a cost-effective option. Furthermore, businesses can create their own budget and only pay for the clicks or impressions they receive. This way, they can be sure they’re getting the most out of their money.

Showcase Visual Appeal

Undoubtedly, Instagram is a great platform for businesses to take advantage of, especially when it comes to visually appealing content. Not only does it give businesses the opportunity to showcase their products and services, but it also allows them to capture the attention of their target audience with high-quality images and videos. After all, visual content is much more engaging than text-based content. Therefore, businesses can use Instagram as a powerful tool to promote their services and reach their audience.

Advertising Options

Instagram gives businesses the flexibility to pick the perfect advertisement for their budget and objectives. They have a selection of photo ads, video ads, carousel ads, and Stories ads to choose from. That way, companies can decide which type of ad suits them best.

Targeting Audience

Advertising on Instagram gives companies a variety of ways to make sure their ad is seen by the right people. Not only can they target users by their location, but also by their interests, behaviors, and demographics. This helps guarantee that their ad money is spent on reaching potential customers who are likely to be interested in their products or services.

Engaging With Customers

Engagement is the perfect way for businesses to create strong relationships with their customers. Instagram makes sure to reward accounts that take part in engagement, allowing them to develop a loyal base of followers. This loyalty can lead to more people becoming aware of the business and a rise in sales.

Higher ROI

Advertising on Instagram is a great choice for businesses with limited budgets. It has the potential to bring in a higher return on investment compared to other platforms. Plus, with precise targeting and high engagement rates from users, it could lead to more clicks, conversions, and sales. What’s more, Instagram’s ad costs are relatively low, making it an attractive option for any business.

Types of Instagram Ads

With a variety of ad formats, you can easily find one that fits your marketing goals and budget. Here are some of the most common types:

Photo Ads

Ads with pictures are an easy and powerful way to show off what you offer. Your ad can look great and have a button that encourages people to go to your website or Instagram. This button can give people a chance to find out more and maybe even buy something. Plus, using pictures helps make sure your message stands out and grabs people’s attention.

Video Ads

Video ads are similar to photo ads, but they take it one step further, by adding motion and sound. This helps to capture people’s attention and tells a more vivid story. Videos are an excellent way to demonstrate your product, show off customer testimonials, or communicate your brand values. With videos, you can really bring your message to life.

Carousel Ads

Carousel ads are a great way to show off multiple images or videos all in one ad. Swiping through the ad allows users to see more content, which is perfect for highlighting different aspects of your product, telling a story, or providing a tutorial. With carousel ads, you can really show off what your product has to offer.

Stories Ads

Instagram users may notice stories ads popping up between the short videos and pictures they view as part of their stories experience. These stories ads are designed to blend in with the organic content, and they’ll disappear after just 24 hours. Photos or videos can be used for these ads, so users should keep an eye out for them.

Reels Ads

Reels ads are a great way to showcase fun, brief videos that people will be able to find on the Reels tab or the Instagram Explore page. These ads can only be up to 30 seconds long, but they’re sure to grab people’s attention with their entertaining and exciting content.

How to Begin Advertising on Instagram?

Set up an Instagram Business Account

Getting started with advertising on Instagram is simple! First, create an Instagram Business Account. This will give you access to features like Instagram Insights and Instagram Ads. If you don’t already have a Facebook Page, you can easily make one – there are plenty of helpful tutorials available online. And that’s it – you’re ready to begin advertising on Instagram!

Define Your Target Audience

When it comes to advertising on Instagram, it’s essential to define your target audience. It’s important to know who your ideal customers are, what they’re interested in, and how they use Instagram. To get a better idea of your followers’ demographics, habits, and preferences, take a look at Instagram Insights. That way, you’ll be able to tailor your ads specifically to your target audience.

Create Engaging Content

To draw in and captivate your desired viewers on Instagram, you must create interesting and engaging content. This can range from pictures, videos, and Stories. Utilize high-quality photographs and videos that portray your products or services, and maintain your brand’s style and attitude. Transition words such as “this can range from” and “utilize” are used to create a smoother flow to the sentence.

Use Instagram Ads

Instagram Ads are a great way to get your message out to your desired audience and give your products or services a boost. You have a few different options when it comes to what type of ad to display, like photo ads, video ads, carousel ads, and Stories ads. Additionally, you can decide between image or video formats as well as pick the placement of your ad, such as in-feed or Stories. With this all-encompassing tool, you’re sure to reach your goals.

Use a Strong CTA

Creating an effective ad is all about motivating users to take action. Make sure your ad has a call-to-action that really grabs their attention. Use words that inspire people to act quickly, like “visit,” “purchase,” or “follow” – and make sure to use action-oriented verbs. This will make it easy for users to understand what you want them to do, and give them a sense of urgency that will encourage them to act quickly.

Add Hashtags

Hashtags are an excellent way to expand your presence and make yourself seen on Instagram. You should include hashtags that are relevant to what your business, products, or services offer. Additionally, you can create hashtags that are specific to your brand’s message or promotion. By doing this, you can easily reach more people and make your brand stand out.

Influencers Collaborations

Influencer marketing is a great way to get your message out to more people on Instagram. Seek out influencers who have a large following and whose followers fit your target demographic. Then, collaborate with them to make sponsored posts about your products or services. This is a great way to get your brand seen by lots of potential customers.

Today, Videos are Ruling the Platform

Video content is everywhere on Instagram! 91% of users watch videos each week, offering marketers plenty of opportunities to tell stories and reach their audience. With four formats to choose from – Reels, Live, Stories, and Instagram Video – it can be a lot to manage. But, with the right strategy, you can make the most of the platform’s video content.

Analyze Results

To determine if your Instagram ads are successful, use Instagram Insights to track your progress. This includes metrics like how often your ads are seen (impressions), how many people they reach (reach), how much they are interacting with your ad (engagement), and how many people are taking the desired action (conversions). Doing this will help you improve your ad strategy and get better results.

In Conclusion

Overall, Instagram is a popular marketing tool to take advantage of!

With billions of users, it’s a great way to showcase new products and services to a fresh set of eyes. So, what are you waiting for? If you haven’t signed up, get started today. Still have questions, well Motivated Marketing can question everything. Plus, if you like we can create and manage your business Instagram account for you. Interested? we’ll reach us directly to learn more.

Need a Lucrative Social Media Campaign? Motivated Marketing Can Help!

For more insight into M2’s innovative approach, get in touch today! As a creative Charleston marketing agency, our experienced team would love to show you some of our clients’ real-world results, and to explain how we can increase traffic for brands like yours. If this is what your business is looking for, you can contact Motivated Marketing today!

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