The Only Instagram Ads Guide You Need in 2026

Instagram is a great tool for connecting with new customers and making your brand more visible. With more than a billion users around the world, the app gives businesses a great chance to reach many different people. Making effective Instagram ads takes more than just eye-catching pictures or fun phrases.

It requires a clear plan that matches your business goals and creates interest in your target audience. If you want to boost sales, promote your brand, or get people to interact more, how you do Instagram advertising is very important for your success.

To get good results with Instagram ads, it’s important to set clear goals, choose the right ad types, target the right people, and keep improving your strategy. This post will help you understand the important steps for advertising on Instagram. It will give you the steps to create ads that really connect with people and get results.

What do Instagram Ads Cost?

The cost of Instagram ads depends on where the ad is shown, how relevant it is, who the target audience is, and how many other ads are out there competing for attention. 

For example, if you are trying to reach a group of people who are very hard to attract, like young adults who care about fitness and being eco-friendly, or if you choose to place ads on popular spots like Instagram Stories or the main feed, you might have to spend more money.

Also, busy times like holidays can make prices go up because more people want to buy things. Instagram ads usually use a bidding system. You can choose to pay for your ads either by the number of clicks (CPC) or for every thousand times people see your ad (CPM). Here are the typical costs for advertising on Instagram:

• $0.00 to $0.25 for each click
• $0.00 to $.00 for every 1000 times your ad is shown
• $0.03 to $0.08 for each engagement

To get the best results from your Instagram ads, try starting with a daily budget instead of a total budget for the whole campaign. Once you get used to things, you can spend more money. Make sure to keep an eye on the results of your campaigns and study them, so you can adjust and make them better.

Types of Instagram Ads

1. Photo Ads

These ads are the main type of ads on Instagram. They show one picture with a short description, making it easy to understand when they appear in the feed, Stories, or Explore section.

Because the images are simple, they must be high quality and quickly show the right message. Every part should work together to clearly and effectively share your brand’s message.

Another advantage of photo ads is that they can be used in many different ways. You can use them to introduce new products, offer special deals, and let more people know about your brand. They are great for testing different images and messages to find out what your audience likes the most.

2. Video Ads

These ads are lively and grab attention, and people interact with them three times more than with photo ads. They’re a good chance to show off product features, offer help with tutorials, or explain your services. In just 60 seconds, they’re great for today’s fast digital world, allowing you to make an impression without losing your audience’s attention.

3. Story Ads

DemandSage says that 62% of people become more interested in a brand after seeing it on Instagram Stories. These ads show up between users’ Stories and last for 15 seconds. You can include a call to action, which makes it simple to attract visitors directly from the ad to your landing page.

Story ads can be in different forms, like full-screen pictures, videos, or a series of images you can swipe through. Story ads mix well with regular content, which means they are more likely to grab people’s attention and encourage them to take action.

4. Carousel Ads

These ads are Instagram ads that you can swipe through to see several pictures or videos in one post. Like many Instagram ads, they show up in the user’s feed, Stories, and Explore section.

You can use up to 10 slides to show a group of similar products or to share a short story. E-commerce brands usually use Instagram carousel ads. These ads let them show many products in one ad or highlight the different features of one product. 

5. Reel Ads

The use of Instagram Reels has gone up by 57.4% in the last year. It is a good idea to spend money on these full-screen, vertical ads that fit in well with regular content. Reel ads can last up to 15 minutes, but most brands make them shorter to keep people interested.

They are great for showcasing products, sharing short stories, or talking about popular topics. Reel ads are a great way for businesses to connect with their audience on social media in a fun way.

Instead of looking like a regular ad, they fit smoothly into the content. Reel ads are effective for getting more people to know about your brand and for reaching users who enjoy short videos.

6. Explore Ads

These ads can look different, like pictures, videos, or slideshows. As the name suggests, they show up in the explore tab, which is where users look for new things to see.

This makes them perfect for connecting with people who want new ideas and are searching for new products or trends. Explore ads are a great way to connect with new customers who don’t follow you yet.

Also Read: Mastering LinkedIn Ads: How to Grow and Optimize at Scale

Simple Steps to Create Instagram Ads

To create your Instagram ads, it’s important to have a clear plan and follow steps before you publish them. Let’s check out some steps to take before publishing your ads to make sure they look good and get results.

Step 1: Set Clear Goals

The first thing to do in any Instagram ad campaign is to know what you want to achieve. What do you want to do with it? Do you want more people to know about your brand, get more potential customers, or get more visitors to your website?

Having clear goals will really help you evaluate how well the campaign is doing and how to use your resources. Make sure you understand the goal clearly before moving on to the next step.

Step 2: Identify Your Audience

One important thing to remember is that your ads need to reach the right people to work well. Otherwise, they would feel like they are shouting into nothing. Think carefully about who you want to connect with.

Here are a few things to think about: where they live, how old they are, what they like, and what they do. Think about what issues they have and if your product can help fix those issues.

Instagram has tools that help you target your audience very precisely. Keep in mind that the more specific your audience is, the higher your chances are of turning their views into actions.

Step 3: Pick the Right Format

Now, it’s time to pick an Instagram ad style that matches your goals. For instance, if you work in fashion and want to show off several products, a carousel could be a good choice.

Remember that the best size for Instagram ads relies on the type of ad you are using. Sometimes, people forget this, but it helps make your ads look nice and professional.

Step 4: Set Up Budget Plan

Stories and Reels are the main ways most people interact with a brand. To create a good budget, find out where your audience spends their time and focus your money there.

Facebook suggests setting a daily budget of at least $1 and having at least five times the amount you want to spend for each result to get the best performance. The great thing is that you can pause or stop your campaign whenever you want, make changes, and get the most out of it.

Step 5: Create Attractive Advertisements

Your ads should grab people’s attention while they are scrolling. Use bright colors, eye-catching designs, and clear messages. Use good-quality images that match your brand’s style and tone, and make sure your designs look good on both phones and computers.

Remember that once you pick a style, it’s important to stick with it. Having a consistent brand image at all places helps you be different from your competitors and makes people recognize you. 

Step 6: Add Call-to-Action Buttons

A call-to-action is an important part of any marketing plan, and it’s really important for Instagram ads. This is what encourages people to act quickly, so make sure to create a feeling that they need to act fast. Keep it simple; that’s your best approach.

Make your calls to action clear and straight to the point so users understand what you want them to do. Some of the most used buttons on Instagram ads are “Shop Now,” and “Sign Up”. You can add CTAs to any type of Instagram ad, so don’t forget to include them.

Step 7: Monitor and Improve

Once your Instagram ads are running, your job isn’t finished, keeping an eye on how they perform and figuring out what works is important for success. That’s why it’s important to use social media scheduling tools.

They help you plan regular posts that work well with your ads, keeping your feed lively and interesting while you concentrate on how well your ads are doing. If you see that your Instagram ads are not working as well as you expected, don’t worry.

Check Instagram’s important trends, like how many people clicked, made a purchase, and interacted with your posts. This will help you decide what to do next. If the ads aren’t working as you hoped, try changing things like the style of the ad, where it appears, or how much money you spend.

Steps to Create Instagram Ads and Post Them

To make Instagram ads work well, use the below steps to show your ads to the right people. Make sure you have an Instagram business or creator account before you begin. If you haven’t switched yet, you can do it by following these steps:

1. Go to your Instagram page
2. Click on the three lines in the top-right corner
3. Find Settings and Privacy
4. Go to Account type and tools, then choose either Business or Creator account
5. Link the Facebook page and click “Done”

Connecting your account on Instagram to your Facebook page is important because it lets you use Facebook Ads Manager to create ads. This gives you access to all of Instagram’s advertising tools.

Once you connect the two, you’ll have a decision to make. Are you going to make Instagram ads using the app or through Facebook Ads Manager? To choose the best way, it’s important to understand how each one works.

Promote Ads from the Instagram App

This method is great for people who want to try out Instagram ads. It’s easy to use and works well, and you don’t need to connect to a Facebook page. Here is what to do:

1. Go to your Instagram profile and pick a post you want to share more
2. Below the post, click on “Boost Post”
3. Choose the ad’s goal, who you want to reach, how much money to spend, and how long it will run
4. Click Next to check your ad settings and confirm
5. Press “Boost Post” to start your ad

Make Ads Using Facebook Ads Manager

Facebook Ads Manager is an easy-to-use tool that helps you make and control your ads on Instagram. Here’s what you should do:

1. Open Ads Manager. If you haven’t done it already, please fill out your profile with the important details, like your country and how you want to pay
2. Make a new ad campaign by choosing a goal that fits your Instagram marketing plan 
3. First, give your campaign a name. Then, identify who you want to reach, how much money you will spend, and how many people you hope to connect with
4. In the placements section, choose Manual placements and then tick the box for Instagram
5. Upload your advertisement. This can include picture ads, videos, or slide show ads 
6. Always remember to include a prompt for people to take action. Check all the related settings to make sure they match your goals, and then click Publish

Tips to Make Extraordinary Instagram Ads

Let’s look at more helpful tips for Instagram ads that can make your ad campaigns more effective. This section for Instagram ads covers everything from picking the best format to improving results with A/B testing.

Try Different Types of Ads

Each type of Instagram ad has a different goal and advantages, so it’s better to use various types instead of just one. Remember that different people like different formats, so it’s a good idea to use a variety to reach more people. Here’s a simple overview of what each type of Instagram ad can do for you:

• Photo ads are easy to understand and help people remember a brand
• Video ads are lively and grab attention better
• Carousel ads allow you to show several products or share a story
• Stories ads take up the whole screen and catch your attention
• Reel ads are great for following social media trends and helping people find your content
• Explore ads help you connect with people who want new content

Do A/B Testing for Ads

You have a lot of options with A/B testing for Instagram ads. It’s very important, and you can experiment with different things like ad designs, formats, calls to action, and messages.

For instance, if you’re not sure which call-to-action is better, you can try both. A/B testing lets you try out and compare two ad versions to see which one works better. When you try this out, it’s best to change one thing at a time so you can see what worked and what didn’t.

Add Hashtags

Hashtags are not only for regular posts. Actually, 7 out of 10 hashtags on Instagram are used by brands. This means businesses often use them to reach their advertising goals. They help you reach the right people who are looking for or interested in those topics. 

This helps get more people involved and, in the end, turns followers into customers. The main point to remember is that sometimes having less is better. It’s better to use a few good hashtags that you’ve thought about than to fill your ad with twenty that don’t really help.

Focus on Mobile First

According to Statista, over 35.21% of the 5.68 billion people who use mobile phones around the world are on Instagram. That means you should think about mobile devices first. To improve your ads for mobile devices, keep these tips in mind:

• Use vertical or square shapes
• Keep the messages short and clear
• Use clear and striking pictures to get the attention you want
• Make images and videos smaller in size and pay attention to the file type to prevent problems when loading
• Make sure your CTA buttons are easy to click
• Always check how your ads look on mobile before you launch them

Mistakes to Steer Clear From When Using Instagram Ads

Not Having a Strategy

Posting ads on Instagram without a good plan will likely waste your time and money. If you don’t have a clear plan, your ads might not match your business goals. This could lead to showing your ads to the wrong people or not connecting with your ideal customers.

To create a successful Instagram ad campaign, you need to plan ahead. This means setting clear goals, picking the right audience, and designing ads that connect with what people care about and need. A good plan helps make sure your ads are the same, meaningful, and aimed at getting clear results.

• Set clear and easy-to-measure goals for each campaign, like getting more visitors, increasing sales, or raising awareness
• Divide your audience by age, habits, and interests to make your ads more personalized
• Set your budget according to the needs of your campaign and make sure to spread the money evenly across different ad groups
• Keep an eye on performance data and check it regularly to make smart changes that improve results

Making Content That Doesn’t Connect With Your Audience

Content that doesn’t connect with your audience will likely be unsuccessful. Instagram is a place focused on pictures and videos, and people like to see content that matches their interests and what they need. If your ad seems boring or doesn’t connect with what your audience cares about, people are probably going to ignore it.

Think about who your audience is, what they like, and what is important to them. Your images and messages should show what you’ve learned. The right content grabs attention and creates an emotional bond, leading to more interaction and sales.

• Find out what your audience cares about and what problems they have
• Use clear and attractive pictures or videos that look good in people’s feeds
• Try out different kinds of content, like infographics, image slideshows, or interactive quizzes, to see what your audience likes best
• Add a strong and clear message that encourages people to take action or do the next thing

Using Only One Type of Advertisement

Sticking to just one kind of Instagram ad might mean you’re not making the most of how different people use the platform. Instagram has different types of ads, and each one is made for different ways people use the app and how they interact with content.

For example, some people like quick and short Story ads, while others enjoy the more detailed information that comes with a carousel post. Using different types of ads can help you connect with people in various ways, making it more likely that they will notice your message and take action.

• Try using different types of ads like photos, videos, carousels, and collections to grab people’s attention in various ways
• Use Instagram Stories to connect with people who like quick, engaging, and full-screen videos
• Use carousel ads to show several images or products in one ad. They are great for telling a story or showing off product features
• Use shoppable Instagram posts so people can buy directly in the app, making it easier for them to shop

Not Being Patient

Running ads on Instagram doesn’t give you quick results. One of the biggest mistakes businesses often make is hoping for fast results and getting frustrated when they don’t see success right away. Ads need time to become popular, and you should allow them to connect with the right people.

Even after a campaign starts, it’s important to wait for enough data to build up before making big changes. Making changes quickly without careful thinking can hurt your campaigns and cause extra money. Being steady and patient in how you do things will help you notice the lasting advantages of your ads.

• Let your ads run for a while to gather important information before you change anything 
• Keep an eye on important measurements regularly to see patterns and get useful information
• Don’t expect quick results. Allow your campaigns time to adapt and learn from the information
• Be patient with feedback from your audience. It takes time to build loyalty and awareness for your brand

Failing to Test the Content

One of the key parts of successful Instagram ads is to keep trying different things. Not testing your ad content is like trying to hit a target in the dark and just wishing you’ll succeed. If you don’t try different creative ideas, titles, and ways to ask people to take action, you won’t find out what really connects with your audience.

In A/B testing, you will be able to try out different versions of an ad to find out which one works the best. If you don’t test, you won’t improve how people interact or take action. You might think one way is best, but later you might find out that another way could have worked better.

• Run A/B tests to compare different headlines, pictures, or call-to-action options
• Try different kinds of ads to find out which ones get the most responses
• Keep an eye on numbers like how many people click on your links, how many make a purchase, and how much they interact with your content
• Keep testing and adjusting your ads regularly to make sure they stay interesting and match what your audience likes

Not Paying Attention to Trends

Instagram is a place where popular trends grow and change. If you ignore what’s popular right now, you might lose the chance to take advantage of what’s in trend. Trends can increase engagement and link your brand to current discussions.

Keeping up with popular memes, seasonal events, and trending hashtags makes you important to your audience. If your ads don’t match what’s popular right now, people might overlook them and pay more attention to newer content. To stay on top, watch what’s popular and change your ads to fit those talks.

• Monitor trending challenges, hashtags, and cultural events to include important topics in your ads
• Keep up with Instagram’s new features and tools so your ads stay fresh and interesting 
• Use content created by users and popular topics to make your ads feel more real and relatable
• Make your messages match what’s important and popular right now, so your brand is involved in the current culture

Final Thoughts

To make the most of Instagram’s big opportunities, businesses should use a smart plan for advertising that includes creative ideas, monitoring data, and improving continuously. Instagram ads can work really well, but you won’t see results right away. It takes time to improve your message, try different styles, and figure out what your audience likes. 

Running Instagram ads is always changing, so it’s important to be flexible and keep up with new trends, tools, and what people like. The important thing is to pay attention to long-term goals, carefully check how the campaign is doing, and be prepared to make changes based on the data.

By making interesting posts, reaching the right audience, and continuously getting better at what you do, you can make Instagram a strong tool for growth. As you improve your campaigns, you’ll see better results, and your brand will create stronger, lasting ties with your audience.

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