According to the latest statistics, Instagram has more than 700 million active users and 60% of them use Instagram daily. Around 35% of these users check their instagram account multiple times a day. This makes Instagram one of the fastest growing and most popular social networks in the world. On the other hand, it opens new avenues for businesses who are investing in social media marketing.

If your target audience consists of millennials, then there is no better place to advertise than Instagram. Instagram ads are great way to increase your business reach and profits at the same time. In this guide, we will take you through the paces and show you how to view Instagram without an account & how to get the best out of this photo-sharing platform and take your business to the next level.

Types of Instagram Ads

Before we go any further, it is important to understand the different types of instagram ads. There are three major types of instagram ads.

1. Photo Ads
2. Video Ads
3. Carousel Ads

• Photo Ads

You might have heard the common adage, “A picture is worth a thousand words” but if you want to see its real world application, and then look at Instagram photo ads. Even statistics back them up. According to a report, photo ads and still images got 36% more likes on Instagram. This type of ad uses visual imagery to convey the message across in an effective manner. Business can either target a specific group through photo ads or market their business to a wider audience. Many businesses are using photo ads to create awareness and highlight their product features,

• Video Ads

If a picture is worth a thousand words then, a video is worth a million words. Instagram allows businesses to create short videos for up to 60 seconds. The first 30 seconds of your video is critical as it determine whether your audience stays or leave. Use the first 30 seconds of your video ad to hook the customer and use the later 30 seconds to market your product or service. Many brands have achieved new heights of popularity just by putting Instagram video ads to good use. If you use them well, you can easily boost your customer engagement and conversions.

• Carousel Ads

If you want to bring your Instagram followers to your website, then Carousel ads is for you. These ads lure users with images and call to action button, which take them to your website. Businesses can use Carousel ads to show a glimpse and persuade fans to learn more by visiting their website. Create buzz about your upcoming events and get more sign ups with Carousel ads.

Creating Instagram Ads

Assuming that you have an account on Instagram and a company page on Facebook, you should connect your company’s facebook page to your Instagram account. Here are some of the steps involved in creating your instagram ad.

• Select Your Target Audience

To initiate the ad creation process, you will have to choose the objective for your ad and name your campaign. After you are done with setting the ad objective and naming, the next step is to select the target audience for the ad. Users have the option to either dig deeper when selecting an audience for specific targeting or keep it simple. Businesses can set location, gender, age, work, financial status, interests, behaviors and connections to name just a few. Depending upon the nature of your business, your choice might vary.

• Set Your Budget and Schedule

Businesses can choose from daily and lifetime budget for their ads. Daily budget ensures that you ads keep on popping throughout the day and algorithm will automatically track your spending on a daily basis. If you want your ad to be visible for a specific length of time, then the lifetime budget is a better choice. Users can also control who sees their ads with link clicks, impressions and daily unique reach options.

Another aspect, which is closely related to the budget, is the ad schedule. Businesses will have to enter the start and end date of their ad campaigns. You can set different parameters. You can either go for standard deliver schedule, which shows your ad throughout the day, or go for accelerated delivery that enables you to reach a wider audience quickly and make your time sensitive ad go viral.

• Set Your Ad Creative

Finally, it is time to create your app. Choose the format, type of your ad and upload the media files. Add descriptive and compelling text and link to a website where you want your ad viewer to land. You can also add a shorter link. Lastly, add a call to action from the list, preview the ad and hit the place order button to make your ad go live. Do not forget to put a checkmark on instagram to run the ad.

As soon as your ad goes live and your ad starts to get conversions, you can easily track them based on different factors. I hope this guide have helped you in understanding the Instagram advertising process and different types of ads. Have you ever seen a creative Instagram ad that still fresh in your memory? Share it with us in the comments section below so that businesses can get inspiration from it and succeed.