Tips & Tricks for Creating an Effective Instagram Ad
In an ever-advancing world, where technology continues to race full-speed ahead, it can be difficult to know which industry trends to stay on top of. Should I be on Snapchat? Do I need a Twitter account? Should my business be advertising on social media? The answer to the last question is an unequivocal yes! Advertising on social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter & Instagram is becoming an increasingly effective way to grow followers, garner attention, and promote various aspects of your business. As with anything posted online, however, there are tips and tricks to be aware of when creating an effective Instagram ad:
1. Create a strategy:
Before crafting your ad, make sure you have a solid game plan for what you want to accomplish with this ad. Try asking yourself these three questions:
- What are you trying to promote with this specific ad?
- What do you hope to accomplish with your ad?
- How do you plan on measuring the success of your ad?
2. Determine your audience:
Think about who your audience is, what their goals are, and why they should care about what you’re advertising.
3. Embrace the subtly:
The beauty of the Instagram platform is just that – its beauty. It has a very clean, professional look, and you want your ad to match that aesthetic. In other words, don’t make it look like an ad! Focus on the quality and authenticity, and find a photo that matches.
4. Partner with Influencers:
Influencers, in terms of Instagram, are users who have a large following, and therefore the ability to reach a mass audience. Partnering with these influencers is a great way to make sure your brand is reaching as many people as possible. However, you don’t just want to find the influencer with the biggest audience – figure out your demographic, and target an influencer who can reach that specific crowd.
5. Include a custom brand hashtag:
Creating a hashtag that is customized for your brand can drive your audience to relevant content specific to you and your company.
6. Utilize video ads:
When you are running an Instagram ad there are a few options at your disposal, in terms of how you want to feature your images. You can do a single photo advertisement, a carousel of photos, or a video ad. Using videos can produce higher engagement rates, and can potentially attract more users than a static image.
7. Connect with your customers:
Remember on step 3 we mentioned focusing on quality and authenticity? One of the best ways to stay authentic and organic is using your customers’ photos. Studies show that Instagram users respond better to photos and images showing real people engaging with your brand or products, rather than staged photos.
8. Blend your ad with organic posts:
Another trick for maintaining authenticity with your brand and your Instagram profile is to blend your ad with other organic posts. This can increase the longevity of your efforts and the overall goal of your advertisement. This is preferable to having an isolated ad separate from the rest of your photos and brand concepts!
9. Test your results:
Similar to Facebook ads, Instagram allows for split testing of your advertisement, to determine its efficacy. Sometimes, even small changes to an ad can make a difference. Try changing up the photo you use, the caption on the photo, or the call to action to see if one of these works better over the other.
10. Be mindful of realistic expectations:
Instagram ads have the potential to be very effective for your brand. However, keep in mind the end goal: to increase your following, increase brand awareness, and gain the trust of your followers. Don’t expect an immediate escalation of sales. There are many important steps to consider, and your Instagram ad is just one of these steps – so think long-term!
Following these ten steps will give you a beautiful and compelling ad that’s sure to impress your followers. Don’t be afraid to look up examples, ask questions, or test different theories to ensure your ad is the best it can be! Have you recently run an Instagram ad? Let us know in the comments if you followed these steps and how your ad turned out!
Did you know?
We've been managing social media accounts for restaurants since 2012. For almost a decade, we've partnered with restauranteurs who are serious about using social media to generate business. Whether you're a good fit for our service or not, let's schedule a call and we'll give you free personalized advice on how to improve your social media presence. Either way, you'll walk away from the call more confident about your ability to promote yourself online - completely for free.
