Instagram has quickly become one of the most popular social media platforms, with over 1 billion monthly active users. And with Instagram ads, businesses can target a specific audience with laser precision and get their message in front of many potential customers.
However, running a successful ad campaign on Instagram is not as easy as it may seem. In this article, we will share with you six do’s and don’ts of Instagram advertising to make the most of your ad spend and reach your goals.
DO #1: Use High-Quality Images
Instagram is a visually-driven platform, meaning your images’ quality is essential. Your images should be high resolution and professional-looking to make a good impression on potential customers.
There are a variety of other factors that go into creating high-quality images, such as lighting, composition, and editing. If you’re unsure how to get started, we recommend hiring a professional photographer or graphic designer to help you create stunning images for your Instagram ads.
When you’re approaching your content, there are some essential things to keep in mind to ensure that the quality of your images is up to par.
- Number one is the resolution of your photos.
Instagram recommends that all photos should be at least 1080px by 1080px, but we recommend going even more significant if you can. The higher the resolution, the better quality your image will be—and if you’re using product photos, this is especially important. No one wants to see a low-resolution image of a product they might be interested in buying.
- Number two is the lighting in your photos.
Natural light is always best, but if you’re taking photos indoors, ensure there’s plenty of light so the photo isn’t too dark. You don’t want potential customers to strain their eyes to see what’s happening in your photo.
- And lastly, number three is composition.
This is especially important if you’re taking photos of people or products. Ensure the subject is focused and the photo isn’t too busy. You want potential customers to see what they’re looking at clearly so they can decide whether or not they’re interested.
DO #2: Target the Right Audience
One of the great things about Instagram ads is that you can target a specific audience with laser precision. When creating your ad, take advantage of all the targeting options available to you to narrow down your audience and reach people more likely to be interested in your product or service. This means you’ll receive better value if you buy real likes or other services that help you out.
Looking into these options can be time-consuming, but creating ads with a higher chance of success is worth it. The targeting options include location, age, gender, interests, and behaviors.
Once you’ve established how to target your ads to get in front of the right people, you need to ensure that your ad copy and offer are relevant to them. You can further segment your audience and tailor your ad message to each segment.
You can make various choices when targeting your audience, so it’s essential to experiment and see what works best. Targeting will always require trial and error, but once you find the perfect targeting combination for your business, you’ll be able to use it for all your future ad campaigns.
DO #3: Use A Strong Call to Action
One of the key elements of any ad is the call to action (CTA). Your CTA should be clear, concise, and direct so potential customers know exactly what you want them to do.
Some effective CTAs include “Buy Now,” “Shop Now,” or “Learn More.” No matter what CTA you choose, be sure to include it in your ad so potential customers know how to take the next step.
Your CTA should be relevant to the offer in your ad and match the tone of your overall message. If you’re selling a product, your CTA should be like “Buy Now” or “Shop Now.” But if you’re trying to generate leads, your CTA might be “Learn More” or “Sign Up.”
Your CTA should also be visible and easy to find. It should stand out from the rest of your ad so that potential customers can’t miss it. And if you’re using an image, make sure the CTA is placed prominently on the image so that it’s easy to see.
DON’T #1: Mislead Customers with Your Ads
Do not try to mislead potential customers with your Instagram ads. This will only lead to frustrated customers who feel like they’ve been tricked. Be transparent about what you’re offering and be clear about the terms of your offer.
If you’re selling a product, make sure it is clearly shown in the ad if you’re offering a discount, including the discount details, so potential customers know what they’re getting.
Misleading ads are not only bad for business, but they can also get your account banned from Instagram. So, it’s essential to be upfront and honest in your ad campaigns.
There are some key things to avoid if you want to stay away from misleading ads:
- Don’t make incorrect claims about your products or services.
- Don’t use images, not representative of your selling.
- Don’t use language designed to trick potential customers.
If you avoid these things, you’ll be on the right track to creating effective and honest ads.
DON’T #2: Forget About Mobile Users
Instagram is a mobile-first platform, meaning that most users access the platform on their smartphones. This is important to remember when creating your ad campaigns because you need to ensure that your ads are optimized for mobile devices.
This means that your images should be clear and easy to see on a small screen, and your text should be concise and easy to read. You also must ensure that your CTA is visible and easy to click on from mobile devices.
If you’re unsure if your ads are optimized for mobile, you can use the Instagram Ad Preview tool to determine how your ad will look on a mobile device. This tool will also let you know if there are any changes you need to make to your ad before it goes live.
DON’T #3: Be Afraid to Test and Experiment
When it comes to Instagram advertising, there is no one-size-fits-all approach. What works for one business might not work for another, so it’s essential to test and experiment until you find what uniquely helps your business grow followers and generate leads and sales.
This means you must be willing to try new things and take risks. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different images, videos, and CTAs. And don’t be afraid to try different ad formats, such as carousel ads or Stories ads.
The only way to find what works best for your business is to test and experiment until you find a winning formula. So go out there and start testing!
Instagram advertising can be a great way to reach new customers and increase sales. But to be successful, you need to avoid making common mistakes. This article highlighted some of the main things you should never do when creating Instagram ads. We hope you found this article helpful and that you’ll use these tips to create successful ad campaigns.
If you have questions about Instagram advertising or need help creating an ad campaign, please contact us today. Our team of social media experts would be happy to help you get started.
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