How to advertise on Instagram

byJoe14

943 followers

Updated 8 years ago

Instagram Advertising Strategies

Instagram has recently opened up advertising for businesses and brands. The advertising platform was only open for a select few brands in the United States, but the same opportunity is now being extended to other businesses around the globe.This opportunity comes with very great potential; Instagram’s parent company--Facebook--allows brands to target their ads to specific individuals. Instagram ads appear like normal posts with the only noticeable difference being the blue tag. The ads may not necessarily, also, originate from accounts that you are already following.

However, Instagram is rolling out this program gradually, and there is still much that we don’t know like how much it will cost to advertise on the platform for example. Let’s hope that all the details will be availed in due time. In the meantime, let me take you through what you need to do in order to start advertising your business or brand on Instagram.

For you to start advertising on Instagram, your Instagram account needs to be linked to Facebook first. This is because the ads will initially be created on Facebook using Facebook Power Editor. If you already have a working Instagram account, follow the steps below.

• 1.Go to settings on the top right corner of your Facebook page.
• 2.On the left column, you will see Instagram Ads; select it, and, then, select Add an Account.
• 3.Choose Add an Existing Account, and confirm your Instagram by filling out the account details i.e. your username and password.

In case you don’t have an Instagram account, you can create one via Facebook by using the following steps.

• 1.Select Create a New Account instead of Add an Existing Account, fill out your username and email address and click confirm.
• 2.You will receive an email concerning your Instagram account. Follow the instructions given to get your account’s password.

If you follow the steps above, you are ready to go.Now whenever you will be creating ads on Facebook, you will be able to roll out the same ads on the Instagram platform as well.After linking your account to Facebook, you need to select the ad type. There are three objectives to choose from: Video views, mobile app installs and clicks to your website. There are three important ad units that you can capitalize on within the three objectives. You can decide to use image, carousel ads or video. Carousel ads consist of a number of images that the audience can browse through.

How to create eye-catching ads

In order to get your message across, your ads need to be inviting and interesting. They should be able to grab the viewer’s attention in an instant. Here are a few tips that will help you to create an eye-catching ad.

• Use eye-catching visuals. This is not the time to go for stock photos. Remember that Instagram is famous for its breathtaking visuals. If you want to engage with savvy Instagram users, you should consider investing in a photographer.
• Add a call to action. Since there is no limit on the amount of text you can include in your photo, you can take advantage of the opportunity to include a call to action that will, hopefully, turn a user into a customer.
• Use popular hashtags. Instagram users are always using hashtags in their posts. You can capitalize on this unique opportunity by using these popular hashtags in your ad. Using hashtags such as #throwbackthursday will enable you to tap into a culture that will allow you to connect with your audience in a whole new way.
• Enhance your photos. You can take advantage of editing tools to enhance your photos. Even the most basic photo can look amazing when edited with apps like VSCO Cam.
• Consider using text overlays. If your brand is not visual per say, you might be tempted to use generic images that have no connection to your brand whatsoever. Instead of doing this, you can create a compelling text and use a creative and inviting background.

Strategy tips for creating content for your add

• The most compelling ads have a clear concept that is driven by one main objective. Whether you want to create more awareness on your brand or you want to increase sales, ensure that your goal is specific from the beginning.
• Be proud about your brand name and image. For the users to connect with your brand, you need to ensure that the brand’s image is consistent in all your ads.
• You need to continuously engage with your community by joining in on the conversation. You can do this by contributing to the comments and questions that arise within your post.
• While creating an ad, there is, off course, a specific group of people that you want to target. One unique feature on Instagram is the ability to choose the specific audience that you want your ad to reach. Thanks to Facebook, advertisers on Instagram can get access to a variety of target options that include the mandatory age, gender and location, interests, actions and many more. Using the targeting options will ensure that your ads are engaging and at the same time relevant. You don’t want kids to see ads that are meant for working mums for example.
• Use visuals to communicate effectively. You can use the tips above on how to make an eye-catching ad to ensure that you communicate effectively in your campaign.
• Use content that has been generated by the users. Most people would prefer to use photos of their products alone and hope that a customer will be inspired to make a purchase. The best way to advertise a brand is to show it in use. You can do this by reposting a picture of a user using your product.

It is clear that Instagram offers new opportunities that are not available in other advertising platforms. They have used Facebook to make audience targeting simpler and more effective. Creating an Instagram add should not be hard; it’s all about building a rapport with the users. You just have to keep in mind that Instagram is all about visuals. The more eye-catching and compelling your visuals are, the more success you will have.

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