How to Use Facebook Ads for Instagram

::

If you want to grow on Instagram, Facebook Ads can be a powerful tool. Since Facebook owns Instagram, you can easily run Instagram ads directly from the Facebook Ads Manager.

1. Set Up a Business Manager Account

Before you can advertise on Instagram through Facebook, you’ll need a Meta Business Manager account. Here’s what you do:

• Go to business.facebook.com.

• Create a new account if you don’t have one.

• Add your Facebook Page and Instagram account to your Business Manager.

• Make sure your Instagram is switched to a Business or Creator account.

2. Access Ads Manager

Once your accounts are connected:

• Go to Meta Ads Manager (business.facebook.com/adsmanager).

• This is the control center where you’ll create, manage, and analyze all your ads across Facebook and Instagram.

3. Create a New Campaign

Click the + Create button and select your objective. Instagram ads work well with objectives like:

• Awareness (brand awareness, reach)

• Consideration (traffic, engagement, video views)

• Conversions (sales, leads)

Pro tip: If you’re promoting posts or growing your page, “Engagement” or “Traffic” are solid choices. If you’re aiming for sales, pick “Conversions.”

4. Set Your Audience Targeting

This is where Facebook Ads shine. You can target people by:

• Location

• Age

• Gender

• Interests

• Behaviors

• Custom audiences (e.g., your email list)

• Lookalike audiences (people similar to your best customers)

The better your audience targeting, the more effective (and cheaper) your ads will be.

5. Choose Placements

Now for the important part: where your ads will show.

• In the Placements section, select Manual Placements.

• Uncheck everything except Instagram Feed, Instagram Stories, Instagram Explore, and Instagram Reels (depending on your ad format).

This ensures your budget is focused only on Instagram.

6. Set Your Budget and Schedule

You can choose between:

• Daily budget (how much you spend each day)

• Lifetime budget (total spend over the campaign)

Start small (like $5–$10/day) if you’re testing. You can always scale up later once you find what works.

Set a start and end date if you want to control the campaign duration.

7. Create Your Ad

Now the fun part: designing your ad.

• Choose your Facebook Page (your Instagram account will be linked automatically).

• Select the ad format: single image, carousel, video, or reels.

• Upload your visuals: high-quality images, videos, or graphics.

• Write compelling primary text (caption), a catchy headline, and a strong call-to-action (CTA) like “Shop Now,” “Learn More,” or “Sign Up.”

Tip: Instagram is visual-first. Keep text minimal and use bold, eye-catching images or videos.

8. Review and Publish

Double-check everything:

• Is the correct Instagram account linked?

• Are the placements only Instagram?

• Is your targeting right?

• Does the ad preview look good on mobile?

Once everything looks good, click Publish.

9. Monitor and Optimize

After your ad is live, check in regularly.

• Track key metrics like Reach, Impressions, Clicks, CTR (Click-Through Rate), and Conversions.

• If something isn’t working (low CTR, low engagement), tweak the audience, creative, or budget.

Small changes can make a big difference!

Using Facebook Ads to advertise on Instagram gives you powerful targeting and budget control. The key is to start with clear goals, sharp creative content, and smart audience targeting. Monitor your results closely, and keep testing and tweaking until you find the winning formula.