What Is the Best Instagram Ads Tutorial for Beginners?

TL;DR

The best way for beginners to create Instagram ads is through a Meta ad account and Ads Manager, using auction buying and a campaign objective matched to the desired result. The tutorial explains the three campaign levels, campaign, ad set and ad, and recommends leads for service or local businesses and sales for e-commerce businesses. Read on for the specific setup choices and common mistakes to avoid.

Transcript

in this video I'm going to show you how to set up an Instagram ad campaign from scratch I'm going to walk you through the entire process show you exactly what you need to do at each stage to get the best results possible so if you're an Instagram advertising beginner and you haven't run an ad campaign before going through this video first is going ... Read More

Key Insights

• Setting up a Meta ad account is essential for running effective Instagram ad campaigns.
• There are two main ways to advertise on Instagram: promoting posts via the app or using a Meta ad account.
• Using the Meta ad account offers more features and better results than the Instagram app.
• The auction buying type is recommended for most advertisers, allowing you to bid for ad placement.
• Choosing the right campaign objective, such as leads or sales, is crucial for optimizing ad performance.
• Meta's machine learning can identify and target prospects likely to convert, improving ad effectiveness.
• Testing different ad sets and creatives helps identify the best-performing combinations for better results.
• Avoid setting overly specific location targets unless necessary, as broader targets allow Meta to optimize better.
• "there are effectively two ways to advertise on Instagram" (0:32)
• "it's much better to run your ads through a meta ad account" (0:59)
• "there's the campaign level then within that there are ad sets a second level and then within the ad sets there are ads" (2:32)
• "I would strongly recommend that you go with auction" (2:55)
• "you are much better off going for leads or sales" (4:52)

Questions & Answers

Q: How should beginners set up an Instagram ad campaign?

First, set up a Meta ad account, also called a Meta business account, and open Ads Manager. Click the plus create button, then configure the campaign level before moving to its ad sets and ads.

Q: Should I promote Instagram posts in the app or use a Meta ad account?

Use a Meta ad account rather than advertising from within the Instagram mobile app. The app has limited features and functionality, which makes worse results more likely.

Q: How do I find Ads Manager in a Meta ad account?

Open the menu represented by the three lines on the left side of the Meta ad account. Find Ads Manager in that menu to reach the campaign creation area.

Q: What are the three levels of an Instagram ad campaign?

An Instagram ad campaign has three levels: the campaign, ad sets within the campaign, and ads within each ad set. The campaign level controls overarching campaign features.

Q: Which buying type is best for beginner Instagram ads?

The tutorial strongly recommends auction, which is the default buying type in most accounts. Auction means bidding against other Instagram advertisers for the people you want to target, and that auction sets the price.

Q: Why is reach and frequency not recommended for Instagram conversions?

Reach and frequency can guarantee a price for reaching a certain number of people a certain number of times. However, those ads are often shown to prospects who are less likely to purchase, become a lead, or otherwise convert.

Q: Which Instagram campaign objective should an e-commerce business choose?

An e-commerce business seeking purchases on its website should choose the sales objective. This optimizes the campaign for the result the business actually wants.

Q: Which Instagram campaign objective should a service or local business choose?

A service-based or local business that wants people to sign up, become a lead, or get in touch should choose the leads objective. Awareness, traffic, and engagement can spend money without producing real results when conversions are the goal.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• To create effective Instagram ads, set up a Meta ad account for access to advanced features and better results. Choose auction buying type and appropriate campaign objectives like leads or sales. Use Meta's machine learning to target the right audience, and test different ad sets and creatives for optimal performance.

• When setting up your ad campaign, avoid using the Instagram app due to its limited functionality. Instead, utilize the Meta ad account to take advantage of features like machine learning, which identifies prospects likely to convert. Testing various targeting options and ad creatives will help improve your campaign's success.

• Focus on using the auction buying type and selecting the right campaign objectives to optimize your Instagram ads. Broader location targeting allows Meta to better optimize ad delivery, while testing different ad sets and creatives helps identify the best-performing combinations for improved results.