Discover the 8 types of Instagram ads to supercharge your campaigns. From Image and Carousel Ads to Reels and Shopping Ads, learn how to leverage each format to maximize brand visibility, drive engagement, and boost conversions.
Instagram’s dynamic ad formats offer a unique opportunity to connect with your audience and showcase your brand in visually engaging ways. With over 2 billion active users per month, Instagram’s advertising options can significantly boost your brand's visibility, engagement, and conversion rates. But which ad type is best for your marketing strategy? Let’s dive into the 8 different types of Instagram ads, their benefits, and when to use them to achieve optimal results.
1. Image Ads
What are Image Ads?
Image ads are the simplest format and consist of a single high-quality image with accompanying text and a call-to-action (CTA) button. They’re ideal for delivering clear and concise messages, making them perfect for product promotions, brand awareness, or highlighting key offerings.
Best Use Cases:
- Brand Awareness: Quickly introduce your brand to new audiences.
- Product Highlight: Showcase a single product or service to grab attention.
- Event Promotion: Use compelling visuals to promote upcoming events or launches.
Pro Tip: Use high-resolution images that align with your brand’s aesthetic and include a strong CTA like “Shop Now” or “Learn More.”
Design Specs:
- Portrait: 1080 x 1350 pixels (4:5 aspect ratio)
- Square: 1080 x 1080 pixels (1:1 aspect ratio)
- Landscape: 1080 x 566 pixels (16:9 aspect ratio)
- File Type: JPG or PNG
- Max File Size: 30MB
2. Video Ads
What are Video Ads?
Video ads allow you to tell a compelling story about your brand, showcase a product’s features, or highlight a service in motion. With Instagram’s video formats, you can create visually captivating narratives that hold your audience’s attention and drive higher engagement.
Best Use Cases:
- Product Demonstrations: Show off your product in action.
- Brand Storytelling: Use videos to share your brand’s mission, values, or journey.
- Engagement Boosting: Videos typically drive 6x more engagement than static images.
Pro Tip: Keep your video ads short and captivating—under 15 seconds for maximum engagement.
Design Specs:
- Square: 1080 x 1080 pixels (1:1 aspect ratio)
- Horizontal: 1080 x 566 pixels (16:9 aspect ratio)
- Portrait: 1080 x 1350 pixels (4:5 aspect ratio)
- File Type: MP4, MOV, or GIF
- Max File Size: 4GB
- Length: Up to 60 seconds
3. Carousel Ads
What are Carousel Ads?
Carousel ads allow you to display multiple images or videos within a single ad unit. Users can swipe through up to 10 cards, each with its own image or video, link, and CTA. This format is ideal for telling a sequential story or showcasing multiple products in one go.
Best Use Cases:
- Multi-Product Promotion: Feature various products or services in a single ad.
- Storytelling: Create a visual narrative by linking the cards together.
- Customer Testimonials: Use each card to highlight different customer reviews or success stories.
Pro Tip: Use a consistent theme or story across the carousel to encourage users to swipe through all cards.
Design Specs:
- Number of Cards: 2-10
- Square: 1080 x 1080 pixels (1:1 aspect ratio)
- Landscape: 1080 x 566 pixels (16:9 aspect ratio)
- File Type: JPG or PNG for images; MP4 or MOV for videos
- Video Length per Card: Up to 60 seconds
4. Stories Ads
What are Stories Ads?
Stories ads are full-screen vertical ads that appear between users’ Stories, seamlessly blending into the Instagram experience. These ads can include images, videos, and interactive elements like polls, quizzes, or links, making them perfect for quick, engaging content.
Best Use Cases:
- Flash Sales: Promote limited-time offers with urgency.
- Interactive Content: Use polls or quizzes to increase engagement.
- Event Teasers: Build anticipation for product launches or events.
Pro Tip: Utilize the 15-second format effectively by starting with an attention-grabbing hook in the first few seconds.
Design Specs:
- Image/Video Dimensions: 1080 x 1920 pixels (9:16 aspect ratio)
- File Type: JPG, PNG for images; MP4 or MOV for videos
- Max File Size: 4GB
- Length: Up to 15 seconds
5. Reels Ads
What are Reels Ads?
Reels ads appear between Reels content and capitalize on Instagram’s focus on short-form, entertaining video content. This ad format is perfect for engaging with audiences who love to watch bite-sized videos, making it ideal for jumping on viral trends or sharing quick tutorials.
Best Use Cases:
- Product Demonstrations: Show how your product can be used in real life.
- Viral Challenges: Participate in trending challenges or themes.
- Creative Branding: Show off your brand’s personality with fun, lively content.
Pro Tip: Use trending music or effects in your Reels to boost engagement and discoverability.
Design Specs:
- Length: Up to 90 seconds
- Dimensions: 1080 x 1920 pixels (9:16 aspect ratio)
- File Type: MP4 or MOV
6. Collection Ads
What are Collection Ads?
Collection ads combine a cover image or video with multiple product images, offering an interactive and immersive shopping experience. When users click on the ad, they’re taken to a fullscreen Instant Experience that showcases multiple products and details, making it easier for them to explore and shop.
Best Use Cases:
- Product Catalogs: Showcase a series of related products.
- Seasonal Collections: Feature seasonal items in a visually compelling layout.
- In-App Shopping: Allow users to browse and purchase products without leaving Instagram.
Pro Tip: Use high-quality images for each product and a strong cover image or video to encourage users to click through.
Design Specs:
- Cover Image/Video: 1080 x 1080 pixels (1.91:1 to 1:1 aspect ratio)
- Product Images: Minimum recommended 500 x 500 pixels
- File Type: JPG or PNG for images; MP4, MOV, or GIF for videos
7. Explore Ads
What are Explore Ads?
Explore ads appear in Instagram’s Explore tab, reaching users who are actively looking to discover new content and brands. Since users in Explore mode are more receptive to discovering fresh content, these ads can drive high engagement and brand awareness.
Best Use Cases:
- Brand Discovery: Introduce your brand to users who haven’t interacted with you before.
- New Product Launches: Promote new products to a broader audience.
- Content Promotion: Use these ads to drive traffic to your other Instagram content.
Pro Tip: Ensure your Explore ads are visually consistent with organic Explore content to blend seamlessly and avoid appearing overly promotional.
Design Specs:
- Same as feed ads (Image, Video, or Carousel formats).
8. Shopping Ads
What are Shopping Ads?
Shopping ads are designed specifically for e-commerce businesses, allowing you to tag products in your images or videos so users can directly shop your products on Instagram. With 72% of Instagram users making a purchase after seeing a product on the app, Shopping ads are a must-have for brands looking to boost sales.
Best Use Cases:
- Product Showcase: Highlight specific products or collections.
- Direct Sales: Drive immediate purchases with direct product links.
- Shoppable Posts: Make every post shoppable for a seamless in-app shopping experience.
Pro Tip: Use lifestyle images that show products in use to inspire purchases.
Design Specs:
- Same as feed ads (Image, Video, or Carousel formats).
- Product Tags: Added to the ad for a seamless shopping experience.
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Now that you’re familiar with the different types of Instagram ads, it’s time to implement them effectively. Managing multiple ad formats can be overwhelming, but MisterCMO’s ad management tools make it easy to create, monitor, and optimize your campaigns—all in one place.
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