Index
Instagram, the popular social media platform with over 800 million users, has been hailed as one of the most powerful tools for business. This is the app where you can see exactly what your audience wants: pictures and videos that appeal to their senses and transport them into a new world.
The possibilities are endless when it comes to Instagram. Whether you’re looking for new ways to market your business, gain popularity on Instagram, or just want to remain in touch with current trends and some of the best products on this planet, Instagram is not just about taking selfies anymore.
A common question is how can someone on a small budget start advertising on Instagram? There are plenty of people who ask this question and we usually advise that they start by doing research and creating a strategy before advertising. But if you’re browsing this article and have read the title: you’ve come to the right place!
This blog post is for the small business owner or social media manager who wants to get started with advertising on Instagram without spending too much money along with getting a wider reach on Instagram. We’ll go over what online tools you can use, some ad examples for inspiration, the limitations of these ads, and more!
4 Tips to Run Instagram Ads on a Small Budget:
Use a Social Media Management Software:
Chances are you already have a social media management application in your arsenal. The reason for that is pretty simple – social media management is hard! There’s no way around it. There are dozens of tools to choose from, and if you come across one that’s not what you’re looking for, you can always switch to the next tool!
That being said, there are a few tools that stand above the rest when it comes to social media management. Make sure you’ve got one of these apps on your phone before jumping into Instagram Ads – we’ve put together a list of our favorites here.
Do Some Research:
Before you dive into Instagram Ads, do some research to learn more about Instagram ads in general. Start by reading our blog post on Facebook advertising, where we discuss how to advertise on Facebook generally. From there, take a look at this article that goes into detail about the specific types of ads you can create on Instagram.
The reason we recommend doing this type of research is that it will give you a wider reach on Instagram along with getting a better understanding of what it takes to do effective ad creation and the costs involved. You’ll find that some of the promoted posts are very simple and don’t cost much money while others are more advanced and have a higher price tag attached.
Pick Your Target Audience:
Pick a target audience and stick to it! This is key to success when advertising on Instagram, especially with beginners. If your ad just shows up on the feed of anyone looking at the app, they’re likely to not receive any sort of benefit from your ad.
Before you start advertising on Instagram, you need to decide who your target audience is. Instagram wants you to target specific age groups, demographics, and interests. Most of the time, this means targeting young people to see which posts work best for them and then adjusting your ads accordingly. This will prevent both younger and older individuals from seeing the same ad in their feeds.
Use an Instagram Ad Template:
Instagram Ads has three different ad templates – a single image, a carousel, and a video. If you’re just starting, the simplest template to use would be the single image template. When you create this ad, you can upload up to 4 different images (or videos) that rotate through at 1-second intervals. To make sure people don’t skip your ads when they are scrolling through their feeds, we recommend making your captions short and to the point, while still conveying your message effectively.
Additionally tips:
- If you’re running a giveaway or a contest, make sure to include that in your ad. Most people won’t take the time to enter unless they know it will give them a chance to win something.
- Make sure to use hashtags that are relevant and include any additional text you feel is necessary.
- Change the images/videos regularly, but don’t change the caption too often (unless it’s highly relevant).
- Try not to use any fonts that look too similar (i.e. all caps, numbers, and non-descriptive fonts). Use a font that makes your message more memorable and eye-catching!
Conclusion
In conclusion, using Instagram Ads on a small budget is possible. While there are some limitations, like the fact that you can’t target interests and locations, you can still make your ads stand out! And when done correctly, you’ll be able to build a following and a customer base that will last long into the future along with an opportunity to gain popularity on Instagram.
All of these tips should help you get started with advertising on Instagram. If you run into any issues while advertising or have any questions regarding what we talked about in this blog post, feel free to reach out to us, we’re here to help!