Carousel formatting is a favorite for many businesses, as it allows for multiple images to be utilized, providing a flow of information through images over the course of several swiped pictures. Users are enticed to swipe through the carousel, which greatly increases the time in which an ad is viewed as compared to a static image.

Utilize influencer outreach to provide a subtle boost

Influencers hold an incredible power over social media, acting as thought leaders for entire industries and holding an incredible amount of weight with specific niche audiences. These industry champions have a high-level grasp on their followings, and can influence buying decisions of these followers.

Therefore, they have the innate ability to assist advertising brands in forming their message to better benefit their potential customers (i.e. specific influencer’s follower base).

Target the right audience with your advertising

Instagram advertising is not rocket science. However, a brand can have the strongest campaign the marketing world has ever seen, and still fall short on ROI because they are not targeting the correct audience with their message.

Luckily, Instagram marketing is simpler than most options, as they utilize Facebook’s demographics platform to target ads based on a wide variety of factors. Make sure that you use this properly, though!

It is easy to make one small mis-click and spend a boatload of your advertising budget targeting an audience that will scroll right past the message you worked so hard to develop.

Sculpt your Instagram Ads to appear as organic content

Instagram should be nothing more than a funnel for engagement.

The main purpose should be to capture the interest of potential consumers, with the end goal being conversion into customers. It should not be completely obvious that your advertisement is an advertisement.

You are not hard selling users. Go for the soft sell, keep the content looking like a typical Instagram post, and groom your ads to how your audience perceives native posts. Much like the first day of high school, it is important to try to fit in, not stand out.

Optimize CTA copy to improve brand awareness

Call to action might be the most important piece in your Instagram marketing puzzle. You can get your ad out in front of a million pairs of eyes, but if your viewers have no clear path to your harder sell, how can they be expected to click through?

Include some form of CTA in your image, not just in your copy, which might be cut off and require an extra click to expand.

Most Instagram users are scrolling quickly, taking in the images without truly absorbing the descriptors. If your image looks too naïve, there is the possibility it will be passed over. Inclusion of call to action in the image draws user attention to your ad, making it clear what actions the user should take.

Conversely, optimize available space in descriptions

Leveraging available description space in your Instagram marketing is pivotal. Many businesses are failing to take advantage of the space that is granted in the description section of an Instagram post or ad. There are 2,000 characters that can be allocated to convey your brand’s message in stronger detail.