Instagram Ads Tutorial for Beginners

How to Run Instagram Ads Like a Pro

Instagram isn’t just for scrolling and double-tapping anymore. If you're serious about growing your brand or business online, Instagram Ads are a must-use tool. I’ve personally run multiple IG ad campaigns—some with small budgets, some big—and the results always come down to one thing: strategy.

So if you're new to Instagram Ads or looking to get better at it, here’s everything you need to know.

What Are Instagram Ads?

Instagram Ads are sponsored posts that appear in users’ feeds, Stories, the Explore tab, and even Reels. You can create image ads, videos, carousels, or story ads—and they blend naturally with organic content, which makes them super effective.

Best part? You manage Instagram Ads through the Meta Ads Manager—the same platform used for Facebook Ads.

How to Run Instagram Ads (Step-by-Step)

Here's the exact process I use to run Instagram Ads for myself and clients:

1. Create a Business or Creator Account on Instagram

If you’re still using a personal profile, switch it to a business account in your settings. This gives you access to analytics, ad tools, and more.

2. Connect Your Instagram Account to Facebook Business Manager

Go to Meta Business Suite and link your IG to your Facebook page. This connection allows you to run ads through Meta Ads Manager.

3. Head Over to Ads Manager

This is where all your campaigns live. You’ll create and manage your Instagram Ads here.

4. Choose a Campaign Objective

Pick what you want to achieve:

• Awareness (Reach, Brand Awareness)

• Consideration (Traffic, Engagement, Video Views)

• Conversion (Leads, Sales)

Check out all the ad objectives here.

5. Select Your Audience

Instagram targeting is powerful. You can segment people based on:

• Age, gender, location

• Interests like fashion, tech, sports, food

• Custom Audiences (from your email list or website visitors)

• Lookalike Audiences (people similar to your best customers)

Learn more about Custom Audiences and Lookalike Audiences.

6. Choose Instagram Placement

When setting up placements, make sure you select manual placements and tick only Instagram options like:

• Instagram Feed

• Instagram Stories

• Instagram Reels

• Explore

(Or go with “Advantage+ placements” if you want Meta to auto-optimize across IG and FB.)

7. Set Your Budget and Schedule

You can start small—$5/day is fine for testing. Choose between:

• Daily Budget (spends a set amount daily)

• Lifetime Budget (spends over a fixed campaign duration)

Read more on budgeting and bidding here.

8. Create Your Ad

Now the creative part:

• Choose your ad format (image, video, carousel, etc.)

• Add your visuals and write compelling captions

• Include a Call to Action like “Shop Now,” “Learn More,” or “Sign Up.”

Use the Meta Creative Hub to preview how your ad will look on Instagram before publishing.

Instagram Ad Payment Methods

Since Instagram Ads are managed through Meta, the payment methods are the same as Facebook:

• Credit/Debit Cards (Visa, MasterCard, etc.)

• PayPal (in supported regions)

• Manual Payments (prepaid top-up)

• Local payment methods like bank transfer, Flutterwave, PayU (varies by country)

You can manage payments in Billing Settings.

Check accepted methods per country here: Meta Payment Options.

Advantages of Instagram Ads (Why I Use Them Regularly)

1. High Engagement Rates

Instagram users are more engaged than on most platforms. Visual content + storytelling = 🔥.

2. Perfect for Visual Brands

If you're into fashion, food, travel, fitness, beauty, or art—IG is your playground.

3. Precise Targeting

You can reach exactly who you want and avoid wasting money on random audiences.

4. Multiple Formats to Explore

From Reels to Stories to Carousels, there’s a format that suits every campaign.

5. Cross-Platform Reach

You can run one ad campaign across both Facebook and Instagram for more visibility.

6. Great for Retargeting

Run ads to people who’ve viewed your profile, watched your Reels, or added products to their cart. Super powerful.

Final Thoughts

If you’ve been sleeping on Instagram Ads, it’s time to wake up. It’s not just for big brands—it’s a level playing field where even small businesses can grow fast with the right strategy.

Start with a test campaign, study the metrics, and improve as you go. The more you test, the better your results.

My advice: Keep it simple, start small, and focus on great visuals + clear messaging. Instagram is a visual-first platform, so your ad needs to stop the scroll.