With over 3 billion active users, Instagram is a goldmine for businesses looking to market their products. In fact, according to Sprout Social, 61% of social users are turning to Instagram to find their next purchase.

The only problem? Instagram is a super competitive space. Every day, countless brands are fighting for attention on users’ feeds, from established retailers to up-and-coming creators. 

Organic reach alone often isn’t enough to get your products seen, especially if you’re a new brand with zero followers. Instagram ads are your only chance to cut through the noise, reach your ideal audience, and turn casual scrollers into loyal buyers. 

In this guide, we’ll show you exactly how to create and launch Instagram ads step by step.

Instagram ads overview: Placement vs boost post

When it comes to Instagram ads, one of the most common questions beginners have is whether to use Placement or Boost Post.

Both can help you reach more people, but they work in very different ways. Here’s a simple breakdown to help you choose the right option for your goals.

Placement

Source: Business Help Center 

Placement means creating a proper ad campaign inside Meta Ads Manager and deciding exactly where your ad will appear. It can be Instagram Feed, Stories, Reels, or even other Meta platforms like Facebook.

Pros:

• Advanced targeting options (custom audiences, lookalike audiences, and more)

• Access to detailed performance tracking and reporting

• Flexibility to test multiple creatives and placements

• Better suited for driving conversions and long-term strategies

Cons:

• Slightly more complex setup process for beginners

• Takes more time to plan and manage campaigns

In short, placement ads are best for businesses that want to build structured, data-driven ad campaigns and maximise ROI.

Boost Post

Boost Post is the shortcut version of advertising. You simply take an existing Instagram post and pay to promote it to a wider audience.

Pros:

• Super quick and easy to set up, perfect for beginners

• No need to create a new ad from scratch

• Great for increasing reach and engagement fast

Cons:

• Limited targeting and optimisation options

• Less control over placement and performance data

• Not ideal for complex campaigns or advanced goals

Boost posts are best for creators or small businesses who want to boost visibility fast without having to deal deep into Ads Manager.

How to create engaging ads for Instagram

You can’t launch an Instagram ad without first creating the ad. Follow these simple steps to craft eye-catching Instagram content using AI tools like Holo:

1. Decide on your ad format

Before you even start designing your ad, you must pick the right format, because the way you present your message can make or break your campaign. 

Different formats work best for different goals, so choosing wisely will help you grab attention and drive real action.

Here’s a quick guide to help you decide:

• Static image ads. Perfect for simple, clean messages like product launches or special offers. A strong visual can stop users mid-scroll.

• Video ads. Ideal when you want to tell a story, demonstrate how your product works, or build an emotional connection.

• Carousel ads. Best for showcasing multiple products, features, or steps in a process. Great for eCommerce brands.

• Reels ads. Perfect if you want to blend in with trending content and reach audiences who love short, entertaining videos.

• Collection ads. Excellent for turning interest into action by letting people browse and shop directly from the ad.

• Story ads. Great for full-screen impact and time-sensitive promotions that need a quick, bold message.

Choosing the right format ensures your message fits the way people consume content on Instagram.

No one likes being sold to. But when your ad blends naturally into the experience, it feels less like a sales pitch and more like authentic, engaging content.

2. Add your website’s URL

Writing great ad copy and designing visuals that convert can be challenging, especially if you don’t have a marketing or design background. 

That’s where Holo comes in.

Simply add your website’s URL, and Holo will automatically scan your site to understand your brand, products, and messaging. In just minutes, it generates ad content that reflects your unique tone, style, and offers.

3. Edit & customize

Here’s the fun part; making the ad truly yours. Once Holo generates your ad, you can easily refine and personalise it right on our platform. 

No design background? No problem. With just a few clicks, you can:

• Adjust the headline and ad text to match your brand voice

• Swap or upload your own images and videos

• Play around with colours and layouts to keep everything on-brand

This step turns a good ad into a great one, because the more authentic and polished it feels, the more likely people are to stop scrolling and pay attention.

Stuck on ideas? Check out these 7 Instagram ad examples for inspiration.

How to launch your Instagram ads

Once your ad is polished and ready, it’s time to share it with the world. 

Here’s a step-by-step walkthrough to help you launch your ads smoothly:

1. Open Meta Ads Manager

Go to your Ads Manager account to begin setting up your campaign. If it’s your first time, take a quick tour of the dashboard, it’ll save you time later when making adjustments.

2. Choose an objective

Decide what success looks like for your campaign: more website traffic, increased sales, new leads, or brand awareness. We highly recommend you to pick one clear objective for each campaign. A focused goal helps the algorithm optimize your ads more effectively.

3. Select audience targeting

Tell Instagram who should see your ad. You can target based on interests, demographics, behaviour, or use custom audiences (like people who’ve visited your site). 

Our tip: start with a narrower audience to control your budget and see what works best. You can always scale up later.

4. Set budget & schedule

Choose how much you want to spend daily or over the lifetime of the campaign, and set the start and end dates. If this is your first Instagram ads, start small, then increase your budget once you see what’s driving results.

5. Upload the ad you’ve created with Holo

Import the custom ad you’ve created using Holo into Ads Manager. Make sure everything is perfect. Check for small details, such as typo and color palette once again.

6. Review & publish

Double-check your targeting, creative, budget, and links. Once everything looks perfect, hit Publish. Also, don’t forget to preview your ad in different placements (Feed, Stories, Reels) to make sure it looks great everywhere.

7. Monitor & optimize

Keep an eye on your campaign performance from the Ads Manager dashboard. Adjust your targeting, budget, or creatives if needed. Don’t panic if you don’t see instant results. Give your ads time to gather data. This way, you can make a data-driven decision later.

Instagram ad best practices

Here are proven advertising techniques you can use to fine-tune your Instagram ads and make every dollar count.

Use native-looking creatives

Ads that feel like regular posts often outperform ones that look overly designed. Keep these in mind; authentic product shots, lifestyle content, or short, engaging clips. Avoid using too much text or flashy banners. The more “real” it looks, the more likely people are to engage.

Hook viewers in the first 2–3 seconds

Especially for Reels and video ads, those first few seconds are everything. If you don’t catch attention fast, people will scroll past. 

Start strong with movement, a bold statement, or a relatable moment. And remember, Instagram is a mobile-first platform, so use vertical or square formats for the best results.

Always design for mobile-first

Instagram is a mobile platform at its core, so your ad should look great on a phone screen. Vertical or square formats tend to fill the screen better and grab more attention. 

Keep key visuals and text centered so nothing gets cropped, and make sure your CTA is clearly visible on mobile.

Keep text short and punchy

Instagram users scroll fast, so your message needs to land instantly. Make sure your headline or opening line clearly delivers value or sparks curiosity. Lead with the benefit, not the feature. 

For example, say “Get flawless skin in 10 minutes” instead of “Our skincare formula contains Vitamin C.”

Add strong CTAs

Don’t leave people guessing what to do next. A clear call-to-action (CTA) like “Shop Now,” “Learn More,” or “Get Started” can significantly boost conversions. 

Match your CTA with your campaign objective. If your goal is traffic, “Learn More” works well. If it’s sales, “Shop Now” is better.

Create high-converting Instagram ads faster with Holo

When done right, Instagram ads are a powerful way to boost brand awareness, drive traffic, and turn casual scrollers into loyal customers.

And the best part? Anyone can create high-converting ads with ease using Holo.

Just add your website, and Holo will instantly generate ready-to-launch ad creatives that match your brand’s tone, style, and audience. No design or copywriting skills needed.

Try Holo today and experience how effortless ad creation can be!