Many have wondered which is more effective- running Instagram ads directly from Instagram or from Facebook ads manager. As an Ads Expert, I’d first ask ‘what does a successful ad campaign mean to you?’- does it mean more brand awareness, sales or leads generated? Because the success of an ad campaign is dependent on your campaign goals, the platforms you run your ads on, your products/services and target audience.
Paid advertising techniques such as Google ads, Facebook ads and Instagram ads have really scored a home run in recent years on socials. Online advertising is now being prioritized by social media platforms more in recent times thereby making many business owners key into the game.
Ever since Mark bought out Instagram, running Facebook and Instagram ads have been more efficient- brands on both platforms can now reach millions of the combined users seamlessly. Meta business suite also give advertisers the option of running Instagram ads directly from Instagram or running through the Facebook ads manager, targeting similar Facebook users and communities as well.
Facebook Ads vs Instagram Ads
| Cross platform Integration The cross platform feature ensures that when you run ads on Facebook, they can also appear on Instagram through the same ads campaign. | Instagram-only campaigns may miss out on potential conversions from users who are more active or only have accounts on Facebook. The cross-platform feature ensures that your Facebook ads show on Instagram regardless of if you do or do not have an Instagram account. If you have an Instagram account you have to link your Instagram and Facebook accounts before you can run ads on any of your Instagram posts through Facebook. This feature allows you to leverage both platforms simultaneously and potentially reach a broader audience for your online advertising |
| More precise and in-depth targeting With Facebook’s large data of its users, advertisers can target more specific demographics, interests, behaviors, and even custom audiences using Facebook ads manager. | This targeting precision can lead to reaching a more relevant audience, increasing the likelihood of conversions. Instagram does not give this targeting feature as in depth as Facebook does. Your ads can appear not only on Instagram but also across the entire Facebook ad network, including the Facebook platform itself and other affiliated apps and websites. This broader reach increases the chances of your ads being seen by a diverse audience. |
| Ad placement optimization Facebook ads manager allows Facebook to determine the most effective placements for your ads based on the previous data on how similar ads you’ve performed. | This automated feature in paid advertising is data-driven, which is highly more likely to lead to better ad placements compared to the only option to manually select that Instagram ads offer. |
| Ad formats and creatives Facebook ads offer a number of ad formats and creative options that may not be available or as flexible on Instagram ads. | By using the Ads Manager, you can choose from carousel ads, slideshow ads, collection ads, and more, allowing you to experiment with different formats to find what resonates best with your target audience. |
| Campaign optimization Facebook Ads Manager provides more sophisticated tools to optimize your online advertising campaigns | It allows you to set specific campaign objectives, track performance metrics, and make data-driven adjustments. This level of control and analysis in paid advertising may contribute to better overall campaign performance compared to running ads solely on Instagram. |
| Ads performance tracking Facebook Ads Manager provides comprehensive analytics and performance tracking tools, allowing advertisers to monitor and analyze the effectiveness of their campaigns in real-time. | This data-driven approach enables quick adjustments to improve ad performance, which may not be as robust when running ads directly on Instagram |
| Algorithmic Optimization Facebook’s algorithm is designed to optimize ad delivery based on user behavior and engagement. | By using Facebook Ads Manager, your ads benefit from the platform’s algorithmic learning, which can lead to more efficient ad delivery and improved performance over time. |
In conclusion, testing both platforms and analyzing the performance metrics for your specific case can help determine the most effective strategy for your advertising efforts. Personally, I believe that each platform serves their own unique purpose:
- Instagram ads is great for more brand awareness
- Google ads is a great platform to generate leads
- Facebook is an excellent means to convert to sales
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