Video Ads on Instagram

Feed

Video ads may be embedded into the Instagram feed directly. Millions of people use the Instagram feed every day to share everything from photos of themselves to life updates and development.

Explore

Video ads may also be placed in the explore page on Instagram. Getting placed in the explore section allows for a more natural placement within the Instagram app. The algorithms suggest content that they believe you would like, and paying to get ahead is a way around organic audience building and engagement.

Stories

Stories allow for customers to create and engage, so why not mimic that with video ads. Inserted between stories, these video ads allow for a deeper immersion, and the format as a whole will be discussed in the next article.

Tips for a Successful Video Ad

So what makes a successful video for an Instagram Video Ad?

Blend In

Advertisements should seem like natural content to the platform. People used to go to the internet to get away from the real life oversaturation of advertisements amongst other things. Now that oversaturation has reached the internet and social media. So now in order to gain traction in a meaningful way one must blend in as if they are meant to be on the platform natively.

Start with a Bang

The average user on social media is scrolling almost non-stop taking only a second to process what the content is and make a judgement. Start with a bang. Capture the attention of the viewer and use it to lead them through the ad.

Showcase Your Brand

You only have a mere matter of moments to capture the attention of the viewer, so utilize that time effectively by communicating your brand and message in a simple way.

Design For Sound Off

Especially important if the ad plays in the feed, but also a good rule to live by for interesting visuals. Thinking of the imagery is just as key in video as is a photo. Compel the viewer to turn on the sound to enhance their experience, don’t assume that they’re listening.

Message vs. Time

Keep the length of the video brief enough to communicate the targeted message effectively. Short, sweet, and to the point.

Create for the Experience

Phones are used vertically a majority of the time so why not build a video that is created for that experience. Vertical video, while not cinematic inherently, can be utilized effectively to immerse and engage the viewer, especially when referring to story ads.

Experiment

One in the same means that you’re a part of the noise and not breaking through. Experiment and break the generic mold to find new ways to appeal to the targeted audience. Think about the Super Bowl advertising, everyone takes risks and that’s the charm. Not only does experimentation create a memorable experience, but allows for you to also be creative, test, learn, and adapt for the ever changing landscape that is digital marketing.

Maximize Results

Match the Objective

Understanding what your objective is is key to meeting the objective effectively. Read up on Facebook ad objectives here.

Reach the Audience Effectively

Knowing your audience from likes to dislikes to where and when they’re online are key factors to targeting your video ad. From start to finish one should consider the most cost effective way of achieving results.

Ad Text Guidelines

Facebook recommends that Video ads without a link should contain only 125 characters of text. Video ads with a link should only contain a 25 character headline and a 30 character link description.

Optimize the Next Step

Whether you’re sending a customer to a landing page or gathering engagements make sure the next step is not only highlighted but optimized. Potential customers won’t want to wait around for a landing page to load.