Introduction
Instagram has grown to become one of the most popular social media platforms used by businesses.
With over one billion monthly active users, it is not surprising that businesses are looking at Instagram as the right place to promote their brands, and that’s where Carousel ads come in.
In this article, we’ll be discussing everything you need to know about creating carousel ads on your Instagram account.
What Are Carousel Ads Instagram?
Carousel ads are a series of images or videos that Instagram users can view by swiping left or right. Each card in the carousel has its own image or video, and these are all displayed in a single post.
This ad format allows businesses to showcase multiple products or services in one advertisement and Instagram users can swipe through the images or videos to gain a better understanding of what the brand is offering.
Benefits of Carousel Ads
Carousel ads offer a lot of benefits to businesses.
- They increase brand awareness, which in turn increases engagement rates with Instagram users.
- Businesses can show off 10 images or videos in one ad, which means that they can display more of their products or services in a single post.
- Using the carousel format, companies can tell a visual story about what their brand offers.
- Moreover, you can optimize your carousel ad by using a mix of images and videos, using a call-to-action, and targeting your audience wisely.
- Carousel ads also allow brands to drive traffic to their website or landing page, giving the audience more opportunities to engage with the company.
Carousel Ad Guidelines
- For businesses to create carousel ads on Instagram, they’ll need a Facebook business account with an Instagram business account linked to it.
- Additionally, you’ll need a product catalog that you can connect to your Facebook account.
- Make sure to use high-quality images or videos in your carousel ad to make it stand out, and use the carousel card to tell a story about the products or services you’re selling.
- You can also customize your Instagram carousel ad by adding a headline and specifying a target audience.
How to Create a Carousel Ad?
Creating Instagram carousel ads is easy. You can use Ads Manager to create a carousel ad. Simply select “Create an Ad” in Ads Manager, and then choose “Carousel”.
From there, you can select the format that best suits your needs and upload the images or videos you would like to use.
Carousel Post Examples
Here are some examples of how you can use carousel posts:
- Showcase different products or services
- Create a step-by-step tutorial
- Highlight customer reviews or testimonials
- Tell a visual story
Specs for Carousel Ads
When creating your Instagram carousel ad, make sure to follow the specs for carousel ads.
The maximum dimensions allowed are 1080 x 1350 pixels, the aspect ratio should be 1:1 square or 4:5 vertical, and the maximum file size should be 30MB.
Best Instagram Carousel Practices
To get the most out of your carousel ads, it is best practice to:
- Tell a story with your carousel posts
- Use a mix of images and videos
- Increase engagement with a call-to-action
- Target your audience wisely
1. Tell a Story with Carousel Posts
When using the carousel format, it’s important to tell a story about your brand or products. Use your copy to narrate the story and take your audience on a journey.
Start with an attention-grabbing image or video and follow with other images or videos that give more detail about your brand or products. The story should flow seamlessly, and each image or video should complement the others.
2. Use a Mix of Images and Videos
Using a mix of images and videos will make your carousel ads more dynamic. Videos can be used to demo products or show them in action, while images can be used to showcase details or present your brand in a visually attractive way.
3. Increase Engagement with Call-To-Actions
Including a call-to-action (CTA) in your carousel ad is a great way to increase engagement and drive traffic to your website. The CTA button is customizable, so you can choose which action you want your audience to take.
You can use any of the CTA options available, like “Shop Now”, “Learn More,” or “Sign Up,” depending on your business goals.
4. Target Your Audience Wisely
If you want to make the most out of your ad spend, you need to target your audience like a sharpshooter. It’s no use putting up a single ad and hoping everyone and their pet llama will want to learn about your social media strategy.
Instead, highlight multiple products with a single carousel. In case you’re having questions about carousel ads, fear not! A single carousel can deliver all the answers you need.
Keep in mind that different social media sites come with different opportunities in the ad creative section, so tailor your carousel slides accordingly.
When everything’s together in a single post, you’ll see your social media marketing goals soar higher than the average engagement rate per post.
10 Ways to Use Instagram Carousel Posts
Here are ten ways you can use Instagram carousel posts:
- Showcase different products or services
- Create a step-by-step tutorial
- Highlight customer reviews or testimonial
- Tell a visual story
- Promote an event or a sale
- Show off before and after photos
- Share a gallery of related images
- Create an interactive campaign
- Provide valuable information
- Offer an exclusive discount
How to Use Carousel Ads Effectively?
1. Target Your Audience Wisely
Carousel ads are a great way to reach a wide audience if you target them wisely. Use Instagram’s targeting features to ensure that your carousel ad is seen by users who are more likely to engage with it and convert into customers.
2. Use Carousel Ads in Your Instagram Feed
When using carousel ads, you can choose to use the carousel format to create ads that appear in your Instagram feed.
Using the carousel format helps your ads blend in more easily with regular Instagram posts, making them less intrusive and more engaging.
3. Follow Carousel Ad Best Practices
To get the most out of your carousel ads, follow best practices by using a mix of images and videos, optimizing your carousel ad, and storytelling.
Additionally, ensure your images and videos are of high quality and use captions that concisely describe what your ad is about.
Common Questions About Instagram Carousel Ads
1. What Headline Should I Use For My Carousel Ad?
Your headline should be short and capture the essence of your carousel ad. It should describe what your ad is about in a few words, so make it count.
2. How Do I Format My Instagram Carousel Ads?
When formatting your Instagram carousel ads, ensure that your images or videos display properly and are of high quality.
Ensure that your images and videos have the proper aspect ratio, resolution, and dimensions. Also, choose a fitting CTA that encourages the audience to engage with your ad.
3. Can I Use Linked in As a Target Audience for My Carousel Ads?
No, Instagram and Facebook are the only platforms you can use for carousel ads.
Conclusion
Carousel ads are a highly effective way to tell a visual story on Instagram and, when done right, can significantly increase your brand’s engagement rate with Instagram users.
Use the examples and best practices provided to create a carousel ad that will get noticed, and ensure that you target your audience wisely to get the most out of your ad.
