The Struggles Most New Users Face
- Confusion between Boosting and using Meta Ads Manager
- Targeting the wrong audience or being too broad
- Wasting budget on ads without clear goals
- Low-performing creatives and unclear CTAs
- Not understanding what metrics actually matter
1. Start With a Clear Ad Objective
The first step in learning how to run ads on Instagram is knowing your end goal. Is it website traffic, product sales, or more DMs? Picking the right campaign objective (like “Conversions” or “Traffic”) made a huge difference in my results.
2. Use Meta Ads Manager — Not Boost Post
“Boost Post” is tempting, but it’s not powerful. I switched to Meta Ads Manager and gained more control over targeting, budget, placements, and performance tracking.
- Set custom audiences
- Choose multiple placements (Stories, Reels, Feed)
- Run split tests to compare creatives
3. Create Custom Audiences First
Instead of blindly targeting interests, I started with warm audiences:
- Website visitors from the last 30 days
- People who engaged with my Instagram
- Email subscribers from my newsletter
Ads shown to these groups had higher click-through and conversion rates.
4. Test Multiple Creatives
I used to rely on beautifully edited graphics. But often, raw and relatable content performed better. Here’s what I now test:
- Static image vs. video
- UGC-style reels vs. branded content
- Voiceover vs. text-on-screen
This testing mindset helped me figure out what connects best with my audience.
5. Write Clear Copy and Include a CTA
Your caption isn’t fluff — it’s sales copy. I started using a proven formula:
- Hook: “Looking for festive gifts under ₹999?”
- Benefit: “Handcrafted, lightweight, and ships free!”
- CTA: “Tap ‘Shop Now’ to explore our bestsellers.”
Guiding the user = better conversions.
6. Start With a Small Budget
I believed you needed ₹5,000/day to run ads. Not true! I started with:
- ₹200/day budget
- Running the ad for 5 days minimum
- Testing 2–3 versions of creatives and audiences
Once I saw what worked, I scaled slowly. Budget isn’t about big numbers — it’s about smart testing.
7. Track the Right Metrics
Likes and views are fun, but they don’t pay bills. Here’s what I track:
- CPC (Cost Per Click): Is it within budget?
- CTR (Click-Through Rate): Is my ad relevant?
- Conversion Rate: Is my landing page effective?
- ROAS (Return on Ad Spend): Is the ad profitable?
Meta Ads Manager provides all this — just make sure you install the Meta Pixel on your site.
What I Wish I Knew Sooner
- Don’t edit your ad daily — it resets performance
- Don’t rely only on cold audiences
- Always retarget website visitors
- Landing page quality matters more than you think
Final Thoughts
Learning how to run ads on Instagram isn’t instant, but it’s worth it. The results come when you stop guessing and start testing.
If you’ve been boosting posts randomly or feel unsure about ad strategy — now’s the time to get intentional.
💬 Let’s Plan Your Instagram Ads Together
Need help building a custom ad strategy that works for your budget and goals? I’d love to chat.
