You could either…

1. Create a personal Instagram account and start seeing ads
2. Browse online ad galleries
3. Read this article with 80+ Instagram ad examples

While browsing various ad examples, you will eventually reach another question: What makes the best Instagram ads so good?

There are several aspects:

1. Your Instagram ad design must catch the viewer’s eyes.
2. It’s best to follow Instagram ad size and specs best practices and create ads with the size of 1080×1080 px.
3. Create a different ad for your Facebook and Instagram campaign (1200×628 px vs. 1080×1080 px).
4. You must find a strong unique value proposition (USP).

As marketing legend David Ogilvy put it:

“If your advertising fails to get the message to the heads of people, your money’s wasted. And this is happening to millions of advertisers every day.”

So how can you create Instagram ads that won’t fail? – Check out the 84 ad examples in this article to get tens of new ideas for creating irresistible Instagram ads that will increase your sales.

How to use this article:

The first 10 ad examples come with an explanation of what makes them work – so that you can get a better overview of Instagram ad best practices.

While browsing all these examples, analyze:

• What makes the ad’s design good?
• What copywriting hacks could you copy?
• How to apply these best practices to your campaigns?

If you’re in B2B business, you might want to check out these 100+ LinkedIn ad examples by fast-growth brands.

Ok? Let’s roll!

#1: The Economist

What makes this ad good?

The Economist’s Instagram ad example showcases their magazine covers, letting the viewer immediately know what the product is. But instead of just showing the image, they have used ½ of the ad space to include a headline and a pricing point, making the ad more informative.

Key takeaways:

• Showcase your product – people will immediately grasp what it is that you’re selling.
• Add copy in your ad image – Consumer Acquisition found that images are responsible for 75%-90% of ad performance. It makes sense to add your USP in the image.
• Don’t make your ad too text-heavy

#2: HubSpot

What makes this ad good?

HubSpot’s Facebook ad is super simple – You could create it in under 1 minute by using Paint or Photoshop. However, the bright colours and copy will catch many people’s attention in the Instagram newsfeed. Think about it – the newsfeed is full of photos. This makes this ad example with simple background shine out.

Key takeaways:

• Use bright colours – People’s brains are wired to notice bright colours and associate them with positive feelings.
• Use simple ad design – In the crowded Instagram newsfeed, simplicity is often the key. Test ads that include only background + copy.
• Use the correct ad size – We can’t help but wonder how much more efficient this ad would be when created as a square image… It would take up more space in the newsfeed, and draw even more attention.

#3: New York Times

What makes this ad good?

This NYT Instagram ad is similar to the previous example in that it features a monochrome background with copy. However, this ad has taken a couple of steps further, playing with typography and including the brand’s logo. Also, the ad size is 1080×1080 px, which is perfect for Instagram ads.

Key takeaways:

• Use interesting typography – If you’re planning to include a lot of copy in your ad image, use eye-catching fonts to bring your ad to life.
• Include your logo in the ad image – It will help to create higher brand awareness at no extra cost. Moreover, your logo can serve as a design element.
• Use contrasting font colours – When using the background + copy ad design hack, make sure your background colour and font colours contrast each other. Otherwise, it will be difficult to read your ad’s copy.

#4: MeetFrank

What makes this ad good?

MeetFrank’s Instagram ad example uses a simple custom design which is highly efficient when it comes to Facebook and Instagram advertising. Moreover, the ad design features a growth curve which immediately draws the viewer’s attention. Not to mention showcasing numbers – another element that’s guaranteed to get more eyes on your Instagram ad.

Key takeaways:

• Use symbols in your ad design – Including positive symbols such as a growth curve in your ad design will make your audience remember you with positive emotions.
• Include numbers in your ad design – Research shows that by starting your headline with a number, you’re 36% more likely to have people click on your ads. Numbers draw attention.
• Address your users in the ad – By asking “UI/UX DEsigner” in the image, MeetFrank’s ad gets the attention of everyone who feels themselves addressed.

#5: Rains

What makes this ad good?

Being an apparel brand, it’s increasingly important for Rains to show their product in the best light. To showcase their products, Rains has created an Instagram carousel ad that features 3 different images (notice the three blue dots under the ad image). Moreover, the ad image’s size is in an interesting format, resembling a portrait photo rather than square image.

Key takeaways:

• Create Instagram carousel ads – Include more than one image in your ad to show multiple products within a single ad.
• Use professional photographs – If you’re planning to advertise a photo ad image, make sure these look professional. You can hire a photographer to help you out.
• Test portrait images – Instagram allows advertisers to set up ad images in portrait formats. Use this option to take up more space in the newsfeed.

#6: Zaful

What makes this ad good?

This Instagram ad example by Zaful caught our eye due to the original way of dividing the ad image into several pictures, creating a mosaic effect. That’s a smart idea to showcase different sides/elements of your product in a single ad image. You can also use it as a Facebook advertising hack.

Key takeaways:

• Test mosaic images – If you want to show multiple aspects of your product, test dividing your ad image into multiple image blocks.
• Combine mosaics with carousel ads – You could use the mosaic-style image as the first card in your Instagram carousel ad, and then include each mosaic image in a closeup as individual carousel ad images.
• Use hashtags – Instagram is all about hashtags. Did you notice the #FreeShipping hashtag in the ad text? Using hashtags will make your ad feel more like it belongs on Instagram.

#6: The Dots

What makes this ad good?

The Dots’ Instagram ad combines a colourful background image with in-image value proposition. While the in-image copy is a little bit difficult to read due to low contrast, it looks sleek and in balance with other ad elements.

Key takeaways:

• If you use stock photos, use good ones – Sometimes, it pays off to use a stock photo in your Instagram ads. However, do not include an overused free stock photo. Make sure people haven’t seen your ad image before.
• Mention your customers – Listing your well-know business customers’ names in the ad copy helps to increase trust in your brand. Note that this tactic requires the approval from your clients.
• Select the right call-to-action – Instagram allows you to select between several CTAs. Use the call-to-action that’s closest to your goal (if you want people to buy something, use the “Shop Now” CTA, etc.)

#7: The Kooples

What makes this ad good?

Here’s another Instagram ad example featuring apparel. Notice how the photographs have been taken by a professional photographer, showing the clothes in good light. Moreover, the ad copy lets the viewer know that there’s a SALE going on, increasing the ad’s click-through rate.

Key takeaways:

• Use emojis – Include emojis in your ad copy to make your ads more interesting. Read how to use emojis in your Facebook ads.
• Add up to 10 carousel cards – Do not limit yourself to 2-3 carousel ad cards – you can add up to 10.
• Add a different link to each image – When setting up your carousel ads, you can make each image to direct to a different link. Use this option to direct people to the correct product’s landing page.

#8: 8fit

What makes this ad good?

8fit’s Instagram ad image looks like it’s taken directly from a health blogger’s Instagram page. That’s the key to their potential audience’s hearts. If you’re advertising a lifestyle brand, use images that showcase your product in normal settings, so that people can imagine themselves using it.

Key takeaways:

• Copy successful Instagram accounts – No, we’re not suggesting that you copy their posts one-to-one. That would be plagiarism. But do copy them in terms of style.
• Write actionable ad copy – Use words like “Use,” “Get,” “Start,” etc. to indicate that people are supposed to take action on your Instagram ad.

#9: MindTitan

What makes this ad good?

This Instagram ad example by MindTitan is not here to sell – it’s focused on attracting talent and getting them to join the company. Instagram is a great platform for advertising your job offers – an opportunity that’s often overlooked by companies. Moreover, the ad states a question in the ad image, nudging people’s minds to answer “Yes” or “No,” and getting them engaged in the first few seconds.

Key takeaways:

• Test Instagram ads for hiring – In addition to promoting your product on Instagram, you can use it to reach talented people.
• Ask a question in the ad image – This will get more people hooked to your Instagram ad, and they will also read the rest of your ad copy.
• Use branded ad design – If you want your ads to be associated with your brand, it’s a good idea to create Instagram ad images that use your branded colours and design elements.

#10: Facebook Audience Network

What makes this ad good?

Instead of trying to sell you anything, this Instagram ad starts with a content marketing offer – an informative article. Facebook Audience Network is using the Instagram ad to keep their customers – marketers – informed about the upcoming features and changes.

Key takeaways:

• Use Instagram ads for promoting content – Especially in B2B sales, it’s important to start with a soft sell, and slowly turn your leads into paying customers.
• Mix icons and symbols – An easy way to create a custom Instagram ad design is to download some free icons and symbols and use Illustrator or Photoshop to mix them together into a good-looking ad image.

If you want to learn more about Instagram advertising, check out this in-depth guide: Instagram Advertising – Always Up-to-date Guide (2018 Edition)

#11: UsabilityHub

#12: Airbnb

#13: Blinkist

#14: Poketo

#15: Brooklinen

#16: Foreo

#17: Cofounders Lab

#18: Squarespace

#19: Deloitte Baltics

#20: The Dots

#21: Kickstarter

#22: Facebook Marketing Developers

#23: Workplace by Facebook

#24: Ohheygirl Store

#25: Folsom & Co

#26: Freefly Systems

#27: Getdesignrr

#28: Gurushots

#29: Harvard Business Review

#30: Hisuperhi

#31: H&M

#32: Hyatt

#33: Inch2

#34: Jason Squire smm

#35: Jon Loomer

#36: British Journal of Photography

#37: Aceroix

#38: Architonicag

#39: Asanarebel

#40: Alex la Rigato

#41: Udemy

#42: Alexander Wang NY

#43: Azalea’s Boutique

#44: LIFT99

#45: Makery

#46: Masterclass

#47: Flachsmann Watches

#48: Gagosian Gallery

#49: Nortal

#50: Nosto

#51: Olive Clothing

#52: Onelive

#53: Cbyloredanapinasco

#54: Origin

#55: Out in London

#56: Paradise Amsterdam

#57: Parts of 4

#58: Pelacase

#59: Pexel Photos

#60:Black Mirror Fans

#61: Rains

#62: Reserved

#63: Rise of the Kings

#64: Scoro

#65: Frontrow

#66: Shopify

#67: STAC

#68: Stitch and Story

#69: Studio Living

#70: Bold Tuesday

#71: Sugar and Cotton

#73: Taxify

#74: Tentree

#75: The Horse

#76: Trvl

#77: Two Dots

#78: Udemy

#79: Venngage

#80: Vidcon

#81: Mvmforher

#82: Web Summit

#83: Wizzair

#84: Your Plug Clothing

Conclusion

Now that you’ve quickly scrolled through all the Instagram ad examples in this article, you definitely have some great new ideas.

If you want to learn even more about creating efficient Facebook and Instagram ads, check out this guide: 215+ Best Facebook Ad Examples (2025 Update)

Looking for video ideas too? Here are 35 Facebook video ad examples.

The post 80+ Best Instagram Ad Examples (2025 update) appeared first on Marketing Fix blog.

Moreover, it might be a bit confusing to use the Facebook marketing tools to do it.

However, that’s how it works – you can manage all Instagram campaigns in the Facebook Ads Manager and Power Editor. It’s actually really efficient – you can publish the same campaigns both on Instagram and Facebook.

In this chapter of our Instagram Advertising Guide, we’ll be covering the following topics:

• How to advertise on Instagram?
• How to create your first Instagram campaign in the Facebook Ads Manager?
• How to set up an Instagram promotion inside the Instagram app?
• What are the Instagram campaign best practices?

As you finish reading this guide, you’ll have sufficient knowledge for creating your first Instagram campaign (completely on your own).

How to Advertise on Instagram?

While it might sound unbelievable, there are five ways to create a paid Instagram campaign:

• Within the Instagram app
• Facebook Ads Manager
• Facebook Power Editor
• Facebook’s Marketing API
• Instagram Partners

The easiest ways to set up an Instagram promotion is to use the Facebook Ads Manager, The Power Editor or Instagram’s app.

The Facebook Power Editor and Facebook’s Marketing API are for advertisers who want to create a large quantity of Instagram ads at once. Instagram Partners are experts who can help with buying and managing ads at scale while also creating content for you.

How to Create an Instagram Campaign

If you haven’t used the Facebook Ads Manager before, here’s a quick cheatsheet for navigating the tool:

As you click on the “Create Ad” button in the top right corner, you’ll be guided through the step-by-step ad setup process.

Let’s take a closer look at each of the steps.

Step 1: Select Your Campaign Objective

The first selection you’re going to make is choosing your campaign objective – what’s your advertising goal?

Facebook will determine the campaign’s ad formats, bidding options, and auto-optimization depending on the campaign objective.

Here’s the complete list of Facebook campaign objectives available in the Ads Manager that also apply to Instagram ads:

• Brand awareness
• Local awareness
• Reach
• Traffic
• Engagement
• All installs
• Video views
• Lead generation
• Conversions
• Product catalog sales
• Store visits

Step 2: Name Your Instagram Campaign

When naming your Instagram campaign, don’t forget to add the date range to better track and manage your campaigns later.

Step 3: Set Up the Audience Targeting

In this phase of your Instagram campaign setup, you have two options:

• Create a new Facebook target audience
• Use a previously created audience

Take your time as your audience targeting is one of the key elements that determine your Instagram advertising costs and the results of your ads.

Learn more about Instagram ad targeting here.

Step 4: Set Up Your Ad Placement

As you reach the Ad Placement stage of your ad campaign setup, you’ll have plenty of options:

• Facebook News Feeds (Mobile and Desktop)
• Facebook Right-Hand Column
• Instagram
• Audience Network
• Instant Articles
• In-Stream Video

Naturally, you’ll want to select the “Instagram” ad placement, so that you’ll get a new Instagram campaign.

However, you can also select multiple ad placements and use Instagram as one of many options.

You can also combine multiple Facebook ad placements so that your ads appear in multiple apps and newsfeeds:

Here are the ad placements recommended by Facebook for every campaign objective:

• Brand awareness: Facebook and Instagram
• Engagement: Facebook and Instagram
• Video views: Facebook, Instagram and Audience Network
• App installs: Facebook, Instagram and Audience Network
• Traffic (for website clicks and app engagement): Facebook and Audience Network
• Product catalog sales: Facebook and Audience Network
• Conversions: Facebook and Audience Network

Step 5: Set Up Your Instagram Campaign Budget and Bidding

Your Instagram advertising budget and bidding options are such important topics that we’ve covered it in-depth in a separate guide: Instagram Ads Cost and Bidding in 2018 – Everything You Need to Know

With all the different selections to make, trust us: you’re going to need that guide!

Step 6: Create Your Instagram Ads

As the final step of the campaign setup process, you can select your preferred Instagram ad specs and insert your ad images and copy.

Fill in the details of your Instagram ad like the Headline, Text and Call-to-Action Button.

You can use the Ad Preview tool to see how your Instagram ad will look once it’s published.

Once you’re happy with the result, click on the “Place Order” button to send your campaign for review and publish it on Instagram.

If you’re unsure how to create highly performing Instagram and Facebook ads, read these guides:

• 142 Best Facebook Ad Examples (2018 Edition)
• 25 Facebook Design Hacks to Make More People Click

How to Set Up an Instagram Promotion

If you want to promote an existing Instagram post, the quickest and easiest way to do it is inside the Instagram app.

However, you can’t use the app for setting up more complex campaigns with nor change the details of your Instagram post before promoting it.

Before you can promote you Instagram posts directly in the app, you must fill a few requirements:

• You need to convert to an Instagram Business Profile.
• You need to be an Admin of the Facebook Page connected to the Instagram account
• You need to follow Facebook’s Advertising Policies

Once you’re all set up, here’s how to create an Instagram promotion without leaving the app:

1. Open your Instagram app
2. Go to your profile
3. Select the post you’d like to promote by tapping on the post
4. Below the post’s image, tap on “Promote”

1. Select on of the two available ad objectives: “Visit your Website” or “Call or visit your business”
2. Fill in the details of your promotion by setting things like Audience (who you want to reach) and Budget (how much you want to spend)
3. Set your campaign’s duration (how long you want your promotion to run). The ad starts immediately after you publish it.

1. Tap the “Next” button
2. To complete your promotion, tap the “Promote” button

Et voila! You’ve created an Instagram promotion in a few minutes!

Recommendation: Use the Instagram app to promote your posts for small ad campaigns. If you want to create an Instagram ads A/B test or run an extensive campaign, use the Facebook Ads Manager or AdEspresso to set up your promotion.

Now that you know how to set up your first Instagram campaign, make sure it’s perfect by learning all the Instagram ad design and copywriting hacks.

The post Instagram Campaign – The Ultimate Guide for Success (2018) appeared first on Marketing Fix blog.