Creating an effective Instagram advertising campaign isn’t always easy. If you find that any of the following applies to your business, it may be time to seek help from an established marketing agency:

• Not enough time to dedicate to forming and maintaining an Instagram strategy
• Uncertainty regarding social media marketing and how to measure or optimize your results
• A lack of experience in social media tactics and marketing strategies

As one of the fastest growing social media platforms, Instagram provides your business with the tools necessary to reach your desired audience. But since this platform boasts so many users, how can you target your desired audience with success?

On Instagram, you’ll find there are three primary types of audiences.

1. Saved audiences

Saved audiences generally consist of broad groupings of individuals who can be targeted based on demographics, including sex, location, age, and general interests. Using these characteristics and facts about their audience, advertisers can create content and advertisements more adequately crafted to suit these viewers’ preferences and behavior.

2. Custom audiences

Custom audiences are built from emails lists, people who have engaged with your account or watched a video, people who have visited your site, and more. These audiences are typically created from information supplied by or connected to the business.

3. Lookalike audiences

These broad audiences consist of individuals who are similar to those in a custom audience and typically share similar characteristics and interests — hence the name “lookalike.” They’re likely to mimic your target audience in many ways like interests and behaviors, which makes them viable users to reach on Instagram.

Any business using Instagram advertising needs to ensure they cover their bases when it comes to establishing their presence on this platform.

Several must-have requirements for any company creating a presence on social media include:

• Business profile: A brief introduction to your company that provides key information about your business to your audience.
• Superior visuals: High-quality and persuasive photos and videos will reach your followers with the highest level of success. Since Instagram is a visual-based platform, this is a crucial requirement for a successful marketing campaign on this platform.
• Ad sizing: Correctly-sized images crafted for Instagram both in the feed and in Stories are critical for success. Using the proper ratio and resolution is essential to presenting your images with the highest quality and intended effect.
• Copy: Text written with intent and purpose toward your audience is key. Your copy should be readable, adopt the appropriate tone, and influence your followers to take action.
• Budget: A budget is essential for Instagram. Get an idea of what your business should set as your ad spend by reviewing average Instagram advertising costs.