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Hey, Mompreneurs! Are you looking to grow your Instagram followers but don’t have endless hours to spend? If so, Facebook Ads can be a real game-changer! Using Facebook Ad campaigns specifically to increase your Instagram followers might sound like a tech-heavy endeavor, but it’s actually a straightforward process with the right approach. Let’s dive into how you can run Facebook Ads to get more followers on Instagram, step-by-step, in a way that’s friendly, fun, and doable even with a busy schedule!
Check out my recent Facebook LIVE on Intagram Tips and how it can help your business.
Why Use Facebook Ads to Grow Instagram Followers?
So why should you use Facebook Ads for Instagram followers? Here’s the scoop:
1. Massive Audience Reach:
Facebook Advertising accesses both Facebook and Instagram users, broadening your brand to a wider audience. As long as your Instagram business profile is connected to your business page on Facebook.
2. Targeted Reach:
You can zero in on your ideal followers based on interests, behaviors, and demographics.
3. Improved Follower Quality:
By targeting specific audiences, you’ll attract followers who are more likely to engage with your content and, eventually, buy your products or services.
Facebook Ads are a powerful tool with the right targeting strategy. With so many different options when setting up an ad, it's hard to know how to narrow down your options. I've made it easier for you by breaking it all down with the following key steps.
Step 1: Setting Up Your Facebook Business Page and Ad Account
To get started, you’ll need a Facebook Business Page and an Ad Account.
1. Create a Facebook Business Page:
If you don’t already have one, create a page by logging into Facebook, selecting “Pages” from the sidebar, and then “Create New Page.” This may have to be done on a desktop, then you can access your page using the Meta Business Suite App on your phone later.
2. Set Up a Facebook Ad Account:
Once your page is set, head over to Facebook Ads Manager. This platform is where you’ll create, manage, and track your ads. I always suggest starting with the Ads Manager App on your phone, because it is far easier to navigate at the beginning vs. the giant cumbersome desktop version which can be really overwhelming.
Step 2: Linking Your Instagram Account to Facebook
Now that your Facebook Page and Ad Account are ready, it’s time to connect your Instagram business account.
1. Go to Your Page Settings:
Head over to your Facebook Page, select “Settings,” then “Instagram” on the left sidebar.
2. Connect Your Instagram Account:
Click “Connect Account” and enter your Instagram login details. This will link your accounts, allowing your ads to reach Instagram followers directly.
Step 3: Choose Your Objective: Increase Instagram Followers
With the technical setup out of the way, let’s talk about your campaign objective. For attracting new followers, the Traffic or Engagement objective often works best.
- Traffic Objective: Directs users to your Instagram profile where they can click “Follow.”
- Engagement Objective: Promotes your content on Instagram, increasing visibility and potentially resulting in new followers.
Since our main goal is followers, let’s go with the Traffic objective for now.
Step 4: Defining Your Target Audience
Targeting the right audience is crucial. Here’s how you can define your audience:
1. Location:
Choose where you want to reach potential followers. Start local if your brand serves specific areas like within a 15-mile radius of your local business address. If your business can serve a lot of people all over the world, start with the United States, then you can always increase to global locations if you’re targeting a broader audience.
2. Age and Gender:
Think about your ideal followers. If your content is geared toward moms, you might target women aged 25-45.
3. Interests:
Select interests related to your niche. For example, if you’re a mompreneur selling home decor printables, choose interests like “home decor,” “DIY crafts,” or “interior design.”
4. Behaviors and Connections:
You can also narrow down by behaviors, such as people who’ve interacted with your page or similar pages. You can even target those who are more likely to purchase online.
By using specific targeting options, you’ll reach qualified potential customers who are more likely to follow and engage with your Instagram.
Step 5: Setting a Budget and Schedule for Your Campaign
Budgeting for Facebook Ads can be as flexible as you want. Set an ad budget that aligns with your goals and resources. I always suggest starting with the minimum $1/day to start while you make sure that your ad is working and you are getting results. Then you can increase from there. Here are some things to consider:
1. Daily vs. Lifetime Budget:
For beginners, a daily budget of $5 might work well. But if you are advertising for a specific holiday or event, you may want to set a lifetime budget with an end date and run a $20 ad for one week. Facebook will only spend the amount you specify, making it easier to manage.
2. Schedule:
Choose either a continuous ad schedule or select specific dates. For promoting followers, running the ad for at least a week is generally ideal to see some results. I find that the longer an ad runs, the better results are achieved. The performance of your ads depends on the longer time your ad has to learn from data-driven decisions.
Step 6: Designing Your Ad Creative
Now for the fun part—creating the ad! Since this ad is designed to attract Instagram followers, your visuals should be on point. Here are a few ideas:
1. Use High-Quality Images or Videos:
Choose images or videos that represent your brand and catch the viewer’s eye. Bright, clear visuals often perform best. Check Canva templates for ideas to start. You can even use one of your already high-performing Instagram posts for a new campaign.
2. Catchy Headline and Copy:
Write engaging copy that speaks directly to your audience. Phrases like “Follow us for daily [type of content] inspiration!” work well.
3. Strong Call-to-Action (CTA):
A simple “Follow us on Instagram!” CTA can be effective. The Facebook Ad campaign will offer CTA buttons like “Learn More” or “Shop Now,” but since we’re aiming for followers, these can be a bit indirect. A simple image with “Follow us” text often performs better.
Tip: Consider creating multiple versions of the ad (A/B testing) to see what gives the best results for your Instagram audience. I always think video ads are a more effective strategy for ads in general.
Step 7: Running and Monitoring Your Ad Campaign
Once you launch the Instagram ads, you’ll want to keep a close eye on how they perform. Here’s what to focus on:
1. Monitor Click-Through Rates (CTR):
A higher CTR means people are interested in your ad and clicking through to your profile. Aim for a CTR of 1% or higher.
2. Engagement Rate:
Keep an eye on likes, shares, and comments. High engagement indicates that people are resonating with your content.
3. Cost Per Click (CPC):
CPC varies based on the audience, but aim for a cost between $0.10 - $1 per click to ensure you’re getting value from your ad.
Step 8: Testing and Adjusting Your Ads
Facebook Ads work best with a bit of tweaking. Here’s how you can improve your campaign:
1. Adjust Targeting:
If you’re not seeing followers increase, try tweaking your audience. Sometimes, targeting a slightly older or younger group makes a difference.
2. Switch Up Creative:
Test different images, videos, colors, ad copy, or CTAs to see what resonates most with the right people.
3. Optimize for Time and Day:
Running Meta ads at specific times, like evenings or weekends, can be more effective for mom audiences.
How to Measure Success: Key Metrics for Growing Instagram Followers
To see if your ad is successful in gaining Instagram followers, keep track of these key metrics:
- Follower Growth:
Keep an eye on the number of followers on your Instagram profile. Compare your follower growth from before and after the campaign. This can be found in the Insights on your Instagram page.
- Profile Visits:
Facebook Ads Manager can show how many link clicks the ad obtained which shows how many people actually clicked through to your Instagram profile.
- Cost Per Follower (CPF):
Divide the total ad cost by the number of new followers gained to calculate CPF. A lower CPF means your ad is performing well in gaining followers.
FAQs on Using Facebook Ads for Instagram Followers
Q1: Can I Use Facebook Ads to Directly Boost Instagram Followers?
Yes, by setting up a Traffic ad to your Instagram profile, you can encourage users to follow you.
Q2: What Budget Should I Start With?
Starting with a daily budget of $1-$5 is effective for small business growth.
Q3: Can I Target Only Instagram Users?
Facebook doesn’t allow direct targeting of Instagram-only users, but you can use targeting options like “Engaged Shoppers” or “Interested in Instagram.”
Final Thoughts on Running Facebook Ads for Instagram Followers
Running Facebook Ads to increase your Instagram followers is a smart move, especially if you’re looking to build a targeted and engaged audience. With a modest budget and some fine-tuning, you can effectively grow your follower base without spending hours trying to grow it organically. Plus, once you have an engaged audience, you can market your products, services, or content to them regularly.
Instagram growth can be a powerful tool to take your business to the next level. Using Facebook Ads to increase your number of followers and engagement rates can be an easy way to get more eyeballs and get more sales!
So, go ahead and give it a try! Follow these steps, monitor your results, and keep tweaking until you find the magic formula that works for your brand identity. You’ve got this, mama!
Written in collaboration with artificial intelligence (ChatGPT-3.5). Edited by a human.
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If you’ve used Facebook Ads for your business, I’d love to hear your thoughts! What adjustments have you made to your Facebook Ads campaign? Did you use a video or a picture alone? Share in the comments, and let’s share our ideas with each other!
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