Businesses are created to make a profit. As this profit is brought by clients and clients alone, the main task of any commercial project is user attraction: not only should they check out your ad, but they are also expected to accomplish the target action, that is, to purchase the product you're promoting.
However, not all companies sell their products and services via social media: more often than not, they prefer to drive traffic to online stores. In other cases, business owners provide products and services directly. But whatever the situation is, it's vital to capture user attention, convincing them to accomplish the target action. That's what we're going to do today: how to make an incredible ad layout on Instagram.
What Is an Ad Template
Any user or business owner can set up an ad campaign for a commercial profile through Facebook and then receive traffic on Instagram. However, you can’t expect solid profit without a high-quality video or template.
An advertising template is a static or dynamic picture (video) that contains a unique selling proposition. Today, a template like this is required to attract potential customers and weed out non-target audiences.
By placing the main message and field of expertise on the layout, you can cut off users who would never buy your product or use your service. For example, you deliver meat products from natural meat without chemical additives. Targeted advertising is widely targeted to attract a lot of low-cost traffic. We clearly indicate on the layout that we have meat, say, pork, and this will attract visitors who love this variety and toss those who do not eat it. Among other things, focusing your attention saves your budget—there will be fewer problems with analytics.
Template Requirements
Before creating a template on IG, make sure you understand the power of the first impression when users come across your profile. This first glance determines whether a visitor will stay on your page or scroll through it.
Here are a few recommendations to capture user attention:
- Be terse. The best Instagram ad templates present the product clearly, leaving no place for ambiguity. For example, when advertising men's watches, do not use a creative with an image of a man with an expensive watch and a car at the same time because users won't understand which product the advertiser is focused on.
- Add music. Videos with a soundtrack look more dynamic and easily attract users.
- Create scenarios. Using the Stories format, you can convey your USP to customers in a span of 15 seconds. Marketers claim you can add up to 7 information blocks to one publication.
- Stick to original images. All the pictures you employ should not contain watermarks.
- Choose simple fonts. Such fonts do not irritate users. Another thing you should know in this section is that inscriptions should not be too large or too small: this can complicate the perception of information.
- Do not resort to annoying animation. Potential clients are supposed to understand what kind of product they are offered, so don't go overboard with shiny pictures and flickering images. For example, the subscription form should always be straightforward.
- It's all about checks. After completing all the preparations, double-check the quality of the work done. It is better to spend more time than to get a tool with low efficiency.
Stories Requirements
Stories require a vertical video/image with the 9:16 aspect ratio. The maximum duration of the product demonstration is 15 seconds. You can also add a link leading to your online store.
Feed Requirements
A square 1:1 static image or 4:5 ratio for videos. The size of the pictures is 1080x1080px.
The title can contain no more than 125 characters. You can place text on the photo, but it cannot occupy more than 20% of the free space.
The maximum video length is 60 seconds. You can download the video in mp4 format. The maximum size is 1.75 GB. The description under the video cannot contain more than 125 characters.
The carousel can have from 2 to 10 information blocks where you can place information about a product or service. Videos should be published in the 1:1 format.
Most Instagram users scroll through their feed on a smartphone, so the content and advertising layout need to be adapted to the mobile phone screen.
Crucial Elements
Let's take a look at the features that need to be taken into account when creating a layout.
Prepare both formats: a static image and a video. Depending on the situation, users sometimes prefer to scroll through photos, and there are occasions when they choose videos.
In terms of design, you don't need to reinvent the wheel. You'd better focus on the classical approach.
The main feature of the text content is its brevity, succinctness, and the presence of a call to action; however, you should always analyze the situation you're in: for example, the less text people see in the Stories, the better.
There are multiple options to write selling texts, but the most commonly known is the AIDA model.
Best Examples
The Noticing Ceramics advertising campaign uses only horizontal images. Color combinations are clearly thought out: there is no room for a guessing game here, as users do not forgive mistakes in design.
Kickiyangz resorts to vertical images only. All photographs are divided by color to give the publications originality.
Both profiles prefer texts of different lengths. It was important to choose a short but catchy title.
An effective technique that you can use is to use a negative color in the title. For example, 4 mistakes Photoshop users make.
In an advertising layout, designers show the advantages of the product and its features. The main feature is a call to action. Noticing Ceramics's and Kickiyangz's advertising campaigns do not use complex language or scientific style.
Statistics show terminology will only scare and complicate the user’s understanding of the USP, so experts only indicate benefits and real facts. It is better to use buttons with the actions Listen, Register, or Download.
Make Your Own Catchy Templates
Any creative-making process for Instagram is a sequence of actions:
- Idea and message formation. Here you are trying to figure out the message you will be conveying in your creo to your target audience.
- Material collection. You select unique materials, draw rough outlines, or look for the right template on the Internet. You also define your text content, developing a succinct title, description, and call to action.
- App selection. Choose the service or software to solve your problems.
- Editing. The creation of the layout in the previously chosen app.
- Change (if necessary). If you observe any inaccuracies after the installation or the creative just doesn't vibe with you, eliminate the issues at this stage.
In addition, you should test the template to work out the kinks.
With Your Materials
You can take your own photos/videos and develop your own template. In this case, you independently think through the concept of a marketing campaign and can spy ideas from competitors in order to increase the chances of success of the creative with the target audience.
An advertising layout on Instagram can also be created independently in an application or desktop editor, but it usually takes a lot of time and effort, so this option will not suit beginners.
By a Template
The Internet is abundant with apps and services that can help you create Instagram advertising layouts. This is much more convenient and way faster: developers have already laid out a library of ready-made templates that will become a perfect foundation for future creos.
There is also an alternative. You can download beautiful and colorful photos from free stocks and link this content to a ready-made template. All that remains is to add a text description, a call to action, and useful information.
There are paid and free templates on the Internet. If you search hard, you can find a high-quality and free option. If there is no time, developers of editors and online services offer paid templates included in the library so that the webmaster can create an advertising layout using one tool and in one environment. This solution saves time, effort, and nerves.
How to Make a Layout
If you're struggling with layouts, let us guide you through the process in Crello, one of the best Instagram ad template tools.
Open your browser and enter the name of the service in the search bar. Click on the Instagram Advertising tab to start editing.
The template library opens automatically. There are over 780 options to choose from.
Click on the one that seems most appealing. After that, you'll see a toolbar for editing.
Push the Save button. Now, nothing can stop you from publishing the advertising layout from the editor to Instagram.
Everything can be edited: text fragments, backgrounds, visual effects; the library is being constantly updated, so you can make any idea come true.
Best Instagram Ad Template Tools
The Internet is inundated with various tools, and we are ready to provide the list of the best options you can find.
Canva
Canva is the most popular online graphics service. The developers offer a huge library of templates, so anyone can find something to their liking. There are also paid layouts that appear after signing up for a paid subscription for a minimum price.
Advantages:
- Intuitive user interface.
- Large library of free templates.
- Built-in graphics editing tools.
Disadvantages: none.
Crello (VistaCreate)
VistaCreate is just as popular: it allows you to work with graphics and create advertising layouts for Instagram. VistaCreate is a free service with expanded functionality through a paid subscription.
Advantages:
- Low threshold for mastering the available functionality.
- Intuitive user interface.
- Large library of templates with built-in editing tools.
Disadvantages: none.
Supa
Supais a great video editor with free and paid versions. In the free version, your videos will be earmarked with the program's logo, but at least there are tons of photos, videos, and audio effects.
Advantages:
- Intuitive user interface.
- Free training course from the developers.
- Built-in library of photos, videos, and music for creating projects for Instagram.
- Video conversion.
Disadvantages: the service watermark on the video interferes with viewing and is very noticeable.
InShot
InShot is a free app that allows you to create layouts and videos. The developers do not offer ready-made templates: users make creos from a photo gallery or their own videos. You can add a logo, stickers, and text blocks to the video, edit sizes, add music, transition effects, and filters.
Advantages:
- Cross-platform app.
- Free access.
- A rich set of possibilities for making creos for Instagram.
- Intuitive user interface.
Disadvantages: no template library for creating advertising layouts.
Unfold
Unfold is a paid application with a large set of photo templates, which speeds up the creation of Stories aimed at a potential audience. You can add texts, videos, photos, effects, and stickers to the selected template, change the background and blur it.
Advantages:
- Convenient built-in editor.
- Expanded library of ready-made templates.
- Intuitive user interface.
- Cross-platform.
Disadvantages: no free subscription.
Mojo
Mojo is a big thing among Instagram bloggers as it allows them to create stylish stories to promote products and services. The developers have added a large library of animated templates.
For the selected layout, you can change the color, display duration, change the font, and add text blocks. You can easily add music from your smartphone or a track from the app’s extensive audio library to your advertising layout.
Advantages:
- Intuitive user interface.
- A large set of templates for editing.
- Tools for uniqueizing advertising publications.
Disadvantages:
- Stripped down free software;
- High monthly subscription cost.
Planoly
Planoly has both a PC and smartphone version. The developers provide the basic functionality of Planoly for free, but if you like the app, you can purchase the PRO version.
Advantages:
- Cross-platform app.
- Easy to learn the interface.
- Large library of templates.
- Auto-posting on Instagram. Please note that you should stick to a daily limit so as not to get shadowbanned.
- Analytics tools for views and user activity.
- Posting content in a single interface (without leaving the app).
Disadvantages: photo limit in the free version. You can add no more than 30 pictures per month for editing and uniqueness.
Plann
Plann is another popular option with a built-in advertising layout editor for Instagram. Plann has scheduling and social network synchronization tools for instantly publishing stories and posts.
Advantages:
- Large library of templates.
- Built-in graphics editing tools.
- Publication schedule.
- A free version.
Disadvantages: the limitation on adding images in the free version of the software (no more than 30 images per month).
Snappa
The Snappa app is used by webmasters and bloggers creating visuals for Instagram promotion. The developers collected an extensive library of templates optimized for publication in a feed or story.
Advantages:
- Cross-platform app.
- Large library of templates.
- Tools for the layout editing.
Disadvantages: limited free version (3 downloads per month.)
PicsArt
PicsArt is one of the top ten most productive applications in the Play Store.
Advantages:
- Intuitive user interface.
- The ability to create an advertising layout for Instagram from scratch (uploading photos, changing faces, colors).
- You can publish content to social networks from the application.
- A built-in library of template solutions.
- High software performance and information processing speed.
- Cross-platform app.
Disadvantages: the lack of the necessary tools to create advertising layouts from scratch.
FAQ
