- Instagram Ads Cost Factors
- Average Costs of Instagram Ads
- Instagram Ads vs. Facebook Ads
- Optimizing Instagram Ad Performance
- Strategies to Lower Instagram Ad Costs
- Types of Instagram Ads
- Instagram ads cost FAQ
Instagram has more than 1 billion active monthly users. This platform offers an incredible opportunity to communicate with potential leads interested in your products or services. You can generate even more leads and grow your business by using Instagram Ads.
But how much do Instagram Ads cost?
Instagram Ads cost depends on your bidding model, such as cost-per-click (CPC) or cost-per-impression (CPM).
Typically companies on average pay, $0.50 to $1 per link click. In highly competitive industries, like apparel, you’ll pay more. The cost of Instagram ads may go up to $3.00 per click.
Instagram Ads are still new to some companies that run social media advertising campaigns. Our goal is to help your company with some strategic tactics no matter where you are. This guide will help you understand the cost of running ads on Instagram, how it compares to Facebook ads, how the cost is determined, and much more!
Quick summary
First, we’ll discuss the cost and strategic considerations of running Instagram ads, highlighting that the average cost-per-click (CPC) for Instagram ads typically ranges from $0.50 to $1, but can rise to $3 in competitive industries. Key factors affecting ad costs include bidding strategies, target demographics, competition, and ad relevance. We then compare Instagram ads with Facebook ads, showing differences in cost and audience engagement across platforms. We also emphasizes the importance of tracking key performance metrics like CTR, CPC, and CPA to optimize campaign effectiveness and reduce costs.
How much do Instagram ads cost?
Considering advertising on Instagram for your e-commerce platform? One of the most pressing questions from advertisers is how much does a click or conversion cost?
Let’s take a look at what various resources say.
AdEspresso found that the Instagram average cost-per-click is $0.80.
On average cost-per-click Instagram ads, are between $0.70 and $1.00.
There are however many elements that affect the cost of your Instagram ads.
The cost of Instagram ads ultimately comes down to the audience you are targeting that’s why knowing your Instagram demographics is so critical.à
The going rate for Instagram Ad post design can vary depending on your experience, portfolio, and location. In general, you can expect to charge anywhere from $50-$200 per post. Instead of Creating the post use user-generated content and showcase customer centric images to increase sales.
For Example – Toyota increased its ad engagement by 440% using UGC with the launch of Feeling The Street – a global campaign highlighting and celebrating the world’s best street performers. In the real estate market, Instagram ads can also enhance property visibility, allowing agents to showcase luxury properties with high-quality images and videos to attract potential buyers and investors.
As you can see in the diagram above, women are much more active than men on Instagram. This leads to higher CPCs for targeting female audiences. Age demographics, however, paint quite a different picture.
Most Instagram users are under 50. The following image shows the average cost per click (CPC) for Instagram ads in 2017 across all age ranges goes from $0.70 to $0.80, according to AdEspresso. Also, it highlights that the highest CPC age groups are 18-24, 25-34, and 35-44-year-olds.
CPC estimates vary based on the campaign. For instance, ad costs for Instagram will likely rise during major events or holiday like Black Friday, Thanksgiving, Labor Day, and Cyber Monday. This fluctuation is also mirrored in the engagement metrics, where posts may get more Instagram likes during these peak periods, highlighting the importance of timing in maximizing both reach and interaction on Instagram.
For instance, in real estate, we recommend using targeted Instagram ads to enhance visibility and engagement. You can simply showcase high-quality images and videos of luxury properties to attract potential buyers and renters.
Instagram Ads compared to Facebook Ads
Facebook and Instagram are two of the most successful social media advertising platforms out there, which is why comparing the two makes sense. Which platform offers your business the most cost-effective option, and gives the best network to reach your audience?
| Social Network | CPC | CPM (cost per thousand impressions) |
|---|---|---|
| $0.20-$2.00 | $6.70 | |
| $0.97 | $7.19 |
In addition to assessing the expense of Instagram and Facebook Ads, it’s important to look at each platform’s demographics. While Facebook can target almost any age group, Instagram thrives when it comes to targeting audience members who are 25 to 29 years old.
Focus your efforts on the social media platform which provides the most value and best results for your ad campaign. Even if you can advertise on one site for less, you can miss the opportunity to connect with shoppers and leads that matter.
From a study done by Rival IQ, where they analyzed 2,100 of the most engaging brands and companies. As shown in the image below, Rival IQ found that out of all social media platforms, Instagram had the highest engagement rate. This means that even if you have to pay a little bit more, your insights will be better in the end.
Shopify did a marketing report that shows Instagram users spent $65 on average compared to Facebook, where users only spent $55 per referred sale.
How is the cost of Instagram ads calculated?
While determining ad costs, Instagram follows the same guidelines as its parent company, Facebook. This means that you will be launching a worldwide competition for people’s attention when you launch an Instagram ad campaign.
There are four main factors that decide how much you will pay:
- Bid amount
- Relevance score
- Estimated action rates
- Competition
Bid Amount
Your bid amount determines how much you spend on an Instagram ad campaign. You have to decide how much you are willing to pay to get leads. The value of your bid also affects how much you pay.
Instagram has higher bid rates; you will want to be ready to pay more for clicks and impressions.
Let’s say you only have $500 in your budget and your bid amount is $2 per click, you get only 250 clicks on your ad. But, a $1,000 budget with a $2 CPC gets you 500 clicks. Having a bid amount of $0.50 in the same scenario would allow even more clicks with those two budget amounts.
Relevance Score
Your ad relevancy score will also affect the cost of your Instagram ads. Your relevancy score is how relevant your ad is to Instagram users who will see your ad.
Instagram strives to give users relevant content in their feed. They’ll base your score on how users respond to your ad.
Estimated Action Rates
The estimated action rates will also affect your Instagram ad cost. According to Instagram, the rate is dependent on the probability of users acting on your ad. Basically, they want to gather how likely your audience will interact with your ad.
These interactions include actions such as clicking and converting. Instagram wants to promote ads they think users will engage with and connect with.
If Instagram believes it’s likely that more people will interact with your ad it will be put first. This means you will get a lower bid amount, which will help you gain more leads and conversions.
Competition
Competition will always affect the price of your Instagram ads. When you try to reach a specific demographic of people, there will always be competitors trying to reach that same group. Your competition could cause the cost of your Instagram ads campaign to change. You could take analyse your competition with Gramhir Instagram analysis tool.
If other people are bidding to target the same audience, this can lead to a bidding war. Businesses will need to outbid each other to get the top spot. This means that your CPC might go up trying to bid against competitors.
There are a few additional factors:
- Holidays and events: Competition during holidays, especially Christmas, is significantly high. More businesses are competing to achieve desirable leads that push CPC upwards. You will need to recognize holidays and events around the time when you run your ad and budget for it.
- Day of the week: Instagram users engage more on weekdays than on the weekends. This means you should plan to pay more for running an ad on a Tuesday compared to a Sunday.
- Gender: Advertising to females ends up costing more than males. Females are more likely to interact with and engage on Instagram, so getting to female viewers will cost you more.
- Target Market: The market that you aim to reach for influences the cost of your Instagram ad. It’s more expensive for B2B companies to run ads because Instagram has fewer businesses than people. Due to high competition some industries, such as apparel, are more expensive.
Even though Instagram ads are more expensive, advertisers do have control over how they allocate their budgets. You can choose, for example, between a daily budget to restrict the amount spent every day or a lifetime budget, which is when you set up your ads to run for a specific length of time before the budget is gone.
What are the most important Instagram ads metrics?
The top Instagram metrics to track for advertising success are click-through rate (CTR), cost per click (CPC), engagement rate, conversion rate, and cost per acquisition (CPA).
These KPIs provide insights into both the effectiveness and cost-efficiency of your campaigns. CTR and CPC help gauge ad engagement and spending efficiency, while engagement rate and conversion rate measure how well your ads resonate with your audience and drive actions. CPA is crucial for assessing the cost of acquiring new customers, helping you optimize campaigns for profitability. By tracking these metrics, you can make data-driven decisions that enhance your Instagram ad performance
1. Click-Through Rate (CTR)
CTR measures how often people click on your ad after seeing it. It is calculated by dividing the total number of clicks by the total number of impressions. This metric helps you gauge the effectiveness of your ad creatives in capturing attention. A high CTR means your ad resonates well with your audience, making it a key indicator of how engaging your ad content is.
However, it’s essential to note that while CTR is an important metric, it should be contextualized within your campaign objectives. For example, a high CTR with low conversions may indicate that the ad attracts clicks but fails to deliver on user expectations.
2. Cost Per Click (CPC)
CPC is a crucial metric for understanding the cost efficiency of your ad campaigns. It tells you how much you’re paying for each click generated by your ad. CPC is particularly relevant for performance marketers focused on cost control. Monitoring CPC can help ensure that you’re not overspending on campaigns that aren’t delivering significant ROI.
Tracking CPC over time and comparing it across campaigns allows you to identify which ads are performing better in terms of cost efficiency. For instance, if you’re seeing high CTRs but a rising CPC, it may be worth reevaluating your bidding strategy or creative elements to drive more cost-effective results.
3. Engagement Rate and Engagement on Reach
Engagement rate is a fundamental metric for assessing the quality of your Instagram content. It’s calculated by dividing the total number of likes, comments, and saves by the number of followers. A strong engagement rate indicates that your content resonates with your audience, but it doesn’t tell the whole story.
For a more nuanced view, consider “engagement on reach,” which divides engagements by the total number of people who saw the post, regardless of whether they follow you. This metric is valuable because it shows how your content performs beyond your immediate follower base, giving a clearer picture of its true reach and popularity.
4. Conversion Rate
If your goal is to drive conversions—whether that’s a purchase, a lead, or another desired action—conversion rate is a key metric. Conversion rate measures the percentage of users who take the desired action after interacting with your ad. This KPI is essential for assessing how well your ads are turning traffic into tangible outcomes.
To track conversions effectively, using tools like Facebook’s Pixel (which also applies to Instagram ads) or Google Analytics is crucial. These tools allow you to monitor user actions on your website or app, linking them back to your Instagram ads. A low conversion rate may suggest a mismatch between ad messaging and landing page content, requiring optimization.
5. Cost Per Acquisition (CPA)
CPA goes beyond CPC by focusing on the cost of acquiring a new customer or lead through your ads. It’s calculated by dividing the total ad spend by the number of conversions. CPA is particularly important for eCommerce and lead-generation campaigns where the ultimate goal is to maximize return on investment.
A high CPA may indicate inefficiencies in your sales funnel, possibly due to ineffective landing pages or misaligned targeting. By regularly monitoring CPA, you can adjust your campaigns to improve the cost-efficiency of customer acquisition.
6. Traffic to Your Website
Driving traffic to your website is often a primary goal of Instagram ads. But merely tracking clicks isn’t enough; you need to understand how that traffic behaves once it lands on your site. Using Google Analytics, you can track sessions, bounce rates, and time on site for users who arrive via Instagram. By implementing UTM (Urchin Tracking Module) parameters in your URLs, you can even track specific campaigns or ads and see which ones drive the most valuable traffic.
7. Impressions and Reach
Impressions and reach are metrics that help you understand the visibility of your ads. Impressions refer to the total number of times your ad was displayed, while reach refers to the unique number of users who saw your ad. These metrics are essential for understanding the scale of your campaign’s exposure.
However, while impressions and reach are useful, they don’t necessarily indicate campaign success. You can have high impressions and reach but still fail to drive engagement or conversions. Therefore, these metrics should be used in conjunction with other KPIs to paint a complete picture of your campaign’s performance.
8. Sales Generated
Ultimately, the most critical metric for any business is revenue. Sales generated from Instagram ads should be tracked to assess the real impact of your campaigns on the bottom line. This KPI goes beyond metrics like engagement or CPC to show the direct financial benefit of your advertising efforts.
Tracking sales generated requires setting up proper attribution models, such as using Instagram’s native tracking tools in combination with third-party analytics platforms. The data you gather will help you optimize your campaigns for profitability.
How do Instagram ads work?
Instagram ads are paid content that appears in Instagram stories and news feeds. Instagram ads are aimed at users that are likely interested in your product or services.
People see Instagram ads that are based on their demographics and interests. Such advertisements are designed to effortlessly blend into the point that users don’t even recognize them as advertisements
There are two indicators that posts are paid advertisements. The first indicator is the world “sponsored” that is under the company’s name.
The second indicator is the call-to-action (CTA) seen at the bottom of the post. Typically, these have phrases like “shop now,” “learn more,” or “book now,” depending on the goal of the campaign.
How can you lower your Instagram ads cost?
When it comes to social media advertising, you want to do whatever you can to reduce advertising costs. Below are a couple of best practices that can help you reduce the expense of your Instagram ads and maximize your return:
- Use automatic bidding
- Use precise targeting
- Set goals
- Make relevant landing pages
- Test your ads
1. Use Automatic Bidding
If you haven’t used Instagram ads before, using automatic bidding for your campaign is beneficial. For you, it’s a simple way to get a bid that’s right for your campaign.
Automatic bidding is the best way to go if you don’t have any historical data informing you of a good CPC to set for your campaign. This will help you determine the bid amount that matches your campaign.
By using automatic bidding, you are preventing your company from overbidding to run an ad. The shortage of previous data can make it tough for you to know the right bid amount. You might bid more than you need to.
Automatic bidding is a smart way to minimize Instagram ads expense.
2. Use Precise Targeting
When setting up your Instagram ads the goal is to target people who would be interested in your products or services. Use precise targeting to reach your desired audience
Instagram lets you target people by:
- Location: You can target people based on their geographic location. It can be as broad as a country or as specific as postal code.
- Demographics: The most common way to target leads is through demographic information. This information includes gender, age, and race.
- Interests: As people communicate on social media, you see where their interests lie. Whether it’s design or tech, you can target people directly based on what they like.
- Habits: When someone takes particular steps to browse your website, based on those behaviors, you can target them.
By using precise targeting, you will reach more people who are interested in your products and services. This means that your ad copy will become even more relevant to them, helping you get a higher ad rank and a lower CPC. This would also result in a rise in sales which will help cover the costs of running the campaign and supporting business plan.
3. Set Goals
Setting goals will help maintain focus on what you want to accomplish with your advertisement.
There are three main goals you should focus on attaining with your Instagram Ads:
- Awareness: You should concentrate on growing awareness about your company, brand, product, app, or service through an awareness campaign. You want to call attention to it, and help people be familiar with it. For this goal, you will focus on running a CPM campaign.
- Consideration: If your goal is consideration, then you will focus more on educating your audience. You’ll want to give more persuasive information to your audience, which will get them to convert. To this end, you will focus on earning clicks, views, and leads.
- Conversion: Many businesses aim to get their customers to buy their goods, install their apps, or use their services. If you focus on conversions for your campaign goal, you want to have a persuasive copy that will get your audience to buy your products or use your services right away.
You will have a much more cohesive campaign, by setting goals. Effective ad copy leads to greater interaction and conversions. Instagram wants to promote ads they think users will engage with and connect with.
4. Make Relevant Landing Pages
Most businesses make the mistake of directing leads to their home webpage after clicking on their Instagram ad. This does not promote engagement, since, people are not led to an ad-relevant landing page. It all comes down to leveraging a strong web design strategy that builds coherence.
When a customer is taken to the product directly, they are more likely to convert. Or even better, to an interactive product catalog where you showcase all your products. This will make your ad campaigns much more optimized.
5. Test Your Ad
You must test your ads to make sure you put out the best version possible. At this stage, many companies look for professional help with marketing assignments because testing your ads lets you make a more relevant copy of the ads. Relevant ad copy means you will have a higher ad spot, leading to a lower CPC.
Which type of ads can I launch on Instagram?
There are 5 type of ads you can launch on Instagram and they are all useful in one way or the other. Some companies say there are actually 7 types of Instagram ads because they include Explore and Reel ads but those are not options you can select yourself.
- Image ads
- Video ads
- Carousel ads
- Collection ads
- Shopping ads
1. Image ad
Instagram image ads are the most effective ads you can use. They are simple to create and can drive tremendous traction for your brand. Instagram image ads are the most effective ads you can use. They are simple to create using an AI ads generator and can drive tremendous traction for your brand. The important thing here is to keep it simple while being creative. How do you do that? Only focus on one message at a time for your Instagram ad.
2. Video ad
While Instagram video ads vary more in quality than images, they can still deliver fantastic results. The only downside? You will probably need to spend more time in the ideation and execution phase of your video ad.
3. Carousel ad
These ads are great ways to communicate a story to your potential clients. In other words, they offer a more creative medium to showcase your brand in a different way than just still images can. eCommerce or SaaS brands can truly benefit from this type of advertising.
4. Collection ad
Collection Instagram ads are great for eCommerce stores with multiple collections. They allow for a more immersive experience which can greatly boost your brand’s image. They aren’t the most cost efficient in terms of clicks but can be great allies for brand awareness campaigns.
5. Story ad
How can I launch Instagram ads?
There are three ways to start running ads:
1. Instagram App
You can share posts that you’ve already generated on Instagram by accessing ads in the Instagram app. You go into the app and choose the post that you want to promote. Once the post is selected, it can be launched as an ad.
You can start monitoring how many people see your post and engage with it once you have launched your promoted post. Zintego recommends to take the appropriate time to analyze your metrics, it will give you a deeper understanding of your audience.
2. Ad Manager
Instagram Ads uses the same Ad Manager tool as Facebook. It’s simple and secure if you’d like to run ads through this program.
By using Ads Manager, you can organize your campaign, make adjustments to your campaign, and measure the progress. It’s a good way to run an advertising campaign for Instagram.
3. Instagram Partners
If you do not have a lot of time or need extra support, you have the choice of using Instagram partners. You’re working with proven experts with Instagram partners, who are vetted by Instagram. They’ll help you purchase ads and deliver valuable creative results. For companies that don’t have the experience, it is a perfect alternative.
Check out our list of Killer Instagram Ad Examples for some inspiration and more tips for your future ad campaigns. We’ve spilled tons of secrets that are sure to help you up your Instagram ads game that you could use for a Canvas Prints campaign for instance.
If you’re ready to begin earning more valuable leads with your Instagram ad campaign and maximize your Instagram advertising costs, don’t hesitate to reach out to our Instagram ad agency.
Are Instagram ads still worth it in 2024?
Instagram ads are definitely worth it if you’re a brand selling physical products that are visually appealing. In the context, most people go to Instagram to buy fashion items. It has become a marketplace for inspiration.
It’s why we don’t recommend Instagram ads for every brand but as a rule of thumb, if you are selling to consumers then you should advertise on Instagram. From Internet service providers to camping equipment, Instagram is the ads platform to be if you want to gain more visibility and sales.
Is paying for ads on Instagram worth it? Yes, we truly believe so. After having helped hundreds of brands grow with Instagram ads, we’ve seen its potential. It’s a very competitive market. You might do it yourself and be highly unprofitable.
Don’t hesitate to reach out if you need consulting advice or someone to take care of your Instagram ads campaign. It’s what we love the most!
Instagram ads cost FAQ
1. What are Instagram ads?
Instagram ads are paid promotional posts that appear in users’ feeds, Stories, or Explore tab on the Instagram platform. These ads can be in various formats, including photo, video, carousel, and Story ads, designed to help businesses reach their target audience and achieve specific marketing goals.
2. How much do Instagram ads cost?
The cost of Instagram ads varies widely depending on factors like your target audience, ad placement, and competition. On average, you might pay anywhere from $0.70 to $1.00 per click or $6.70 to $7.50 per thousand impressions, but actual costs can be higher or lower based on your specific campaign.
3. How does Instagram advertising pricing work?
Instagram ads use an auction-based pricing model where you bid for ad placement. You can choose between Cost Per Click (CPC), Cost Per Impression (CPM), or Cost Per Action (CPA). The amount you pay depends on the bid you set and the competition for your target audience.
4. What is the minimum budget for Instagram ads?
The minimum budget for Instagram ads can vary based on your campaign type and objectives. Generally, you can start with a minimum daily budget of $1 to $5. For more effective campaigns, higher budgets may be required, especially for competitive industries.
5. How can I set a budget for my Instagram ad campaign?
You can set your budget at the campaign level in Instagram Ads Manager. Choose between a daily budget (amount spent per day) or a lifetime budget (total amount spent over the campaign’s duration). Adjust your budget based on your goals and the performance of your ads.
6. What factors affect the cost of Instagram ads?
Several factors influence the cost of Instagram ads, including:
- Targeting options: More specific targeting may increase costs.
- Ad placement: Costs can vary by where your ad appears.
- Ad quality and relevance: Higher engagement can lower costs.
- Competition: High competition for your target audience can drive up costs.
7. Can I control the cost of my Instagram ads?
Yes, you can control your ad costs by setting budgets, choosing bidding strategies, and using cost controls in Ads Manager. Monitoring performance and adjusting settings as needed will help manage costs effectively.
8. How can I optimize my Instagram ad spend?
To optimize your ad spend:
- Define clear objectives: Align your ad goals with your budget.
- Target accurately: Use precise audience targeting to reduce wasted spend.
- Test and adjust: Continuously test different ad creatives and strategies.
- Monitor performance: Use metrics to track ROI and make data-driven adjustments.
9. What are the different types of Instagram ads?
Instagram offers several ad formats:
- Photo Ads: Single image ads in the feed.
- Video Ads: Videos up to 60 seconds in the feed.
- Carousel Ads: Multiple images or videos users can swipe through.
- Story Ads: Full-screen ads that appear between users’ Stories.
- Explore Ads: Ads displayed in the Explore tab.
10. How can I track the performance and cost of my Instagram ads?
You can track performance and cost using Instagram Ads Manager. Key metrics include:
- Cost Per Click (CPC): Cost of each click on your ad.
- Cost Per Impression (CPM): Cost of 1,000 impressions.
- Cost Per Action (CPA): Cost associated with a specific action (e.g., conversion).
- Click-Through Rate (CTR): Percentage of users who click on your ad.
11. Are there any additional fees for Instagram ads?
Instagram itself does not charge additional fees beyond your ad spend. However, if you use third-party tools or agencies for campaign management, there may be additional costs associated with their services.
12. What targeting options are available, and how do they impact cost?
Instagram offers various targeting options, including:
- Demographic targeting: Age, gender, location, etc.
- Interest targeting: Based on user interests and behaviors.
- Behavioral targeting: Based on user activity and engagement.
- Custom Audiences: Targeting your existing customers. Specific and detailed targeting can impact costs due to higher competition for niche audiences.
13. How do Instagram ads compare to Facebook ads in terms of cost?
Generally, Instagram ads may have slightly higher costs than Facebook ads due to Instagram’s younger, more engaged audience. However, costs can vary based on your specific campaign goals and target audience. Both platforms share the same Ads Manager, so you can manage and compare costs effectively.
14. Can I adjust my ad budget during a campaign?
Yes, you can adjust your ad budget at any time during a campaign. You can increase or decrease your daily or lifetime budget based on the campaign’s performance and your objectives.
15. How can I create effective Instagram ads to get the most value for my money?
To create effective Instagram ads:
- Use high-quality visuals: Eye-catching images or videos engage users.
- Craft compelling copy: Write clear, persuasive ad copy with a strong call-to-action.
- Leverage targeting: Reach the right audience with precise targeting.
- Monitor and optimize: Regularly review performance data and adjust strategies for better results.