Instagram Sponsored Posts: What Is It? How to Create One?

Instagram has become one of the most powerful platforms for brands and businesses to reach new audiences, and one of the most effective ways to do so is through Instagram sponsored posts. If you’re wondering what exactly a sponsored post is, how to sponsor a post on Instagram, and how it can benefit your business, you’ve come to the right place. This guide will walk you through the basics of sponsored posts on Instagram and how to get started with creating one for your brand.

What Is an Instagram Sponsored Post?

A sponsored post on Instagram is a paid advertisement that appears in users’ feeds or Stories, marked with a “Sponsored” label. These posts can either be a photo, video, carousel, or even a story and are shown to a targeted audience based on specific criteria such as location, interests, behaviors, and demographics.

Sponsored Instagram posts are an excellent way to reach users beyond your followers and increase engagement with your content. These posts are typically used by businesses and brands to promote products, services, or special offers. Unlike regular organic posts, post-sponsored ads on Instagram allow you to expand your reach to a broader, more targeted audience. When users engage with these posts, you can measure their performance through likes, comments, shares, saves, and even clicks leading to your website.

How to Create a Sponsored Post on Instagram?

If you’re wondering how to sponsor a post on Instagram, it’s actually a straightforward process that can be done directly through the Instagram app or through Facebook Ads Manager. Here’s how to create a sponsored post:

1. Choose the Post You Want to Promote:
   • You can either create a new post or select an existing post from your Instagram account that you want to promote. Make sure the post aligns with your marketing objectives.

2. Tap the ‘Promote’ Button:
   • After selecting the post, tap the “Promote” button. If you don’t see this option, it may be because your Instagram account is not connected to a Facebook page, or your account may not be set up as a business profile.

3. Set Your Target Audience:
   • Instagram allows you to either create your own custom audience or use automatic targeting, which will reach people similar to your existing followers. You can target based on age, gender, location, interests, and behaviors.

4. Select Your Budget and Duration:
   • Choose how much you want to spend and how long you want your sponsored post to run. Instagram will provide an estimated reach based on your budget and duration.

5. Add Payment Information:
   • Add your payment details if you haven’t already done so, and confirm your payment method.

6. Launch Your Sponsored Post:
   • Once everything is set, click “Create Promotion.” Your post will now be shown to your targeted audience as a sponsored Instagram post.

By following these steps, you’ll be able to sponsor a post on Instagram and start promoting your content to a larger audience.

How to Delete or Pause an Instagram Sponsored Post?

If you need to pause or delete a sponsored Instagram post before the end of its scheduled run, you can easily do so through Instagram or Facebook Ads Manager. To pause a sponsored post, go to your Instagram profile, tap on the “Promotions” section, find the promotion you want to pause, and select it. Then, tap “Pause” to stop the ad from running immediately. If you want to delete the sponsored post entirely, go to Facebook Ads Manager, find the campaign, and select “Delete.” Alternatively, you can delete the post directly from Instagram if it’s no longer relevant. Keep in mind that once a sponsored post is paused or deleted, you won’t be able to recover any spend or engagement associated with that post.

What Are the Benefits of Using Instagram Sponsored Posts?

Using sponsored posts on Instagram offers a wide range of benefits for businesses and marketers:

1. Increased Reach and Visibility:
   • Sponsored posts allow you to reach a larger audience beyond your followers, which can help you grow your brand awareness and visibility.

2. Highly Targeted Advertising:
   • Instagram provides powerful targeting tools that allow you to reach the most relevant audience based on demographics, interests, behaviors, and location.

3. Engagement Opportunities:
   • Sponsored Instagram posts often receive more engagement than organic posts because they reach a wider audience and are shown to people who are more likely to be interested in your brand.

4. Drive Traffic and Sales:
   • By promoting your posts with a call-to-action (CTA), you can drive traffic to your website, landing pages, or product pages, ultimately boosting sales.

5. Analytics and Tracking:
   • Instagram’s ad tools allow you to track the performance of your sponsored posts, including clicks, impressions, reach, and engagement. This data helps you refine your future campaigns.

Can I Target Specific Audiences with Instagram Sponsored Posts?

Yes, one of the major advantages of sponsored posts on Instagram is the ability to target specific audiences. Instagram allows you to define your audience based on factors such as:

• Demographics: Age, gender, language, and location

• Interests: Hobbies, activities, and pages people follow

• Behaviors: Purchasing behavior, device usage, and travel habits

• Custom Audiences: You can upload your own customer lists or retarget people who have interacted with your Instagram account or website

This means you can make your post-sponsored ad on Instagram highly relevant to the people most likely to engage with your business.

How Can I Measure the Success of My Instagram Sponsored Post?

To measure the success of your sponsored Instagram posts, you can use Instagram’s analytics tools. Key metrics to track include:

• Impressions: The number of times your post was shown to users

• Reach: The number of unique users who saw your post

• Engagement: The total number of likes, comments, shares, and saves

• Click-Through Rate (CTR): The percentage of users who clicked on the link in your post

• Conversions: How many users completed a desired action, such as making a purchase or signing up for a newsletter

By analyzing these metrics, you can assess whether your sponsored posts are achieving your marketing goals and refine your strategies accordingly.

Are There Any Restrictions on Instagram Sponsored Posts?

Yes, Instagram has specific rules and restrictions for sponsored posts to ensure they are appropriate for all users. Some key restrictions include:

1. Content Guidelines:
   • Ads must follow Instagram’s community guidelines, which prohibit content that is discriminatory, offensive, or misleading.

2. Prohibited Products:
   • Certain products, such as illegal goods, tobacco, and weapons, cannot be advertised through Instagram sponsored posts.

3. Accuracy and Transparency:
   • Sponsored posts must be clearly labeled as “sponsored” or “paid partnership” to maintain transparency with users.

4. Copyrighted Content:
   • Make sure the images, videos, and music you use in your sponsored Instagram posts are either owned by you or licensed for commercial use.

By following these guidelines, you can ensure that your Instagram sponsored posts are compliant with the platform’s policies.

Conclusion

Creating and managing sponsored Instagram posts can be an effective way to promote your business and increase visibility. By understanding what sponsored posts are, how to create and target them, and how to measure their success, you can leverage Instagram’s advertising tools to reach the right audience and achieve your marketing goals. So, if you’re asking how do I do a sponsored ad on Instagram, now you have the knowledge to get started and run successful ad campaigns!