Organic or Sponsored: Which Instagram Ad Format is Right For You?

With the various changes that social media platforms have implemented in the past few years, it is important to be savvy with these algorithm changes. Organic vs sponsored ads is something everyone needs to consider while starting out their online presence.

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Currently, Instagram has over 500 million users, and to counter the growth of Tik-Tok they have added the new feature of “Reels”. These are short 30s clips that have the maximum reach at this moment. Many influencers have already made use of this new feature to gain an audience.

Whether you are using sponsored ads or organic, it is important to know how to go about in both cases. This means that you should weigh in the pros and cons of both and have a clear understanding of what one does. Here are a few things that you should know:

Organic Content

This is the freeway of growing on Instagram. Money might not be involved in such growth, but you will need to put a lot of time and effort. Starting from scratch is tough and will take some time to take-off. Keep a good eye on the Instagram likes and Instagram comments; they can easily expand your reach.
Here are few places that you should aspire to reach or post.

Instagram Feed

If someone follows you or follows a hashtag that you use, they can see your post on their feed. This is one of the best ways to reach out to people and let them see your content. Being regular will help a lot. This a great way to get free Instagram likes.

Instagram Stories

Nowadays even stories are featured on the explore page. This means if you are regular and enticing with your stories people can easily discover you. Stories are 15s videos or pics that are deleted after 24 hours.

IGTV

The long format version of videos on Instagram has been quite a hit with many people. This is because many young people have switched from Facebook to Instagram. Facebook has no limits on long format videos and Instagram was sorely lacking this.

Instagram Live

This is essentially a live feed that is unadulterated and unedited. Live from the place and raw. It is a great way to build credibility. People with live feeds are also interesting as then you can answer questions directly by the people.

Sponsored ads

Ads bring in exposure almost instantly and can be used as a great springboard to a large following. Although they might seem simple ads can be very tricky to handle, and multiple campaigns can go awry anytime. It is best that you research your audience first and then implement the ad strategy. Instagram ads can help you build and the best Instagram advertisement are the ones that work for you.

Here are a few types of ads

Photo ads

The most popular ad on Insta. It has a photo and a caption. You can add call-to-action options that can direct your audiences. This is a great medium for converting redirected traffic into conversions.

Video Ads

Video has the tendency to getting the best response. In the age of TV, audiovisual medium is the most effective way of reaching people. A short 15s ad on Instagram can do wonders for your brand or page. The key is to keep the ad short and to the point.

Carousel Ads

These ads are a great way to show a variety of products or services at once. Multiple photos give the user a better perspective of the brand.

Slideshow Ads

These ads combine multiple photos or videos to tell a story. These involve a certain level of skill level as multiple things can go wrong. You need to plan them carefully and have a sense of the story going on in the ad too.

Whatever way you choose to make your online presence grow on Instagram, make sure you research and choose the one that suits you. Your budget will also dictate a lot of choices. A mix of both organic and sponsored ads can work wonders or you can just stick to one.

Organic or Sponsored: Which Instagram Ad Format is Right For You? by TurboMedia Team, 15 February 2021