Although you cannot directly set a campaign objective in meta business manager to optimise for Instagram followers, there is a way to drive traffic through to your Instagram account and really utilise the ad content to encourage more of your target audience to follow.
How can you use Meta ads to get more Instagram followers?
Meta Ads Manager does not let you optimise directly for Instagram followers, but you can run a Traffic campaign that sends people to your Instagram profile. Set the destination as your Instagram profile URL, use Instagram-only placements, and create ad content that gives your target audience a clear reason to follow, such as offers, updates, launches, tips, or exclusive content. Avoid buying followers, as they are unlikely to become customers and can damage your credibility.
It can be tempting while your account is still small to buy Instagram followers, but we really would not recommend this. Firstly, you’re purchasing an audience that will never buy your product or service. Ask yourself, what is the point of this? Not to mention you’re also breaking community guidelines and could lose your account and it’s really easy to check online if a brand has brought followers, which can make your business seem illegitimate.Â
Follow these simple steps to learn how you can use Facebook Ads to get Instagram followers:Â
- Go to https://business.facebook.com/adsmanager/
- If you don’t have an Ads Manager account setup already, it should prompt you to do so from here. Just follow the simple steps and get your payment details added.Â
- Click on the green ‘Create’ button on the top leftÂ
- Choose ‘Traffic’ as your campaign objective
- Name the campaign and click next to create the ad set
- Name the ad set, then under ‘Conversion Location’ set ‘Website’ as the destination
- Set your audience. (PRO Tip: You can set up lookalike audiences from people that already engage with your Instagram account, Facebook page or visited the website. These are new audiences of people that are similar to those who have already engaged with your brand). You can choose to select your target audience based on locations, interests and other factors should you wish.Â
- Remove all placements that aren’t InstagramÂ
- Go to next and create the ad (make sure your Instagram account is selected).Â
- When creating the campaign, make sure you’re utilising the content to really drive new followers, and think about why someone might want to follow. What will you be showing them? What deals/offers can they gain from it? What are you about to announce? Try using an engaging short video that includes the call to action to click the link and follow within the content.Â
- Set the website URL as your Instagram profile URLÂ
- Launch your campaign!
Sadly, you won’t be able to track exactly how many new followers you’ve gained from the campaign, but if this is your objective then could be worth a try!Â
At least this way you’re bringing through your target audience and encouraging them to follow the account, rather than purchasing followers that will never result in new business.Â
Founder of Every Trick Marketing, Georgina says: “Getting Instagram followers by creating great, useful organic content should always be your first port of call. This provides longevity and requires you to build an organic social presence that’s sustainable. That being said, this hack can really help, providing you get the message and audience exactly right. They’ll need a reason to follow, this could be a competition campaign, an incentive, or promising to help solve their problem.”
For more advice on Facebook Ads, book a free strategy session for your business today!Â
