Instagram Ads: The Best Formats to Use for Brand Growth
Introduction
Instagram is more than just a photo-sharing platform—it’s now a high-performance marketing engine with over 2 billion active users and multiple ad formats to reach your audience effectively. If you’re looking to grow your brand in 2025, knowing which Instagram ad formats deliver the best results is essential.
At Digiplus Technologies, we help brands run smart, ROI-driven ad campaigns using the right mix of Instagram formats. Here’s a guide to the top performers for 2025.
1. Instagram Stories Ads
Best for: Brand awareness, product highlights, and flash promotions.
Why it works: Stories feel organic and disappear in 24 hours, creating urgency.
Pro tip: Use motion graphics or boomerangs for higher engagement. Add poll stickers to boost interaction.
🔹 80% of Instagram users swipe through Stories daily.
2. Instagram Reels Ads
Best for: Viral content, product demos, and Gen Z engagement.
Why it works: Short-form video is dominating the feed in 2025.
Pro tip: Keep it fun, fast, and music-driven. Use trends and challenges to gain traction.
🔹 Reels ads currently boast 20–30% higher engagement than static formats.
3. Carousel Ads
Best for: Telling a story, explaining features, or showing product variations.
Why it works: Users swipe to explore, leading to deeper interaction.
Pro tip: Start with a strong first image to hook the viewer. End with a clear CTA.
🔹 Carousels can increase time spent on ads by up to 40%.
4. Instagram Explore Ads
Best for: Reaching users actively discovering new content.
Why it works: It places your ad in a non-intrusive way among fresh content.
Pro tip: Keep it visually aligned with trending styles in your niche.
🔹 Explore Ads tap into new audiences not yet following your brand.
5. Instagram Feed Ads
Best for: Driving clicks, website visits, and conversions.
Why it works: Native format blends into the user feed, making it less disruptive.
Pro tip: Use clear, high-resolution visuals with limited text and a bold CTA.
Bonus: Collection Ads for eCommerce
Best for: Online stores wanting to showcase multiple products in one ad.
Why it works: It lets users browse and shop without leaving Instagram.
Pro tip: Sync your catalog and use dynamic product sets for personalization.
How to Choose the Right Format for Your Brand
| Goal | Best Ad Format |
|---|---|
| Brand Awareness | Stories, Reels |
| Engagement | Reels, Carousels |
| Conversions | Feed Ads, Collection Ads |
| Product Discovery | Explore Ads, Reels |
| Retargeting | Carousel Ads, Feed Ads |
Conclusion
Using the right Instagram ad formats in 2025 can make all the difference in brand growth, engagement, and sales. The key is to align your goals with the format that performs best for that objective—and test continuously.
At Digiplus Technologies, we design high-impact Instagram ad campaigns that convert. Whether you’re a startup or a scaling brand, we help you unlock Instagram’s full potential.