Everything You Need to Know About Creating Instagram Story Ads That Convert

Spin Creative • April 17, 2022

Looking to make more sales with your Instagram Story ads? These ads take up the entire phone screen, which means you have your audience’s full attention—but likely only for a matter of seconds. Get help from one of the best seattle ad agencies  to get leads generating insta ads.


Women dancing in front of mobile phone for instagram social video

Full-screen story ads attract attention, and they seriously improve your sales when they’re done right. Here’s how you can make the most of your next Instagram Story ad and inspire your viewers to convert.


Be brief

Don’t try to make your Instagram ad as sophisticated as possible— a complicated video only serves to lose the viewer’s interest. Use Instagram’s short-form video format to your advantage After all, Instagram itself claims that the most engaging, successful videos are only 6 seconds long. 

Remember that people don’t linger on Instagram to look at ads—they’re looking at the content of people they follow. Keep your videos short to hold their interest and communicate your message quickly to attract attention and increase the chance that they’ll take the action you want them to.


Add subtitles

Even if your Instagram ads are just a few seconds long, they need to have subtitles. A whopping 83% of people watch Instagram videos on mute. For those using a mobile device, that number jumps to 92%. 

Adding subtitles to your ads ensures your viewers don’t miss out on vital information. It also makes them more accessible to a wider audience, particularly for those who are deaf or hard of hearing.


Try retargeting

Looking to generate more sales? You need to be very specific about who you’re targeting with your ads. If you’re reaching a cold audience, longer videos explaining who you are as a brand is best. But if you’re targeting people who’ve already interacted with your profile or who’ve abandoned their cart in your online store, shorter videos that quickly get to the point work best. 

For example, retarget those who’ve abandoned their cart with a simple video message prompting them to finish the transaction. Maybe even provide a coupon code to sweeten the deal and make the sale. Retargeting ads have 10 times higher CTR than display ads, so it’s a safe bet that you’ll see a boost in traffic that converts to sales. 


Include a single CTA

You know what you want your viewers to do once they’ve seen your ad, but do they? It’s always smart to add a voiceover or have a graphic element at the end of the ad that encourages your audience to take action. 


Create one goal per ad video. If you want them to buy, the CTA should focus on getting viewers to visit your website and make the purchase. Stick to a single goal and you’ll be more likely to achieve it, rather than confuse or overwhelm your viewers.

Instagram Story ads are a great opportunity for all types of brands and businesses. When done right, you can get a great return on your overall ad spend. Want to learn more about creating high-quality, attention-grabbing Instagram videos that convert? Say hello to Spin Creative and discover the strategies that work best for your brand. 



About Us

Spin Creative is a video production company and creative agency helping marketers create winning video and creative strategies that engage, inspire and activate targeted audiences. Spin is headquartered in Seattle with offices in San Francisco and London, serving brands around the globe.

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