A Better Way to Boost Instagram Reels (Without Wasting Money)

Introduction

Before you hit the boost button on your Instagram Reels, it's essential to understand that while this option seems easy and convenient, it often doesn't yield the best results. In fact, there's a more effective way to promote your Instagram Reels that can lead to better outcomes for your advertising budget. Let’s dive into why the boost button may fall short and explore a superior alternative using Facebook's Ad Manager.

Why the Boost Button Isn't the Best Option

Limited Campaign Objective Selection

One major drawback of the boost button is the limited selection of campaign objectives. When advertising, it's crucial to specify your desired outcome. By using the boost button, you can only choose from three objectives: more profile visits, more website visits, or more messages.

However, if your actual goal is to gain leads, email subscribers, or to increase sales, these options are inadequate. Consequently, your advertising spend may result in few meaningful conversions, leading to poor returns on investment.

Restricted Targeting Options

Another significant limitation of the boost button is the restricted targeting capabilities. When using this option, you have only two targeting choices: automatic targeting—which targets anyone similar to your existing followers—or selecting interests manually.

This approach severely limits your ability to reach custom audiences, such as website visitors or users who have interacted with you on Meta’s platforms, including Facebook and WhatsApp. Furthermore, you miss out on targeting lookalike audiences, where you could upload a list of current customers to find more potential buyers.

Lack of Detailed Interest Insights

Using the boost button also means you won’t have access to detailed insights about your target interests. Unlike Facebook Ad Manager, which enables you to view the audience size and type of targeting—interests, job titles, or behaviors—boosting options do not provide this clarity. Without this information, you cannot effectively refine your targeting strategy.

A Better Alternative: Using Facebook Ad Manager

Instead of relying on the boost button, utilizing the Facebook Ad Manager allows for a thorough setup that optimizes your advertising efforts. Here's how you can boost your Instagram Reels effectively:

1. Access Facebook Ad Manager: Log into your Facebook account and select Ads Manager from the left menu. You may need to set up your ad account if you haven't done so previously.

2. Select Your Campaign Objective: Choose a campaign objective that aligns with your goals. You’ll find various options like leads, sales, and traffic—each tailored for different outcomes.

3. Naming Your Campaign and Ad Set: Assign names to your campaign and ad set for easy identification as you set up your ad.

4. Define Your Audience: Leverage the target options effectively. You have the ability to target custom and lookalike audiences, thereby reaching individuals likely to engage with your content.

5. Set Your Budget and Schedule: You can easily allocate a daily budget and set your ad’s start and end dates.

6. Choose Placements: Opt for automatic placements or manually select where your ad will appear across Meta's platforms, ensuring you only run your ad on relevant channels.

7. Create Your Ad: Use an existing post by selecting it from your Instagram feed, including your Reels. Ensure you include a call-to-action button linked to your conversion location (like your website).

8. Publish Your Ad: After finalizing your ad setup, click publish. Once your ad is approved, it will go live, allowing you to track its performance through the Ad Manager.

By using Facebook Ad Manager instead of the boost button, you'll have greater control over your advertising campaigns, leading to more meaningful results and efficient spending.

Conclusion

Understanding the limitations of Instagram's boost button can help you make informed decisions when promoting your content. By switching to Facebook's Ad Manager, you're equipped with the necessary tools and insights to effectively reach and convert your target audience.

Keyword

• Instagram Reels
• Boost button
• Campaign objectives
• Facebook Ad Manager
• Targeting options
• Custom audiences
• Lookalike audiences
• Conversions
• Advertising budget

FAQ

Q: Why is the boost button not recommended for promoting Instagram Reels?
A: The boost button offers limited campaign objectives and targeting options, which restricts your ability to generate meaningful results, particularly if your goals are beyond profile visits or website traffic.

Q: What are the advantages of using Facebook Ad Manager?
A: Facebook Ad Manager provides comprehensive targeting options, detailed audience insights, a broader selection of campaign objectives, and enhanced tracking and performance analytics.

Q: Can I target custom audiences using the boost button?
A: No, the boost button does not allow you to target custom audiences or lookalike audiences, which can significantly limit the reach of your ads.

Q: How do I get started with Facebook Ad Manager for my Instagram Reels?
A: Start by accessing Ads Manager on your Facebook account, select your campaign objective, define your audience, set your budget, and use existing posts for your ads before publishing it.