There is no separate Instagram Ads Manager: Meta Ads Manager is the one tool that runs ads on Instagram, Facebook and Meta's other placements. You choose Instagram as a placement, connect your Instagram account to your ad account, and the ads then appear in Instagram's feed, Stories, Reels and other places.
TL;DR
- One tool, Meta Ads Manager, runs Instagram and Facebook ads.
- Instagram is a placement you switch on, not a separate product.
- Your Instagram account must be connected to your business and your ad account.
- The Boost button is a shortcut for promoting a single post.
- Creative needs the right shapes for Reels, Stories and the feed.
- Results for Instagram show up in the same tables, split by placement.
How do the two routes compare?
| Question | Meta Ads Manager | Boost from Instagram |
|---|---|---|
| Where you start | Ads Manager, Create | A post on your Instagram account |
| Control over objective | Full choice | A short list of goals |
| Placements | You pick, or let Meta choose | Mostly Instagram |
| Audience options | Full | Simpler |
| Reporting | Full tables and breakdowns | Basic results on the post |
| Best for | Ongoing campaigns and testing | A quick push on one post |
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Try for Free ($0 Trial)How do you run Instagram ads in Ads Manager?
- Connect your Instagram account. Add it to your Meta business account and link it to the Page and ad account you use. Check that it shows in the ad's identity choices.
- Create a campaign. Pick the objective that matches your goal.
- Choose placements. Leave Meta's recommended placements on, or select Instagram's feed, Stories and Reels yourself. Check the preview for each shape.
- Prepare the creative. Meta lists best practices for aspect ratios, and the right shape for Reels differs from the feed. Keep text short and clear of the screen's edges, and see Meta's creative best practices for text in ads.
- Publish. Wait for review, then read the results with the placement breakdown on.
Which route should you use?
Use Ads Manager for anything you will run more than once, test or measure. Use Boost when you have one post that is already doing well and you want more people to see it this week. A post that gets strong organic reactions is a good Boost candidate. A new product launch is not.
An example for a local bakery
A bakery has a Reel of a cake being decorated that got many saves. The owner boosts it for a weekend to reach nearby people, which takes minutes. Two weeks later she wants to promote a pre-order for holiday boxes to past customers. That needs an audience of customers, a conversion goal and a budget by day, so she builds it in Ads Manager and picks Instagram placements.
What goes wrong with Instagram ads?
- The Instagram account is not connected, so it does not appear as the ad's identity.
- Creative made for the feed is cropped badly in Stories and Reels.
- Results are read for one placement alone, when the ad set was set up to optimize across all of them.
- Boosted posts are used for goals they cannot track, such as purchases tied to a specific product.
If Instagram results look weak, check the placement breakdown before you turn it off, because one placement may be dragging a good result down.
What to do next
Set up the connection first, then start with Meta's recommended placements and look at the breakdown after a few days. Remove a placement only when it clearly costs more per result for your goal.
Where Madgicx fits
Madgicx connects to your Meta ad account, so it covers your Instagram placements as well. Ads Manager 2.0 lets you manage every campaign, ad set and ad with smart filters and bulk actions, and Ad Launcher combines your best creatives and copy into new ads. You choose which ads go live.
FAQ
Is there a separate Instagram Ads Manager?
No, there is one Meta Ads Manager for Instagram and Facebook. Instagram is a placement inside it.
Do I need a Facebook Page to run Instagram ads?
Usually you connect your Instagram account to a Page and a business account, because Meta's ad tools work through those connections. Check the current requirements when you set up.
Can I run only Instagram ads and not Facebook?
Yes, you can select only Instagram placements. Meta's recommended placements often do better, so test before you restrict.
Is Boost the same as an ad?
Boost creates an ad from a post with simpler settings. It runs in the same ad system, but gives you less control.
Where do I see Instagram results?
In Ads Manager, split your results by placement. The breakdown shows Instagram feed, Stories and Reels separately.
Related
- Answers: What is Ads Manager and how do you use it?
- Answers: Meta Business Suite compared with Ads Manager
- Compare: Madgicx and Meta Ads Manager
Go deeper
Our guide to AI for Meta ads covers how automation applies across Facebook and Instagram placements.
Sources
- Best practices for aspect ratios, Meta Business Help Center
- Creative best practices for text in ads, Meta Business Help Center
