Best Instagram Ads Examples You’ve Got to See

Instagram has evolved into one of the most powerful platforms for brands to connect with their target audience. With over 2 billion active users, it’s a space where creativity and strategy meet to produce ads that not only capture attention but also drive meaningful engagement. 

Looking for a little inspiration? Let’s explore some of the best Instagram ads, past and present. But first, we should all get on the same page and talk about Instagram ad best practices.

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What Makes a Good Instagram Ad?

At the heart of any effective Instagram ad lies a deep understanding of both the platform and its users. Instagram is a visual-first environment where aesthetics mean everything. This means that top-notch visuals, whether digital or photographed, aren't just a bonus—they’re a necessity. 

But, aside from the visuals, what else should you keep in mind? The 5 components that come together to make the best Instagram ads include:

1. Compelling storytelling
2. Seamless integration into the feed
3. Strong CTA
4. Relevance/targeting
5. Consistency with brand identity

The Best Instagram Ad Examples

1. Wix

This Wix ad has 2 main elements working well for it. First, the colors. A dynamic combination of dark navy blue and a splash of tangerine orange really makes it pop as you scroll through your Instagram feed. Second, it uses some pretty bold yet simple wording that helps it stand out.

2. Elementor 

Another website-building tool, Elementor makes its mark on your feed with more bold and contrasting colors. The combination of royal blue and aqua blue lettering ensures that readers can quickly and easily read and understand what’s happening. What’s more, is that this particular ad adds a bit of mystery to the copy.

 3. FabFitFun

This Instagram ad from FabFitFun doesn’t show off any special design talent, instead opting to show off the product. The reason this works so well is the same reason we all love window shopping - we get to see the product before going into the store. Combined with an attractive offer, we have ourselves a top-notch ad.

4. Hostinger Global

‍The visuals, the colors, the message - it all comes together in this Hostinger Global ad for Instagram. Right out of the gate, the colors rope you in. They’re bold, they’re vibrant, and they’re perfect alongside the astronaut and mission theme.

5. Eubi

This ad shows off exactly what makes great Instagram story ads. The product in question, Eubi Chino shorts, is seen being stretched, pulled, and twisted all out of shape, only to reveal that the clothing is just fine. It’s like a product demo right in your feed.

6. Lebert Fitness

How do you create a minimalist home gym? Lebert Fitness shows you front and center in one of their Instagram image ads. Truthfully, there is nothing super special about this one, which is why it works so incredibly well. It’s simple and to the point. There’s no reading too far into it or misreading the message.

7. Doodly

Another minimalist Instagram ad, Doodly shows off the 2 main points of the ad in a simple and on-brand fashion. Without skipping a beat, readers see what the offer is, and the percentage discount they get. The green chalkboard and white writing help it stand out even further with a nice contrast.

8. Domestika

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This ad by Domestika simply takes the instructor’s name, gives the course a name, and gives it a CTA. There’s no hot air and no flashy colors. It’s classic, yet it seems to pull off the modern style with the small visual that they have. Topped off with a splash of color for the character’s shirt, and you’re sure to spot this ad when speed-scrolling.

9. Colgate

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Colgate sparks interest in their product through this ad on Instagram by asking a question and igniting some curiosity. The idea here is to get the reader thinking about how easy getting whiter teeth could actually be. 

Colgate’s classic red also plays a big part in this ad, since it is one of the brightest and most recognizable color combinations on the market. It works well for grabbing your attention in the grocery aisle, and just as well when browsing on social media.

 10. Scarters

In one of Scarters’ Instagram carousel ads, they manage to capture their brand’s vision by displaying just how much space you can clear up by using one of their desk mats. Their brand is all about minimalism, and they do a great job displaying that as well as their product all in the same ad.

11. Walmart

This Instagram ad by Walmart is a shoppable ad, meaning you can click the item and be taken to purchase it online. It was also displayed around Father’s Day, the perfect occasion for grilling and picnics. If you combine all of these elements with some nice visual appeal, then you have a winning Instagram ad in anyone’s book.

12. Delonghi

Here’s another good example of a shopping ad on Instagram. Delonghi, the espresso company, uses its ad space to show off just how good-looking and functional one of its machines is in a kitchen. This ad has all the aesthetics and a nice caption to go along with it.

13. McDonald’s

Who knew that McDonald's sold clothes? Well, if you find yourself scrolling through amazing Instagram ads, you might have seen this already. McDonald’s has cleverly utilized their ads feature as a shoppable, almost Amazon-like display, where viewers can browse, shop, and purchase directly from the ad. It's a seamless experience with prices and product names conveniently displayed under each item, making shopping as simple as a few clicks.

14. Uagoo

Uagoo, the #1 online plant shop in India, uses Instagram ads to display the various, vibrant plants that they have for sale. In this carousel ad, viewers can scroll through several setups, each with a different plant at the focus. It’s a great way to visualize how these plants can transform a space, and a great way to make an Instagram ad.

15. Felix Healthcare

You know what they say: less is more. This is yet another great example of an Instagram ad where the advertiser doesn’t add any fluff. Instead, Felix Healthcare uses the product, the tagline, and the CTA. The use of the beautiful coral color behind the bright white tub helps this ad stand out even more, especially while scrolling.

16. IconScout

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IconScout sells, you guessed it, icons. But that can be a little boring, no? Well, they’ve thought of that and laid out the versatility of their offers by showcasing the same icons in 6 different styles. Everything about this Instagram ad works really well, from the colors to the grid pattern.

 17. Uber

Oftentimes, the best Instagram ads ideas are right in front of you. User generated content is a huge strategy, but it’s not often thought about for Instagram ads. This example from Uber is relatable, simple, and hilarious. It’s the kind of content that people share with each other, extending the potential reach.

 18. Pacas

This ad by Pacas on Instagram is great for converting new customers. The strategy is simple: grab their attention with something unique, like alpaca socks, and hit them with a limited offer. This particular ad really works the whitespace behind the socks well, allowing the product to speak for itself.

19. Nadine West

We do love a good comparison. One of the best tactics in marketing and advertising is comparing your products or services with your competition. This ad campaign from Nadine West does this extremely well, literally comparing them side-by-side. The visuals are striking, but the real key here is that they are positioning themselves as more affordable and just as stylish.

20. Kizik

In this Instagram ad carousel, customers can slide left and right to view multiple products, varying colors, and 20 different styles. What’s great about this Kizik ad is that it says a lot without saying much of anything. The copy is short and sweet, but the shoes do the real work.

21. Kate Farms

‍This is one of the Instagram story ads by Kate Farms that aims to grab attention quickly, simply, and creatively. The copy is clear and hits home for a lot of people looking for healthier options. The headline captions the essence of the brand’s mission and directs users from the top to the bottom of the page pretty effortlessly.

22. Oats Overnight

Mint chocolate might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but it certainly helps this Instagram ad by Oats Overnight stand out. This carousel ad features 20 different flavors for users to scroll through, each with an attention-grabbing color pallet that makes it look even more appetizing. This is an ad that heavily relies on visuals, and it works so well.

23. Tropicfeel

In this Instagram video ad example, you can see that Tropicfeel puts their shoes to work. The headline is “The sneaker you can swim in”, and they’re doing exactly that. This is a great way to show off the utility of the shoe, while also capturing breathtaking scenery for an eye-catching ad.

24. Mountain Equipment Coop (MEC)

Starting off with the hype, “Hiking season isn’t over”, is a great way to get your customers pumped up for what’s to follow. Mountain Equipment Coop does a great job at telling a story in their Instagram ad, almost as if it’s a movie following fashionable hikers. The scenery is great, the copy is spot on, and it should make just about everyone want to go hiking.

25. Coop Sleep Goods

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Typically speaking, a pillow is a pillow, and most people don’t think much of it. This Instagram ad by Coop Sleep Goods aims to change that by implementing a pillow quiz to help the customer find their ideal pillow. Immediately, this sets off alarms in people’s heads, making them wonder if they have the right pillow, and encouraging viewers to take the quiz.

26. DreamCloudSleep

Another sleep-related Instagram ad, I know. But this ad from DreamCloudSleep is one of the best Instagram ad examples of doubling down on social proof. They take bold statements, pair them with the product in action, and call it an ad. 

In the caption, you can see that they really send it home with a 5-star review from a real person. They let the product and the customers buying it speak for them.

27. Loop Earplugs

With this cool Instagram ad from Loop Earplugs, we again see the comparison trend, with both products side-by-side. This eye-catching ad splits the space right down the middle and uses slight contrast to really differentiate the two products. 

Equally as important, this ad focuses on sustainability, rather than posting a giant list of benefits. It may seem simple, but it’s a great way of promoting your brand.

28. Shopify

Shopify is well known for producing some of the best Instagram advertising examples. The word ‘free’ is a powerful marketing tool, and this Instagram ad from Shopify is focused entirely on that attraction. The colors are all very carefully laid out so that the turquoise “free” stands out tremendously. The word even falls close to the middle of the ad, making it easier to identify.

Aside from that, this ad is very simple and lets the website wireframe showcase exactly how users can build a free Shopify store for their clients.

29. Leadpages

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Boost your leads in 30 minutes. This Instagram feed ad from Leadpages couldn’t be any clearer. It’s designed to increase installs and signups, and they double down by offering free coaching calls to all new users.

30. Heap

Starting things off with a question is always a bold strategy, but it gets people thinking. This Heap ad capitalizes on that curiosity and opens up the rabbit hole for customers to explore the product further. 

The ad is an open invite for users to watch the demo and reduce any friction buyers might experience during the conversion process. It’s a nice, clean ad that speaks volumes with only one on-ad sentence.

31. Aircall

For a SaaS, listing every single feature is impossible. It’s why they dedicate entire landing pages to spell it out for potential customers. That’s why Aircall took a much simpler approach, hinting that they are the most well-equipped software for call centers. 

‍After reading this ad, the choice seems pretty straightforward. Why would a call center settle for anything less?

32. Intercom

Intercom is likely one of the most well known custom service platforms on the planet, which would make you expect their ads to be over the top. However, as you can see by the Instagram ad example above, it’s a simple picture that’s been turned into a video.

Almost the entire screen stays the same while the text simply rolls on and off the frame. It’s colorful, interactive, and they probably put it together in only a few minutes.

What Ads Work Best on Instagram?

With all of these varying styles, formats, and designs above, it can be hard to narrow down what ads work best on Instagram. But, after doing some digging, there are a few conclusions that we can draw.

1. Fortune favors the bold - Bold statements, colors, contrasts, and offers all perform well. It completely depends on your brand, but it pays to make a statement.

2. Feeds vs. stories - People come to Instagram to be entertained, and they aren’t necessarily expecting an ad. This means that you have to make your ad count, and that includes placing it in the right spot. That said, feed ads usually get a lot more engagement, and aren’t as easily skipped.

3. Simplicity is king - As much as we’d all like to cram all the juicy info into an Instagram ad, it can be overwhelming to even look at, much less read. The key is to summarize everything into a single statement, even just a few words.

How to Make the Best Instagram Ad

It’s no secret that visuals play a huge role in Instagram ads. From the main image to the microelements that make up the ad as a whole, it all needs to be professionally done. But knowing how to make the best Instagram ad can be a challenge, especially when it comes to balancing creativity with strategy.

Many brands resort to in-house designers or illustrators to take the wheel, but the cost of overhead can add up, especially if you hire them solely for Instagram ad design. 

That’s where ManyPixels comes into play. You can work with your own designer on a subscription-based plan. With ad design and social media design as two of the core services, you can rest assured that your Instagram ads will come out looking perfect every single time.

Starting at just $549 per month, you can have access to unlimited design requests, 1-2 day turnarounds, and unlimited revisions. It’s the perfect plan for anyone looking to elevate their Instagram ad, as well as any other social media design.

Conclusion

Instagram ads can be a crucial digital marketing strategy and a major source of leads and conversions for many brands, but they have to be done right. As many good Instagram ad examples as we’ve listed above, there are plenty of them out there that have turned out to be a waste of money for the company responsible.

The key takeaway in this is that you need to get started off on the right foot. Follow the Instagram ad best practices, and consult professionals to make sure your ad is balanced, reaches the target audience, and, of course, looks spectacular. 

If you’re ready to level up your Instagram ads game, then be sure to check out ManyPixels. Get started today, or book a call to see how it works.