Scroll long enough and you’ll see the same ad tricks again and again. But some brands are quietly doing things differently, and it’s paying off. Instagram’s ad tools in 2025 are smarter and more flexible. The real difference comes from using them in ways that match today’s shopping and engagement habits. Here are 10 ways to make those tools work harder for your brand.
Tap Into Instagram Reels Ads
Reels is the heartbeat of Instagram now. It delivers twice the engagement of static ads and helps brands cut costs by reducing cost per purchase by 30%, as noted by Submagic. For performance-focused marketers, this format has become a reliable tool for visibility and customer acquisition.
Use Click-To-Message Ads
Performance metrics are where click-to-message ads shine. They drive four times the response rate of standard lead formats, and they remove extra steps from the funnel. Brands can qualify leads directly in DMs and appeal to Gen Z users, who are naturally drawn to messaging.
Leverage Influencer Whitelisting
When an ad shows up from someone people already trust, it lands differently. That’s the core of influencer whitelisting: brands borrow the voice of a creator to deliver their message. Ads run from creator handles consistently pull stronger CTR, and audiences trust them more than branded content.
Optimize With Advantage+ Shopping Campaigns
What happens when you feed your ads into real-time AI? Advantage+ takes over. It tests and optimizes placements on its own. And surprisingly, fewer creatives actually work better here. This format has quietly become a go-to for eComm brands aiming for scale without manual guesswork.
Run Multi-Destination Ads
Different people click for different reasons, so why offer just one link? Multi-destination ads let users choose where to go: shop, learn, chat, or explore. This not only reduces drop-offs on mobile but also boosts conversion paths. In 2025, brands can add up to five links in one ad.
Retarget Video Viewers With Lead Ads
Attention spans are short, but sometimes three seconds is all it takes. Viewers who stick around just that long are already 67% more likely to convert. By retargeting these warm viewers with lead ads, brands can cut sign-up costs by half. The funnel moves even faster now, thanks to pre-filled forms.
Test Reminder Ads For Product Drops
Launch days move fast, and most users won’t circle back. Reminder ads fix that. With just one tap, people opt in to be notified the moment something goes live. These push-style alerts boost traffic exactly when it matters most. Meta reports some of the highest open rates here.
Use Interest Layering For Hyper-Targeting
The magic of interest layering lies in the results, as it allows brands to narrow audience intent while still keeping reach strong. This targeting method works especially well for niche products, where precision matters most. In 2025, one standout pairing was cat enthusiasts who also practice yoga.
Run Carousel Ads With Poll Stickers
Stories stick when people get to play. Polls layered into carousels grab attention and hold it to boost ad recall. Interactive formats increase swipe-throughs, while gamified touches improve watch time. The reveal of poll results after swiping draws people to stay engaged even longer.
Create Instant Experience Ads
Users prefer to stay where they are, and being redirected off-platform often breaks that flow. Instant Experience ads eliminate that friction by keeping everything within Instagram and loading up to 15 times faster than standard mobile sites. As a result, return on ad spend rises significantly.
