FB Ads Vs Instagram Ads – What to choose?

FB Ads Vs Instagram Ads - What to choose?

Social media has made its way into more than 4.9 billion people worldwide, taking the hearts, eyes, and ears of over 60% of the global population. Businesses intent on driving revenue and awareness must adopt social media advertising into their very foundations.

Two social media giants that stand tall in terms of reach and business-centric features are Facebook and Instagram.

With almost every potential customer and lead using these two at the moment, finding the right fit for your business’s ad model is crucial.

Arriving at this conclusion requires an in-depth understanding of several aspects of each social media platform, from its features and user-friendly tools to the nature of the audience present. In fact, you must be acutely aware of each aspect’s relation to your own business goals.

This article will dive deep into a comparison between Facebook Ads and Instagram Ads. We will also discuss the main goals that can be achieved by advertising on these platforms. Read on!

FB Ads vs Instagram Ads: Key Differences

With the plethora of benefits you can access through social media ads, we now address the question of which platform is the best fit for you.

 Here is a category-wise, in-depth comparison of Facebook ads vs. Instagram Ads to make the decision-making journey seamless:

1.  Audience Demographic

Audience demographics play a vital role in reviewing FB ads vs. Instagram ads, and so does control over audience targeting in driving ad impact and brand resonance among users.

Facebook is by far the largest social media platform in the world. It is home to a diverse user base of over 3 billion, spanning multiple generations, making it a versatile platform for businesses to reach a broad audience.

Facebook’s core demographic is on the older side, with over 77% of users aged 25 and above. Facebook ads also offer more variables during audience targeting, including parameters such as location, age, gender, language, and connections. 

Considering that Instagram is a fairly younger platform than Facebook, its user base comprises the generation that grew up with the platform. Instagram ads do not feature as many demographic variables as Facebook’s ad manager, but they are best suited for a younger target audience.

2.  Targeting Capabilities and Features

Apart from audience demographic targeting, having an ad manager with robust tools to refine your content delivery is vital. This element of the Fb ads vs Instagram ads review establishes the potential of your ads to generate awareness, leads, and sales.

Facebook Ads feature a granular level of detail, allowing you to refine your audience based on demographics, interests, behaviors, and even life events. This in-depth targeting is well-suited for niche businesses and personalized ads. Additionally, Facebook’s Custom Audiences, competitor analysis, and Lookalike Audiences features are specialized for audience retargeting and reaching new users similar to your existing base.

Instagram takes a different approach in terms of its targeting features. While it also offers demographic targeting, its main focus is visual targeting. Instagram ads allow you to target users based on their interactions with specific types of content, such as images, videos, or hashtags.

This is particularly powerful for brands that feature visually appealing products or services. Another targeting feature of the Instagram ads manager is its extensive influencer marketing capabilities, allowing you to partner with creators to combine the net audience with high engagement.

With the Predis.ai Facebook Ad Maker, you can swiftly generate eye-catching content tailored to Facebook's diverse audience. 

3.  Reach

Social media ads are about the number of active users and the platform’s algorithm that delivers your content to potential customers’ feeds. 

Facebook has a massive global reach, boasting billions of active users. While sheer size can be a major advantage for businesses targeting brand exposure, not all users will be relevant to your target audience for quality leads.

While Instagram Ad’s user base is comparatively small, it delivers higher engagement rates. With Instagram’s algorithm targeting to curate content to users that is as relevant as possible, viewers are more likely to interact with ads, whether it’s liking, commenting, or sharing.

This also drives brand awareness but is accompanied by an increased likelihood of high-quality website traffic. For brands looking to foster communities and stronger connections, Instagram might be a more effective platform for your ads.

Predis.ai's Free Instagram Ad Maker empowers you to craft scroll-stopping ads in any format, driving engagement and inquiries on Instagram.

4.  Industries

Infographic showing social media use worldwide

Finding the platform with the most relevant industries helps you deliver ads with a higher chance of conversion.

Due to Facebook’s adaptability, its advertising content can be used in a variety of B2B and B2C industries. With its targeting options, Facebook ads are ideal for businesses in finance, healthcare, and education. Because of its location-based targeting capabilities, Facebook is also an excellent platform for promoting local businesses and events.

On the other hand, Instagram ads thrive in industries that rely on visual appeal and storytelling.

Businesses in fashion, beauty, food, travel, and lifestyle segments often find great success on Instagram due to the platform’s emphasis on high-quality imagery and video. If your products or services are visually captivating, Instagram can be a powerful tool for showcasing them and driving sales.

5.  Content Format

One of the main aspects to consider while reviewing Facebook ads vs. Instagram ads is the content you deliver on the platform. Content formats are ultimately driven by potential customers’ responses, and meeting that expectation is vital in each ad post.

Facebook ad formats include image, video, carousel, slideshow, and collection ads. It also allows for longer text descriptions and call-to-action buttons. This flexibility, along with the ease of designing Facebook Ads for any e-commerce platform, makes it a good choice for businesses experimenting with different formats and catering to various audience preferences.

Instagram’s ad formats are not as diverse as Facebook’s. However, this is not a downside, considering it’s primarily a visual platform. The ads on this platform are delivered as image and video ads and focus on high-quality visuals and aesthetically pleasing content.

Instagram ads delivered in Carousels and Reels are popular ad formats for engaging users with short, visually appealing content. Instagram content can also be effectively repurposed into creative ads, reducing the burden on businesses to generate time-bound creative proposals.

FB Ads Vs Instagram Ads: Which One Should You Choose?

Social media cheat sheet for brands

When deciding between Facebook ads and Instagram ads, the right choice largely depends on your business goals, target audience, and the nature of your products or services. 

Here’s a summary to help you make an informed decision:

  1. Targeting Features: Compare the targeting options of each platform. Facebook provides detailed demographic targeting, while Instagram excels in visual targeting and influencer marketing.
  2. Ad Performance Metrics: Look at the analytics tools offered by both platforms and consider which metrics align with your advertising goals.
  3. Platform Integration: Assess how each platform integrates with your existing marketing ecosystem and whether cross-platform advertising is important for your strategy.
  4. Ad Budget and Cost Efficiency: Evaluate your budget constraints and the cost-effectiveness of advertising on each platform, considering factors like reach and engagement rates.

Experimentation, tracking, and optimization are key to maximizing the effectiveness of your social media advertising efforts. Analyze these factors thoroughly to make sure you’re investing your resources where they’ll have the most impact. 

Advertising for Maximum Reach and Revenue

Each platform has its advantages and once your choice is made, effective ads come from quality content. With various business operations to handle, dedicating resources to social media marketing may result in a dilution of operational quality. 

Want to create ads for increased conversions and revenue? Sign up for a free account on Predis.ai and revolutionize your advertising strategy today!

Related Content,

Optimal ROAS for Instagram Ads: What to Aim For


Written By

Tanmay Ratnaparkhe

Tanmay, Co-founder of Predis.ai, is a seasoned entrepreneur with a proven track record, having successfully built two companies from the ground up. A tech enthusiast at heart, a recognized SaaS expert, and years of hands-on experience in leveraging technology to fuel marketing success, Tanmay offers invaluable insights on how brands can boost their digital presence, improve productivity, and maximize ROI. Why trust us? Predis.ai is trusted by over a million users and business owners worldwide, including industry leaders who rely on our AI’s output and creativity. Our platform is highly rated across review sites and app stores, a testament to the real world value it delivers. We consistently update our technology and content to ensure you receive the most accurate, up to date, and reliable guidance on leveraging social media for your business.


FOUND THIS USEFUL? SHARE WITH