Social Media Ads Design Secrets: Winning Strategies for Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn
Gone are the days of easy organic growth on social media. If you want to get new leads, boost engagement, and get real success, you’ll need scroll-stopping ads that speak to your audience.
But what makes a great ad? Is it the caption? The budget you’ll pour into it? Or the highly scientific ad targeting? While all of those are important, one critical thing is the ad design—the visual that will either make them scroll past your ad or intrigue them to click “See More.”
If you want to know the secrets of a winning social media ads design, then this article is for you! We’ll share some actionable tips plus some stunning design ideas that you can easily recreate with the help of our ad templates and logo maker tool.
Let’s get started!
Why Social Media Ad Design Matters
People usually scroll fast on their feeds during their commute, while waiting in line for coffee, or while watching TV. In this very distracted and on-the-go mental space, brands only have a split second to grab their attention.
That’s where great design comes in. An effective ad design:
- Stops the scrolling
- Conveys your message instantly
- Intrigues them to learn more
- Is aligned with your brand identity
- Drives actions
And yes, visuals and design do play a huge factor in this. Will you really stop scrolling when you see white text on a dull gray background with a generic stock photo plastered on it? Probably not. But a well-lit and high-quality photo taken in a very stylish and artistic way will probably make you look twice.
Beautiful visuals are just more enticing for a person compared to a dull one. It’s the same reason why you get hungry when you see those food commercials, where the food is visually enhanced to look more appetizing.
How To Design Ads for Social Media Platforms
While great visuals are needed almost anywhere, the real key to success is to tailor your ad design to the social media platform you’re posting it on. This is because each platform has a different user base and different “trendy” content. What works for TikTok might not be the same for Twitter, and vice versa.
Today, we’re spotlighting Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn. Let’s take a look at these platforms one by one.
Instagram is a highly visual platform where aesthetics reign supreme. Fashion, beauty, fitness, art, interior design, and other creative industries will easily find success on this platform.
Seventy-one percent of active Instagram users are mostly between 18 and 24 years while 56% of their audience is female. If this is your target audience, Instagram is the prime spot for you.
Winning Strategies for Instagram Ads
Successful Instagram ads can be achieved by doing the following:
- Focus on your visuals
Instagram is all about beautiful visuals. Use high-resolution photos with vibrant colors, creative compositions, and great lighting. Never use stock photos—the Instagram audience hates them!
- Have a consistent and specific aesthetic
“Aesthetic” is a common term on Instagram, but what exactly is it?
Aesthetic is essentially the vibe or theme of your account. For example, chic black-and-white photos convey sophistication which is ideal for luxury brands. Meanwhile, warmly lit photos of a woman in a park can convey happiness and authenticity, perfect for girl-next-door brands or content influencers.
Having a distinct aesthetic on your ads can help people remember your brand and attract like-minded people who are more likely to love and engage with your account and content.
- Don’t be too promotional
Blatant promotion and infomercial ads are a thing of the past. Instagram users prefer subtle messaging. They don’t want to be directly told to buy your products or be blasted with a commercial about why your brand is the best thing ever.
Go for ads that are less in your face. A “Get Ready With Me” video can be used to showcase your makeup brand. Have a clothing brand? Why not do a fun Reel showing a week’s worth of outfits? User-generated content (UGC) of people using your products in real life also feels more authentic and less promotional to Instagram users.
- Leverage Instagram Stories and Reels
According to studies, Stories is the most popular content type on Instagram at 71.92%, while Reels have the highest reach at 37.87%. If you want to break away from the photos, doing short-form video ads on Stories and Reels can be a great option.
With over 3.07 billion monthly active users, Facebook is the most used social media platform in the world. This unparalleled reach, combined with their comprehensive ad targeting options makes it a great choice for running ads no matter which industry you may be in.
Winning Strategies for Facebook Ads
To make the most out of your Facebook ad campaigns, try the following:
- Be direct
Unlike Instagram, which focuses on aesthetics and subtlety, Facebook users prefer a straightforward ad.
Add captions or text that clearly states what you are trying to promote. Are you having a 50% off sale or launching a new product? Whatever it is, make sure your text clearly states it and your visuals are clear and uncluttered to make your message come across.
Add actionable CTAs such as “Shop Now” or “Learn More.” Use bold colors or fonts for these CTAs and have a strong contrast between the backgrounds to make them stand out.
- Tell a story
Emotional storytelling is powerful on Facebook. Whether it’s happiness, sadness, shock, or curiosity, videos that take the audience on an emotional journey usually convert.
For example, Nike’s ads often showcase athletes’ personal stories. Dove uses testimonials from their users on how the product helped them become more self-confident.
- Optimize for mobile
Ninety-four percent of Facebook ad spend happens on mobile.
To make your ads mobile-friendly, keep text minimal. Follow Facebook’s rule that no more than 20% of an ad’s image can be occupied by text. However, ensure that the text is still large enough so that it’s readable on a small screen.
Last, ensure that your format is suitable for portrait mode. Use a size of 1080×1920 pixels or 1080×1080 pixels.
LinkedIn is the go-to platform for B2B marketing. More than 750 million members hold executive or managerial positions, making their user base more influential than any other platform’s.
The IT and Services industry is the most represented industry on the platform, closely followed by hospitals and healthcare. LinkedIn is the best platform for you if you are in this field.
Winning Strategies for LinkedIn Ads
LinkedIn may be more career-focused than other social media platforms, but that doesn’t mean your design should be drab or plain.
To make a great LinkedIn ad, do:
- Keep it professional
Avoid overly playful, colorful, or informal designs. Instead, use simple, sophisticated, and minimalist designs. Go for muted or lighter color palettes that aren’t harsh on the eyes.
Keep your layout clean and text minimal. LinkedIn users are often busy individuals who only have time for a short browse, so your message needs to be understandable even with just a glance.
- Highlight data and numbers
LinkedIn users are looking for solutions to their business challenges. Make sure your ad clearly states the benefits and use that they would get from your product. Add data, numbers, or studies that can back up your claims instead of just vaguely saying that your product is good.
- Use Sponsored Content and InMail Strategies
Tired of your ads getting lost in the crowd? LinkedIn offers a way to directly send your content to your user’s feed or messages through Sponsored Content and InMail. Utilizing these ad options can be a great way to make sure your ad or content will reach the right audience at the right time.
Social Media Ads Design Ideas
Let’s now take a look at some sample social media ad designs to give you some inspiration. All of the templates below can be easily customized through our Facebook Ad Maker, Instagram Reels Maker, Instagram Story Maker, or LinkedIn Post Maker.
Design Effective Social Media Ads Today With BrandCrowd!
Design is everything for social media ad campaigns. If you’re just starting out (or struggling to get any clicks or conversions in your ad campaigns), why not try out our tips?
However, keep in mind that our tips are just a starting point. Once you get more data, you’ll be able to figure out the exact type of designs that resonate more with your audience. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, don’t worry — this is where digital marketing agencies can step in. These experts not only craft data-driven ad strategies but also understand how to design visuals that convert.
To stay consistent and keep your content flowing, consider using social media scheduling tools. They help plan and automate posts, so you can maintain an active presence while focusing on refining your ad visuals and strategy.
Lastly, don’t be afraid to experiment. Social media is ever-changing. Who knows, your design might just be the next trend!
