15 Instagram Ads Examples That Will Inspire Your Next Campaign

What makes Instagram ads so powerful

With exceptional reach and user engagement, Instagram is one of the most powerful advertising platforms on the planet in 2025. Boasting over a billion active users globally, Instagram works if you want to reach your ideal customers. Whether in the form of video, carousel, image and story ads, Instagram employs numerous different advertisement formats, each providing unique opportunities to engage users and drive them to conversion actions.

Instagram is perfectly aligned with brands that wish to present a product and/or service visually, in a captivating, exploitable manner. Instagram adds invaluable targeting capabilities to your content by making sure that, as a business, you reach the right audience at the right time, resulting in greater user engagement and better returns.

15 Instagram advertising examples every brand should see & learn

Below, we've compiled 15 creative and inspirational Instagram ad examples to elevate your ad campaigns and inspire your next marketing campaign. Each example highlights some of the best aspects of Instagram ads while providing you with insights into actionable and successful strategies successfully used by brands.

Instagram video ad examples

Video ads are the most substantial delivery method of content on Instagram. Video ads allow brands to engage audiences, tell their stories, and connect in ways that traditional static images cannot replicate. Here are three examples showcasing the power of video ads.

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1. Nike – "Dream Crazy" Campaign

Advantage: Nike's video ad, featuring athletes of various backgrounds and achievements, promotes a message of perseverance and breaking barriers. The video format allows Nike to showcase their athletes in action, making the ad highly engaging and emotional.

Takeaway: Videos should evoke emotion and highlight the product's core values to create a lasting impact on the audience.

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1. Apple – "Shot on iPhone"

Advantage: Apple uses user-generated content in this video series to showcase the power of the iPhone's camera. The ad features stunning footage captured by iPhone users, making it relatable and authentic.

Takeaway: User-generated content in video ads builds credibility and fosters a community around your brand.

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1. Airbnb — "Live Anywhere"

Advantage: Airbnb's "Live Anywhere" ad campaign focuses on promoting the flexibility of long-term stays, especially in the wake of the pandemic. The ad highlights the freedom travelers have to choose unique locations for remote work and leisure. The visually appealing video content showcases stunning properties and diverse locations around the world, encouraging people to consider living in new places for extended periods.

Takeaway: This ad leverages emotional storytelling and practical appeal, connecting with audiences who value flexibility and the ability to work from anywhere. It's an excellent example of how Instagram ads can tap into current trends and consumer desires to create relatable, engaging content.

Instagram image ad example

Image ads are a classic format and can be extremely effective when paired with high-quality visuals and a strong call to action.

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1. ASOS – Fashion Inspiration

Advantage: ASOS uses a clean and crisp image ad featuring their latest fashion collection. The image is complemented by a clear call-to-action (CTA) button encouraging users to shop now.

Takeaway: High-quality visuals paired with a strong CTA can drive instant engagement and conversions.

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1. McDonald — "flip-flops on the beach"

Advantage: McDonald's "Flip-flops on the beach" Instagram ad uses simplicity to its advantage by featuring an instantly recognizable image associated with summer. The ad's minimalism stands out, grabbing attention while subtly connecting the brand to a fun, carefree season, keeping McDonald's top of mind for consumers.

Takeaway: This ad demonstrates the effectiveness of simplicity in branding. By associating their product with a familiar seasonal image, McDonald's ensures its relevance and presence in consumers' minds during key moments, without overcomplicating the message.

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1. Starbucks — Pumpkin Spice Latte

Advantage: Starbucks' Pumpkin Spice Latte campaign effectively taps into seasonal trends, creating a sense of excitement and anticipation every fall. The limited-time offering drives urgency and customer loyalty, making it a go-to drink for many during the season.

Takeaway: This campaign highlights the power of seasonal marketing and limited-time offers to create buzz and increase sales. It demonstrates how aligning products with seasonal or cultural moments can boost customer engagement and brand affinity.

Instagram story ad examples

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1. Nike — "You Can't Stop Us"

Advantage: Nike's "You Can't Stop Us" campaign powerfully combines sports and social issues, showcasing athletes overcoming challenges. The ad's emotional appeal and stunning visuals resonate with a wide audience, reinforcing Nike's commitment to empowerment and perseverance.

Takeaway: This campaign demonstrates the effectiveness of blending inspirational storytelling with social relevance, fostering a strong emotional connection with consumers. It also reinforces Nike's brand image as a champion of diversity, resilience, and inclusivity.

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1. Sephora — "Beauty Insider Reward"

Advantage: Sephora's "Beauty Insider Reward" campaign effectively incentivizes customer loyalty by offering exclusive rewards and discounts. It creates a sense of belonging, encouraging customers to engage with the brand repeatedly to earn points and access unique perks.

Takeaway: This campaign shows the power of loyalty programs in building long-term customer relationships. By offering exclusive rewards, brands can enhance customer retention and foster a community around their products.

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1. Spotify — "Wrapped"

Advantage: Spotify's "Wrapped" campaign leverages personalized user data to create a fun, shareable experience, making each listener feel celebrated. It sparks social media buzz and increases engagement by encouraging users to share their music year in review.

Takeaway: "Wrapped" demonstrates the power of personalization in marketing, creating an emotional connection with users. By making the experience shareable, Spotify amplifies its reach and enhances brand visibility through user-generated content.

Instagram ad copy examples

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1. Bumble – "Make the First Move"

Advantage: Bumble's ad copy encourages users to take control of their dating lives by making the first move. The copy is empowering, direct, and relevant to their target audience.

Takeaway: Your ad copy should speak to the audience's desires and encourage them to take the next step in their journey.

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1. PupSocks — "Any pup face on socks"

Advantage: PupSocks' ad copy clearly communicates the product's purpose — personalized socks with a pet's face, immediately catching the viewer's attention. The playful and simple messaging effectively resonates with pet owners who love to showcase their furry friends.

Takeaway: The use of social proof (1.3 million sold) builds trust and credibility, while the minimalist, fun tone keeps the ad light and engaging. This shows how combining clarity, social proof, and simplicity can result in a highly effective ad.

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1. Adidas – "Unleash Your Potential"

Advantage: Adidas' "Unleash Your Potential" ad copy taps into the audience's desire for self-improvement and performance, motivating them to push their limits. The focus on high-performance gear aligns with the brand's identity as a leader in sports and fitness.

Takeaway: The motivational tone and empowering message resonate with active individuals, encouraging them to invest in their fitness journey. By tying the product to personal growth, the ad inspires action and builds a deeper emotional connection with the audience.

Instagram carousel ad examples

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1. Otta x Superside

Advantage: Otta's collaboration with Superside leverages dynamic motion graphics and engaging carousels to tell a compelling story, highlighting various job opportunities. The use of vibrant colors and diverse visuals effectively captures attention and positions the brand as welcoming and diverse, appealing to multiple industries.

Takeaway: The clever use of color, motion graphics, and creative copy enhances brand identity while resonating with their target audience. By combining visual storytelling with strategic messaging, Otta successfully creates a strong emotional connection, encouraging sign-ups and expanding their user base.

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1. Clearbit

Advantage: Clearbit effectively uses the carousel format to guide users step-by-step through their product's features, offering clear explanations of what it does, how it works, and why it's valuable. The use of arrows prompts engagement, making the ad interactive and user-friendly.

Takeaway: The clever use of concise copy alongside engaging visuals helps communicate key messages while maintaining personality. By combining informative content with engaging design, Clearbit ensures that users are both informed and motivated to act, increasing the likelihood of conversions.

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1. Moo

Advantage: The minimalist design of the carousel ad allows the notebook to shine by showcasing its different colorways and close-up details. This design strategy lets the product speak for itself, highlighting its premium features like hardcover and high-quality paper with minimal distractions.

Takeaway: By focusing on value-driven copy that emphasizes the notebook's premium attributes, the ad builds a strong appeal for quality without pushing for immediate action. This approach caters to customers who appreciate craftsmanship and are drawn to high-value products, creating a more organic connection.

While it's important to look at good Instagram ad examples, it's not easy to combine their strengths with the features of your own product to create professional Instagram ads. This is where CapCut comes in handy, as it provides various features for creating professional ad videos.

Create stunning Instagram ads with CapCut at a low cost

You can make amazing Instagram ads without spending a fortune. CapCut desktop video editor allows you to create amazing ads that command attention and produce engagement for a very affordable price. Whether you want to make a video ad, carousel ad, or story ad, CapCut has you covered for producing professional-quality content. Check out different Instagram ad examples for inspiration on how brands successfully captured their audience's attention before starting your ads with CapCut's pre-designed templates, AI tools, and royalty free content. Get started on your Instagram ads now, and make a big impression at a low cost.

Key feature

• AI-powered features: CapCut offers AI tools like background removal and AI avatars, simplifying ad video editing for professional results effortlessly.
• Pre-designed ad templates: It provides a variety of customizable ad video templates, enabling you to create stunning Instagram ads quickly and easily.
• Creative elements: CapCut includes text, stickers, and effects to enhance your Instagram ads, helping you create engaging and visually appealing content.
• Video and audio library: The library features copyright-free videos and background music, ensuring your Instagram ads comply with legal requirements while sounding professional.

How to create Instagram video ads with CapCut easily

STEP 1
1. Import files

Start by opening CapCut desktop and creating a new project. Import your media files, such as videos, images, and audio, into the timeline. Organize them based on your ad's structure, making it easier to edit and customize later.

STEP 2
1. Customize your ad

Once your files are imported, use CapCut's built-in effects, transitions, and text to enhance your ad. Apply smooth transitions between clips, adjust the text to emphasize key messages, and incorporate engaging visual effects to keep your audience interested. Don't forget to add a CTA (Call-to-Action) sticker to guide users toward the next step, like visiting your website or making a purchase.

STEP 3
1. Export the ad video

After finalizing your ad, export it in high resolution, either 4K or 8K, to ensure optimal video quality. Once exported, you can share it directly on Instagram, ready to capture your audience's attention and drive engagement.

How to create Instagram image ads with CapCut flawlessly

STEP 1
1. Select a canvas size for the Instagram image ad

First, open CapCut and navigate to its "Image editing" feature. CapCut provides preset canvas sizes for different uses, including Instagram posts and Instagram stories. Select one of them to start editing.

STEP 2
1. Edit the image for the Instagram ad

Now, you can search for an ad template that meets your needs, then edit it with text, stickers, filters, and effects. You can also replace the images with your own by clicking "Upload."

STEP 3
1. Download the Instagram image ad

Once edited, export it by clicking "Download all" to select the image format, including JPEG and PNG. You can directly share it on Instagram.

How to avoid costly mistakes in your Instagram ad campaigns

Running effective Instagram ad campaigns requires precision and strategy to avoid costly mistakes. Below are common pitfalls in Instagram advertising and solutions to ensure better results.

• Poor targeting and audience misalignment: If you market towards the wrong audience, you will end up wasting your budget and getting little to no engagement. Use the advanced targeting options Instagram offers based on demographics, interests, and behaviors to get in front of the target audience you want to reach. Also, don't forget to assess performance regularly and adjust these basic demographics to stay aligned with your audience's overall likes and dislikes.
• Lack of clear call-to-action (CTA): Users may not know what action they are supposed to take after coming across your advertisement if there is no clear CTA. Always have a concise and strong CTA, for instance, "Shop Now," "Learn More," or "Sign Up," to direct users to the action that you want them to take. CapCut provides diverse CTA stickers; you can add one of them and adjust its size and position.
• Low-quality visuals or videos: Visuals or videos that are poorly produced can make your brand seem unprofessional and can make the content less attractive. Use only high-resolution photos and videos, and use professional effects and transitions to achieve this easily with tools like CapCut to create unique and eye-catching content to promote your brand.
• Overloading ads with text: Overly detailed text can confuse viewers and obfuscate your message. Text should be kept minimal, salient, and focused on conveying the essential information that will support what is visually presented. CapCut allows you to adjust the text font, color, and size to make it clearer.
• Neglecting mobile optimization: Since most Instagram users access the platform via mobile, neglecting mobile optimization can harm your ad performance. Ensure that your ads are designed for mobile-first viewing, with the right aspect ratio and large, readable text. Test your ads on mobile devices before launching to ensure they look great and are easy to interact with.

Conclusion

We've taken an extensive look at tons of Instagram ad campaign examples to help inspire your marketing strategies going into the year 2025. We've discussed it all, from video advertisements such as Nike's "Dream Crazy" to image ads like McDonald's! We also mentioned that CapCut desktop will allow you to make stunning Instagram ads at a low cost while utilizing AI-powered tools, pre-designed templates, and copyright-free content. Whether story ads, or carousel ads, or just video content, CapCut will ensure quality content for every ad. Get started today on creating engaging Instagram ads with CapCut desktop video editor!

FAQs

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1. How do I measure Instagram ad success?

The success of Instagram advertising can be tracked using key metrics such as engagement rates, reach, impressions, and conversions. These can be monitored using Instagram Insights, or through third-party analytics websites or services. You can use CapCut to adjust the ads based on analytics to get better results.

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1. How often do you analyze advertising data and adjust strategies?

Similar to other sources of data, it is important to analyze ad performance on a regular basis based on specific intervals (e.g., weekly or bi-weekly). You'll want to monitor performance trends or changes in performance. CapCut allows you to quickly make many different versions of an ad for the test. This means you can quickly iterate on changes to the ad and your strategies based on performance.

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1. When is the best time to place an advertisement?

The ideal time to publish an Instagram advertisement varies by audience engagement and behavior. Utilize Instagram Insights to see when most people are most active and engaged. If you use CapCut desktop, you can make your ads in an instant to be in alignment with those Insights in no time, ensuring your content is available at any prime time.