How to make video ads for Instagram

Instagram is a one-stop platform to promote any business. With a wide audience of over 2 billion users and a versatile range of ad formats, 68% of marketers say Instagram ads deliver positive ROI.

That makes Instagram an essential component of a media marketing strategy for companies of all sizes — big and small. You can create targeted ads for multiple campaigns and audience demographics. Make Instagram ads like demo videos or promo videos and watch your business reap the rewards like more brand awareness and sales.

Read on for video editing tips and content ideas on how to make an Instagram ad for feed, Reels, Stories, and the explore page. Promote your latest products or spread the word on an upcoming sale with professional videos using the Clipchamp Instagram ad maker.

Instagram video ad formats with specifications

Look at the Instagram ad best practices and formats below if you’re not sure which Instagram video ad suits your marketing needs.

Instagram feed video ads

Instagram in-feed video ads look like organic video posts when scrolling through the feed, even though it’s a paid promotion by a brand. You will see a small ‘sponsored’ tag under the Instagram handle on a sponsored post. Feed video ads are perfect for evergreen brand videos that you want to stay on your profile indefinitely.

Use the range of Clipchamp Instagram templates to create long-lasting feed ads with scroll-stopping 3D animations and prompts for ad text and your logo.

Instagram feed video ad specifications:

• Aspect ratio: 4:5, 9:16, 16:9, or 1:1.

• Video format: MP4, MOV, or GIF.

• Video resolution: 1440 x 1800 pixels.

• Video length: 1 second to 60 minutes.

• Video size: 4 GB maximum.

• Video thumbnail: 500 pixels minimum width.

• Video caption: optional, 125 characters maximum and 30 hashtags maximum.

Instagram Story ads

Instagram Story ads also look like organic Story content in the Story swipe, but a sponsored tag will be under the brand’s Instagram handle. You will also see a direct call to action (CTA) at the bottom of the story, such as ‘order now’, ‘learn more’, and ‘get offer’. Story ads are perfect for casual and informal content like behind-the-scenes videos or sneak peaks.

Try Clipchamp Instagram Story ad templates to deliver a short and sweet message that makes an impact quickly and has a clear CTA.

Instagram Story ad specifications:

• Aspect ratio: 9:16.

• Video format: MP4, MOV, or GIF.

• Video resolution: 1440 x 2650 pixels.

• Video length: 1 second to 60 minutes, up to 10 seconds recommended.

• Video size: 4 GB maximum.

• Video sound: optional, but recommended.

• Video text: 125 characters maximum.

Instagram sponsored Reels

Just like organic Reels, Instagram sponsored Reels can be featured in the Reels tab amongst other creators. Paid Reel ads can be identified with the ‘sponsored’ tag under the Instagram handle, as well as a CTA at the bottom of the screen. Reels make Instagram one of TikTok’s main competitors for a reason. It’s a popular format for users, making it a must-have video marketing tool for businesses to expand their Instagram reach and build new followers.

Clipchamp has a range of 9:16 Instagram Reel templates pre-loaded with rich media assets like royalty-free music and animated text so you can batch create multiple ads for your business.

Instagram sponsored Reel specifications:

• Aspect ratio: 9:16.

• Video format: MP4 or MOV.

• Video resolution: 1440 x 2560 pixels.

• Video length: 0 seconds to 15 minutes.

• Video size: 4GB maximum.

• Video caption: optional, 72 characters maximum.

• Video sound: optional, but highly recommended.

Instagram carousel video ads

Instagram carousel video ads are the most unique looking sponsored content as the layout includes multiple assets the user can scroll through. They can be used on all Instagram formats – feed, Stories, and Explore. Carousel video ads can have multiple attachments as both images and videos in a square 1:1 aspect ratio, giving viewers the opportunity to shop directly from the ad. Carousel ads are dynamic, interactive, and higher performing than single image ads. They promote users to engage and swipe to see all content, and they also allow you to use more images and video to highlight different value propositions.

You’ll find ready-made slideshow and montage Instagram video ad templates for different Carousel specs in Clipchamp.

Instagram carousel video ad specifications:

• Aspect ratio: 1:1 video aspect ratio.

• Video format: MP4, MOV or GIF.

• Number of carousel cards: 2 to 10.

• Video length: 1 second to 2 minutes.

• Video size: 4GB maximum.

• Video sound: optional but recommended.

• Video text: 125 characters and 30 hashtags.

• URL: landing page URL needed.

Explore video ads

Instagram explore is the platform’s dedicated discovery area where the algorithm suggests content based on user interests. It’s in the same spot as the search feature and recommends posts from accounts the user doesn’t yet follow. Ads appear between organic content when a user scrolls between explore posts. Explore posts can be in image, video, or carousel format and are a great way to capture leads from people unfamiliar with your business. Your ads are part of the personal tailored approach and users are ready to buy on explore, with 81% of users logging into Instagram for shopping purposes.

Clipchamp has a wide range of Instagram video ad templates to suit each format’s aspect ratio. 

Instagram explore video ad specifications:

• Aspect ratio: image 9:16; video 4:5; carousel 1:1.

• Image format: image and carousel - JPG or PNG.

• Video format: video and carousel - MP4, MOV, or GIF.

• Resolution: 1080 x 1080 pixels minimum.

• Video length: video 1 second to 60 minutes; carousel 1 second to 240 minutes.

• File size: image 30MB; video 4 GB; carousel 30 MB.

• Video thumbnail: minimum.

• Caption: image 125 characters.

• Landing page URL: Required for carousel.

10 Instagram video ad ideas with editing tips

• Exclusive discounts and sale video ads: convert new customers with promo videos containing limited-time offers and exclusive discounts, using eye-catching GIFs and clear call-to-action stickers.

• Product launch video ads: build hype for new products with a launch announcement ad using captivating visuals like the glitch effect.

• Demo video ads: guide your viewers with a real-time product demo, adding autocaptions so it’s accessible and easy to follow.

• Before and after video ads: demonstrate the problem your product solves with a clear video of the transformation, emphasizing the benefits and results using dynamic transitions.

• Sale countdown video ads: create FOMO with a scroll-stopping digital countdown animation, causing viewers to stop mid-scroll and shop at your website before the clock runs out.

• Hashtag challenge video ads: boost brand visibility by inviting followers to a hashtag challenge for a prize, using animated text to feature the best entries.

• Customer testimonial video ads: build trust and authenticity by featuring satisfied customers endorsing your business, using the silence remover to scrub out any unwanted pauses or gaps.

• Day in my life Story video ads: connect with your audience personally by sharing a vlog style daily scenario of your product, using noise suppression to remove unwanted background noise.

• Behind the scenes video ads: provide users with an exclusive peek into the making of your product or running of your business, adding filters for a striking aesthetic.

• User-generated content ads: leverage authentic products endorsements with an Instagram collab and add your brand logo as a watermark.

Name a business or ad style, Clipchamp has a template for you.

Explore the wide range of social media video templates for you to create quick and easy Instagram ads. You can then customize for your business using the brand kit tool. You can also use the video resizer to repurpose any existing videos across all your platforms into ads for Instagram.

Follow the tutorial below for a step-by-step guide on how to start making your Instagram ad with Clipchamp.

How to make free Instagram video ads with Clipchamp

Step 1. Choose an Instagram video ad template

On the toolbar, click on the templates tab and select the Instagram collection.

Browse through the curated Instagram video templates for an ad style that will suit your brand and Instagram aesthetic. To use the Instagram video ad template, click on the + button or click on the template to add it to your timeline.

Step 2. Update the stock media

Replace the stock media with your personal files or other stock that suits your video. Click on the your media tab on the toolbar, then click on the import media button to upload files from your computer or connect your cloud storage. Drag and drop your video assets onto the timeline to replace the existing stock footage.

Step 3. Customize text

Personalize your Instagram video and template by editing the text. To change the writing in the text, click on the text on the timeline so it's highlighted, then click on the pencil icon in the text menu inside the stage. Next, click on the text tab on the property panel. Here, you can update your font, style, size and color. You can also try advanced editing options like adding an outline or shadow to your text here.

Step 4. Add brand logo and colors

Customize your Instagram video ad template with your brand color, font, and logo for a consistent aesthetic across all platforms using the brand kit tool.

To add your logo to your Instagram video ad, just upload your logo to the brand kit. Make sure your logo is a PNG image with a transparent background. Next, click on the brand kit tab on the toolbar then drag and drop your logo onto the timeline above your media assets.

Freely move the logo around the video preview by dragging and dropping to find the perfect location. You can also make it transparent like a watermark by clicking on the adjust colors tab on the property panel and dragging the transparency slider to the left.

Step 5. Save and share the video ad

When your Instagram video ad is ready to export, click on the export button then choose your video resolution. Save your video ad to your computer or connect to cloud storage.

Build your brand and increase your sales with Instagram video ads. Master your video creation skills with these tips on how to make Instagram Reels. Then enhance your video marketing strategy by understanding the difference between Instagram and TikTok.

Start creating Instagram ad videos with Clipchamp or using the Clipchamp Windows app.