What is an Instagram ad? It is a paid post shown to people you choose, based on location, interests, and behaviour, so you can reach beyond your existing followers. Do I need a big budget? No, you can start small and scale only once you see results; a modest daily budget over a couple of weeks teaches you a lot. How do I set up ads? Through Meta Ads Manager, which connects to your Instagram and Facebook accounts and lets you define audience, budget, and goal. Should I just use the boost button? Boosting is simple but limited; Ads Manager gives far more control over audience and objective, which usually means better value. What makes a good ad? A clear single message, a strong visual or short video, and one obvious call to action. How do I measure success? Track cost per result against the value of an enquiry or sale, not likes. Should I run ads before organic content works? Build a credible profile first, because ads send people to your page, and an empty or unclear profile wastes the spend.