Sit down and grab a snack because this is a lengthy one! Throughout our work in paid social media advertising, we have come across, implemented and become experts in utilising various ad formats across various social platforms! No social media is not just for memes, TikTok trends or stalking your favourite celeb. It's a unique digital marketing strategy used to boost your brand, drive sales, and increase engagement. So, what are the different types of social media ads? Let's look at 10 examples!

What Are the Different Types of Social Media Ads? (10 Examples)

1. Text Ads

Text ads are simple yet striking advertisements that create a sense of urgency and need for audiences via text and phrases. They feature text and links marketers use to promote brands, messaging and products. They are most often compatible on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. 

2. Carousel Ads

Carousel ads (a personal fave and one of the most common types of ads) allow brands to post multiple images or video content at once on a sliding scale that users must interact with to see more. They require users to swipe left to gain more information or see more related images and content. Carousels are a HIT in paid social, and research has shown that carousel ads outperform single-image and video ads by 20% and 25%, respectively.

They are most compatible on Instagram and LinkedIn.

3. Stories Ads

Stories ads have an enormous job; their role is to grab attention. These ads appear in between stories uploaded by users on apps like Instagram and Facebook. Whilst you’re tapping through your friends' uploaded stories, these ads will appear quickly and for a limited time, they must grab attention and encourage users to take action.

They are most compatible on Instagram and Facebook.

4. Image Ads

Image ads are visually driven ads that use eye-catching graphics and images to convey a brand's message. These ads must captivate your potential audience instantly, as it is just a still image, so creativity and flair are necessary when utilising these within campaigns.

They are most compatible on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram.

5. Messenger Ads

Messenger ads are presented in chats primarily on the Facebook Messenger app. If a user chooses to click on an ad, they will be sent a more detailed version in a chat format, making the ad look conversational and allowing users to respond with questions.

They are most compatible with Facebook Messenger.

6. Video Ads

Video ads use moving visuals and audio to convey brand messaging and showcase products.

Video ads are often found on social media platforms like YouTube, Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram. 

7. Snapchat Ads

Snapchat ads are similar to story ads on Instagram and Facebook but do not use meta. They appear between 10-second full-screen stories, allowing users to swipe up to interact with the ad. In 2024, Snapchat's ad revenues worldwide will total £3.26 billion.

These ads are found on Snapchat.

8. Dynamic Ads

Dynamic ads automatically switch between content and promotions to show potential customers different visuals and information depending on what is most relevant. 

Dynamic social media ads are most compatible with Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok.

9. Sponsored Tweets

Has anyone noticed that X (formerly known as Twitter) has more 'ads' these days? Sponsored tweets are normal tweets created by users of X that have been converted into social media ads. Research has shown that promoted tweets garner a 27% higher engagement rate than regular ones. Users can promote any tweet they like, and apart from a small 'sponsored' label, they look like any other post on the social platform.

These ads are compatible with Twitter. 

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10. Boosted Posts

Boosted posts aren't necessarily the most... strategic social media ads, as they require little management and setup. Press the 'boost' button on one of your social media posts that is doing quite well and put a little money behind it to increase its engagement rate and get your brand/post in front of new audiences. 

Boosted posts are most compatible with Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and TikTok.

Discover how to integrate paid social media advertising with your established organic content strategy in our recent blog 'What is the Difference Between Organic and Paid Social Media?' 

What Makes a Good Paid Social Ad

Creating a great social media ad isn't all about the flashy graphics and catchy CTAs; it requires a blend of relevant content, good timing and an understanding of 'Why am I putting this out?' Here are 5 key ingredients to creating a good paid social media advertisement.

1. Know your audience like the back of your hand

The major mistake many marketers and business owners make when it comes to paid social media advertising strategy is talking to everyone (and no one at the same time). So, your understanding of their interests, pain points, and goals is key to tailoring the right messaging and advertisement to those users and maximising the impact of your social media advertisement campaign. 

You should research your audience, including their demographics, interests and behaviours, using this information to tailor your messaging and resonate with your audience. For example, if your audience is women looking for affordable clothing, it would be best to highlight your products at a low price point or any promotions you are running. 

2. Provide clear, concise and compelling messaging

The best social media ads with the most engagement, conversion rates, and overall success focus on creating clear, concise, and compelling messaging. A great ad tells your audience exactly what you want to say quickly and effectively - social is QUICK, and clear messaging is key to stopping the scroll to attract attention on social media networks. 

Your messaging should be concise and powerful, whether your product or service is a revolutionary new idea or an old-school fan fave.

3. Create strong visuals

One thing to remember about humans is that we are visual learners and discoverers; an ad with eye-catching visuals or a scroll-stopping design can make the difference between potential customers checking out or scrolling off into the distance. 

You should ensure that your social media advertising visuals are on point, complement your messaging, and have a strong call to action. 

4. Write a strong CTA

Make them WANT to take action with a show-stopping call to action; your ad may look fab and stop the scroll, but does it do enough to see action? Encourage your users to do something after seeing your ad, like "Shop Now," "Learn More," or "Join Now," and your CTA should be easy to see and encourage. 

5. Time it right

Timing your ads is also key, and it can enhance effectiveness while maximising your budget (discover how much paid social media advertising costs in our latest blog). Timing includes not only the time of day or week but also must align with times of year, including seasons, current events or milestones. 

For example, if you're a restaurant advertising its Christmas menus, January might not be the best time. Understanding when certain advertisements will work for a well-rounded strategy and maximise impact is crucial. 

Our Final Thoughts

Well, that was a lot! We've covered tonnes, from quick-fire text ads to the more engaging, swipe-worthy carousel ads. Remember, whether you're creating a social media advertising campaign to drive engagement, increase conversion rates or reach a new audience, the aim is to stand out on the feed. Ensure you're familiar with your audience, craft compelling messaging that sticks in people's minds, and always make your visuals POP! 

Our savvy social media specialists utilise dynamic social strategies to unlock exponential growth for ambitious E-Commerce brands. Check out our Paid Social Media Services today!