How to Create Instagram Stories Ads for Growth Suite

Want to create Instagram Stories ads for Growth Playbooks, but don’t know where to start? Here's an overview of a few best practices.

Create Ad Creative Specifically for Instagram Stories

When creating Instagram Stories ads, keep the screen experience in mind: Use vertical orientation. Stories capture an impromptu, authentic quality, inviting your followers to participate in a moment or an experience—and your Stories ads should feel that way.

Facebook makes it easy to convert Facebook feed ads into Stories ads but we do not recommend this approach when leveraging any of our Growth Playbooks. Using ad creative tailored to Stories will yield better results. Check out the example below: Which looks better to you?

To create ad creative specifically formatted for Stories, you'll have to use an app outside of Facebook. Thankfully, a wide variety of simple (and free!) design apps exist to help you quickly create high-quality visuals. Our personal faves are Canva and Vimeo Create! Check out other options in article below:

Top Video Editor Apps to Create Instagram Story Ad Creative

Instagram Stories Ad Specifications

Below are the requirements and recommendations for Instagram Stories Ads.

Image (Not recommended!)

• Recommended resolution: 1,080 x 1,920 pixels

• Maximum duration: 5 secs (Images are shown for five seconds by default)

• Maximum file size: 30 MB

• Supported image types: .jpg, .png

Video (Always use this format for greater results)

• Recommended resolution: 1,080 x 1,920 pixels

• Recommended duration: 10-15 seconds

• Maximum file size: 4 GB

• Supported video types: .mp4, .mov

• Video quality: H.264 compression, square pixels, fixed frame rate, progressive scan

• Audio quality: Stereo AAC audio compression at 128kbps+

• Sound: Optional but highly recommended

The Anatomy of a Perfect Instagram Story Ad

Designing a powerful ad isn’t difficult, but it does require thought, care, and a strong sense of the potential viewer. These elements are critical for leveraging our Growth Playbooks:

Next Steps

Once you've created your Instagram Story Ad, you're almost ready to launch your campaign! Here's a step-by-step walkthroughs for each Growth Suite Playbook: