What are the types of social media ads?

Social media ad formats vary by platform and objective. The most commonly used ad types across major platforms are:

– Single image ads: Simple, high-impact visual with a headline, description, and CTA button
– Carousel ads: Multiple images or videos in a swipeable format, effective for showcasing multiple products or a sequential story
– Video ads: Short-form video for awareness and mid-form for consideration; autoplay in-feed on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube
– Lead Gen Forms (LinkedIn and Facebook): Native in-platform forms that capture contact data without requiring a landing page visit
– Stories and Reels ads: Full-screen vertical format on Instagram and Facebook
– Sponsored Content (LinkedIn): Native-looking posts promoted to targeted professional audiences
– Display and retargeting ads: Served to custom audiences built from website visitors or CRM lists

IKF Insight

Choose ad formats based on funnel stage and objective instead of using a single format everywhere.

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