Trying to decide between Facebook ads and Instagram ads can feel a bit like picking your favourite coffee shop. We hear this all the time: “Which one’s better for my business?”
Well, the answer depends on a few things: your goals, who you’re targeting, and how much you’re willing to spend. Let’s break it down and help you choose the right one for your brand.
Key Differences Between Facebook and Instagram Ads
Let’s take a closer look at the key differences between Facebook and Instagram ads:
Audience and Platform Behaviour
When it comes to audience behaviour, Facebook and Instagram serve very different crowds.
Facebook tends to attract a broader age group, often skewing older. It’s great for targeting decision-makers, professionals, and older millennials. One of the key benefits of Facebook ads for business is the platform’s advanced targeting capabilities. It is perfect for lead generation and reaching niche segments.
Instagram, on the other hand, leans younger. It’s hugely popular with Gen Z and younger millennials, and it’s all about visuals. For small businesses in fashion, food, travel, or beauty, the benefits of Instagram ads go beyond visibility. Instagram ads help you reach people who love engaging with visual content and discovering new brands.
Engagement Trends
When comparing Facebook ads vs Instagram ads, engagement is where Instagram often shines.
Instagram’s interface encourages quick interactions like “likes, shares, saves, and comments” on eye-catching visuals. It’s ideal for building brand awareness and fostering community.
Facebook, however, offers a broader range of engagement actions. From clicking through to your site, signing up for events, to joining groups.
Instagram Ads vs Facebook Ads Cost
Generally speaking, Instagram ads’ cost tends to be higher than Facebook ads. Instagram ads often come with a steeper cost per click (CPC) due to its visual-first appeal and younger, highly engaged user base.
That said, Facebook tends to be more cost-effective, especially for industries focused on lead generation or service-based offerings. The Instagram ads vs Facebook ads cost question ultimately comes down to your campaign type and audience intent.
How to Choose the Right Platform for Your Business?
If your goal is brand awareness or promoting a visual product, Instagram is the obvious choice. The benefits of Instagram ads include strong reach among younger users and stunning visual placements like Stories, Reels, and the Explore page.
But if you’re looking for lead generation, detailed audience targeting, or driving website actions, Facebook takes the lead. The benefits of Facebook ads for business lie in its robust ad formats, event promotions, and community-building tools.
Can You Use Both?
Absolutely, and in fact, we recommend it.
Running cross-platform campaigns allows you to reach different segments of your audience and test which creatives and messages work best. The key? Track, test, tweak. In the Facebook ads vs Instagram ads debate, combining the two often leads to the strongest performance.
Facebook Ads vs Instagram Ads: What’s Best for You?
To wrap it up, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer to Facebook ads vs Instagram ads. It all depends on who you’re targeting, what you’re offering, and what results you’re after.
The good news? You don’t have to figure it out alone. At Haarty Hanks, we help businesses like yours build smart, goal-driven ad strategies customised to your audience whether that’s on Facebook, Instagram, or both.
Get in touch with us and let’s grow your business where it matters most.
