5 Best Instagram Ads Case Studies

If you’re wondering how to use Instagram ads to achieve your business goals, you’re in the right place.

This guide covers 5 Instagram ads case studies featuring brands like Resolve, 10 & AY, and Plus Restaurant, that met their business goals by advertising on Instagram. From Instagram Stories ads to Reels ads, these businesses used different ads to increase brand awareness, boost sales, and multiply their ROAS.

Read on to learn how to use Instagram ads to reach your target audience and compel them to take action.

#1: Mathieu Laca increased web traffic by 688% through Instagram Ads

Mathieu Laca is a recognized Canadian artist who paints contemporary portraits of influential philosophers, writers, and artists. He wanted more people to know about his brand, visit his website, and see his artwork. So, he contracted Art Storefront, a marketing agency for artists, to help with his advertising campaign.

The marketing agency advised Mathieu Laca to advertise on Instagram to actualize his goals, and these were the campaign results:

• 688% increase in website traffic
• 3K new Instagram followers
• 416 Facebook shares

I was intrigued by these numbers, so I dug deeper into Mathieu Laca’s advertising process to understand how he did.

Let’s have a look at it.

Mathieu Laca’s Instagram Advertising Process

Mathieu Laca followed the Instagram advertising process below:

• He created an advertising strategy. He would advertise his work on Instagram to increase brand awareness and drive traffic to his website.

• Mathieu analyzed his Instagram account posts and noticed that some of his popular posts had appeared in the “Top Posts” section. So, he turned the high-performing IG posts into ad creatives, targeting visual art lovers in North America.
• He ran the Instagram ads, one at a time, continuously. Initially, he spent 20 USD per ad daily.
• He analyzed the performance of his ads after some time. He realized how well they were doing. So he increased his ad budget to 100 USD and later to over 200 USD.

Some ads reached over 5,000 people and got over 6,000 impressions.

Mathieu’s Instagram posts were recognized by famous art magazines, Hi-Fructose and Huffington Post. Hi-Fructose shared one of the posts on Facebook, leading to another 416 shares, thousands of impressions, and leads.

The Huffington Post also shared Mathieu Laca’s posts on all their social platforms, increasing the brand’s reach and awareness.

Takeaway

Below are some lessons I learned from Mathieu Laca’s case study:

• Analyze your social media strategy before setting up your ads campaign. Mathieu realized he could drive traffic from social media to his website. He also discovered that he could transform his top-performing posts into Instagram ads.
• Have clear goals and KPIs for your Instagram ads campaigns. Mathieu Laca wanted to increase brand awareness and web traffic from social media. So, he ran a campaign that would help him achieve those goals.
• Use a scalable budget for your Instagram ads campaigns depending on the ads’ performance. Mathieu Laca increased his ads budget from 20 USD to over 200 USD per ad after getting success from his ads.
• Referrals from authoritative brands will help boost your brand’s awareness. After posting his ads on Instagram, Mathieu’s portraits were recognized by popular art magazines, which reshared the ads. Hi-Fructose also wrote a blog post featuring Mathieu Laca’s art, earning his site credible backlinks. The backlinks would increase Mathieu’s visibility, helping him reach more visual art lovers.

#2: Revolve got a 471% increase in purchases using Story Studio’s ad templates

Revolve, a fashion e-commerce company, was running Instagram Stories ads before, but they were not converting. The fashion retailer sought Dash Hudson’s help to improve their Instagram ads campaigns.

Dash Hudson helped Revolve run high-performing Instagram Stories ads using the agency’s Story Studio ad templates.

The Instagram ad campaign was successful, and Revolve got these results:

• 417% more purchases on average 
• 9X ROAS 

Let’s look at their advertising process and what lessons you can learn and replicate on your Instagram marketing strategy.

Revolve’s Instagram Advertising Process

Revolve was engaging their audience and target audience through Instagram Stories. So it was natural to use this strategy to run ad campaigns. 

But there was a problem.

Revolve was working on a limited budget. That meant that they could only afford basic ad templates. Unfortunately, these ad templates didn’t reflect what Revolve stood for—to inspire fashion enthusiasts with stunning outfits, behind-the-scenes stories, and captivating influence content.

Also, it took the social media team too long to create new ad creatives from scratch, delaying the launching of the campaigns.

Here’s what the team did to improve their ads:

• Revolve’s social media team sought help from Dash Hudson to get insights into how the fashion company could improve their Instagram Stories ads. 
• Dash Hudson introduced Revolve to Story Studio to help them with their ad creatives. The tool helps brands turn their best photos into attractive and engaging ad templates for their Instagram campaigns. 
• They used Story Studio to choose the most unique and eye-catching photos to create ad templates. The ad templates were simple, elegant, and reflected the brand identity. Revolve used the templates to create captivating Instagram Stories ads.

The new IG stories ads brought out Revolve’s unique styles, attracting potential customers, and driving conversions.

Takeaway

Below are some key lessons I learned from Roveolve’s case study:

• Analyze your ad campaigns regularly. Measuring the performance of your ad campaigns reveals what’s working and what’s not. Revolve realized that their ad creatives didn’t reflect the brand’s identity. Plus, it took too long to create them, and they weren’t driving conversions.
• Seek help when your campaigns don’t meet your goals. Revolve’s social media team sought the help a social media management platform that helped them create effective ad templates.
• Be open-minded. Revolve’s social media team was open to new ideas. The applied Dash Hudson’s suggestion of using Story Studio templates in their ad creatives. These templates were more captivating and caught the attention of Revolve’s target audience.
• Adjust your ad campaign strategy according to your goals. Revolve adjusted their ads strategy by using new ad creatives templates. By doing so, they achieved their business goals by increasing their sales.

#3: 10 & AY increased conversion rates by 345% through Instagram ads

10 & AY, is a men’s clothing store that sells classic and casual outfits (or a combination of both styles). The clothing company targets customers looking for stunning outfits for events like proms and special invitations.

Between 2017 and 2022, 10 & AY transitioned from a local to an e-commerce store. The clothing company partnered with Decocre, a marketing agency, to help them launch their digital marketing strategy, starting with Instagram ads campaigns.

Here’s how their results have been in the 5-year campaign period:

• 345% increase in conversion rates
• 6.7X e-commerce ROAS
• Grew Instagram follower base from 4K to 195K
• 800% increase in local store turnover
• 71% decrease in CPA (cost per action)

We’ll look at 10 & AY’s advertising process and key takeaways from the case study in the sections below.

10 & AY’s Advertising Process

1. 10 & AY, in partnership with Decocre, set up a long-term advertising strategy to help the clothing store transition into an e-commerce store. The company’s goals were to:

• Increase brand awareness
• Create brand loyalty
• Increase online sales
• Increase returning customers through remarketing ads

2. After determining their goals, the clothing store rolled out its campaign in the phases below.
3. 10 & AY attracted local customers to their local shop through brand awareness ads.
4. They analyzed their existing customers and competitors before planning their digital marketing transition.
5. They created a long-term IG advertising plan. The clothing company used precise, easy-to-read messages that resonated with their target audience in their ads.

6. The clothing company combined social media (including Instagram) paid ads with Google search and Display ads. They used user-generated content (UGC) in their millions of IG Stories ads, creating brand awareness among their target audience.
7. They created a fast, simple, and responsive e-commerce store to drive their traffic from social media. The store got web traffic from their social media accounts, especially their top-performing Instagram posts.

The clothing company ran Instagram Stories ads, Google Shopping, and Facebook Shopping ads to promote products on their e-commerce store. They also used dynamic remarketing and UGC to help returning customers see ads of the products they’d viewed online before. Plus, they reviewed and updated their Google and Facebook Shopping feeds.

8.  10 & AY used a multi-step remarketing funnel targeting different audience segments and used effective language in their messaging. They also relied on Machine Learning to determine the best ad copies and automated their bidding strategy. From these efforts, the clothing company built brand loyalty and increased sales.
9. They created a marketing calendar highlighting all holidays and special events, like Black Friday, Christmas, graduation, and wedding seasons. They ran ad campaigns around these events, offering special holiday discounts. 
10. They used Google Mobile Ads to create in-game ads on mobile games. They also used the Facebook Audience Network to reach millennials and boost online sales.

Takeaway

Here are the lessons I learned from 10 & AY’s case study:

• A long-term strategy is effective when you have several business goals. 10 & AY implemented a 5-year advertising strategy that helped them meet their four goals.
• A combined advertising approach works. 10 & AY combined Instagram advertising with Facebook and Google search ads to increase their reach. 
• Use UGC in Instagram Stories ads. Your audiences will trust your brand when you use user-generated content in your IG stories ads. 
• Factor in holidays and special events in your marketing calendar. 10 & AY marked all special events and holidays and created specific ads for those periods.

#4: Fragrance Foundation reached 6 million people through Instagram reels ads

Fragrance Foundation Germany recognizes and rewards outstanding perfume products every year in its DUFTSTARS awards. In 2022, the organization wanted to raise awareness about this event, allowing consumers to know the nominees well and choose their favorite.

The awarding company collaborated with three Instagram content creators to run ads on Instagram reels. The campaign was a success, and here were the results:

• Fragrance Foundation reached 6 million people
• They got a 1.8-point lift in consumers’ intent to vote

In the sections below, we’ll look at Fragrance Foundation’s advertising process and the key takeaways from the case study

Fragrance Foundation’s Advertising Process

Here’s how the Fragrance Foundation planned and implemented its Instagram ads campaign for the 2022 DUFTSTARS awards:

• Fragrance Foundation defined their advertising goals. They wanted consumers to know the six nominees before the awards, interact with them, and vote for their favorite fragrances.

• They used the Meta Creative Shop to develop a strategy that would help them actualize their goals. They decided to work with Instagram creators in the perfume niche. The creators would help them create engaging ads that would captivate perfume lovers.
• They picked three IG creators, including Angelo Carlucci, a creator with 905K followers. The creators created branded Reels ads featuring the key topic — “Smells like memories.” 

The captivating Reels ads showed the creators’ experiences with the six nominated perfumes. They captured the memories the creators associated with each fragrance in videos and image snippets. I especially loved how Angelo Carlucci Reel ads resonated with many perfume lovers. 

• After running the Instagram ads for a month (between October and November), the Fragrance Foundation used a Meta Lift brand study to measure their performance. From this analysis, the organization found out that they’d reached 6 million people and had a 1.8-point lift for consumers who were willing to vote for their favorite perfumes.

Takeaway

Here are the lessons I learned from the case study:

• Partner with Instagram creators to reach a wider audience. Fragrance Foundation’s partnership with Instagram creators helped them reach a wider audience and meet their campaign goals.
• Creator-led Instagram Reels ads are effective. Using creator-led Instagram Reel ads allowed the Fragrance Foundation to increase brand awareness among perfume lovers. The ads resonated with the audience because they were authentic and captivating.
• Use Meta Creative Hub for ad mockups. Meta Creative Hub lets you create and preview ad mockups even if you’re not an expert in design. The Meta Creative Hub team also helps you improve the ads before paying for them and running them on your ads account.

#5: Plus Restaurant got a 15X ROAS through sponsored Instagram ads

Plus Restaurant, a world cuisine eatery in Turkey, offers its guests the highest standards of services and experiences. Although the restaurant has been serving global guests for over 6 years, it wanted to retain its customers and attract more to its premises.

Plus Restaurant partnered with Decocre, an international digital marketing agency, to create an Instagram ads campaign that would help them achieve their goals. Here’s what the restaurant achieved in three months:

• 15X ROAS 
• Over 12 Ad million impressions 
• A 250% increase in daily customers

There’s more:

• 300+ reservations for New Year’s Day 
• 150+ reservations for valentine’s Day

Now, let’s look at how Plus Restaurant aced their goals and what we can learn from this case study.

Plush Restaurant’s Advertising Process

Decocre took the steps below to help Plus Restaurant improve their digital marketing strategy:

• The marketing agency analyzed the restaurant’s current situation and identified a gap in their digital marketing efforts. The restaurant wasn’t connecting with its audience online, and this had affected its visibility for 5 years.

Decocre dug deeper to understand Plus Restaurant, its services, and unique value proposition. 

The agency noted customers’ favorite menu products. They also found out that the eatery had fun activities like Latin Dance night, special kermess (for kids) or Sundays, and Live DJ.Plus, it was popular for the best wine services on special occasions like birthdays.

• After analyzing Plus Restaurant’s situation, Decocre helped the eatery define their goals. The goals included, increasing reservations and brand awareness, attracting new customers, and retaining existing ones.
• Decocre optimized Plus Restaurant’s Instagram account to reflect the eatery’s unique value proposition as a stylish eatery.
• The agency launched sponsored IG ads to attract local customers to Plus Restaurant. The agency used simple, clear messages that explained the restaurant’s location and the services offered. Using Instagram brand awareness ads helped drive local customers to the restaurant.
• To attract and retain previous customers, Decocre created a detailed remarketing funnel. They conducted customer research, analyzing previous customers and reminded them of Plus Restaurant’s products and services.
• Plus Restaurant wanted to increase reservations on New Year’s Day, so they set up a 12-day ads campaign to achieve this goal. At the end of this period, they analyzed the results and realized that they had exceeded their expectations by getting over 300 reservations for that day.

Takeaway

Here are the lessons you can learn from Plus Restaurant’s case study:

• Have well-defined advertising goals. Clear advertising goals will guide you to the most suitable advertising strategy.
• Digital marketing works for service-based brands. Plus Restaurant wasn’t actualizing their potential because they weren’t advertising their services online. Their turn-around moment came when Decocre helped the restaurant set up and implement an Instagram advertising strategy.
• PPC is a cost-effective strategy that helps businesses meet their goals. Pay per Click (PPC) lets you pay for an ad only when someone clicks on it. It’s mostly effective when you want to run an ad campaign for different keywords. This strategy helps increase brand visibility and conversion rates.
• Partner with a digital marketing agency if you’re not an expert. Since Plus Restaurant wasn’t experienced in digital marketing, they collaborated with an agency to implement an Instagram advertising campaign.

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