Instagram is planning to debut a new ad format, which shows up in search results. And as early as now, Meta is already testing it out with some users.
So you might see a few promotions when you search for stuff in the photo and video sharing service as search ads are now in their testing phase. In the coming months, more ads are set to appear as you look for something on the platform.
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In this photo illustration, a person looks at a smart phone with a Instagram logo displayed on the screen, on August 17, 2021, in Arlington, Virginia.
Instagram Search Ads Now Under Testing
As per The Verge, ads are coming to the search results of Instagram. In fact, the Facebook parent, Meta, has begun stuffing a few promotions in the results page to experiment with the new format.
The tech giant confirmed in its latest Instagram blog post that it has started allowing businesses to promote their products, contents, and accounts in the search results.
The update says that Instagram has started to "test ads in search results to reach people actively searching for businesses, products, and content."
Although the new ad format is still under testing, the social media service says that they plan to debut it globally "in the coming months." By then, users might see more ads when they are searching for something.
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This picture taken on January 12, 2023 in Toulouse, southwestern France shows a smartphone and a computer screen displaying the logos of Instagram app and its parent company Meta.
Tech Crunch notes that the new ad placement should provide promotions related to what Instagram users are searching for. For instance, if a user is looking for a burger joint, they might see promoted results relevant to what they are looking for.
Similar to how ads on Google search work, the promoted results will rock a "Sponsored" tag to differentiate them from regular results.
How Instagram Reminder Ads Work
Apart from testing search ads, Instagram has another ad format for its users, known as Reminder Ads. It should help businesses in the platform to notify or remind people regarding upcoming events or products.
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A woman checks her Instagram account as she stands on a street in New York city on October 4, 2021. -
The social network says the new promotion option should "help advertisers build awareness, anticipation, and consideration for upcoming moments."
Users might start seeing notifications reminding them that a new event is starting in a few minutes.
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A Solution to Declining Ad Sales?
These new ad formats on Instagram means that users will see more promotion in the coming future as they navigate the app.
It comes as the Instagram and Facebook parent, Meta, is seeing declining ad sales. According to Tech Crunch, the ad revenue of the tech giant decreased in the fourth quarter of 2022. From $32.6 billion, it shrinks to $31.2 billion.
In other news, Instagram parent, Meta, is now funding a tool that takes down explicit media from minors.
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