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How to Run Ads on Instagram Without Facebook?

How to Run Ads on Instagram Without Facebook

Are you looking to promote your brand or business on Instagram but don’t want to deal with Facebook? Good news:
You can run Instagram ads without a Facebook account in 2025. Whether you’re a small business owner, content creator, or just starting your online journey, this guide will show you two easy ways to advertise on Instagram without Facebook, step-by-step. Let’s get started!

Why You Should Run Instagram Ads

Instagram is one of the most powerful platforms to grow your business, reach new customers, and increase brand visibility.

Here’s why Instagram ads work:

Benefit Why it Matters
Huge Audience Over 1.4 billion users in 2025
High Engagement Users love interacting with brands
Visual Platform Great for photos, videos, Reels & Stories
Fast Results Ads can start working within hours

Running ads on Instagram is one of the best ways to boost your profile, website traffic, or product sales—even if you don’t have a Facebook page.

Do You Need a Facebook Account to Run Instagram Ads?

Let’s clear this up:

  • You DO NOT need to use Facebook actively
  • You DO NOT need to post on Facebook
  • You MAY NOT need a Facebook Page (depending on the method)

When you run Instagram ads, Meta (the company that owns Facebook and Instagram) may create an ad account for you. But that doesn’t mean you need to log in to or post on Facebook. You can keep everything inside Instagram or use Meta Ads Manager with Instagram-only settings.

2 Ways to Run Instagram Ads Without Facebook

There are two simple methods to run Instagram ads without Facebook:

Method Best For Skill Level
Boost a Post on Instagram Quick & Easy Ads Beginner
Use Meta Ads Manager More Control & Targeting Intermediate

Let’s explore both methods.

Method 1: Boost a Post on Instagram (No Facebook Needed)

The easiest way to advertise on Instagram without Facebook is by using the Boost Post feature inside the Instagram app.

You can do this in just a few taps!

Step-by-Step Guide:

  1. Switch to a Professional Account
    • Go to your Instagram profile
    • Tap Settings > Account > Switch to Professional Account
    • Choose Business or Creator
  2. Choose the Post to Boost
    • Select a post from your feed (photo, video, or Reel)
    • Tap Boost Post
  3. Select Your Goal
    • Pick what you want from the ad:
      • More profile visits
      • More website visits
      • More DMs
  4. Choose Your Audience
    • Use Automatic (Instagram picks users like your followers)
    • Or create your own audience:
      • Age
      • Location
      • Interests
      • Gender
  5. Set Budget and Duration
    • Choose how much you want to spend daily
    • Pick how many days the ad should run
  6. Tap “Boost Post”
    • Instagram will review the ad (usually within 24 hours)
    • Once approved, it goes live!

Pros of Boosting a Post:

  • No Facebook account needed
  • Fast and beginner-friendly
  • Perfect for promoting offers or events

Things to Know:

  • Fewer targeting options than Ads Manager
  • You can only promote existing posts (not create new ones from scratch)

Method 2: Use Meta Ads Manager (Instagram Only)

Want more control? Want to run an ad that doesn’t show up on your feed? Use Meta Ads Manager with Instagram-only placements.

You still don’t need to use Facebook actively.

How to Access Meta Ads Manager:

  • Go to: https://adsmanager.facebook.com
  • Or tap Ad Tools on your Instagram professional dashboard

Step-by-Step Guide:

  1. Create a New Campaign
    • Click “+ Create”
    • Choose your objective:
      • Traffic
      • Engagement
      • Video Views
      • Website Conversions
  2. Select Your Audience
    • Choose age, gender, location, and interests
    • You can save the audience for future ads
  3. Choose Manual Placements
    • Select Manual Placements
    • Uncheck all Facebook options
    • Check only:
      • Instagram Feed
      • Instagram Stories
      • Instagram Reels
      • Instagram Explore
  4. Set Budget & Schedule
    • Daily or lifetime budget
    • Start and end date
  5. Create the Ad
    • Upload your image or video
    • Add your caption, link, and call-to-action button
  6. Publish Your Ad
    • Review everything
    • Submit for approval

Pros of Ads Manager:

  • Advanced targeting
  • More ad formats (carousel, video, etc.)
  • Can run new ads without posting them first

Things to Know:

  • Slightly more complex
  • You may be asked to connect a Facebook Page—but you can still run Instagram-only ads without using Facebook

Tips to Make Your Instagram Ads Work Better

Here are some simple but powerful tips to boost your ad performance:

Tip Why It Works
Use vertical videos Works better in Reels & Stories
Write a clear message Keep captions short and focused
Add a strong CTA Tell users what to do: “Shop Now”, “Learn More”
Use eye-catching visuals Bright colors and motion grab attention
Target the right people Don’t waste money on the wrong audience

Conclusion

So, can you run Instagram ads without Facebook in 2025? Yes, absolutely.

Whether you boost a post inside the Instagram app or use Meta Ads Manager with only Instagram placements—you have full control. You don’t need to log in to Facebook, post anything there, or manage a Facebook page (unless you want to).

Just focus on what matters:

  • Reaching your audience
  • Growing your brand
  • Making real results happen—all from Instagram

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