How to Avoid Instagram's 30% Fee When Boosting Posts on IOS Devices: A Game-Changing Strategy for Coaches and Online Businesses

As a coach or online business owner, you've likely encountered the frustration of Instagram's 30% fee when boosting posts. This significant cost can eat into your marketing budget and limit the effectiveness of your campaigns. But what if I told you there's a way to bypass this fee and get more bang for your advertising buck?

In this post, I'm going to walk you through a game-changing strategy that not only helps you avoid the 30% fee but also gives you more control over your ad campaigns. Let's dive in!

The Problem with Boosting Posts Through the Instagram App

When you boost a post directly through the Instagram app, you're hit with a 30% fee. This is a substantial cut that can significantly reduce the reach and impact of your ad spend. Moreover, the app's boosting options are limited, giving you less control over your audience targeting and campaign objectives.

The Solution: Using Facebook Business Manager

The key to avoiding the 30% fee and gaining more control over your ads is to set them up through Facebook Business Manager.

Here's a step-by-step guide on how to do it:

1. Access Business Manager: Go to business.facebook.com and either log in or create a new business account. This will give you access to Meta Business Suite, Business Manager, and Ads Manager all in one place.

2. Navigate to Ads Manager: Once logged in, click on "All Tools" and then select "Ads Manager."

3. Create a New Campaign: Click on "Create" to start a new ad campaign.

4. Choose Your Objective: Select the objective that best fits your goals. For most boosted posts, "Engagement" is a good choice.

5. Set Up Your Ad Set: This is where you'll define your audience, budget, and schedule.

6. Use Manual Settings: Instead of using Facebook's "Advantage Plus" settings, opt for manual settings. This gives you more control over your ad placement and audience.

7. Define Your Audience: Use the "Original Audiences" option to specify exactly who you want to target. This ensures your ad spend goes towards reaching the right people.

8. Create Your Ad: Select "Use Existing Post" and choose the Instagram post you want to boost.

9. Review and Publish: Double-check all your settings and then publish your ad.

Benefits of This Approach

By using this method, you're not just avoiding the 30% fee.

You're also gaining several advantages:

1. More Control: You have full control over your audience targeting, allowing you to reach the people most likely to engage with your content or become clients.

2. Better Optimization: With access to more detailed analytics, you can better optimize your campaigns for performance.

3. Flexibility: You can easily duplicate and modify campaigns, allowing you to test different audiences or ad creatives efficiently.

4. Cost-Effectiveness: Without the 30% fee, your ad budget goes further, potentially increasing your ROI.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

While this method is powerful, there are a few things to watch out for:

1. Copyright Issues: If you're boosting a post that includes copyrighted music, you may need to recreate the ad with royalty-free music.

2. Ad Disapprovals: Sometimes, ads may not be approved due to policy violations. Always review Facebook's ad policies before creating your campaign.

3. Overcomplicating Targeting: While you have more targeting options, don't go overboard. Sometimes, broader targeting can yield better results.

Maximizing Your Results

To get the most out of this strategy:

1. Test Different Objectives: While "Engagement" is common for boosted posts, don't be afraid to experiment with other objectives like "Traffic" or "Lead Generation" depending on your goals.

2. Use Compelling Visuals: Even with perfect targeting, your ad needs to stand out. Ensure your visuals are eye-catching and relevant to your audience.

3. Craft Strong Copy: Your ad copy should be clear, compelling, and aligned with your campaign objective.

4. Monitor and Adjust: Regularly check your ad performance and be ready to make adjustments to improve results.