Mobile apps and social media are the two things that have evolved and escalated rapidly over the years and have taken the world by storm.
In fact, the proliferation of these two technological tools is shaping the world around us in many ways. Both the tools are playing an instrumental role in changing the dynamics of the web world, including the online marketplace.
As a result, many smart businesses are going from web to app, converting WordPress to apps, or even building standalone apps from scratch to enter the mobile market. They are simultaneously using social media platforms to attract mobile-friendly buyers.
However, to stay at the top of your game, you must remain updated on the new advancements in both fields and try to make the most of each new milestone, launch, and update.
One such new addition to the social media universe was the launch of ‘Carousel Ads’ by X (formerly Twitter) in the year 2020. Since then, X carousel ads have remained popular among advertisers.
Stay tuned and learn all that you need to know about them. Also, discover some handy tips to ace Carousel ads and grow your online business.
Suggested Read: Popular mobile app marketing techniques – The complete guide to success
In this blog
- I. Interactive experience leading to increased attention span
- II. Enhanced response and click-through rate
- III. Goal-oriented campaigns and better insight collection
- I. Identify and segment your audience
- II. Learn about the ad formats and specs
- III. Set up the ad to tell your story
- IV. Use all the slots and cards smartly
- V. Test and launch your ads
What is the Carousel Ad feature on X?
First, what are Carousel Ads?
Carousel Ads have emerged as a popular ad and marketing format across social media and other digital platforms. These ads have the dynamism of videos and the engrossing tranquility of images, and thus turn out to be a powerful combination of both.
Admittedly, “swiping and scrolling” has become our favorite task ever since smartphones have entered our lives. In fact, most of us tend to scroll and swipe through most of the content we come across on our feeds, even if we do not really intend to in the first place.
Thus, carousel ads capitalize on this very swiping tendency of consumers, thereby making them acquainted, informed, and interested in the desired product, concept, campaign, etc. Most social media platforms already have the format added to their advertisement deck.
Now, what are Carousel Ads on X?
Carousel Ads are the same on X as they are on other social media platforms. However, X rolled out the full-fledged version of carousel ads much later compared to other social media platforms. It was still known as Twitter when that happened, and advertisers were psyched about it.
When they tested the carousel ad format, app-based carousel ads boosted installs per impression by 24 percent as compared to single-asset formats, whereas the website carousel ads boosted the clickthrough rate (CTR) by about 15 percent. This led to a confident launch of X Carousel Ads (then known as Twitter Carousel Ads).
Ever since then, carousel ads have been one of the top favorite ad formats on X. It enables marketers to create dynamic ads by combining two to six horizontally swipeable images and/or videos that together tell a sequential story.
As per the platform itself, X carousel ads allow for more “creative space and flexibility” and let advertisers create engaging campaigns for driving traffic, increasing app installs, or any other related goal. Almost anyone with a Business Account on X can create and set up these ad campaigns.
Suggested Read: How to promote your mobile app on Twitter – The complete strategic guide
What are the benefits of using the Carousel Ad feature on X?
X carousel ads can have immense benefits over regular ads. As stated above, X itself tested carousel ads and they were found more effective than static ads and even generated more engagement.
There are many X carousel ad examples that showcase how different brands are using it to their advantage. From creating interesting displays of products to leveraging moment marketing tactics, the ad format is being used in a variety of ways.
You can always explore the feature and test it for yourself. However, to help you get a clearer picture and to understand better, we have listed some of the outstanding benefits of X ads. They can be summarized as follows:
Interactive experience leading to increased attention span
The edgy design of X carousel ads makes the content more engaging and interesting. The ad takes up more space in the feed ensuring better noticeability. Moreover, carousel ads are easier to create, test, and publish, and creative liberty allows you to play around with multiple types of elements.
As a result, the attention span of the consumers increases. When presented in a swipeable carousel format, users tend to spend more time on the ad, as compared to regular images, infographics, or videos. This eventually amplifies the engagement and benefits the brand in the long run.
Enhanced response and click-through rate
As discussed above, carousel ads are proven to have better strike rates and a higher ability to generate responses from customers. The ads appear on X feed without being too intrusive and turn out to be more informative, and hence more captive.
The aesthetics and the scope of laying out information in an elaborate manner lead to better click-through and response rates in customers. This leads to a spike in traction, conversions, and sales, as well. You can combine multiple ad formats into one to save money while ensuring better ROI (Return on Investment).
Goal-oriented campaigns and better insight collection
X carousel ads are highly dynamic and can incorporate versatile messaging and multiple CTAs. Yet they can be designed to serve the goal that they are intended for. For instance, you can aim for more app installs and downloads, product sales, impressions, etc., and design the ad accordingly.
This enables marketers and brands to channel their energy in the right direction and make the most of their efforts. It inspires goal-oriented ad campaigns, thereby amplifying the favorable results. Besides, X offers a detailed dashboard for tracking the ads and extracting data for analytics, thereby making your ads more fruitful and result-centric.
How to create carousel ads for X: Best tips and strategies
Follow the handy tips and tricks discussed below and make the most of your X carousel ad campaigns.
I: Identify and segment your audience
Any ad campaign can turn out to be a total failure or waste if you do not conduct proper audience sampling. It is important that you know your potential buyers and target the right audience. Therefore, conduct proper research to validate your ideas.
For instance, if your product is for millennials, you can skip showing the ad to people from other age groups. Similarly, you can look for other demographic and psychographic metrics, and target your audience through the ad accordingly.
Similarly, you must know what your objective is as you create the ads. Plan the content accordingly and get it validated by the experts on the subject matter. Establish clear goals and proceed accordingly.
II: Learn about the ad formats and specs
When placing ads on social media, you must be cautious about the formats to ensure quality and screen & device adaptability. In the case of X, carousels should align with the following specifications:
- Number of slides: 2 to 6
- Image Assets: Aspect Ratios of 1.91:1 (800 x 418 pixels) and 1:1 (800 x 800 pixels); File size under 2MB
- Video Assets: MP4 or MOV files; Aspect Ratios of 16:9 (800 x 450 pixels) or 1:1 (800 x 800 pixels); File size under 1GB; Time limit of maximum 140 seconds (Recommended length: < 15 seconds)
- Mixed Assets: Aspect ratios must remain consistent: 1:1 image asset with 1:1 video asset
The assets can also be combined accordingly within the same carousel. You can also read the carousel specifications by X to know more about the ad format specifics in detail. Play by the rules and guidelines and multiply your profits.
Use high-quality media to tell your story and ensure that it appears on devices as desired. Keep the messaging clear and concise in each card and design the assets accordingly.
III: Set up the ad to tell your story
Carousel ads can be creatively used to tell a brand story. In fact, you can focus on soft-selling and brand storytelling techniques to encourage and inspire your consumers, rather than directly talking about sales. Choose what works for you and proceed accordingly.
You can go to X Ads and create an account. Navigate to the Ads Manager to set up a new campaign and get started. You can place ‘Promoted Ads’ for apps and select the carousel format for the same. Create your campaign and set up your ad group or target audience. Upload the ads and configure them as desired.
Create high-quality ad content with compelling copy and attractive elements like images, videos, gifs, text, etc. Add a prominent URL or CTA button that redirects users towards the desired action. Use all the elements to put up a brand story or campaign that coherently conveys your aims and objectives.
IV: Use all the slots and cards smartly
As of now, you get two to six slots or cards to create X carousel ads. You do not necessarily need to use all the slots, but to use them smartly. Do not stuff unnecessary content and avoid making two cards totally different or unrelated to each other. Remember the following tips:
- Create an engaging and captivating first card that grabs the attention of users.
- Paint a holistic picture and tell a story that resonates with your audience.
- Align the artwork with your brand theme and maintain it throughout.
- Keep the format consistent or use a mix of media that matters for your messaging.
Note that while each card can stand alone, the ad altogether must paint a coherent picture. Hence, you can also break one illustrative image into parts, with different creative captions. However, ensure utilizing all the related elements like the headlines, visuals, descriptions, CTAs, etc., to the fullest.
V: Test and launch your ads
Every brand or ad campaign has its own USP (Unique Selling Proposition) that has the ability to turn eyeballs and garner immediate attention. Find that out and use it in your carousel ads.
You can also take the most interesting and sellable features of the mobile app and highlight them in the carousel ad if you are aiming for app installs and downloads. That being said, do not forget to preview and test your ads before launch.
You can also get feedback on your ads and improve them to ensure that your end users see the perfect version of the ads. When satisfied, push your campaign live and start tracking the performance and insights. Collect critical data and use it to optimize your current and future campaigns.
Detailed Read: Effective tips to create Carousel Ads for boosting mobile app downloads
A good ad campaign needs the perfect app
That was all about carousel ad campaigns. You can check out our suggested blogs and stay tuned to this space to get more such informative and entertaining updates regularly.
If you have the perfect app already, then just go ahead and create your first carousel ad on X to promote it. Gain more app installations and traction and generate sales like never before.
However, if you lack in this department or your app is outdated, then we suggest that you create a new one first. Do not worry! There is a pocket-friendly, smart, and fast way to do this!
Just sign up for AppMySite and create premium iOS and Android apps with our free online app creator. Create, customize, and test high-performing native apps for free and publish only when you are completely satisfied.
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Still waiting? Go ahead and join the league of our smart subscribers now! Build your own app or start an app development company. Get in touch with us or simply try out the platforms for yourself to know more.
Frequently asked questions
What are X ads?
X ads refer to the advertisements on the social media platform X which was formerly known as Twitter. X allows advertisers to place ads in various formats under its dedicated section for businesses. Some options include Promoted Ads (Image Ads, Video Ads, Carousel Ads, Text Ads), Vertical Video Ads, Collection Ads, and so on. Advertisers can promote content, products, services, etc., through X and get engagement and visibility amongst the X audience.
What are carousel ads?
Carousel ads can be defined as a format of digital advertisement. Such ads allow advertisers to showcase multiple images or videos within one ad that can be scrolled or swiped by users to unravel the message. These graphic assets or cards can each have their own link or message and tell a coherent story when viewed together. Carousel ads are mostly used on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, X, and so on.
What is the difference between carousel ads and image ads?
Carousel ads differ from image ads in terms of format and functionality. While carousel ads enable advertisers to display multiple images or videos within a single ad unit, image ads consist of only one static image. Thus, carousel ads can be scrolled and swiped but images can only be zoomed in and out. This makes carousel ads suitable for ads where multiple assets are combined to tell a story whereas image ads are used when advertisers want the viewers to focus on one core element or messaging.
What are carousel ads on X?
Carousel ads on X are a type of ad format available to advertisers on the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. Such ads allow businesses to create an ad with multiple visual assets laid out together to tell one holistic story. The format makes it easier for advertisers to display multiple products, services, pitches, links, etc., in one ad. Carousel ads are known to drive higher engagement as compared to static image ads.
How to create carousel ads for app marketing?
Creating carousel ads for app marketing requires a series of steps and strategies that must be implemented after proper research. Start with identifying your goals and target audience. Create suitable content and pitch the idea that you want to promote. Create stunning visual assets for the same and compile them to tell a sequential story. Select the desired platform, place your ads, and configure targeting. Do not forget to add prominent CTA buttons with relevant URLs. Push your ad live and keep monitoring the growth. Refer to the guide above for more details.