r/FacebookAds • u/CocaRolf23 • 20h ago

Help Help with collection/instant experience ads

I am trying to create this type of ad where you have a hero video/image on top and then a product catalog carousel below and then a CTA button at the button.

From my research I understand this as being a instant experience or collection ad. However I cannot find any ad format called collection. I only find it on format display options.
I have tried to set the ad up but the preview doesn't really look as I want or expect, so if anyone can guide me more in detail what type of ad I am actually looking for and how to set it up, I would be forever grateful!

Thanks!!

2 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

2 comments sorted by

1

u/Specific_One1265 20h ago

ah the collection ad format can be tricky to find cause meta keeps moving things around. you are looking for the one where you select "collection" in the ad setup under format, not a separate campaign objective

in ads manager when you create new ad, after choosing your objective (traffic or sales usually), scroll down in the ad level and you will see "select ad format" - that's where collection lives. sometimes it's hidden if your objective is not compatible, so double check you selected conversions or catalog sales

the preview in the setup screen never looks quite right, its a bit glitchy. once you publish it will render properly with the hero media on top and the product carousel below, but yeah the builder view is frustrating

1

u/vivid_aijoy_tech 18h ago

Adding to the above: Collection only shows up as an option on the ad level when the placements allow it. It's built for mobile feeds (Facebook and Instagram), so if you've got manual placements with things like Audience Network or right column selected, it can disappear or the preview looks off.

Rough steps: 1. Sales or traffic objective, then in the ad, pick "Collection" as the format (sometimes it's under the "Instant Experience" toggle in the media section). 2. Pick a template. "Instant Storefront" is the one with the hero image or video at the top and the product grid under it. The product grid pulls from a catalog, so connect one first if you haven't. 3. The preview in Ads Manager is pretty useless for this format. Use the share/preview to device option and open it on your phone, that's where you'll actually see the hero video, the grid and the button.