Facebook and Instagram Lead Ads are powerful tools for capturing high-intent prospects directly from social media. With Unlimited Digital Marketing, you can seamlessly connect your social accounts, create lead generation campaigns, and automatically collect leads without sending users away from their favorite platforms.

This guide walks you through setting up Facebook and Instagram Lead Ads from start to finish, ensuring your campaigns are optimized for lead capture and ease of management.

Why Use Facebook & Instagram Lead Ads?

Lead Ads allow potential customers to submit their information directly within Facebook or Instagram. Since forms are pre-filled with user details, conversion rates are often higher compared to traditional landing pages. Once connected, Unlimited Digital Marketing centralizes your leads so you can follow up faster and automate your next steps.

How to Set Up Facebook & Instagram Lead Ads

Step 1: Access the Ad Manager

Start by navigating to Marketing > Ad Manager within your Unlimited Digital Marketing dashboard. This is where all ad campaigns and lead forms are managed.

Click Activate Ads Manager if this is your first time setting up ads.

Step 2: Connect Your Facebook Account

Select Connect Facebook and log into the Facebook account associated with your business.

• Choose the Facebook Page you want to use for lead generation

• Grant the necessary permissions to manage ads and forms

Once connected, your Facebook and Instagram channels will be ready for campaign creation.

Step 3: Create a New Lead Generation Campaign

Click Get Started, then select Create Campaign.

In the campaign setup:

• Enter your campaign name

• Choose Lead Generation as your objective

• Confirm the campaign settings

This establishes the foundation for your Lead Ad.

Step 4: Build Your Lead Form

To collect lead information, you’ll need a Facebook Lead Form.

• Click Create Facebook Form

• Choose the form type (more volume or higher intent)

• Add a greeting or introduction message

• Select the fields you want to capture

• Map form fields correctly to your CRM

Once completed, click Create Form to save it.

Step 5: Design Your Ad Creative

Next, customize how your ad appears:

• Add primary text and headlines

• Upload images or videos

• Review call-to-action buttons

• Confirm your lead form is attached

When finished, click Next to continue.

Step 6: Set Budget and Audience

Define who sees your ad and how much you’ll spend:

• Set your daily or lifetime budget

• Choose your audience targeting options

• Adjust placement settings if needed

Click Next to move forward.

Step 7: Review and Publish

Review all campaign details carefully to ensure everything is correct.

When ready, select Publish, then click Publish Ad Now. Your Lead Ad will go live once approved by Facebook.

Publishing an Existing Lead Ad

If you already have a Lead Ad created:

1. Navigate to Marketing > Ad Manager

2. Locate the ad and click the three-dot menu

3. Select Edit

4. On the Review and Publish step, click Publish

This allows you to quickly relaunch or update existing ads.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Do I need both Facebook and Instagram accounts connected?

Yes. Connecting your Facebook account automatically enables Instagram placement if your Instagram profile is linked to the same Facebook Page.

Where do my leads go after submission?

All leads are automatically captured inside Unlimited Digital Marketing, allowing you to trigger automations, assign follow-ups, or add them to campaigns.

Can I use an existing Facebook Lead Form?

Yes. You can select and publish existing Lead Forms instead of creating a new one during setup.

How long does it take for ads to be approved?

Approval times vary, but most ads are reviewed within a few hours. Some may take up to 24 hours depending on Facebook’s review process.

Can I edit a Lead Ad after it’s published?

You can edit certain elements such as budget, audience, and creative. However, changes to the lead form itself may require creating a new ad.