Types of Facebook Ads in 2025
Facebook, now part of the larger Meta ecosystem, continues to be a powerhouse in the world of digital advertising. With over 3 billion monthly active users across Facebook, Instagram, and Messenger, it offers unmatched reach for brands of all sizes. Its advanced targeting capabilitiesâbased on user behavior, interests, and demographicsâmake it one of the most effective platforms for generating leads, driving traffic, and boosting sales. In 2025, Facebook remains a central player in social media advertising, thanks to its ongoing innovation in AI, short-form video, and immersive ad formats.
In this blog, weâll explore the top Facebook advertising trends you need to watch in 2025.
Changes in the digital advertising landscape happen quickly, and what worked last year might be outdated today. With constant algorithm updates, new ad formats, changing user behaviour, and emerging technologies like AI and AR, advertisers must stay ahead of the curve to remain competitive. Ignoring these changes can lead to poor campaign performance, wasted budget, and missed growth opportunities. Staying informed allows marketers to adapt their strategies, improve ROI, and connect more effectively with their target audience.
Main Types of Facebook Ads in 2025
As the Facebook advertising ecosystem evolves, brands need to understand each ad format to tailor campaigns that drive results. Letâs explore the major types of Facebook ads with rich detail:
Image ads are the easiest and most widely used type of Facebook ad. They consist of a single high-quality visual accompanied by a caption, headline, and call-to-action. These ads are ideal for conveying a focused message quickly and are perfect for promoting a specific product, service, or brand offer. Their simplicity allows businesses to launch campaigns quickly with minimal design resources, making them highly accessible for smaller brands.
Make use of colourful, high-resolution pictures (1200x628 pixels is advised).
Keep copy concise and value-focused.
Test multiple creatives for better performance insights.
Video ads take things a step further by using motion and sound to tell a story, demonstrate a product, or build emotional connections with the audience. These ads appear across various placements such as the News Feed, Stories, Reels, and in-stream videos. Whether itâs a 6-second teaser or a 1-minute tutorial, video ads are known for generating higher engagement and can be used effectively in both awareness and conversion campaigns.
During the first three seconds, grab attention.
Use vertical (9:16) format for Stories and Reels placements.
Include closed captions for silent viewing.
Carousel ads allow advertisers to showcase up to ten images or videos in a single ad, each with its own link. This format is particularly effective for e-commerce businesses looking to highlight multiple products, services with various features, or step-by-step processes. The interactive nature of carousel ads makes them engaging and encourages users to swipe through more content, increasing the time spent on your ad.
Make your first card eye-catching to encourage swipes.
Slideshow ads serve as a lightweight alternative to video ads. These are created by combining a series of still images, text, and music to form a looping video. Because they load quickly and require less bandwidth, they are especially useful for reaching audiences in regions with slower internet speeds. Slideshow advertisements use pre-existing photo assets while retaining the storytelling potential of video, making them affordable for a lot of businesses.
Use 3 to 10 images with similar color tones.
Add transitions and background music.
Test different narrative sequences.
Collection ads are tailored for mobile users and are designed to make product discovery and purchasing seamless. Several product photos taken from a catalogue are displayed after a cover image or video in a collection advertisement. When tapped, the ad opens into an Instant Experienceâa full-screen experience where users can browse, explore, and potentially convert, all without leaving the Facebook app. This format is perfect for mobile-first shopping campaigns.
Use lifestyle images or video for the cover.
Sync with your product catalogue and Meta Pixel.
Highlight top-selling or new products.
6- Instant Experience (Canvas) Ads
Instant Experience ads, formerly known as Canvas ads, are full-screen mobile experiences that allow businesses to combine video, image carousels, product catalogs, and clickable links in one immersive unit. They load instantly and are ideal for storytelling, showcasing a product journey, or providing a deeper look into what a brand offers. This format keeps users engaged within the Facebook platform, reducing bounce rates and improving retention.
Blend multiple content formats (video, product cards, etc.)
Include clear navigation cues and CTAs
Use analytics to track engagement inside the experience
Lead advertisements make it easier to get information from possible clients. Facebook has a native lead form that may automatically fill in user profile information, such as name, email address, or phone number, rather than sending users to an external landing page. As a result, there is less resistance and more chances of submission. Lead advertisements are a great way to expand email lists, make appointments, or get people to join up for newsletters and events.
Offer an incentive (discount, freebie, etc.)
Ask only for essential information
Follow up promptly using a CRM or email automation
Dynamic ads are powerful for personalization at scale. These ads automatically promote relevant products from your catalog to users who have already shown interest in them by visiting your website, adding items to their cart, or browsing your app. Using machine learning, Facebook tailors the content in real time based on user behavior, making these ads highly efficient for retargeting and e-commerce.
Properly configure the product catalogue and Meta Pixel.
Use custom audiences for better retargeting
Segment by intent: view, add-to-cart, purchase
Messenger ads help brands start direct conversations with users through Facebook Messenger. These ads can appear in Messenger's inbox or open a direct message thread when clicked. Theyâre a great tool for lead nurturing, customer support, and sharing personalized offers. When combined with chatbots, Messenger ads can automate engagement and even guide users through sales funnels.
Use chatbots for automation and lead capture
Personalize responses with user data
Pair with Click-to-Messenger ads for funnels
Stories ads leverage the popularity of ephemeral content and appear in full-screen format between usersâ Stories. These ads are highly visual, immersive, and disappear after 24 hours, making them ideal for time-sensitive promotions, flash sales, or behind-the-scenes brand moments. With vertical video formats and interactive features like stickers and polls, Stories ads appeal especially to mobile-first audiences.
Use movement and emojis to enhance engagement
Reels ads are Facebookâs response to the short-form video trend, similar to TikTok and Instagram Reels. These full-screen, vertical videos appear between organic Reels content and are designed for maximum entertainment and virality. Theyâre ideal for reaching a younger demographic and work best when brands use trendy audio, visual effects, and authentic storytelling rather than traditional promotional tones.
Follow trending audio or visual styles
Avoid hard selling; focus on relatability
Keep branding subtle and native to the platform
Whether you're aiming to boost brand awareness, drive sales, or generate high-quality leads, choosing the right Facebook ad format can make all the difference. Start by aligning your business goals with the ad types that deliver real results.
Need expert help? Let our team craft high-performing Facebook ad strategies tailored to your brand.
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Is running multiple Facebook ad types at once an option?
Yes, you canâand you should. Running a combination of ad types like image, video, and carousel ads allows you to test what works best for your audience and goals, improving overall performance.
How much should I budget for Facebook advertising?
The cost depends on factors like your audience, bidding strategy, ad quality, and competition. You can start with any budget, and Facebook allows daily or lifetime budget control. Testing and optimization help you get better ROI over time.
Is it possible to retarget my website visitors using Facebook ads?
Absolutely. With dynamic ads and the Meta Pixel installed on your website, you can automatically retarget people based on their browsing or cart behaviour.
How do I know which Facebook ad type is right for my business?
Consider your goals (awareness, traffic, sales, leads), your audience behaviour, and your creative assets. For example, if you have video content and want to increase engagement, go with video ads. If youâre promoting multiple products, choose carousel or dynamic ads.
