Guide 1 of 17 in Level 4: Run it as an ad

How to boost an Instagram post

To boost an Instagram post with Blackbox (blackbox.plus), the post has to be live on Instagram, posted from Studio, and the brand needs a Meta ad account connected. Open the post, go to step 3, Post, and click Boost this post in the Paid card. The review shows the post and caption exactly as they are on Instagram, because the post itself runs as the ad and keeps its likes and comments. Pick a goal: Get likes and comments, the default, or Be seen by more people. There is no website or sales goal, since a boosted post has no button. Check who it reaches, the account it runs as and the ad account, then enter an amount a day and a number of days. Click Create the boost (paused); nothing spends until you click Start the boost, and Meta reviews it first, usually within a day. To send people to your website instead, use Make a new ad from it instead.

You'll need
Time
About 3 minutes 7 steps Updated
You'll end with
Your live Instagram post running as a boost, keeping its likes and comments
Do it in Blackbox Open Plan, after you sign in
Example
Boosting a live post: its likes and comments stay

How to boost an Instagram post in Blackbox

  1. Step 1:Open the post

    Click Plan, then the post on its day. With no day, it is in the brand’s Library.

    You'll see: The post, with its slides and the Caption, Check and Post steps.

    Open this in Blackbox

  2. Step 2:Click Boost this post

    Click step 3, Post, then Boost this post in the Paid card.

    You'll see: The post and caption as they are on Instagram — they can’t be changed here.

  3. Step 3:Pick the goal

    Keep Get likes and comments, or click Change and choose Be seen by more people.

    You'll see: Your goal under Goal.

  4. Step 4:Check who sees it

    Under Who, click Edit audience if you want to change it.

    You'll see: The audience, kept inside your country.

  5. Step 5:Set the budget

    Under How much, for how long, enter an amount a day and a number of Days, from 1 to 90.

    You'll see: The most it can spend in total, just under the fields.

  6. Step 6:Create the boost

    Click Create the boost (paused).

    You'll see: A note that the boost is made and paused, with nothing spending yet.

  7. Step 7:Start it

    Click Start the boost.

    You'll see: A note that your boost is running, with See it on Meta.

Good to know

  • A boost runs the post itself, so it keeps its likes and comments. A boost from Blackbox has no button, so it can bring likes, comments and reach — not website visits or orders.
  • Runs as is the Instagram account that posted it and can’t be changed. Under Ad account, pick one if the brand has more than one.
  • If the post went to more than one Instagram account, pick the copy under Which post — the boost keeps that copy’s likes and comments.
  • The amount is in your ad account’s currency. If it is below Meta’s daily minimum, the review says so.
  • Create the boost (paused) makes the campaign, ad set and ad in one go, all paused. Only Start the boost spends, and Meta reviews it first, usually within a day.
  • Close the review before starting and the Paid card says Boost made and paused — nothing is spending yet. Click Review and start it to finish.
  • When a post beats your usual, the Paid card says Blackbox suggests boosting this — it’s doing better than your usual posts.
  • A boosted post stops counting as organic, so its paid results are not mixed into how your posts are doing.

Official docs

If something doesn't work

I’m not sure whether to boost or make a new ad

Boost when the post is already doing well: it keeps its likes and comments. Make a new ad from it instead when you want website visits, orders or sign-ups, different words, or a post that is not published yet.

I’m worried it starts spending straight away

It doesn’t. Create the boost (paused) makes it with nothing spending. Money is only spent after you click Start the boost, up to the amount a day you set, for the days you set.

There’s no goal for website visits or sales

A boost from Blackbox shows the post as it is, with no button, so there is nothing to click through to. For visits or orders, click Make a new ad from it instead.

I want to boost a TikTok post

Connect TikTok Ads, and a video post that is live on TikTok shows Boost this post too. If no TikTok account on your ad account owns the video, Blackbox asks for the video's ad authorisation code from the TikTok app. Photo posts can't be boosted yet — use Launch as ad.

Boost this post isn’t there for a post I made outside Blackbox

Boost this post is for posts sent from Studio. Blackbox still watches every post on your account and may suggest boosting a strong one with a Boost on Instagram card.

I want to stop the boost early

It stops on its own after the days you set. To stop it sooner, open it with See it on Meta and pause it in Meta Ads Manager.

Stuck at any step? Send us a message and we'll do it with you on a call. All of Level 4: Run it as an ad