Guide 2 of 17 in Level 4: Run it as an ad

Turn an Instagram post into a Meta ad

To turn an Instagram post into a Meta ad with Blackbox (blackbox.plus), open the post from Plan, go to step 3, Post, and click Launch as ad in the Paid card. The post needs its slides drawn and a Meta ad account connected to the same brand, but it does not have to be published. New Campaign opens with the post already in it as creative 1: its slides, words, button and link come with it, and every slide runs as one swipeable ad on Meta. The goal is read from the post's ask; check it, where it runs and who should see it, then click through Creative, set one budget and the dates on Budget, and run the checks on Review. Click Draft the campaign and a proposal lands on Plan's calendar. Approving it creates the ad paused, and nothing spends until you start it. This is not boosting: it builds a new ad, so it starts without the post's likes and comments.

You'll need
Time
About 6 minutes 10 steps Updated
You'll end with
A new Meta ad from your post, drafted as a proposal on Plan’s calendar, ready to approve
Do it in Blackbox Open Plan, after you sign in
Example
A Studio post opened in New Campaign as the ad, drafted as a proposal

How to turn an Instagram post into a Meta ad 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 Launch as ad

    Click step 3, Post, then Launch as ad in the Paid card. On a post that is already live, click Make a new ad from it instead.

    You'll see: New campaign for your brand, on top of the post, with from Studio: and the post’s name under the title.

  3. Step 3:Check the goal

    Under What it should get you, check the goal read from the post’s ask, pick another if you want, then click Continue.

    You'll see: Where it runs, open under the goal.

  4. Step 4:Check where it runs

    Under Where it runs, check that Meta Ads is on with your ad account, then click Continue.

    You'll see: Who should see it, with Places, Age and Interests.

  5. Step 5:Choose who sees it

    Set the Places and Age, and add any Interests.

    You'll see: Who it reaches under Who in the Summary.

  6. Step 6:Check the ad

    Click Next: ad sets, keep the one ad set, then click Next: creatives.

    You'll see: Your post as the first creative, marked Ready and switched In campaign.

  7. Step 7:Set the budget

    Click Next: budget, pick Lifetime or Daily, and enter the amount.

    You'll see: What it spends a day on average and the results expected, under the amount.

  8. Step 8:Run the checks

    Click Next: review, and fix anything marked Block.

    You'll see: Ready to draft, and What the draft creates, marked All paused.

  9. Step 9:Draft it

    Click Draft the campaign.

    You'll see: A note that the Campaign proposal is drafted.

  10. Step 10:Approve and start it

    In Plan, click the campaign on its start day, then Approve & create and Start ads.

    You'll see: The card marked Running, with the day it is on.

    Open this in Blackbox

Good to know

  • This is not boosting. It builds a new ad from the same slides and words, with a button and a link, so it starts without the post’s likes and comments.
  • On Meta every slide runs as one swipeable ad. Click Edit on the creative to change its words or pictures; the post itself stays as it is.
  • The goal comes from the post’s ask, and the landing page from the ask’s link. Change either on Preset or on the creative’s Copy.
  • It is the same New Campaign that Plan opens, so everything there works here: more creatives, more channels, the budget split, Review’s checks — see How to create a Facebook ad campaign.
  • Other ad accounts on the brand — TikTok, Snapchat, LinkedIn — show under Where it runs; switch one on to run the post there too. For LinkedIn’s job and company targeting, see How to create a LinkedIn ad campaign.
  • Review blocks a Meta ad with no Facebook Page or no way to measure a sale. Pick them once per ad account — see How to set your Facebook Page, Meta pixel and Snapchat profile.
  • It saves as you go. Close it and click Launch as ad again, and it carries on where you were.
  • Drafting creates nothing on Meta. Approving creates the campaign, ad set and ad, all paused, and only Start ads spends — see Approve a campaign proposal and start it.
  • Run another version on the Paid card makes a further ad from the same post.

Official docs

If something doesn't work

I’m not sure if this is the same as boosting

It isn’t. A boost runs the live post and keeps its likes and comments. Launch as ad builds a new ad with a button and a link, and works before you post. See How to boost an Instagram post.

I’m worried it starts spending straight away

It doesn’t. Draft the campaign makes a proposal, and approving it creates the ad paused. Money is only spent after you click Start ads, within the budget and dates you set.

My post isn’t published yet

That is fine. You can run it as an ad, post it, or both, in any order. The ad does not appear on your profile as a post.

The button says Fix 2 first

Review found checks that would make the ad fail or waste money, often the ad account’s Facebook Page or pixel. Click the button beside each one, or go back to the step it names.

The Launch as ad button is greyed out

The slides are not drawn yet — render the images and the button wakes up. If the card says Connect Meta Ads to run this as an ad, click Go to Data and connect your ad account.

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