Meta Reels Trending Ads Tool: A Guide To The New Meta Tools
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Instagram Reels and Threads have quickly become places where culture happens in real time, and now Meta is opening the doors wider for advertisers. With the global rollout of Reels trending ads, brands can place themselves right after the videos everyone is already watching and sharing. At the same time, Threads is gaining new ad formats, and Meta is upgrading its AI-powered tools to help businesses reach the right audiences. For marketers, these updates aren’t just features—they’re a guide to staying visible where attention is highest this fall.
Why This Update Matters
Meta is doubling down on short-form video and automated ad tech. Reels is already a major attention magnet — more than half of Instagram time is spent on Reels. Now, advertisers worldwide can place ads directly after top-trending Reels, giving brands premium access to the cultural moments people care about most.
At the same time, Meta is expanding ad options on Threads and giving advertisers smarter tools inside Ads Manager. Let’s break down what’s new, why it matters, and how to use it.
1. Reels Trending Ads: Ads That Ride The Hottest Moments
What They Are
Reels trending ads are placements that run immediately after creator Reels that are trending. Meta uses AI to decide which Reels are culturally relevant and puts your ad right after them.
- Global rollout: Once limited to a small beta, now available to all advertisers (Adweek).
- Performance: In testing, brands saw a 20% lift in unaided awareness, on par with YouTube Select and better than TikTok Pulse (Marketing Dive).
Why It Matters
This is Meta’s way of selling premium adjacency. You’re no longer just in the Reels feed; you’re attached to the videos people are already talking about. Think of it like buying a commercial slot after the most popular show — except it’s happening in real time.
How To Use It
- Use short, snappy, vertical-first video that feels native to Reels.
- Hook the viewer in the first 3 seconds — captions and bold openers are critical.
- Save this format for launches, cultural events, or trending topics where attention is highest.
2. Threads Ads: More Formats, More Flexibility
Meta is turning Threads into a full ad platform. As of September 2025, Threads has over 400M monthly users and now supports multiple new formats (Social Media Today).
What’s New
- Carousel ads: Swipeable multi-image ads for storytelling.
- 4:5 image and video ads: Taller, more impactful visuals in the feed.
- No Threads profile required: Brands can now run ads on Threads through Ads Manager using their Instagram or Facebook accounts (Adweek).
- Automation: Meta is testing Advantage+ catalog ads and app campaigns on Threads to let AI handle product targeting.
How To Use It
- Use carousels for product showcases, tutorials, or event recaps.
- Test 4:5 creative for launches — it takes up more vertical space, making it harder to scroll past.
- Repurpose Instagram or Facebook content to quickly test Threads without needing a new account.
3. Smarter Targeting With Value Rules
Meta has extended value rules inside Ads Manager. Previously, you could only apply them to sales or app installs. Now they also work for awareness and engagement campaigns (Search Engine Land).
Why It Matters
This gives you more control over who sees your ads at the top of the funnel. You can tell Meta’s AI to prioritize audiences you care about most — not just who’s most likely to buy.
How To Use It
- For awareness campaigns, assign higher value to audiences in key markets or demographics.
- For engagement, prioritize people who already interact with your brand on Reels or Threads.
4. Landing-Page Optimization Tool
Meta also refreshed its landing-page optimization tool (AdExchanger).
What It Does
When someone clicks your ad, Meta’s AI automatically routes them to the page on your site most likely to convert — not just the one you picked.
How To Use It
- Keep your site pages updated with clear calls-to-action.
- Use this for campaigns with multiple products or offers, where AI can guide traffic to the strongest option.
Quick Playbook For Brands
- Launch moments: Pair trending Reels ads with new product drops or major events.
- Deep storytelling: Use Threads carousels to explain features or benefits in sequence.
- Funnel strategy: Apply value rules to reach high-value audiences early, then retarget with conversion campaigns.
- Click protection: Turn on the landing-page optimizer so no click goes to waste.
FAQ
What are Reels trending ads?
Ads that run directly after top-trending Reels chosen by Meta’s AI.
Do I need a Threads profile to run ads?
No, you can use your Instagram or Facebook account to place ads on Threads.
What’s the main advantage of value rules?
They let you guide Meta’s AI toward audiences that matter most, even in brand-awareness campaigns.
How does the landing-page tool help?
It automatically sends people to the page on your site that’s most likely to convert.
