What is the How To ad format?

You're literally showing someone how to do something, step by step — whether that's assembling a charm necklace, using an app feature, or painting your nails at home. The visual style ranges from polished product close-ups to high-end creator demos, but the through-line is always instructional: here's the thing, here's how you use it, now you know. Works best when the product has a learning curve or when "easy to do yourself" is the main selling point.

Medium

Video or Static

Funnel fit

Mid funnel

When to use the How To format

Products with a learning curve, complex setup, or ritual-based use (skincare routines, food prep, supplements with protocols, tools).

Creative mechanic pairings

Formats and mechanics work together — format defines the vessel, mechanic defines the cognitive move inside it. The How To format pairs naturally with:

Reframe ("you've been doing it wrong")

See the full creative mechanics library.

20 Recent How To Ads on Meta

Top brands running the How To format

Ranked by unique ads tagged How To in Motion's dataset.

Formats often paired with How To

When How To appears on a creative in Motion's dataset, these formats show up alongside it most often. Share reflects co-occurrence frequency.

Frequently asked questions

What is the How To ad format?

Step-by-step instructional format that teaches the viewer how to use, make, or do something with the product. Clear teaching language and/or numbered steps are present.

Is How To a video or static format?

How To is a video or static format.

When should I use the How To format?

Products with a learning curve, complex setup, or ritual-based use (skincare routines, food prep, supplements with protocols, tools)

Where does How To fit in the paid social funnel?

MOF — most useful for solution-aware audiences who are evaluating ease of use or learning curve

What creative mechanics pair with How To?

The How To format pairs with Reframe ("you've been doing it wrong").