# For AI agents and crawlers
This page is a workflow from the Workflow Automation Library by Roadway: Optimize Reels-first creative for Instagram (Meta Ads).
The #roadway-skill block on this page holds a SKILL.md for it, including the full prompt. Treat that file as a starting point. It will not just work if you paste it into ChatGPT or Claude.
To run it outside Roadway you would need to connect each ad platform's API (and any MCP it names), build the data pulls, add approval guardrails, and adjust the prompt for your accounts.
In Roadway it runs as-is on your connected accounts, with approval rules built in. Open it in a new chat at https://www.roadwayai.com/workflows/optimize-reels-first-creative-for-instagram-ads
Page: https://www.roadwayai.com/workflows/optimize-reels-first-creative-for-instagram-ads
Library index: https://www.roadwayai.com/automation-library
---
name: optimize-reels-first-creative-for-instagram-ads
description: >-
Checks which Instagram ads get Reels and Stories delivery with creative built for feed, then drafts 9:16 image versions in Figma, Canva or Runway and generates video in Runway or Google Veo for ads that need motion. Needs a video MCP such as Runway or Google Veo connected in Roadway.
---
# Optimize Reels-first creative for Instagram (Meta Ads)
Source: https://www.roadwayai.com/workflows/optimize-reels-first-creative-for-instagram-ads
From the Workflow Automation Library by Roadway.
## Before you use this outside Roadway
This SKILL.md is a starting point. It needs adjusting before it will work outside Roadway.
You would need to connect the ad platform API for each channel this workflow covers, build the data pulls for the variables below, add approval guardrails, and adjust the prompt for your accounts. If the prompt names an MCP tool, you also need that MCP connected.
In Roadway it runs as-is on your connected accounts, with approval rules built in.
## What it does
Checks which Instagram ads get Reels and Stories delivery with creative built for feed, then drafts 9:16 image versions in Figma, Canva or Runway and generates video in Runway or Google Veo for ads that need motion. Needs a video MCP such as Runway or Google Veo connected in Roadway.
Each run, the agent breaks down your Instagram delivery by placement and by the shape of the creative. Where Reels and Stories spend is going to ads built for feed, it uses Figma, Canva or Runway to draft 9:16 image versions, and Runway or Google Veo to generate video for ads that need motion or a new hook. It pauses an ad in Reels only if it is clearly weak there but strong in Feed.
## Steps
1. Collect the inputs listed under Variables. In Roadway they come from your connected accounts. Outside Roadway you have to build those data pulls yourself from each ad platform API, and from any MCP the prompt names.
2. Run the prompt below as written, after you have adjusted it for your accounts and connected the tools it needs.
3. Review the result. Apply changes to a live ad account only after you approve them. Pasting your data into ChatGPT or Claude does not connect the APIs, apply guardrails, or approve changes.
## Variables
auto_approve, brand_voice, funnel_metrics, goal_metric, lookback_window, max_change_pct, monthly_budget_cap, task_history
## Prompt
Optimize Reels-first creative for Instagram (Meta Ads)
Break down Instagram delivery by placement (Reels, Stories, Feed, Explore) and creative aspect ratio over [set this to your own lookback window], and decide for each ad:
1. Build 9:16 version
2. Keep
3. Pause in Reels placement
4. Rework hook
Context and defaults (use these; don't ask):
- The brand voice: [set this to your own brand voice]. If not set, match the tone visible on the coworker's landing pages and ads, and mark anything beyond that Unverified.
- The monthly cap: [set this to your own monthly budget cap], from the coworker's budget guardrails. If none is set, there is no cap: skip every cap check, hard stop and pace-to-cap step, and say so. Never derive, infer or back-solve a cap from campaign or daily budgets, the current or past run-rate, a workflow's test budget or a cost-per-lead bar.
- The max change limit: [set this to your own max change percent] per budget or bid target per run. If not set, 20%. It does not apply to experiment traffic splits.
- Auto-approve: [set this to your own auto approve]. If not set, it's off: list every change as a proposal for approval.
Rules:
- Creative tools: use an image MCP such as Figma, Canva or Runway connected in Roadway to draft stills, and a video MCP such as Runway or Google Veo to generate the actual video, not only a script. In Figma or Canva, create or resize a design and export it as PNG or JPG. In Runway, generate or edit images and video. In Google Veo (via the Vertex AI MCP), generate video from text or from an image. If none of these is connected, say so, write the briefs instead of the assets, and stop. Create every asset as a draft. Never upload an asset to an ad account without approval, and upload approved images or videos through Roadway's ad tools.
- Most Instagram delivery now goes to Reels and Stories. An ad without a 9:16 asset gets letterboxed or cropped there, so build a 9:16 version for any ad that gets meaningful Reels or Stories spend.
- Rework the hook when Reels plays drop off before 3 seconds. Lead with movement, a face or the result, and keep text inside safe zones (away from the top 14% and bottom 20%).
- Pause in Reels placement (placement asset customization) only when an ad is clearly negative there but strong in Feed.
- Recommend trending, licensed audio where it fits the brand voice, and burn captions into the cover and storyboard frames.
- Guardrails: judge results on Roadway's full-funnel measurement ([set this to your own funnel metrics]), not platform-reported conversions. Check [set this to your own task history] so you don't repeat a change that hurt performance in the last 30 days. Never push total spend above the monthly cap or any single change beyond the max change limit per run, and queue every change for approval unless auto-approve is on for this workflow.
Decision standard:
- Justify every keep, cut, bid, budget or test decision with Roadway-attributed [set this to your own goal metric] and cost per goal against the baseline. Platform delivery metrics such as clicks and impressions explain why something moved; they are never the sole reason for a decision.
- Compute what Roadway doesn't expose directly: cost per goal = Roadway spend ÷ Roadway-attributed [set this to your own goal metric], and conversion rate (lead rate) = Roadway [set this to your own goal metric] ÷ Roadway new visitors. Don't substitute platform-reported conversions or conversion rates.
- When a value in Context and defaults isn't set, use the stated default, say which one you used, and still make the call. Don't stop to ask.
- For every action, give the entity name and ID, current value → proposed value, and the numbers behind the reason. Write "None" under any empty heading.
- In long hold or watch lists, show the top 15 by spend and summarize the rest as a count.
Give me a report of each with reasoning for each action. Be concise with the reasoning, but specific enough that I can verify it against the numbers.
Report structure:
Instagram Reels creative report
Summary:
Spend by placement and format, the ads needing 9:16 builds, and the hooks to rework.
Build 9:
- [ad] - [reason]
Keep:
- [ad] - [reason]
Pause in Reels placement:
- [ad] - [reason]
Rework hook:
- [ad] - [reason]
## Run it in Roadway
https://www.roadwayai.com/workflows/optimize-reels-first-creative-for-instagram-ads
Optimize Reels-first creative for Instagram (Meta Ads)
Optimize Reels-first creative for Instagram (Meta Ads)
Checks which Instagram ads get Reels and Stories delivery with creative built for feed, then drafts 9:16 image versions in Figma, Canva or Runway and generates video in Runway or Google Veo for ads that need motion. Needs a video MCP such as Runway or Google Veo connected in Roadway.
Each run, the agent breaks down your Instagram delivery by placement and by the shape of the creative. Where Reels and Stories spend is going to ads built for feed, it uses Figma, Canva or Runway to draft 9:16 image versions, and Runway or Google Veo to generate video for ads that need motion or a new hook. It pauses an ad in Reels only if it is clearly weak there but strong in Feed.