If you spend a good chunk of your day working on your Instagram content, don’t you think it’s about time you got paid?
That’s exactly what other IG influencers thought before making an effort to capitalize on their Instagram posts. According to CNBCSomeone with 5,000 Instagram followers and 308 sponsored posts per year can earn $100,000.
The amount of money you earn will depend on other factors, of course. But the point is – can you make money on instagram.
And the great thing about being an Instagram influencer is that there are no barriers to entry. Almost anyone can create an Instagram account and build a sustainable business from it. You just need to know the most efficient way to get there.
So let’s talk about how to make money on Instagram so that you can have a piece of this lucrative platform.
How many Instagram followers do you need?
First, let’s answer one of the most frequently asked questions about the business. How many followers do you need to make money on Instagram?
Turns out you don’t need that many.
You can start earning money even if you don’t have thousands of followers. What is most attractive to advertisers is that your followers are active Instagram users and belong to the same niche or category.
Think about this:
What is the use of advertising to thousands of users if only a few are interested in what you sell? However, an Instagram account with only hundreds of Instagram users can make money if the majority of their followers are from a specific niche, such as beauty, fashion, food, cars, or gardening.
That’s not to say that having thousands of followers doesn’t help. Of course yes. But it’s not the only metric you should be looking at.
And many Instagram influencers have made money with less. So having fewer followers shouldn’t put you off.
How to make money on Instagram: what you should know
There are many ways to earn money on Instagram. While there are some tactics you’re probably already familiar with, others aren’t as common. So it’s worth going through the full list just so you know you’ve explored all of your options.
It’s also worth noting that you’ll need to have an Instagram business account for most of these to work.
Note: It is worth mentioning that making money on Instagram becomes easier if you have the right tools to help you. For example, you’ll need something to help you schedule posts in advance and look for post ideas. The most affordable I found is Pallyy. Click here to try it for free.
Here are the top ways you can make money on Instagram and what it’s all about.
1. Sponsored Instagram Post
Sponsored posts are the most obvious way to make money on Instagram. And that has a lot to do with how good you are as an influencer.
To stand a chance of being sponsored, you’ll need to know how to engage your supporters. Both you and your followers must be active. It would also help if you can get users to jump off other social media platforms.
But what exactly does post-sponsorship mean?
How sponsored posts work
A simple way to see it is to be a brand ambassador or advocate. This has huge implications. If the company you work with is in trouble, your name may drag with it. That is why it is important to choose the right business partners.
Ideally, you’d like to endorse a product you believe in, something you use in real life.
For example, him jenny cho hair the account posted an ad about Bondi Boost. In the post, Jenny says how excited she is to use the product. Her 92,000 followers are most likely interested in what this hairdresser has to say about hair care. That is why brands are willing to work with her.
When you find a reputable company, you can cultivate that relationship so they patronize you more often. It is a win-win for both parties. You, the sponsor, get paid to promote a product or service without having to handle the business side of it. The company reaches a broader audience through an influencer with a built-in audience.
How can you get sponsored posts?
If you have enough clout in your niche or have a large following, sponsors will find you. But that doesn’t mean you have to sit back and wait. This business model allows influencers to be proactive. You can search for sponsored post opportunities.
You can search for companies that you think would benefit from working with you. They don’t have to be big brands. Smaller businesses are also looking to sponsor Instagram influencers. You still need to prepare a compelling speech to show that you are someone worth investing in.
But if you are having a hard time finding sponsors, you can join an influencer marketing platform. These companies already work with brands for sponsorship deals. If your Instagram account matches a business, they will match you to make sponsored posts.
Note: In most markets, you are required to disclose when you post an ad. And you need to do it in a way that’s immediately clear to your followers (no hidden ads under the fold).
2. Affiliate Marketing
You may be a better salesperson than an influencer. Is there a way to make money on Instagram?
Yes it is. You can start earning money as an affiliate marketer.
This is simpler than being a brand ambassador. And in most cases, you can be an affiliate even if you don’t have that many followers. Even better, affiliate marketing works across different social media accounts and not just Instagram.
What is affiliate marketing?
As an affiliate marketer, you earn money through commissions. For this to work, you will need to add a special clickable link provided by your business partner to your Instagram post or stories. When your Instagram audience clicks on it, they will be redirected to an online store or landing page.
Once they are in the online store, the company keeps track of every action they take. If an IG follower of yours buys a product, the company will be able to say that it came from your Instagram account. So you get a commission.
In the example above, the post clearly states that if you are interested in purchasing the advertised products, you will need to do so using the link in your Instagram bio. This is because the influencer receives a commission for the sales generated. The more people buy, the more money the influencer receives.
Every affiliate setup is different. You will need to check the terms and conditions set by the companies to see how much you could earn, as well as their requirements.
Note: Want to learn more about the basics of affiliate marketing? Check out our beginner’s guide to affiliate marketing.
Where do you find membership opportunities?
Just find a big online store and they will likely have an affiliate program available. E.g, Airbnb has an affiliate program where you could sign up. You can send guests and hosts to the platform using Instagram.
Amazon Associates is another way users can earn commissions.
To learn more, check out our roundup of the best affiliate marketing networks.
One big advantage of affiliate networks is that you don’t have to worry about inventory and delivery. It’s like having your own eCommerce store without all the hassle of running one.
How to do affiliate marketing in Instagram
Instagram is set to start testing its own affiliate tool in the second half of 2021.
Until then, the best thing to do is create a dedicated landing page with your affiliate links and add it to your bio. You can easily create one using an Instagram bio link tool like Shorby.
Here is an example of our bio link page:
We use them to drive traffic to specific content. You can easily use yours to drive traffic directly to affiliate offers or reviews/tutorials that include your affiliate links.
Alternatively, you can use an all-in-one Instagram marketing tool like Pallyy, which includes a bio link tool, scheduling, analytics, and more. Click here to try it for free.
3. Start your own online store
If affiliate marketing or influencer posts aren’t that appealing to you, why not create your own store? In this way, you earn money by selling your own products. Other benefits like getting all the sales generated and complete control over how you market your products.
Setting up an eCommerce store is not as difficult as it used to be. Some third-party apps and services can help you set up your own site, even if you don’t have any coding experience.
Alternatively, you can find companies that print products on demand so you don’t have to worry about stock. I can print t-shirts, mugs, calendars and other products. All you have to offer is the design.
BigCommerce is one of the most popular eCommerce platforms, but there are other options that are easier to get started with, like Sellfy.
PepperMayonnaise is a popular online store that offers worldwide shipping. Use Instagram to promote your products.
When you click on the link in the Instagram bio, you will be redirected to the company’s online store. Here, users can browse through all the available selections. IG promotion is a great way to spark interest among followers.
What kind of products should you sell?
You should definitely align your product with your niche. If every Instagram Story you post is related to beauty and wellness, then you want to sell products that complement that lifestyle.
If you are respected in your community and have a strong online presence, selling online courses is a great way to make more money. For example, influencers with good photography skills can teach students how to create engaging posts for their own Instagram page.
Keep in mind that selling physical products can be difficult, which is why some influencers stick with digital merchandise.
Add a link to your online store in your Instagram bio and use relevant hashtags to engage your target audience.
4. Sell your photos
Have you thought about selling your photos? If photography is what makes people love you, then you should definitely go for it.
Whether it’s stock images or illustrations, most brands pay for Instagram content. Some are willing to license photos for use on their own accounts. You also have the option to sell your prints to your followers. Offering them in multiple sizes gives your fans more options.
You can even get creative with how you sell your images. Not only can you print them on T-shirts, but you can also print them on mouse pads, coasters, and similar products.
Where do you sell photos?
There are photo websites that allow people to sell their photos to other Instagram users. the ingram group Y twenty20 there are only two platforms that help you do just that.
Remember to familiarize yourself with the guidelines for knowing when your images are being misused.
5. Provide Instagram management services
Are you particularly good at Instagram? That’s great! Why not use your talent and skills to help other users grow their Instagram following?
Instagram marketing is a growing business. You’ll find people who would like to grow on the platform for personal or professional reasons, but don’t have the time to be as hands-on as they’d like.
What kind of services can you offer?
You may be responsible for creating content or responding to comments. Your client may also ask you to create and edit photos. There are also people who can create compelling copy for all social media accounts, including Instagram. And if you really know what you’re doing, you can even create an entire Instagram strategy.
It all depends on what the client needs.
If you want to search for Instagram related jobs, you can check five or other independent work sites.
6. Get Patreon
For those who are not familiar, patreon is a website that allows its fans to donate money through subscriptions. In return, the creators reward their members with perks like early access, discounts, one-on-one conversations, and exclusive content.
What you offer your members is entirely up to you.
It is a fantastic way to generate recurring income. Plus, it keeps you in touch with your Instagram community.
Is Patreon free?
Yes and no. It’s free in the sense that you don’t have to pay anything up front. You can open an account and use it right away. But Patreon gets a cut of your earnings. How much will depend on the plan you choose.
Lite plan subscribers pay 5% of their monthly earnings. Pro subscribers pay 8% of revenue, while Premium subscribers pay 12%. There are also payment processing fees.
7. Instagram Training
Instagram coaching is similar to Instagram management services. The big difference is that the training is less practical. He’s there to provide tips and tricks to other influencers and small businesses who need help with their social media marketing strategy.
As an influencer, you already know how to grow a personal brand. So why not share your knowledge with others and start making money in the process?
Coaching can come in the form of individual sessions that are supplemented by an online course, e-books, or other resources. Teach your students how to grow an audience on Instagram.
This is much easier than managing someone else’s profile entirely. So for some people, this might be the best option between the two.
If you think Instagram coaching doesn’t exist, think again. There are people who are already doing this to make money. lychee style Y Camellia Britton there are only two examples. And if you’re really good at posting awesome content on Instagram, there’s no reason you can’t be a coach too.
How to market your coaching services
It’s about what you can give people. Start by identifying the problem. Who are you trying to target? What do these people have in common? What are your pain points?
Try to relate to them. Explain where you started and what you did to get where you are today.
Also, explain to them the benefits of Instagram coaching. What do they get out of it? How long will it take? Draw them a picture.
More importantly, tell people what specific steps you’ll take to help people up their Instagram game. Will you do individual sessions? Can people ask you all the questions they want in social networks? Will they have your full attention? Will you be giving away free stuff?
And if your student doesn’t know where to start, you can always provide a list of possible topics to discuss in their first session. This should get the ball rolling.
8. IGTV Ads
You can also make money on Instagram by enabling IGTV ads. When enabled, businesses can promote themselves while their videos are playing. If you have a YouTube channel, you’re probably new to inserting ad breaks in the middle of your video. IGTV ads work essentially the same way.
The interesting thing is that you get paid based on the number of views your video gets. You can earn up to 55% of the ad revenue generated per view you will earn each month.
You can monitor your revenue and advertising activity in Insight.
However, you will need to be at least 18 years old and have a creator or business account. You must also comply with the Instagram Partner Monetization Policies and Community Rules.
Unfortunately, IGTV ads are only available in select regions (US, UK, and Australia) at the moment, though Instagram is working on expanding the list.
Other requirements for IGTV ads
Assuming you qualify for IGTV ads, what other requirements do you need to meet before making money on Instagram?
First, the content must be yours. You may not post content from other creators. And if there is music in your video, you must own the rights. Instagram suggests that your video be between two and four minutes long.
You will also need to enable feed previews. This makes sense because people won’t see your ads if this setting isn’t enabled. Another thing to keep in mind is that all of your content must be suitable for advertisers.
Videos must be at least two minutes long or longer. And you can’t cheat the system, which means polls, looping videos, static images and the like don’t qualify.
Finally, you shouldn’t incentivize people to click on a link in your video. That’s engagement bait and Instagram doesn’t like it.
9. Instagram Badges
Instagram badges are a way for your community to support you when you go live on the platform.
Your IG followers will buy badges when they find your content engaging. You’ll know which followers have purchased badges because heart icons will appear next to their names.
You, as an influencer, will earn money every time you receive a badge. You can see how much you have earned even when you are streaming live. And once done, you can see your total earnings in Badge Settings.
Users can purchase various badges while watching your video. So the potential gains are huge. All you have to do is interact with the audience as you normally do. Give them a reason to identify you.
Note: For a single video, the number of badges you can earn from a fan is limited to $250.
Unlike IGTV ads, badges are available in multiple countries. Right now, anyone in the US, UK, France, Spain, Italy, Australia, Mexico, Brazil, Turkey, Japan, and Germany can activate Badges.
You must still be at least 18 years old, have a business or creator account, and follow the Partner Monetization Policies and Community Rules. You can set up direct deposit through a bank or PayPal. You will also need your SSN or EIN.
frequent questions
These are some of the most common questions we get about how to make money on Instagram.
Do Instagram users get paid?
Instagram users they can to turn off. An influencer can earn money in different ways, usually through sponsorships and affiliate marketing. How much they earn will depend on several factors. So the gains are not the same overall.
How many followers do you need to make money on Instagram?
The more followers you have, the better. Although it is worth noting that you can make money on Instagram even if you do not have many followers. All it takes is having the right Instagram strategy.
How do you start making money on Instagram?
Always start by figuring out the numbers and understanding your audience. If you’re running sponsored posts, you’ll need to show advertisers your numbers and convince them you have enough active followers to make their investment worthwhile.
Is it difficult to make money on Instagram?
The answer depends on your strategy and attitude. It will take time and patience. In theory, it’s not that hard. But there are many factors at play, so it can be hit or miss.
finishing a
As you can see, there are many ways to make money on Instagram. And it’s no wonder influencers and businesses have flocked to this platform in recent years.
Especially when you consider that more than 1.4 billion people use the platform.
And the good news is that many of these methods do not require a large number of followers on Instagram.
For example, you can easily offer Instagram management services no matter how many followers you have.
How will you benefit from Instagram?
Related reading:
- 13 ways to make money with a website (and how to get started)
- How to get more Instagram likes for your photos and videos
Divulgation: This post contains affiliate links. This means that we may make a small commission if you make a purchase.
