Do you want to learn how to make money on Instagram?
Over 2 billion people use Instagram monthly, making it one of the top social platforms out there. Did you know you can use your Instagram account as an Instagram shop? An Instagram business account with engaged followers can inspire Instagram shopping – therefore making money for yourself!
We’ve seen more and more people making a living off of Instagram, from content creators who have built up large followings to businesses and are using the platform to reach new audiences. In fact, according to Instagram Business, 90% of users follow at least one business and 70% of them don’t mind ads when watching videos on the platform.
Making money can be as easy as an Instagram post from your Instagram business account. The trick is, to become an Instagram influencer, with an Instagram page of many engaged followers (some Instagram influencer accounts have more than a million followers), have a great Instagram bio (this is where your followers can learn about you on your Instagram account), and you can then start an Instagram shop. Instagram shopping is becoming more and more popular through Instagram business accounts run by successful Instagram influencers.
An Instagram shop can gain a huge amount of traction from a single Instagram post – providing the Instagram influencer and Instagram page stay current and up-to-date with the latest trends. Imagine making money and gaining a million followers, just from knowing how to post pictures with clickable links, collaborating with other Instagram accounts, creating an e-commerce store and combining your own flair through your personal brand.
Whether it’s through sponsored posts, selling products, or promoting services, there are many ways to make money on Instagram. With so many other platforms, people flock to Instagram because of the ability to post filtered or unfiltered photos, beautiful shots of scenery or a night out with the girls, and even videos of your trip to Europe.
But that’s not all.
You can accompany every photo you post on your Instagram account with a caption to tell other people what you are thinking, feeling, or doing – and it doesn’t have to be short either. Many people love to microblog on the app.
But what can you really do on Instagram other than post? As a matter of fact, you can make money. And you can make a lot of it.
Let’s dive into some ways you can make money on Instagram today!
How Much Money Can You Really Make on Instagram?
How much money you can make on Instagram depends on your name, your business, who you are, how you make money on Instagram, and how many Instagram followers you have. Influencer marketing is so powerful that brands are willing to pay major celebrities and popular influencers 7 figures for a single Instagram post. These celebrities usually have over one million followers and will generate sales in excess of the financial outlay for the brand.
There are certain ways to calculate how much you can make on Instagram, but everyone has a different formula. Realistically, it would be up to you to come up with a general idea of what you could make. But because there are many different ways to make money on Instagram, each path will bring in a different amount.
Ways to Make Money on Instagram
There are many different ways to make money on Instagram; you just have to find the way that works for you. Whilst a lot of ways to make money on Instagram depend on how many followers you have, we have also added ways to make money on Instagram without a personal account, like running ads.
Below, we outline the various ways you can create income through the app – and you don’t have to limit yourself to just one! Just remember, the more you choose to do, the more money you’ll have coming in!
Get Sponsored by a Company to Make Money on Instagram
One of the best ways to make money on Instagram is to get sponsored by a company on the platform, otherwise known as sponsored posts. Be aware that the company needs to somewhat align with what you already post or it wouldn’t make sense.
The company will also look at how many Instagram followers you have to see how many people within their target audience they can realistically reach through your Instagram account.
The important thing for sponsored posts is that you have engaged followers, not thousands of random people who do not engage with your content. For instance, if you are a travel agent, you may want to stick to getting sponsors from companies that have to do with travel (or even snack companies or physical products that you would travel with). However, there is a caveat. If you use that item because it’s easy to use between travels, then that’s the perfect way to advertise it!
The main idea is to make it work with your niche and audience.
So what exactly is getting sponsored by a company?
This basically means that you are posting sponsored content on your Instagram account. You take a photo or video and post it either to your story or feed, or both depending on the terms of the agreement between you and the company.
How Can I Find a Company to Sponsor Me?
There are several different ways to find a company to work with.
For starters, you can send out an email to random companies that you already have relationships with (meaning the ones you use in your everyday life). You may love a specific beauty product or enjoy a meal service. Maybe you love an outfit you have and could reach out to the brand.
Another way to find a company is to scroll through Instagram to look at what companies people you follow are working with. You can also search #ad so that sponsored posts come up. Then you can reach out to those companies and pitch them.
Whatever companies you decide that you want to have a sponsorship with, you need to pitch with a professional email or DM on Instagram to begin the partnership. You need to tell them why you would benefit them, how you can help, and why you want to help.
Benefits of Publishing Sponsored Posts
Whether you’re a micro-influencer with 5,000 followers or a celebrity with millions of followers, you can get paid to post sponsored content on your Instagram Feed or Stories.
Sponsored posts refer to when a brand pays you to mention or promote their product/service on your account. The amount you can charge for sponsored posts will depend on your follower count, engagement rate, and the niche that you’re in.
Brands are more likely to work with you if your account is focused on a specific topic, such as fashion, travel, or food. This allows them to target their products or services to a specific group of people who are more likely to be interested in what they’re selling.
For example, if you’re a fashion influencer with more than 50,000 followers and high engagement, you can charge up to $5,000 per sponsored post. But if you’re just starting out, you can expect around $50-$100 per post.
If you’re interested in landing sponsored posts, reach out to brands that you think would be a good fit for your account and offer your rates. It’s also a good idea to create a media kit that outlines your follower count, engagement rate, and other information that brands would find helpful.
What Are Some Popular Companies That Sponsor?
Now, this may seem like an appealing way to make money on Instagram – and that’s because it is! So now you’re probably wondering what some popular companies are that would want to work with you!
For starters, different companies work in different ways. For instance, larger companies may want to stick with people on Instagram who have larger followings. Some companies may want to focus on micro-influencers.
Some companies don’t have the budget to pay people to post, so they may provide a product or free service in exchange for a sponsored post.
Either way, a few companies that are known to sponsor Instagram posts are:
- Neutrogena
- The Seeker Wines
- Nutribullet
- Patagonia
- Backcountry
- NinjaBatt
- Garnier Fructis
- Lululemon
- Robert Mandavi
- Cocokind
And there are so many more! This is just a random list of companies that have sponsored Instagram posts in the past. If you are looking to reach out to a few, you can start here.
What Does a Typical Collaboration Look Like?
Now for the terms and conditions. Every company is different and wants something different during a collaboration.
Here are a few examples:
Example 1: One company may want 3 posts over the next 3 months. They could also ask for a few story frames and dictate that you do at least 2 per month. They may also tell you to include specific hashtags, their company name, and something else specific in the posts or stories.
Example 2: Another company may ask you to post 1 post to your feed as well as 1 reel to the feed. They may then also ask for stories as well.
It is up to you and the company to negotiate how many sponsored posts you are making on the platform as well as what has to be included in the post and the caption.
It is very important, though, if money is involved that you have a contract between you and the company sponsoring you! In the contract, everything should be there from the number of posts that are required of you to the amount of money you will be paid at the end of the partnership.
You should also include licensing for images and whitelisting access rights as well (you can decide this with the company).
How To Make Money On Instagram By Selling Physical and Digital Products Through A Collaboration
Starting an online business is extremely easy nowadays because there are a number of platforms that can help you get started, such as Shopify, WooCommerce, and Magento.
You have the option to set up your shop using the platforms above or create your own Instagram Shop to sell and market your products. Whether it’s clothes, e-books, used books, or homemade accessories, you can reach a large audience of potential customers on the platform.
Instagram allows you to include clickable links in your Stories, making it easier to direct viewers to your website or online store where they can learn more about your product or make a purchase. It is also a great way to show off products in use and give people a behind-the-scenes look at your business.
You can also use Instagram’s powerful advertising tool to create ads for your products. These ads can be targeted to specific audiences and show up in their feed just like any other post.
Promote Your Business
If becoming an influencer is not in your plan, you can simply promote a business that you already have. This is the perfect route for e-commerce business owners to make money on Instagram.
Using the app to promote your business can bring in new customers and keep old ones coming back as well. The Instagram page that you have would be dedicated to promoting whatever your business does whether that be selling products, services, or something else.
For instance, if you have an Etsy shop, you can take photos of your products and post about them on your Instagram. You can then put the link back to your Etsy shop in each post and in the bio of your profile.
Or, maybe, you’re just starting a business! Promoting it on Instagram is the perfect way to get the word out there and get your first customer.
Do It Right
Promoting your business on Instagram is not always the easiest thing to do, though. It can take time to get the word out there to have people coming back to your actual shop or services to buy something (and earn you money!).
That’s why it is important to do it right.
On your Instagram account, you first need to set up the profile as a Business account. This tells people that you are running some type of business when they click on your profile.
From there, you need to set up the bio in a way that tells people in under 10 seconds what you do and anything else you think they should know to grab their attention and sell more.
Your photos for the business have to be crisp and should be taken in good lighting.
Encourage Customers to Post
Once you feel good about your own page on Instagram, you should start encouraging customers to post about your products. To do this, you can either simply ask them or offer an incentive in return for their post about you.
For instance, maybe you enter every person who posts and tags you into a raffle. One lucky winner will be given a gift card to your company! This raises awareness about your brand and gives it more reach to people who otherwise may not have seen it or known about it.
Utilize the Features
Instagram also has a lot of features you can use to help you with promoting your business. For instance, using the link sticker in your Instagram captions with stories can be really beneficial for people to click on to be brought to a specific product.
Let’s say you are posting about face cream. You can take photos of the face cream and talk about it in your stories, as well as put a link directly to the product so they can click and be redirected.
You can also utilize the ‘shop’ page. This is where you can put your products so that it is linked to Instagram for people to see when they visit your profile.
Another feature that you can use on Instagram is the countdown tool. If you have a new product launch or something exciting coming up, you want to build up the momentum for it! You can do that with the countdown tool on your stories so that people know when it is coming!
Start Freelancing To Make Money on Instagram
If you have a particular skill or talent, you can start freelancing and use Instagram as a platform to promote your services. This could be anything from being a social media manager to a photographer to a graphic designer.
For example, if you’re a freelance writer, you can post samples of your work on Instagram and use hashtags to attract people who are looking for writers. You can even become a social media copywriter and offer businesses and individuals help with writing captions and sales pages for their social media accounts.
Or if you’re a photographer, you could post some of your photos, sell prints, and offer your services for events or portraits. You can sell licenses of your photos to others to use for their business.
There are endless possibilities when it comes to freelancing and you can often work and earn from home, so if you have a skill that you think others would be willing to pay for, start promoting your services on Instagram.
Learn Instagram Marketing And How To Run Instagram Ads
With over 2 billion active Instagram users, there’s no doubt that businesses are looking to take advantage of the platform to reach new audiences.
This presents a great opportunity for those with experience in social media marketing to offer their services and help businesses grow their following and engagement on Instagram.
As an Instagram marketer, you would be responsible for creating and managing a brand’s presence on the platform. This would involve tasks, such as posting content, interacting with followers, and conducting research.
If you’re good at creating engaging content, know how to use the various Instagram features (such as Stories, Reels, and IGTV), and have a strategy for growing an account organically, then you can offer your services to businesses.
Depending on your background and duties, you can charge between $15 and $100 per hour. As you gain more experience and expand your services, you’ll be able to charge as much as $1000 per month per client.
If you’re interested in becoming an Instagram marketer, create a portfolio of your previous work to show potential clients, reach out to businesses in your area, and offer your services. You can also look for job postings on online job boards or freelancer websites.
Instagram Ads are a fantastic way to reach a multitude of Instagram users to promote your business or products irrespective of how many followers you have. Instagram marketing has taken off in a big way, and most businesses and e-commerce stores advertise through Instagram. If you offer businesses your Instagram marketing services you can charge them a recurring fee. This service can include creating the content for the Instagram Ads and media buying.
There are many places online where you can learn these skills. Online courses, YouTube, and Blogs are a great place to start. Once you feel that you have the knowledge required to do a good job, you can start to offer your services to businesses. Some people choose to work for free for the first fortnight/month to get their foot in the door without references behind them. If you can deliver good results, this is a great way to start making money on Instagram.
Instagram Shop
Learning how to set up an Instagram shop is one more marketing tactic you can learn on Instagram and offer as a service to businesses.
With over 500 million users browsing Instagram each day, and 90% of these users following a business profile, the Instagram shop is an essential tool for online business owners to showcase their products.
The Instagram shop feature allows businesses with an online store to link their products directly from their Instagram business account. This gives followers a direct link to the e-commerce store to make a purchase.
Refer Your Audience To Other Platforms
You may not use Instagram as your main account. However, you can use it to promote the other social media platforms that are making you money. This, in turn, leads you to make money on Instagram.
This is how it could work.
Let’s say you have a YouTube account with thousands of followers, so you make the bulk of your money on that social media platform. But you only have a couple of thousand Instagram followers.
Why not let them know you have another social media platform that they should check out? When you lead them to YouTube, they may subscribe and even share your videos, meaning you’ll make more money.
You can also do this with a blog! If you earn money through your blog through advertisements, leading people there with tips or stories that they want to hear will not only benefit them but also benefit you through the form of money! You can also do this with affiliate marketing or becoming a brand ambassador.
You can even link your Instagram to your TikTok to get more views and likes on both social media platforms.This can lead to additional revenue from your TikTok account.
Do Affiliate Marketing
If you don’t have a large following on Instagram, affiliate marketing is one of the easiest ways to make money on the platform.
Affiliate marketing is when you promote other people’s products or services and receive a commission for every sale that you generate.
According to BloggingX, more than 65% of marketers report that they earned 5% to 20% of their annual revenue from affiliate marketing. It’s a performance-based and cost-effective marketing strategy for businesses because you’re only paying for results.
If you’re looking at how to make money on Instagram, it’s easy to get started since all you need is an affiliate link from the company you want to promote. You won’t need to create your own products or services, so it’s a simple way to earn money online without having to invest any of your own money upfront.
Start by finding businesses or products that you love and want to promote. Then, create a post or story about the product or service and include your affiliate link where people can buy it. It would be smart to include a compelling call to action so that your followers know what they need to do next.
Let’s say you’re a food blogger and you want to promote a new low-calorie protein bar. You could create a post showing how the protein bar fits into your healthy lifestyle and include your affiliate link in the caption. If someone clicks on your link and buys the protein bar, you’ll earn a commission from the sale.
Make sure to also mention in your posts that you’re an affiliate of the company. This way, people will know that you’re promoting the product because you believe in it and not just because you’re getting paid to do so.
Become A Brand Ambassador
Over 79% of marketers believe that Instagram is their top platform for influencer marketing campaigns.
If you become an influencer, you can get paid by brands to promote their products or services on your account. As opposed to doing one-time sponsored posts, you can become a brand ambassador, which is a long-term partnership between you and the company.
Now you’re a brand ambassador, you would promote and represent the company across all of your social media platforms and often attend events on their behalf. This could involve posting sponsored photos or videos of you using the product, writing reviews, or offering discount codes to your followers.
To become a brand ambassador, start by reaching out to companies that you already love and use. You can also search for brands that are looking for ambassadors on platforms like Influence.co and Upfluence. Many brand ambassadors make $20k a year for part-time work, and some companies even pay upwards of $70k a year for more intensive work. This works hand-in-hand with monetizing your videos through advertisements.
Make Custom Instagram Stories (Filters and Masks)
Instagram Stories are a fun and popular way to communicate with your followers. With the introduction of Instagram’s Spark AR Studio, anyone can create custom masks and filters for Instagram captions and Stories.
Businesses are always looking for new and creative ways to reach their target audience, and Spark AR provides an opportunity for you to get paid to do just that.
To start creating custom filters and masks, all you need is a computer with Adobe Photoshop and After Effects installed. Then you can start designing filters that are relevant to your client’s brand or niche.
For example, if your client is a makeup artist, you can create a filter that simulates different makeup looks. Or if your client is a travel blogger, you can create a filter that allows users to see different landmarks around the world.
Once you’ve created your filters, you can submit them to Instagram’s Spark AR Hub. If your filters are approved, they’ll be available for anyone to use when viewing Instagram Stories.
You can earn $50 to $500 per design, especially if you’re working with a well-known brand. Check out the Spark AR Curriculum from Facebook for beginners to help you get started on building the perfect AR experience!
Monetize Your Videos Through Ads
Make money on Instagram through your videos by allowing ads to show up. This means that brands will run ads during your videos on your page.
To do this, follow the steps:
- Make sure you have a Creator Account
- Enable Monetization for In-stream Ads
- Post videos as you normally would – they just need to be at least 2 minutes
You should receive 55% of the revenue from each view. The amount you earn is dependent on the views that the video you post gets. You will receive each of these payments through a monthly payout.
Become Eligible For Instagram Bonuses
Instagram bonuses for reels are a new feature that Instagram rolled out in 2021. This is a way to be paid directly by the Instagram app. Not everyone has access to this bonus, as Instagram chooses creators pretty randomly.
There is no set follower count or algorithm for who gets the bonus.
However, there are rules that you need to adhere to in order to be paid and receive the bonuses.
- You need to have a Creator Account in order to be eligible
- You have 30 days from the activation day when they offer you the bonus to post reels and get views that will translate to a payment
- You can post up to 150 reels during that period
You will gain money based on the number of views per reel. When posting a reel, make sure that you have the box for Reels Play Bonus selected to ensure that you are paid for that reel that you post.
One thing to note is that you will not be paid by Instagram for views if they seem fraudulent or inauthentic.
Earn Badges From Going Live
Did you know that you can also earn money directly from your audience? You can! All you have to do is go live with them through the IG live feature.
Whatever you do on the live video, whether it’s showing off a talent, talking about what you love, or discussing products, viewers can buy badges from you. These are basically tips that they can give you for being live to show support for your account.
Your audience can buy badges from three choices: $0.99, $1.99, or $4.99. To know who has purchased them, you’ll see little hearts next to the comments from people who have purchased you a badge.
So how do people know that you are going live? Sometimes people will receive a notification that you are going live. However, it is best to talk about going live a week or so before you do!
You want to advertise yourself and your live video so more people show up.
Become An Affiliate
You can also become an affiliate to make money on Instagram. If you are an affiliate, you are basically someone who uploads sponsored posts about other companies and brands. When you upload a sponsored post you will include an affiliate link for the business you are promoting. When someone uses your affiliate link to purchase, you get a cut from that sale of about 15% or whatever the company has decided. Instagram Influencers choose to promote affiliate links through sponsored posts a lot, as it has the potential to earn you passive income.
To get the word out to your audience and followers about the companies that you are an affiliate for, you have many options.
For starters, you can post on your feed a photo of you and the product. You can include the link or a code that they enter at checkout in the post or direct them to your bio.
Another way to do this is to keep a link in your bio at all times so that as Instagram users check out your bio, they can come across links that you use for affiliates.
One of the most common ways to post about the companies you are an affiliate for is through stories. You can post honest reviews of the product, bring the products into your everyday life and post about them daily, or whatever feels authentic to you! Just be sure to include the link or point people to your bio so they to make a purchase so that you can earn money!
What Is the Difference Between A Business Profile And a Creator Profile?
There are a few differences between a business profile and a creator profile that you should be aware of so you can optimize your monetization on Instagram.
For both types of accounts, you cannot set your profile to private. This is only a personal account option. Both allow the setup for Instagram shopping and to see insights for your audience.
Here are a few other things to know about each profile.
Creator Profile Things To Know
For starters, if you are one of the following, then you will most likely have a creator account. You can set this up in settings.
- Public figures
- Content creators
- Photographers
- Artists
- Influencers
As a creator, you can choose in your bio what type of ‘creator’ you are. For instance, they offer options like:
- Blog
- Digital Creator
- Chef
- Gamer
There are many more to choose from, but this shows anyone (like companies) that comes to your profile what you do.
As a Creator profile, you can tag other brands that you are working with as a ‘paid partnership’ label. This is great for brand partnerships and sponsorships that you may land as a creator.
Business Profile
If you have a business profile, you most likely sell something. The most common reasons to have a business account are if you are the following:
- A retailer
- A local business
- A brand
- An organization
- A service provider
As a business profile, you will select the type of business you own to be shown at the top of your profile. For instance, you could choose ‘Hotel’ or ‘Bakery.’
Business profiles typically have fewer choices to choose from when it comes to reels audio so there are no issues with copyright infringements. However, unlike a Creator account, you can schedule out content from third-party content schedulers.
As a Business profile, you also have the option to add your location. For instance, if you are running a bakery, you can add the address so people can come and find you!
How to Make Money From Instagram: Tips
Many people are making thousands of dollars per month on Instagram. But it’s not as easy as just posting pretty pictures (although that helps).
Here are some tips for those who want to successfully make money on the platform:
Find Your Niche
What are you good at? What do you enjoy doing? When you narrow down your focus, it’ll be easier to produce content that appeals to a specific audience, which will help you grow your following.
For example, if you’re a fashionista, you could share your daily outfits, do styling tips videos, or write about the latest trends.
Engage with Others
It’s not all about self-promotion. Take the time to like and comment on other people’s posts, especially if they’re in your niche. This will help you get noticed and build relationships with other users.
The more engaged you are with your followers, the more likely they are to stick around and continue supporting you.
Use Hashtags
Hashtags are a great way to reach new audiences and grow your following. Use relevant and popular hashtags so that people who are searching for that topic can find your content easily.
Be Consistent
Posting regularly is key to growing your audience. If people know when to expect new content from you, they’re more likely to follow and engage with what you post.
Offer Value
Whether it’s through informative captions, behind-the-scenes content, or helpful tips, make sure that you’re offering value to your followers. This will keep them coming back for more and also help you attract new followers.
Collaborate with Others to Make Money on Instagram
Teaming up with other Instagram users or brands is a great way to grow your following and reach new people. You can collaborate by doing shout-outs, guest posts, or giveaways.
For example, if you’re a travel blogger, you could team up with an accommodation site and offer a discount to your followers.
How to Make Money on Instagram FAQs
How Many Followers Do You Need To Make Money On Instagram?
There’s no definite answer to this question. It really depends on your niche, your audience, and what you’re selling. That said, we’ve seen people with as little as 1,000 followers start making money on Instagram.
Instagram influencers with a smaller following can still make money through sponsored posts, product reviews, and promoting services. They just need to be strategic about who they’re working with and what products or services they’re promoting.
How Do You Get Instagram Followers Fast?
Having a large following on Instagram doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time, effort, and consistency to grow your audience.
That said, there are a few things you can do to help you get more followers fast:
- Use hashtags: Hashtags are a great way to reach new people who might be interested in what you’re posting about. Use relevant and popular hashtags so that your posts show up in users’ feeds.
- Engage with other users: Like and comment on other users’ posts. This will help get your name out there and might even lead to some new followers.
- Use relevant keywords: Use relevant keywords in your bio and posts. This will help users find you when they’re searching for something specific.
- Run a contest: Contests are a great way to engage with your audience and get more people interested in following you. Just make sure the prize is something that your target audience will love.
- Have consistent branding: Your posts should have a cohesive look and feel. This will make your account more visually appealing and help you attract new followers.
- Post interesting content: Share photos and videos that are creative and engaging. This will encourage people to follow you and stay engaged with your content.
- Use Instagram Stories: Take advantage of the features offered by Instagram Stories, such as polls, quizzes, and challenges. This is a great way to interact with your followers and get them to stay engaged with your content.
- Use Instagram Live: Going live on Instagram is a great way to connect with your followers in real time. This will help you build a deeper connection with your audience and make them more likely to follow you.
How Do Businesses Make Money On Instagram?
Businesses are making money on Instagram by using the platform to reach new audiences and promote their products or services.
According to a study, 87% said that they are more likely to buy a product through their website or physical store after seeing it on Instagram. This is because people trust the recommendations of those they follow and feel closer to the brands they see on social media.
Some businesses use Instagram to sell products directly through shoppable posts, while others use the platform to drive traffic to their website or brick-and-mortar store.
How To Make Money On Instagram Today
Instagram is a goldmine for those looking to make money online. By utilizing the platform to its full potential, you can create a stream of income that will continue to grow.
From sponsored posts to selling products, there are many ways to make money on Instagram. By getting creative and thinking outside the box, you can find a method that works best for you and your brand.
By using one or a combination of these tips, you can start generating income from your account. Remember, it takes time and effort to build up a following and create quality content. Whether you decide to become an influencer and work with brands or promote your own brand or business on the app, you are using the platform for your benefit. Now that you know how to earn money from Instagram, you may want to create that business you’ve always wanted.
But if you stick with it, you can create a successful business off of Instagram! Want to know more about setting up your business online? Book your free consultation with us today! Contact us for your business needs in the UAE.
