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Ways to make money on Instagram
People can make a lot of money on Instagram: The recent Hopper HQ report claims that Kylie Jenner is paid around $1.2 million for a single post on Instagram. Obviously, if you're not one of the most famous celebrities in the world, your estimated earnings may vary based on follower count, engagement, reputation, and more.
1. Promote affiliate links.
To make money with affiliate marketing, you need to join high paying affiliate programs so you can add affiliate links to your Instagram and earn a commission on the sales you generate.
When done right, affiliate links can make a lot of money.
To do this, consider joining affiliate networks like Shareasale, Clickbank, Awin, and Impact. You can also join individual affiliate programs directly from a company's website or by searching for: “BUSINESS + affiliate program.”
Since Instagram has a solid base of engaged users, it's the perfect place to promote affiliate links.
Regardless of how many followers you have, you can insert a clickable link in your Instagram bio. For example, a fashion blogger, Sophie Shohet, uses this feature to promote affiliate links:
Since Sophie has over 10k followers, she can also create clickable Instagram Stories. And here's how she promotes affiliate links in her posts and on her profile:
Instagram followers pay close attention to Instagram posts, so using captions to talk about affiliate marketing links is a great way to get attention.
However, not all links in Instagram posts are clickable, so adding a URL is not the best idea, as readers have to copy the link manually from your text.
So it's best to write a call to action, inviting your readers to click on the link in your bio. It should be noted that disclosing affiliate links is important because you receive a commission on each sale.
2. Selling physical and digital products.
Over the past few years, Instagram has become a powerful sales generator for the right e-commerce store.
Since people are actually using Instagram to discover and buy products, they've deployed more features for business accounts, such as online checkout, the “store” button, product labels, and “shoppable” stickers, to make the buying process easier.
A brand-new tool you can use to sell products from Instagram is Square Online.
This tool takes Instagram posts from your feed, and turns them into a fully-shoppable website in 3 simple steps:
- Connect your Instagram business account to Square.
- Mark items you want to sell in your Instagram posts.
- Click “Publish” and launch your own website.
Since it's difficult to sell products online only on Instagram, it's a great idea to also have a website. And this new tool from Square Online makes that very easy.
You can get started with Square Online for free and only pay transaction fees. You can then upgrade to a paid plan when you are ready to create a website with your own custom domain.
For other options, you may want to consider choosing an e-commerce platform Or a website builder to launch an e-commerce site and then use Instagram as another marketing channel.
If you are a beginner, you can also start a dropshipping business so you don't have to ship your own products or manage returns.
Another option is to learn for sale on Amazon and to promote your products on Instagram in this way.
In any case, you should add links to your content on your Instagram account.
Simply write a call to action and include a link to the website so interested people can find out more about your offer.
And if you've switched to an Instagram creator account, you can create shoppable posts to sell physical products in-app. See how Katie Sturino did it:
From cheap cosmetics and used clothing to luxurious apartments and expensive cars, people buy all sorts of products on Instagram.
No matter what you're selling, your potential customer is probably there. However, it's important to find your niche and look at the competition by looking for the hashtags and keywords you want to target.
3. Post sponsored posts.
Influencer marketing is on the rise, according to Social Toaster: 92% of people trust word-of-mouth recommendations, 76% of people say they are more likely to trust content shared by ordinary people than brands, and 82% of customers want recommendations from friends before making a purchase decision.
It is therefore not surprising that more and more brands are reaching out to influencers to get people talking about them.
Since users crave transparency on Instagram, all influencers must disclose sponsored posts, according to Federal Trade Commission (FTC) guidelines for online advertising. And this is what a sponsored post on Instagram can look like:
Daphne Nur Oz is a popular TV host with over 387,000 followers. So it's no wonder that big brands like J.Crew are reaching out to him for a chance to enter an already established community of committed Instagrammers.
Want to know the best part? You don't have to have a solid audience to start making money with sponsored posts. When choosing the right influencer, most brands pay close attention to engagement rates, so even big brands like Dunkin' want to work with nano- and micro influencers.
Since these influencers have in-person interactions with the majority of their followers, they provide better results, which means you can get a deal even if you have fewer than 1,000 followers count on Instagram.
4. Become a brand ambassador.
Sponsored posts work well on Instagram, but most businesses want to build long-term relationships with influencers, so they're looking for brand ambassadors who can promote a business in a positive light on a regular basis.
Since Instagram is the most preferred channel for influencer marketing, it's the perfect place for users to find brand ambassador programs and collaborate with businesses to promote their products. Major brands also frequently send free products to influencers so they can evaluate and promote them.
For example, Jay Alvarrez is a lifestyle blogger who posts photos and videos on his Instagram and YouTube channels. With a highly engaged community of over 6 million loyal followers, brands are eager to build a long-term partnership with him.
Not only do brands invite Jay to become a brand ambassador, but they also invite him to create capsule collections and co-branded products. In 2018, he designed a line of travel bags and luggage for the Norwegian company Douchebags.
Most brand ambassadors sign contracts with brands to promote their products. And to get better results, brands need to find an influencer whose audience represents the target audience. For ambassadors, this means a great opportunity to earn money, as the standard salary for a brand ambassador is somewhere in the $40-50,000 range.
Micro-influencers in a specific niche are often more valuable to brands than big celebrities because they have a more engaged audience.
In order to multiply your chances of making a living as an influencer, Instagram is a great way to get known in order to sell exclusive content on platforms such asOnlyFans or Mym.
5. Create visual content for sales.
It's no secret that Instagram is a visual platform: People are downloading over 100 million photos and videos per day. However, it's not enough for brands to upload professional photos of their product that are too slick to stand out.
Modern customers crave authenticity, which is why they pay particular attention to user-generated content.
In fact, most consumers rate UGC as 35% more memorable than other media, so businesses of all sizes want to publish content created by their customers. In other words, it's an opportunity to sell the photos and videos you create.
In the travel industry, businesses of all sizes invite real travelers to take photos of their experiences during their stay at the brand's establishments, in exchange for free accommodation and compensation.
Here is an example:
And here's how the company uses the same photo on their Instagram profile:
Publishing user-generated content in the travel industry is yielding great results.
For example, a small town in New Zealand, Wanaka, saw a 14% increase in tourism after working with Instagram influencers who shared images of the city on their profiles.
However, I don't recommend this approach unless you have a huge following. There is nothing more annoying for hoteliers than a fake influencer asking for a free stay.
6. Provide social media marketing services.
It's no secret that Instagram has a high sales potential, which is why more and more brands want to use this platform to promote products, reach the target audience, and increase sales. According to Business Instagram, more than 25 million businesses and 2 million advertisers are present on the platform.
With competition growing, brands need professional support if they want to stand out. In other words, social media marketing services are in high demand.
A concrete example:
Jenn Herman is an Instagram expert who has proven her niche expertise - she writes for Social Media Examiner and she has worked with big brands. Today, Jenn Herman offers a wide variety of services, including social media strategies, consultations, and training. And guess what? Jenn uses Instagram to promote her social media marketing services:
Brands need a variety of social media marketing services, whether it's training, advice, or monthly support. Social media experts therefore have plenty of opportunities to find freelance assignments and to make the most of their knowledge on Instagram.
7. Writing captions for businesses.
The days when only big brands could afford to market on Instagram are far behind us. Today, brands of all sizes want to use this platform to promote their products and services, and 92% of small businesses plan to invest more time and effort in social media marketing.
While big brands have great in-house content creation staff, entrepreneurs often look for freelance talent to cut social media marketing costs. So, they often want to find creative specialists who write legends for their businesses at a low cost.
Take a look at the most popular online work sites like Freelancer and Upwork, and you'll find hundreds of offers like the following:
To get a full-time job offer, you need to prove that your application stands out, and the best way to do that is by showing off your social media marketing writing portfolio. Additionally, you should manage your Instagram page creatively so that interested employers can see examples of captions you write. The more creative and engaging your captions are, the more potential customers you can attract.
8. Make masks and filters for Instagram Stories.
In 2016, when Instagram copied ephemeral content from Snapchat and launched Instagram Stories, no one could have predicted the explosion in popularity of this content format.
Today, more than 500 million people Watch or create Instagram Stories on a daily basis. Because this type of content is available for a limited period of time, people are highly engaged, and that gives brands more opportunities to engage their target audience.
What's more, businesses are creating Instagram Stories masks and filters to prove their niche expertise and promote their products. While some businesses have in-house designers who create filters for their brand, other brands want to collaborate with talent who specializes in Instagram masks and filters.
And if you're interested in creativity, you can build a source of income on Instagram, because the AR Spark studio allows all users to create AR filters for Instagram Stories. For example, Brend Cardenas uses her Instagram to promote the Instagram filters she creates:
With the growing popularity of Instagram Stories, there's no question that ephemeral content is the future of social media. So, making Instagram masks and filters is a great way to highlight your creativity and make money on the platform.
9. Find freelance clients.
Instagram isn't just for posting cute photos of your pup. Since reaching one billion active users, Instagram has become a great networking platform, especially for people working in creative fields. Today, more and more professionals are using this platform as an online portfolio.
No matter what you do for a living, whether you're a filmmaker, a ghost writer, or a public speaker, you can use Instagram to find customers.
A concrete example:
Jing Wei is an illustrator who has worked with Etsy, Panda Express, the New York Times, etc. With over 20k followers, Jing uses her Instagram profile to share her latest work. In collaboration with Shake Shack, Jing Wei created the mural and she posted the results of her work on her profile:
When people devote their Instagram accounts to work stuff like Jing Wei does, it's easy to understand that they may be interested in finding new customers. Plus, you can always use your Instagram bio to let your visitors know that you're open to looking for gigs. Here is a good example:
Besides, you can stay proactive and offer your services - just find an Instagram account that should be interested in collaborating with you and swipe in their DMs.
For example, Al Falk is a web designer who uses this technique to find freelance customers, and it delivers results.
In short, the key to success is to remain credible in your niche, so it is important to highlight your work on Instagram and to tell your visitors that you are open to new freelance opportunities.
FAQ
Can I sell products on Instagram?
Yes, it is possible to sell products on Instagram with Shoppable Posts. However, it is best to use an e-commerce platform in unison with Instagram to increase your sales channels. Here are the steps you need to take to get started:
- Create an Instagram account and convert it into a business profile.
- Make sure you have a Facebook page with an active product catalog.
- Make sure you are selling physical products as services are not allowed.
- Once you are eligible, you can add product tags to your individual messages. To do this, select a photo you want to label, tap the product in the photo, enter the product name in your catalog, and click Done.
Can I make money with 1,000 Instagram followers?
You probably won't make a lot of money with 1,000 followers, but it's still possible. Brands typically pay between $10 per 1,000 followers and $500 for every 1,000 followers, depending on your niche and engagement.
If you have around 1,000 followers and want to make money, you should consider pairing your Instagram with other marketing channels.
For example, you could learn to create a blog and to create links to your digital products or affiliate marketing articles from Instagram. Additionally, you could sell products on your own website with an e-commerce platform. While you may not make a lot of money with 1,000 followers, omnichannel marketing strategies can increase your revenue from other channels.
Conclusion
Instagram is one of the fastest-growing and most engaging social media platforms, so it's easy to make money on the platform if you use it the right way. From sponsored posts to social media marketing services, there are lots of creative ways for anyone to make money on Instagram.
At the end of the day, putting time and effort into Instagram is a great investment that builds over time. And it's never too late to jump on the bandwagon and start monetizing your Instagram account.
Check out my reviews on best social media management software to accelerate your growth this year.
