Don’t let the TikTok hype fool you: Instagram isn’t going anywhere. The OG influencer platform is still here and — you know what? — it’s stronger than ever. Today, Instagram ranks as the fourth most popular social platform in the world, boasting 2 billion monthly active users (that’s a full billion more than TikTok.)
Considering the platform’s massive global audience and reach, any creator would be smart to leverage Instagram as a way to earn money. If you’re new to Instagram or just new to monetizing on the platform, you may be wondering, “How do I make money on Instagram?” Each social media platform offers creators new and different ways to monetize their following, and Instagram has plenty!
If you’re interested in learning how to make money on Instagram, look no further. Our all-in-one guide lays it all out for you, giving you the tips and tricks you need to start making money on Instagram.
Can you make money on Instagram?
The simple answer is yes, you can definitely make money on Instagram! Especially in recent years, Instagram has become a significant source of income for many creators, influencers, and savvy business owners who have learned how to monetize their Instagram audience. And there are many, many ways to do it.
Instagram offers creators a plethora of ways to earn money through the app, including brand partnerships, subscriptions, and more. And that’s just the beginning!
We’ve learned that there are tons of ways to make money on Instagram, but just how much money can you make through the platform? Read on to find out.
How many followers do you need to make money on Instagram?
Obviously, to make any amount of money on Instagram, you’re going to need some sort of following. Some monetization options, like Instagram Subscriptions and Badges, require that you have at least 10,000 followers to be eligible. However, you don’t need to be a celebrity with a massive audience to earn money on Instagram.
Even if you have a small following, if you put in the work and post frequently, you can begin raking it in. Better yet, Instagram actually shows a clear preference for smaller-scale influencers when it comes to engagement, making it easier to earn that income.
Now let’s see how you can do that.
10 Ways to make money on Instagram
There are many different ways to earn money on Instagram. Sponsored posts are just the tip of the iceberg. Let’s dive in!
1. Partner with a brand
Instagram is the platform of the influencer. And if you’ve reached influencer status, you can start getting paid to promote brands’ products through sponsored posts.
Instagram influencers build a solid reputation and loyal audience by posting frequently and engaging with their followers. As tastemakers, influencers hold considerable sway over their audience’s buying habits and can convince them to buy into trends or purchase specific products.
Because of this, influencer marketing is a crucial tool for brands. Today, brands will partner with Instagram influencers, paying them to promote their goods as part of an influencer marketing campaign. Creators and brands will negotiate and agree on a set rate per sponsored post.
How to land your first brand partnerships
Brand partnerships can be incredibly lucrative for Instagram creators, ranging from hundreds to thousands of dollars per sponsored post. To get noticed by potential brand partners — and to negotiate the most money from your brand partnerships — you’ll want to get more Instagram followers and up your engagement rate.
Start small: begin posting consistently once or twice a week, then ramp up your content calendar. Engage with your followers by asking them questions and responding to their comments. To max out your earnings, you’ll probably want to prioritize Reels over grid posts. Recent reports have found that sponsored Reels earn creators almost double the revenue of in-feed Instagram posts.
Earn money through Instagram’s Creator Marketplace
Instagram’s Creator Marketplace is designed to make you more visible to brands looking to partner with creators by connecting them in one place. The Creator Marketplace also allows you to manage all your brand partnerships.
To join the Creator Marketplace, you’ll need to sign up for an Instagram Business Account or a Creator Account. Then you’ll need to build out your profile by indicating the brands and interests that are most relevant to you. This ensures the brand opportunities you receive are in line with your personal brand, content, and audience’s needs.
After you’re set up, brands can send you project invitations outlining their requirements and rates, all within the app’s messaging platform.
However, it’s worth noting that creators using this feature have expressed disappointment in its low payouts and the scarcity of big-name brands.
2. Become an affiliate
So now you know all about brand partnerships. But did you know there’s another way you can work with brands to make money on Instagram? That’s right: you can earn money on the app by becoming an affiliate.
Affiliate programs are another popular way for Instagram creators to earn money through the app. In fact, Instagram has its own affiliate marketing program, which allows creators to recommend products from Instagram Shopping and earn a commission on each sale.
How to start earning through affiliate marketing
While affiliate programs are similar to brand partnerships, there are some key differences. The revenue from a brand partnership is typically paid out in a lump sum agreed on in a contract, while affiliate programs work on a commission basis. This means you’ll be earning a percentage of the revenue per product or service purchased by your followers.
When you’re ready to start, look for brands that offer their products through Instagram Shopping and add products you want to promote to your wishlist. When you create Instagram content, you can tag them right in your content, and get a commission anytime someone in your audience follows the link in that tag.
You can also join third-party affiliate programs, like Amazon Associates or Shopify’s affiliate program. Much like Instagram’s program, you’ll get links to products you want to promote and can add those links to your content.
How much affiliate income can you make?
Instagram creators can earn a significant income through affiliate programs. Affiliate revenue depends on a few key factors, including the number of followers you have, and the number of brands you’re working with. Naturally, creators with larger followings and those working with more brands (thus, increasing their streams of revenue) stand to earn the most as affiliates.
For Instagram’s affiliate program, the percentage you can earn will be up to the brands you work with.
Third-party affiliate marketing contracts vary, but you can expect to earn around 5% to 30% commission per sale, with mid-sized influencers hovering around the 8% to 12% range.
3. Sell products through Instagram shopping
Instagram Shopping allows brands to build an Instagram shop and users to buy products without leaving the platform. Tons of creators looking to increase their income start their own product lines, from Logan Paul and KSI’s Prime drinks to Emma Chamberlain’s coffee brand. That involves a significant investment in time and resources, including setting up an online storefront for handling orders and payments.
With Instagram Shopping, you can eliminate at least one of these difficulties by selling your products right through the app. You’ll still need a website that can support product listings, but you’ll be able to link your products right in your content, making promoting them that much easier.
So where should you start? What kind of products should you sell? Here’s a quick guide to figuring this out:
- Research similar creators: Every niche has a product that’s perfectly suited to it. See what some of the top creators in your niche are selling to supplement your income.
- Figure out how much you’re willing to invest: Making and selling physical products takes both time and money, with some products requiring more than others. You need to know how much you can risk before you start.
- Look for suppliers: Someone needs to actually produce the products you’ll be selling. Most creators don’t have the skills or time to do it themselves, meaning they have to outsource to a supplier.
- Get prototypes: Getting a product to market isn’t as simple as finding a supplier, telling them what you want, and selling it. You’ll usually have to go through a few prototypes to make sure you’re making something great.
- Find a fulfillment solution: Some physical products, like books or merch, can be sold through Print-On-Demand services, meaning you just have to take care of producing the initial design and getting customers. If these aren’t available, you’ll need to partner with a company that can store and deliver your product.
- Start selling: Once you have a product, someone who can make it, and someone who can fulfill it, you’re ready to launch it! Share it with your audience and watch the cash roll in.
4. Earn with Instagram subscriptions
Platforms like Patreon have made subscriptions a popular and lucrative way for creators to earn money. Now, Instagram has jumped on the movement, offering creators the opportunity to make money through paid subscriptions.
Instagram Subscriptions work similarly to those found on other social media platforms. In a nutshell, subscribers pay a monthly fee to access exclusive Instagram content, including Instagram stories, posts, Reels, Lives, and chats.
Subscriptions are a great way to monetize because they bring in recurring monthly revenue. In other words, they’re a consistent, reliable source of income, which is hard to come by in the creator economy!
Who is eligible for Instagram Subscriptions?
Instagram Subscriptions are currently available to all U.S.-based users with a Creator or Business Account who meet the following criteria:
- Are 18 years of age or older
- Have at least 10,000 followers
- Meet Instagram’s Partner Monetization Policies and Content Monetization Policies
If you’re not based in the U.S., don’t worry! Instagram Subscriptions are currently available on an invite-only basis for eligible users based in Canada, the U.K., and Australia. Instagram is looking to expand this list of countries soon, so keep an eye on your inbox for an invite!
How to get started with Instagram Subscriptions?
Here’s how you can turn on Subscriptions:
- Go to your profile and tap Professional dashboard.
- Tap Set up subscriptions.
- Tap Next.
- Agree to the terms and tap Next.
- Set the monthly price for your subscription and tap Next.
- Tap Publish, then Create.
So once you’ve activated Subscriptions, how do you make money from it?
You’ll want to make sure you’re offering your subscribers exclusive content according to a regular schedule, so they’re able to keep up and tune in. Next, show your subscribers some love. Your subscribers will be recognizable to you by the purple badge beside their handle. Show these special followers your appreciation by responding to their comments, and even shouting them out during your Lives.
5. Go Live with badges
You know all about monetizing posts and Reels, but did you know you can also make money by going live? Instagram’s Live badges feature allows creators to monetize their live sessions. Here’s how it works: when you go Live with badges, your followers can buy badges to support you and earn you money.
Who is eligible for Instagram Live badges?
Currently, this feature is available to all Instagram users in the U.S. meeting the following criteria:
- Be over 18 years of age
- Have more than 10,000 followers
- Comply with Instagram’s Partner Monetization Policies and Community Guidelines
Not based in the U.S.? Access to badges is currently invite-only for eligible creators in the U.K., France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Japan, Australia, Turkey, Brazil and Mexico. Here’s how to check your invite status:
- Head to Settings
- Tap Creator
- Tap Badges to view your invite status
How to get started with Instagram Live badges?
You can get started with Live badges in just a few taps:
- Go to Profile and tap Professional Dashboard. If you’re eligible for monetization, you’ll see a button to Set Up Badges.
- Go live! Once you have access to badges, they’ll automatically be enabled for all your lives.
When a viewer purchases a badge, you’ll see heart(s) next to their username in your Live feed, as well as the total number of badges purchased and your total earnings for the session. Followers can purchase multiple badges per session in increments of $0.99, $1,99, and $4.99. Don’t forget to thank your viewers for the badges!
Live badges pay creators through direct deposit via your bank or PayPal account, so you’ll want to make sure you input payout information when you enable this. Cash out and watch the dollars add up!
6. Keep an eye out for Instagram Bonuses
Instagram bonuses are one of the most elusive ways to make money on Instagram, but they’re a pretty sweet deal. Still being tested by the team at Meta, bonuses are offered to some creators for a limited time, regularly, allowing them to reap the rewards of their most creative content. Basically, you get a single cash payout based on your content’s performance, with no extra work!
So how do you know if you’re eligible for a bonus? You’ll get an invite in your professional dashboard in the app, allowing you to activate bonuses and potentially get a nice chunk of change.
Instagram looks back at as many as 150 pieces of content you produce over the bonus period — usually a few weeks to a month — and gives you a payout based on views.
Keep an eye out for these and sign up the moment you get the invite!
7. Sell digital products
It’s official: we’re in the era of the digital product. From ebooks to online courses, creators across niches are all raking in cash by selling digital products. With the digital market poised to reach $617 billion this year, there’s no time like the present to start selling digital products. Why not sell them through Instagram, while you’re at it?
Selling digital products is a low-effort way to maximize your income as an Instagram creator. This is because digital products require relatively little investment to create and sell. Because they live online, there’s no need for you to rent a brick-and-mortar store or maintain a physical inventory.
Additionally, digital products only need to be produced once. After that, copies can be sold over and over again, ad infinitum. This means digital products are a powerful source of passive income, which allows you to earn money while you’re off doing other things you love, like creating fun new content.
One of the few challenges that comes from selling digital products? Having a place to sell them. You’ll find tons of online storefronts out there, but they’re either pretty limited in what they can do or charge you significant fees every time someone buys your product.
You can solve all that with a single tool: The Leap.
The Leap is an AI-powered product builder and online storefront you can use to brainstorm, build, and sell your digital products, all for free. Whether you want to set up your first course, start selling templates, or share your digital art, The Leap’s got your back.
Build, market, and sell digital products all in one spot with The Leap!
8. Sell merch
Selling merch is another great way to monetize your Instagram following, all while engaging your followers. Think of your merch like a sports jersey and your followers as your biggest fans. From T-shirts and tote bags to mugs and water bottles, these pieces of physical merchandise are usually branded with a creator’s name, handle, or slogan, and are purchased by followers to show their support.
Widely available print-on-demand (POD) services make it easier than ever to sell merch as a creator. All you need to do is design your logo, and the POD service will print the product and send it off to your followers. That means there’s no need for you to maintain an inventory or deal with pesky shipping logistics.
You can even sell your merch through Instagram Shopping, like any other product.
9. Promote content from other platforms
Instagram might be a great platform for more visually-minded creators like beauty bloggers and visual artists, but it’s not necessarily the best for monetizing your content. If you haven’t made the sort of income you wanted from Instagram, it might be time to look into other platforms.
You don’t have to quit Instagram, but you can explore other channels — if you haven’t already.
Instagram creators who’ve leaned into Reels might find some serious success on TikTok, for example, while YouTube might be a natural fit for others. By creating content across multiple platforms — and cross-posting it to Instagram — you can get access to more monetization options and ultimately build a more sustainable career as a creator.
10. Use membership platforms like Patreon
Patreon has some serious staying power. Created in 2013 by YouTubers who were looking for more ways to make money from their content, it’s now become the de-facto membership platform for creators who want to offer more exclusive experiences to their audience.
While Instagram Subscriptions offer a similar option, Patreon’s platform has been around for much longer and, ultimately, offers you more ways to earn. You can set up your Patreon in minutes and start offering exclusive content, products, or experiences to reward your most die-hard fans.
Once you’ve launched your Patreon, mention it occasionally in your content and watch your following grow. It’ll take some time to get the balance right so you’re not constantly pitching your Patreon, but after just a bit of time, it can be a serious income stream.
How much do Instagram creators make?
To put it simply: there’s no single answer to how much money Instagram creators make. In fact, there’s a massive range in the amount of income creators bring in through the app. Instagram creators’ incomes vary widely, from a few hundred dollars a month to over a million dollars per post or Reel.
So, why do Instagram creators’ incomes vary so widely? The amount of money an Instagram creator makes depends heavily on a number of factors specific to each creator, with your follower count and engagement rate being those that matter most. These two metrics speak to a creator’s reach (the number of followers they have) and how much influence they have over their audience (how much their followers like, view, and comment on their posts).
Who are the highest-paid Instagram creators?
Instagram creators with larger followings and more engagement end up earning the most money through the app. Naturally, mega-celebrities (with mega followings) are at the top of the stack here.
According to an analysis by Influencer Marketing Hub, soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo, who boasts the platform’s largest following at 640M, commands around $3,234,000 per post. More of the platform’s top-earning celebrities include Kylie Jenner, who charges an average of $2,386,000 for a post, and Selena Gomez, who rakes in $2,558,000 per post.
How much do smaller Instagram creators make?
Obviously, celebrities are the outliers. Not every creator has a follower count in the hundreds of millions. There are tons of Instagram creators with small to mid-sized followings earning a good income through the app. Let’s break it down.
When talking about the creator economy, creators are usually sorted into different “tiers” according to the number of followers they have. Using this tier system makes it easier to come up with estimated average earnings and it provides you with a framework you can use when negotiating rates with brands. The popular “tier” system can be broken down into:
- Mega influencers (1,000,000+ followers)
- Macro-influencers (500,000 – 1,000,000 followers)
- Mid-tier influencers (50,000 – 500,000 followers)
- Micro-influencers (10,000 – 50,000 followers)
- Nano-influencers (1,000 – 10,000 followers)
Now that we’ve sorted out the main tiers of influencers, you’re probably wondering, “How much do these creators make?” Here’s a breakdown of the median rates these creators are charging per Instagram post and Reel, according to a 2023 report by Later:
- Macro-influencers: $5,000 – $7,030 per Reel
- Mid-tier influencers: $175 – $625 per post; $500 – $5000 per Reel
- Micro-influencers: $150 – $155 per post; $200 – $500 per Reel
- Nano-influencers: $55 – $150 per post; $100 – $200 per Reel
Want to drill down even further to see how much you could make on Instagram? Check out this Influencer Rate Map from influence.co, which pulls data from over 35,000 Instagram influencers. You can filter data by number of followers to get a sense of how much content creators in the same range as you charge.
So, how do I make money on Instagram?
You likely arrived on this page because you were wondering how to make money on Instagram. And now you know!
Instagram has become a lucrative source of income for thousands of creators around the world, with many earning annual incomes in the tens to hundreds of thousands.
From brand partnerships and affiliate programs to subscriptions and digital products, there are plenty of ways to make money on Instagram, no matter how many followers you have. Our advice is to start small and slowly grow your streams of revenue (along with your following!) Once you’ve done that, your cash will grow too.
FAQ
Does Instagram pay you?
Yes, Instagram does pay creators. There are a number of ways creators can make money directly through the app including Instagram’s Creator Marketplace, subscriptions, and Live badges.
How many Instagram followers do you need to make money?
There’s no minimum number of followers you need to reach before you can start making money on Instagram, though some monetization options, like Subscriptions and Badges, require you to have at least 10,000 followers.
How can you make money with Instagram Reels?
In March 2023, Meta axed Instagram’s Reels Bonus Program, which paid creators to hit benchmarks for views on their Reels, but recently seems to have brought it back, with some creators earning themselves invitations. However, it seems Meta does have upcoming plans to expand its Reels monetization program for creators. So keep an eye out for that.
At the moment, the only reliable ways for creators to make money from Reels include partnering with brands, becoming an affiliate, promoting and selling your own digital products or merch, and creating exclusive Reels via Instagram subscriptions.
How many views do you get paid for on Instagram?
Unlike some other platforms, Instagram doesn’t pay creators for views. In order to monetize your content, you’ll have to use Instagram’s other built-in features or build your own income streams.
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