So, you want to earn money from Instagram, right?
As you already know, Instagram is a huge platform in the social media space. But the thing is, not many of you might know the actual potential of this platform.
Instagram can be a great source of income if you know how to use it properly.
I have more than 13K followers on Instagram, I’ve been working on it for over one year, and I have recently earned over $1500 in just 3 months from influencer marketing.
All in all, it can be a very profitable career if you know what you’re doing. Plus, I’ve seen plenty of my followers generating good revenue with proper strategies.
Below, I am sharing everything I’ve learned and experienced during this journey.
Can you make money on Instagram?
Yes, you can definitely make money on Instagram.
In fact, Instagram supports creators looking to become financially independent in several ways, such as creator and business accounts with advanced features, analytics, and a professional dashboard, so they can grow their audience and track their performance.
Additionally, the platform includes various monetization tools and collaboration features, which makes it easier for content creators to partner with brands. And if you are unsure how to grow your Instagram presence, you can always access Instagram’s guides.
Plus, the numbers are in your favor: recent statistics reveal that over 90% of modern brands use Instagram for influencer marketing and that nano and micro-influencers with 1,000 to 5,000 followers (and over) have an average engagement rate of about 5.6%.
How much money can you make on Instagram?
According to a 2024 study conducted by the Influencer Marketing Hub, influencer marketing is expected to grow to be worth $24 billion by the end of 2024:
The numbers are not a surprise when you learn that massive celebrities like Kim Kardashian and Kylie Jenner charge more than $986,000 per post. Whereas Cristiano Ronaldo makes over $1,600,000 per post—stratospheric numbers, right?
While getting to those numbers may take some time, there’s still money to be made even if you are starting out. So if you want to know how much money average Instagram influencers make, Business Insider says nano influencers earn around $900 per post on average.
Plus, people’s attitudes towards working from home have shifted after the pandemic, and therefore, the opportunities to earn online have increased. Nowadays, people are also making businesses out of Instagram accounts and earning money from them.
Sounds exciting? We’ll take a closer look at eight different methods on how to make money from Instagram after looking at the numbers you need to do so.
How many Instagram followers do you need to make money there?
So are you wondering: “How many followers do you need to make money on Instagram?”. Short answer: focus on getting as many followers on Instagram as you can.
However, it’s not always as simple as that since it depends on your financial goals, monetization strategy, engagement level, and what ‘making money’ means for you.
That said, you can start earning money as an Instagram influencer even as a nano-creator with around 1,000 followers, as I told you before. However, I don’t recommend you quit your day job at this point so you will need complementary income. So here’s a breakdown of all the revenue streams you can have on Instagram depending on your follower count:
- Nano influencers (1,000 to 10,000 followers)—can start earning through sponsored posts, affiliate marketing, and selling their products or services;
- Micro–influencers (10,000 to 100,000 followers)—have more and better opportunities for brand partnerships, sponsored posts, and affiliate marketing;
- Macro influencers (100,000 to 1 million followers)—can secure larger brand deals, higher-paying sponsorships, and substantial affiliate marketing opportunities;
- Mega influencers (1 million+ followers)—often earn significant income through high-profile brand partnerships, product launches, and exclusive content deals.
However, your follower count may not be enough to secure the deal you are looking for, since engagement rates and your niche relevance may matter more to brands. Even with fewer followers, highly engaged and niche audiences can attract big brands.
Nancy Misra’s 7+ methods for making money with an Instagram account
First, let’s cover eight methods for making money with an Instagram business account or a creator profile as prepared by Nancy Misra:
- Brand collaboration/sponsored posts
- Affiliate marketing
- Instagram influencers consultancy
- Sell digital products on Instagram
- Social media marketing services
- Coaching/mentorship services
- Sell online courses
- Create your online store
Author: Nancy Misra
1. Brand collaboration/sponsored posts
Collaborating with brands is the most preferred and best way to earn money from Instagram.
As we know, influencer marketing is rising rapidly; therefore, more brands want to collaborate with micro and nano-influencers.
This market is constantly evolving in terms of niche and sub-niche influencers. Various small to big companies are showing interest in influencer marketing.
The very first step before you start earning from Instagram is to work on a niche. You have to define a niche to stand out from the crowd. The second step is to have a business account on Instagram, as it gives you more insights than having a personal account.
Instagram is a huge platform with more than 1 billion active monthly Instagram users. So, how will you differentiate yourself from others to earn money?
Simple! You have to follow a strategy for it.
How to select a niche?
The first step is to see what your interests are. What exactly do you want to do on Instagram?
Once you find your interests, look for some popular Instagram pages to get some inspiration. For instance, if you are interested in fashion, start following fashion influencers and observe their marketing strategies.
In this way, you will get some ideas on how to work on your Instagram page.
How to approach brands for collaboration?
Once you successfully gain some followers, it’s time to make some money!
You can look out for some companies in your field. Although it’s not possible to directly ask Victoria’s Secret for collaboration (if you are a newbie), you can approach some small fashion companies like Everlane, Teva, or Fossil.
You can either email or message on Instagram for collaboration.
Here are some tips to follow to approach brands.
- Include Contact Information in your bio.
- Put some Calls to Action.
- Tag Brands in your Posts.
- Use Hashtags and Geotags.
- Use Branded Hashtags in your Instagram posts.
These tips really work well for most influencers to make money from Instagram.
2. Affiliate marketing
Affiliate marketing is one of the best ways to earn money from Instagram in 2021. As we know, today every business wants to market their products online, and an affiliate marketer can help them with their social media following.
If you have a decent number of followers on Instagram, you can join affiliate programs.
After joining their programs, you can add links to your Instagram and make a commission on every sale you generate.
Some of the best affiliate marketing companies are
- Amazon Associates,
- eBay Partner Network,
- ShareASale,
- Clickbank
- HostGator
- GoDaddy
Since Instagram has a strong network of influencers, it would be the best place for affiliate promotions.
How to promote affiliate products on your Instagram?
In the past year, alongside TikTok and YouTube, Instagram managed to become the go-to affiliate network for Instagrammers to find brands to partner with.
There are multiple ways to promote affiliate products on your Instagram, some of them are given below
Promoting affiliate products in Instagram Feed
You often might have seen people saying something about their favorite products or recommending you something.
People either collaborate with brands or promote products as affiliates by sharing promo codes, doing shoutouts, or using a trackable link in their link-in-bio section. Whenever they make a sale, they get some commission on behalf of the company they’re promoting.
Promoting affiliate products in Instagram Story
Instagram Story is another great way to promote affiliate products as you can provide a swipe-up link if you have more than 10k followers.
In this way, your followers don’t have to go anywhere, they can simply swipe up and purchase that particular item.
3. Instagram influencers consultancy
If you are an expert in a particular field, you can create a business model and earn money from Instagram by giving consultation services to your followers.
Consultation services can be given in any field like health, fitness, business, finance, or career.
Instagram is a fantastic place to find clients for consultation. You can grow your audience network by providing valuable information on your page.
You can follow these steps to start your consultation services:
Optimize your Instagram Bio
It doesn’t matter whether you are working in the health, management, or financial sector your Instagram bio must be well-optimized to encourage people to follow you.
And the best part is you can simply follow these two simple steps:
a) Set up your profile picture
b) Put a clear Call to Action (Ex. Book a Free Consultation)
Set up an attractive Instagram Feed
Instagram is all about putting valuable visual content that adds value to people’s lives. So, if you have an attractive social media feed, people will understand your experience and knowledge in your particular field.
Once you optimize your bio, it’s time to optimize your feed properly.
You can put some client testimonials as they act as solid social proof of whatever you’ve done in the past. Also, show some behind-the-scenes things like your working place, your teammates, etc.
Build your funnel
Funnel marketing is one the best ways to drive traffic to your own website and helps in converting your followers from cold to warm leads. Once you optimize your feed with valuable content, you can ask people for your consultation services.
And it’s totally fine to ask for your services if you are already offering value from your Instagram page.
You can make a simple landing page either with Wix or WordPress and start driving traffic to it. After this, you can make a lead magnet which is essential for funnel building.
A lead magnet can be anything including an ebook, checklist, webinar, templates, or free consultations.
Use Instagram stories and Instagram Live to increase engagement on your page. Try Instagram Reels as it is providing tremendous reach.
Turn your followers into paying clients
If you properly follow the above steps, then you are close enough to get your first client. Be patient and stay consistent to see any results.
Instagram is a powerful tool to earn money online but only when you follow the strategy.
4. Sell digital products on Instagram
About 1 billion people are scrolling daily through endless content on Instagram. So, how will you differentiate yourself from others?
The key is to have consistent and high-quality content.
There are hundreds of examples on Instagram where people are consistently putting content and making money by selling ebooks or other digital products.
There are multiple digital product ideas that you can sell on Instagram.
- ebooks (guides, recipes, how-tos)
- Printables (planners, journals, digital art)
- Videos (tutorials, lessons)
- Photography (Stock Photos, mockups)
- Audios (audiobooks, music)
How to create an Instagram shop and sell products?
Follow these steps to sell your first digital product on Instagram.
- Pick a product to sell – There are so many types of products to sell but the smarter decision is to start with only one product and later scale by selling other products. So, pick only one product initially.
- Choose a theme and layout – As you know, there is a huge value of visuals on Instagram, so without having an attractive visual, you can’t expect your products to sell. You can use tools like Canva to enhance your photos and videos.
- Create content relevant to your product – Now, you have to create engaging content that is relatable to your product. For example, if you want to sell a “Fitness Guide” ebook then you can post tips and advice regarding fitness only.
- Use IG Features – You can use carousels in Feed, stickers, or boomerangs in stories to increase your engagement rate.
- Organize giveaways & contests – Whenever it comes to selling products on Instagram, you should definitely use this strategy of giveaways. People just love freebies!
- Don’t forget to use authentic captions – captions are an important part of Instagram as it gives a glimpse of what your Instagram posts are all about. Ask people to like, comment, and share.
- Use Instagram Live – People like to know who is behind the brand. So, going live once in a while is a good strategy to engage your audience and build a personal brand.
- Collaborate and cross-promote – You can collaborate with other influencers and cross-promote your own products.
The revenue streams from Instagram are enormous, if you are following the above-mentioned steps you’ll definitely make your first sale.
5. Social media marketing services
Nowadays, social media marketing agencies are one of the biggest growing industries. Many biggest brands like Nike, Gucci, Louis Viton, and Starbucks are selling their products on different social media platforms.
So, the opportunity is really huge.
Nearly every brand wants to market on social media because of the exceptional response. According to Hubspot, 61% of organizations pointed out a positive impact on revenue growth with social media marketing services.
You already understand that if there is an opportunity, there might be huge competition as well. Because there are many big companies already established that are providing social media services.
So, how will you stand out from the crowd?
The answer is to work smartly and pick a niche. We already know that Instagram has become a huge platform for businesses as well, and that’s why more people want to sell their products there.
So, here is a golden opportunity that you should grab in order to stand out from the crowd.
Not many people know that they can also make money from Instagram by handling Instagram Pages. Yes, there is a huge demand these days for Instagram management and growth.
All you have to do is to understand how the Instagram algorithm works and what you can do to grow any account.
How to get your first social media client?
I got my first social media client in 2017, but only because I planned my strategy to approach them. I will tell you what that strategy was in detail and step-by-step.
Step 1: Build your social media community
Don’t forget that if you are on Instagram or any other social media platform, your followers can become your clients as well. So, first, focus on building up your own community. Create an engaging environment and understand your audience’s likes and dislikes.
Step 2: Post consistently
Consistency Matters! If you want to become a successful social media manager, you can’t go dark for weeks on Instagram. It can kill your engagement and trust with your audience.
Make a proper schedule about when and what to post. You can use Hootsuite or Buffer to manage your social media platforms.
Step 3: Approach people
You don’t need to wait for a customer to come and ask for your services. Yes, it’s always good if that happens, but don’t wait for anyone. You can approach your targeted client on Instagram.
Keep in mind that you don’t have to spam as everyone hates it. So, be casual, like you are making new friends and when you feel they need services then only ask for them.
Step 4. Delivering your services
People always forget this step but this is as important as getting clients. Because if you fail to deliver according to the client’s expectations, how will you scale your Instagram business?
So, first, understand what the exact need of your client is. Write them down and observe their social media platforms (Facebook or Instagram) where they need help.
In this way, you’ll be able to deliver the best results and eventually, you will become successful in earning money from Instagram.
6. Coaching/mentorship services
I’ve seen many people selling their coaching services and earning money from Instagram. Just like consultation, anyone can sell their expertise by training people.
Coaching or mentorship services are basically live training that is usually held for weeks (2-4 weeks).
These services can be in any field like Personal Branding, Business, Communication, Digital Marketing, etc.
Here’s an example of Jessica Thiefels (founder of Jessica Thiefels Consulting). She used to sell Instagram Marketing Course, a collection of training and coaching videos that combine Instagram training and mindset coaching.
She has been featured in top publications including Forbes and Entrepreneur for her expertise.
Again, here you should be consistent if you want to sell your services. Create content related to your niche and show your experience and knowledge to your audience.
7. Sell online courses
Just like the coaching services, there is another opportunity to sell online courses on Instagram.
The basic difference between these two is that – Coaching services are live training while Online courses are recorded lectures.
The ed-tech business is a booming industry, and there is a huge potential to earn money from Instagram by selling courses.
According to MarketsandMarkets, it is expected to grow from USD 85,818 million in 2020 to USD 181,265 million by 2025.
Many small entrepreneurs and bloggers are also leveraging this opportunity by selling online courses on Instagram.
How to create and sell online courses?
There are multiple platforms to create online courses like Thinkific, Teachable, Podia, Kajabi, and many more.
You should keep in mind what you exactly want to teach in your online course. Then choose your platform accordingly.
Steps to create and sell online courses:
Step 1. Create valuable course content
Ask your Instagram community on what topic they want the course. Use online forums to see suggestions for creating content. Find out the challenges your followers are facing and try to solve them with your content. This will give them real value.
Step 2. Choose an online platform for recording lectures
You can buy a subscription to some tools like Teachable or Thinkific. This doesn’t cost you high if you join their pro membership.
Step 3. Market on Instagram
Once you create your content, you are now ready to market it on Instagram and share it with your community. Create feed posts, and Instagram reels or do Instagram Live and share it within your network.
The more you share, the more chances you have of making a sale.
8. Create your online store
Today, Instagram is providing this amazing e-commerce opportunity to sell your physical products or merch directly on their platform and earn money from Instagram.
You might have seen big brands or celebrities like Kylie Jenner selling her products on Instagram. They have their own collection of beauty products and use Instagram as an addition to their e-commerce platform built on Shopify.
Also, it has been shown that 90% of the accounts follow a business account.
This is another benefit of becoming a social media Influencer as you can start with a simple dropshipping business model and scale into selling your own products on an Instagram shop once you start becoming popular.
In the beginning, it does require a lot of promotion and marketing but once you have a large following, it will become a lot easier over time.
How to set up an Instagram store?
I am going to show you the steps that Instagram itself has provided. So, follow these to open your Instagram store and start earning money right away.
Step 1. Confirm eligibility
You need to share where your business is located like in which country. Your business must have an eligible product and you must comply with their policies.
Step 2. Convert your Instagram to a Creator/Business account
The next step is to convert your personal account into a creator or business account in order to add relevant business information.
Step 3. Connect to a Facebook page
Now, you have to connect your page with your current Facebook page.
Step 4. Upload your store catalog
Finally, you need to add your catalog and turn on shopping.
You are all set now to sell your products and make money from Instagram.
Note that Instagram monetization tools are being rolled out constantly to more users and now small business owners, micro-influencers, or even startups can easily build their e-commerce online presence, sell products, and make money online.
14 expert strategies for making money on Instagram
We’ve gathered firsthand strategies from Founders and CEOs, detailing how they’ve successfully monetized their presence on the platform. From monetizing live interactions with badges to boosting conversions using shoppable posts and insights, discover the top fourteen strategies these experts use to make money on Instagram.
- “Monetize live interactions with badges” by Axel Lavergne
- “Boost sales with hyper-local hashtags” by Dylan Cleppe
- “Increase conversions with daily IG Stories” by Laura Milroy
- “Drive sales with visual content and promos” by Steve Pogson
- “Amplify reach with influencer-sponsored posts” by David Benson
- “Attract followers with niche educational content” by Trevor Bailey
- “Grow sales with authentic influencer collaborations” by John Xie
- “Build an engaged community for monetization” by Tristan Harris
- “Offer personalized promotions via direct messaging” by Tim White
- “Consult on Instagram Analytics for better engagement” by Patrick Beltran
- “Create engaging Instagram Stories masks and filters” by Precious Abacan
- “Monetize influence with strategic brand partnerships” by Brandon Thor
- “Target potential customers with alternative travel ads” by Alexandra Dubakova
- “Boost conversions using shoppable posts and insights” by Kristian Longden
1. Monetize live interactions with badges
My advice is to utilize Instagram’s Badge feature during live broadcasts as an effective way to monetize your interactions. Followers can buy badges as a way to show their support, adding a revenue stream during engagements that might otherwise not be monetized.
This feature also enhances the visibility of supporters during the live session, encouraging more followers to participate and contribute, thus driving up engagement and potentially attracting new followers.
Axel Lavergne, Founder, reviewflowz
2. Boost sales with hyper-local hashtags
One strategy I’ve personally used to make money on Instagram involves leveraging hyper-local social media management and engaging with community-specific hashtags. At OneStop Northwest LLC, we identified trending local hashtags such as #Portland and #PDX to align our client’s content with the Portland community. This boosted visibility and engagement significantly.
For instance, we managed the social media for a local coffee shop and frequently used Portland-related hashtags and geo-tags. We also created content tailored to local events and trends, which resonated deeply with our audience. This hyper-local focus resulted in a 30% increase in foot traffic to the shop, translating into a 20% boost in monthly sales.
Other individuals or brands can utilize this strategy by researching and actively participating in local conversations. Use local hashtags and engage with posts from community members. Create posts that tie into local events or popular regional topics. This not only improves visibility but also builds a loyal local customer base, ultimately driving sales. Consistency and a keen understanding of local culture are crucial for success with this strategy.
Dylan Cleppe, Co-Founder and CEO, OneStop Northwest LLC
3. Increase conversions with daily IG Stories
The best strategy for making money on Instagram is to use IG Stories. By mixing in relevant lifestyle content and posting links to your products or services on a daily basis, you will increase your overall regular conversions and interest in your content.
By making your brand an immersive experience that can be consumed daily, you will foster trust and interest with your target audience. The main thing is to produce interesting Instagram Stories daily!
Laura Milroy, Founder, Laura Milroy Media
4. Drive sales with visual content and promos
One strategy I’ve personally utilized to make money on Instagram is leveraging visually appealing and cohesive content paired with exclusive promotions to drive engagement and sales. As the founder of First Pier, an e-commerce growth agency, I worked with a local boutique that wanted to boost its online presence. We focused on creating a consistent visual theme using the brand’s colors and aesthetic, ensuring every post aligned with the boutique’s overall look and feel. We saw a 30% increase in engagement rates, which directly contributed to higher foot traffic and online sales.
We combined this with user-generated content (UGC) to add authenticity and credibility. For example, we encourage our loyal customers to share photos of themselves wearing our products with a specific brand hashtag. We featured these posts on our Instagram feed and stories, which not only showcased real customers loving our products but also created a community feel around the brand. This practice resulted in a 25% increase in online engagement and a boost in sales conversions by 20%.
To attract immediate sales, we introduced exclusive Instagram-only promo codes. These limited-time offers, often paired with eye-catching countdown stories, created a sense of urgency that incentivized purchases. By tracking these promo codes, we noticed a significant uptick in sales, with a 15% boost within just a week of implementing these strategies. Combining visually appealing content, leveraging UGC, and offering exclusive promos can be a game-changer for brands looking to monetize their Instagram presence effectively.
Steve Pogson, Founder, First Pier
5. Amplify reach with influencer-sponsored posts
One effective strategy I’ve personally used to make money on Instagram involves leveraging sponsored posts through influencer marketing. In this approach, we partnered with an influencer to create a reel reviewing our product and sharing it with their followers. This resulted in increased traffic to our website from the post, leading to more product purchases.
Brands can replicate this strategy to monetize Instagram, as there are numerous influencers across various industries. The key to success lies in selecting an appropriate influencer who resonates with your target audience, has a substantial reach and following, and fits within your marketing budget. If you find an influencer that aligns perfectly with your brand, you are likely to see significant results.
Given that the success of this strategy hinges on choosing the right influencer, it’s essential to efficiently find and compare your options. We used Heepsy, an influencer marketing tool, to locate influencers. This tool allows you to compare profile analytics, promotional activity, and estimated cost metrics, enabling you to make well-informed decisions. By using Heepsy, you can increase the likelihood of success with your influencer marketing strategy.
David Benson, Digital Marketing Executive, Logit.io
6. Attract followers with niche educational content
Highlighting niche expertise and creating engaging, educational content attracts a dedicated following. For instance, sharing detailed tips on tax strategies for 1099 contractors has built a loyal audience.
Brands and individuals can replicate this by consistently offering valuable insights tailored to their audience’s needs, positioning themselves as go-to resources. This approach not only boosts engagement but also opens doors for monetization through partnerships and sponsored content.
Trevor Bailey, Co-Founder, Taxfluence
7. Grow sales with authentic influencer collaborations
We’ve personally seen results from engaging with Instagram influencers. Of course, you have to be careful and make sure that their engagement is real, but when you find someone who has real content, it can be a great growth strategy. We’ve noticed that we get much more subscriptions from Instagram creators creating Instagram Reels for us than from anywhere else on social media.
I would suggest reaching out to some of the top influencers and checking out their rates for promotional posts. Make sure that they spend some time making the post personal to their audience, however. Generic content isn’t going to help you.
If you find the right influencer or Instagram creator, it can make a huge difference in your sales. The right influencer will be able to motivate their audience based on trust. I would highly recommend engaging Instagram influencers for your brand.
John Xie, Co-Founder and CEO, Taskade
8. Build an engaged community for monetization
An effective strategy to monetize your Instagram is to build an authentic, highly-engaged community. With such a targeted following, you can monetize your account through sponsored posts, affiliate marketing, and product sales.
The success of this strategy lies in the quality of your content, which should be of high quality and resonate well with your audience. It would also do you well to be consistently visible, relevant, and engaged with your followers. Strategic partnerships and collaborations can also support your growth and boost your credibility. Once you have a substantial following established, opportunities for affiliate marketing may arise, where you earn a commission from promoting products. Creating and selling digital products could be another income stream that follows.
With creativity and a sound approach to your goals, you can monetize your Instagram account while enjoying the freedom and flexibility and, more importantly, providing value to your audience.
Tristan Harris, Demand Generation Senior Marketing Manager, Thrive Digital Marketing Agency
9. Offer personalized promotions via direct messaging
I advocate leveraging Instagram’s direct messaging feature to offer personalized promotions. By engaging with followers who frequently comment on or like your posts, you can send them special offers or exclusive discounts. This personalized approach not only enhances customer loyalty but also increases the chances of conversions from your most engaged users.
10. Consult on Instagram Analytics for better engagement
We’ve provided consulting for Instagram Analytics. Because we are adept at data analysis and comprehend Instagram statistics, we advise businesses on how to use Instagram more effectively. This entails examining their post data, identifying patterns, and making recommendations for enhancements.
We also recommend new tools or features that Instagram occasionally releases, such as Reels, and offer advice to companies on how to make the most of them. Recall that it could take some time and perseverance to make money on Instagram without becoming an influencer. But it is absolutely feasible if you work hard and provide high-quality goods or services. Continue honing your craft and seeking fresh opportunities to boost your earnings.
Patrick Beltran, Marketing Director, Ardoz Digital
11. Create engaging Instagram Stories masks and filters
Because more than 500 million people watch or produce Instagram Stories every day, we were able to monetize the platform by creating Instagram Stories masks and filters. People are really engaged with this kind of material because it is only available for a short while, which provides marketers with more chances to capture the attention of their target market.
It first started when we demonstrated our knowledge in a particular niche and advertised our products, so we made Instagram Stories masks and filters. For our brand, we work with in-house designers who create filters, and occasionally we also partner with creatives who specialize in Instagram masks and filters.
With the help of our creative team and the Spark AR Studio, which enables anyone to create AR filters for Instagram Stories, we were able to develop an Instagram revenue stream. We believe that ephemeral content is the way of the future for social media, especially with the increasing traction of Instagram Stories. Thus, creating Instagram filters and masks is a fantastic method to express our creativity and earn money on the app.
Precious Abacan, Marketing Director, Softlist
12. Monetize influence with strategic brand partnerships
One effective strategy for making money on Instagram involves leveraging influencer marketing. As a business leader, I focused on building a personal brand that resonates with a specific audience. Consistent, high-quality content became the cornerstone of my approach, helping to attract and engage followers.
Partnering with relevant brands and businesses allowed me to monetize my influence. Each collaboration was carefully selected to align with my brand’s values and interests, ensuring authenticity and trust with my audience. Sponsored posts, affiliate marketing, and brand ambassadorships provided diverse revenue streams. Detailed analytics and follower insights guided the selection of partnerships, optimizing engagement and conversion rates.
Other individuals or brands can effectively utilize this strategy by first identifying their niche and target audience. Consistency in posting, along with maintaining high content quality, is essential. Building a genuine connection with followers fosters trust, which is crucial for successful monetization.
Strategic partnerships with brands that align with their values enhance credibility. Utilizing Instagram’s analytics tools helps understand audience preferences, enabling more compelling content and partnership choices. Engaging with followers through comments, stories, and direct messages strengthens the community and boosts engagement. Diversifying revenue streams through sponsored content, affiliate links, and product collaborations ensures a stable income.
Brandon Thor, CEO, Thor Metals Group
13. Target potential customers with alternative travel ads
Advertising alternative travel destinations with similar vibes to popular ones. Using Instagram’s advanced targeting, I identified users who showed interest in high-profile destinations. For example, fans of Paris were shown options like Montreal and Casablanca, which offer a similar cultural feel but at a more affordable cost.
This strategy proved particularly successful in Q1 2024. I think it worked so well because at the consideration phase, potential travelers are often open to exploring cost-effective alternatives. Try to identify the points where you can catch your potential customers and target them with Instagram ads.
Alexandra Dubakova, Head of Marketing, Freetour.com
14. Boost conversions using shoppable posts and insights
Strategy: Leveraging Shoppable Posts and Stories
One effective strategy we recommend is leveraging Instagram’s shoppable posts and stories. This feature allows businesses to tag products directly in their posts and stories, providing a seamless shopping experience that drives conversions.
Hidden Gem Tip: Use Instagram Insights for Targeted Promotions
A hidden gem we advise our clients to use is Instagram Insights. This tool helps identify the best-performing content and understand audience behavior. By analyzing this data, brands can create targeted promotions and shoppable posts that resonate with their audience, increasing the likelihood of sales.
Example:
At J&J Global Fulfillment, we advised one of our clients to integrate shoppable posts with targeted promotions based on Instagram Insights. By identifying peak engagement times and the most popular products, they tailored their content to maximize visibility and appeal. This approach led to a 30% increase in sales through Instagram within the first three months.
Quotable Soundbite:
“Leveraging shoppable posts and Instagram Insights allows brands to create targeted, high-converting content, turning followers into customers.”
Kristian Longden, Content Marketing Executive, James and James Fulfilment
Conclusion
Instagram is becoming even more popular with each passing day, as many regular users and UGC creators are shifting towards it. So if you are thinking of making a living as an influencer, you should definitely consider several Instagram business ideas and move there.
After all, the platform offers a great opportunity to build an audience and monetize your presence when first starting out. While it may take some time and effort to reach that point, the tips provided above will definitely help you on your journey to stardom.
I suggest you start by taking small actions and exercising patience by implementing one strategy at a time and then scaling them accordingly.
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