How to Make Money on Instagram (10 Easy Ways)

Instagram isn’t just a place to pass the time, post reels, and share photos anymore. It has evolved into one of the most powerful platforms for building active and passive income streams and even full-time careers. In this article, you will get to know how to make money on Instagram in multiple ways.

With over 2.4 billion active users worldwide, Instagram has endless opportunities for creators, influencers, and business owners to earn money from their unique skills, content, and connections.

It does not matter if you are just starting your journey on Instagram or already have an established following, this guide article will cover all the possible ways to make money on this platform. You can do brand sponsorships,  sell products, and even offer exclusive content. Here’s how you can turn your mindless scrolling into profit on Instagram and create a steady income that can easily overtake your full-time job.

1. Collaborate with Brands

One of the most popular ways to make money on Instagram is by collaborating with brands.  Every single business now knows the power of influencer marketing and they know that they can not survive a day without spending on digital marketing. 

Because of this, they are increasingly willing to pay to bring their business in front of their targeted audience. You can charge a heavy amount to post content for that brand’s product or services. Charges vary for posts, stories, or reels. You just need to be authentic to your followers.

Partnering with brands is a popular way that you will get to see almost everywhere when you search for how to make money on Instagram. 

How Sponsored Content Works?

Usually, brands reach out to influencers based on their niche, follower count, and engagement level through direct messages or their pr agencies. When you show them that you have a strong connection with your audience, brands see you as a valuable partner for promoting their products. Then in exchange for some monetary compensation or free products, you will create content that highlights that brand’s offerings by adding your unique touch which your audience likes. 

Tips:

• To get work opportunities, try to gather an audience through your content for a specific niche. Choose a specific niche that aligns with your interests and knowledge. Brands want to work with influencers with a dedicated following in a particular area, which often leads to higher engagement and better results.

• Use platforms like AspireIQ, or Influence.co to connect with brands looking for partnerships. These platforms can make finding sponsored work that matches your profile easier. This way you will immediately reach a specific number for brands to notice you. 

You can start Instagram in your free time if you have a full-time job. It is one of the best side hustles that can even replace your job with time. Here are some of the best side hustles that you start from anywhere.

Affiliate marketing is one of the best ways to make money on Instagram. All you need to do is promote products and earn a commission on every sale generated through your unique links or discount codes. This approach works well for influencers and creators who don’t wish to create their products and want to earn right away.

How to Start Affiliate Marketing?

With affiliate marketing on Instagram, all you need to do is share a unique link or code for a product. When your followers will use that link to make a purchase or enter your discount code at checkout, you will earn a percentage of the sale. 

This will benefit both you and your followers. Your followers will get recommendations that they trust, and you will be able to earn additional income based on your influence.

Where to Start?

 You can start by joining affiliate programs that sit well with your niche. Here are some popular options:

Low-Ticket Affiliate Programs

• Amazon Associates: This is a great starting point for beginners. Amazon Associates lets you earn commissions on millions of products, but their rates are usually lower than others.
• ShareASale: This company has a variety of brands across different industries.  ShareASale is versatile and user-friendly and offers smaller commissions but high volume potential.
• RewardStyle (LIKEtoKNOW.it): This is particularly popular with fashion and lifestyle influencers.  RewardStyle offers affiliate links for well-known retail brands and has moderate commission rates.

High-Ticket Affiliate Programs

• Bluehost: It is perfect for those in the blogging or tech niche.  Bluehost’s affiliate program offers up to $65 per signup which makes it an excellent high-ticket option.
• Shopify: It is ideal for creators who are targeting entrepreneurs or small business owners. Shopify pays up to $58 per referral.
• HubSpot: It is well known for its CRM software. HubSpot’s program offers huge commissions, which can range up to $1,000 depending on the subscription plan your followers purchase.
• Coursera or Udacity: Both of these platforms offer courses in tech, business, and marketing, and their affiliate programs provide generous commissions for high-ticket courses.

Tips:

• The best tip is to only share authentic reviews. It is a basic ethic to recommend products you genuinely believe in or have used yourself before.  Authentic reviews will make or break your game on Instagram. Followers love genuine reviews and are likely to come back and choose your links and recommendations if they love them. This will lead to higher engagement and conversions.

• You need to keep a balanced content strategy. If your followers feel that every post is a promotion, they may lose trust in your account. They are likely to follow you for the type of content you share and if they stop enjoying that then they will unfollow you. Prefer a mix of affiliate posts with organic content for a natural and engaging feed.

3. Start Selling Your Own Physical/Digital Products

Instagram is a great place if you want to sell both physical and digital products. It allows creators and businesses to reach a massive audience with just a few clicks. If you choose the right strategy, you can easily use Instagram’s visual appeal to attract customers and grow your sales.

Types of Products:

Physical Products:  You will see many creators selling handmade jewelry, art, clothing, crafts, or branded merchandise directly on Instagram. These physical products benefit from Instagram’s visual nature bringing in a ton of sales as it is a lot easier to show appealing photographs and videos and attract customers.

Digital Products: Products like eBooks, guides, online courses, or templates, are very popular on Instagram and since they require no inventory and can be delivered instantly, they are an efficient way to make money for influencers who have certain expertise in a niche.

How to Sell Products?

Instagram shopping allows its creators to tag products directly in their posts. It is easy for followers to browse and purchase without leaving the app. 

Alternatively, you can direct followers to your website or eCommerce stores through your bio link or “Swipe Up” links in Stories (for accounts with over 10,000 followers). 

If you’re selling digital products, you should link to platforms like Gumroad, Etsy, or Shopify, which will facilitate digital downloads for your users.

Tips:

• Choose a branding style and stick to it. When there is the same branding style across your Instagram feed, including consistent colors, fonts, and themes, this will make it easy for users to identify your brand instantly. This also appeals to your target audience. Just think of Nike, Adidas, Coach, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, etc.

• Post videos that show how your products can help your followers. For physical products, give product demos or share styling tips, and for digital products, post previews, tutorials, or testimonials to show their benefits.

When people search for how to make money on Instagram, they often think that they must have thousands of followers to be able to make money but this is not true. With even a minimum number of followers, you can make money through these ways if you are using the right strategy.

If you don’t have a physical or digital product of your own, you can still make money by reselling items. Here are the 15 best items that you resell for profit. Promote them on your Instagram profile by posting pictures and Reels.

Instagram reels are perfect for making short videos that can reach a wide audience and captivate them. As a creator, you can make money on Instagram through reels by promoting products, sharing sponsored content, or creating viral videos that can drive engagement and educate your followers toward other revenue streams.

How to Increase Instagram Reels Income?

You can start by participating in Instagram’s Reels Play Bonus Program which is available in selected regions. This program rewards creators for high-performing Reels and offers them a direct way to earn based on engagement and views.

You can also partner with brands to create unique, entertaining Reels that will promote their products. Promoting something on Reels feels more organic and authentic to followers and also enhances the brand perception.

Add affiliate links or sell digital products in Reels. These short videos work well for tutorials like “how-to” videos, or quick tips that subtly incorporate affiliate links or digital products and make it easy for viewers to take action.

Tips:

• Try to maintain a consistent style as it helps attract a loyal audience who knows what to expect from your Reels. It can be a specific aesthetic, color scheme, or type of content.

• Use trending audio and themes as they can help increase your reach and increase the chances of going viral. Instagram’s algorithm often favors Reels that use trending content.

5. Use Instagram’s Subscription Feature

Instagram’s subscription feature allows its creators to offer exclusive content to their paying subscribers. You will be responsible for providing private stories, exclusive posts, or even live Q&A sessions. This lets you create a VIP experience that adds extra value for your most dedicated followers who genuinely want to see your exclusive side and get that premium feel.

How Paid Subscriptions Work?

Your followers will sign up for a monthly subscription fee to access your exclusive content. This will provide you with a reliable revenue stream, enabling you to earn directly from your fanbase while deepening your relationship with your community.

Here is how you can use Instagram’s Subscription feature if you are a creator.

Tips:

• Plan out exclusive posts, stories, and events in advance to ensure that your subscribers are always getting fresh, valuable content according to their linking. Special features, like “Behind the Scenes” looks or early access to new projects will keep your subscribers engaged and excited.

• You must try to directly engage with your subscribers. Make them feel valued by replying to them in the comments, private messages, or subscriber-only live sessions. This will help build loyalty and show subscribers that you value them.

6. Provide Coaching, Consulting, or Other Services

Instagram is a great platform to offer your services. It can be anything like social media coaching, fitness consulting, business strategy sessions, or other specialized coaching, Instagram can help you by attracting clients. You will need to create content regularly that showcases your knowledge and experience.

How Does This Work?

You should start by sharing tips, industry knowledge, and educational posts that show that you are an expert. Over time, these valuable posts will work in your favor and build credibility, making your followers build a relationship with you as they will trust you and are more likely to seek your services. 

You can use Instagram stories or direct messages (DMs) to connect with interested followers and invite them to book your coaching or consulting services.

Tips:

• Post testimonials and success stories that have your past clients’ feedback or highlight success stories to build trust. Testimonials from your previous clients give potential clients confidence in your skills and can increase their interest in your services.

• You should use platforms like Calendly that make booking seamless for clients, allowing them to select available times without back-and-forth messaging. A smooth experience will show them that you are a professional and they will end up recommending you to others.

7. Drive Traffic to Your Website or Blog

 Instagram is a great tool to drive traffic to your website and can help you make great money. It does not matter whether you’re selling products, promoting a blog, or offering services, increasing website traffic through Instagram will open up more opportunities for conversions and sales.

How Does this Work?

To bring your followers to your website, use the link in your bio, or use Instagram Stories with swipe-up links (for accounts with over 10,000 followers) to do this. Use captions in your posts that will encourage your followers to go to your website.

Tips:

• You can use a Link aggregator tool like Linktree or Later that allows you to share multiple links in your bio, making it easy for your followers to choose different parts of your website (e.g., product pages, blog posts, or specific services).

• Use clear CTA’s, see Instagram insights to see your best-performing posts, and try to replicate that content to bring more followers.

8: Use Instagram Ads Feature for Selling

 Instagram ads are great to increase visibility and drive traffic directly to your products, services, or affiliate links. With Instagram’s advanced targeting options, your ads can reach your ideal audience quickly, making it an effective strategy for those influencers who are selling products or directing followers to a landing page.

How Does It Work?

Using Instagram’s Ads Manager where you can create and customize ads to reach specific demographics, interests, and behaviors. Ads will appear in users’ feeds, stories, Reels, and even Explore pages, making it easy to show what you offer in visually engaging ways.

Tips:

• A strong CTA like “Shop Now,” “Learn More,” or “Sign Up” can easily guide your viewers on the next step, increasing your chances of conversions.

• You should always start with a small budget to test different ad formats, audiences, and messaging. Use the data from these initial ads to refine your strategy and identify what works best for your audience.

9. Start a Dropshipping Store

Dropshipping is a business model where you can sell products without holding any inventory. This makes it a perfect option for those who don’t want to hold any inventory and incur costs. 

Instagram’s popularity makes it a perfect platform to promote your dropshipping store, making it easy to reach your target audience and drive sales.

How Does This Work?

First set up a dropshipping store on any platform like Shopify or WooCommerce and then use Instagram to show your products and engage with potential customers. 

Since this model relies on direct sales, you should create content that is appealing and aesthetic. Post product photos, customer reviews, and lifestyle images, and use stories, Reels, and ads to promote specific products like T-shirts, Mugs, hoodies, or whatever your products have.

Tips:

• Use Instagram’s Shopping feature to tag products directly in your posts which allows users to shop without leaving the platform. This will make it easier for them to purchase.

• Create aesthetic content, and partner with other influencers to promote your products.

10. Sell Photos, Videos, and Digital Files

It’s a photo-sharing app so it is ideal for creators to sell digital files like photos, videos, illustrations, and other downloadable digital files. Whether you’re a photographer, videographer, or digital artist, you can show your work to a broad audience and make money by selling it. 

How Does This Work?

Set up an online store or portfolio site where customers can easily purchase and download your digital files. Use the platform to show samples of your work in an engaging way which allows your followers to get a preview of your style and the quality of your creations. 

Regularly put up posts, stories, and Reels that feature your artwork with clear calls-to-action that can direct your followers to your store or website for purchase.

Tips:

• Your feed should have your best work, making it attractive to potential buyers. Treat your Instagram profile as a mini portfolio where you can show your style and specialties.

• Whenever you post samples of your work, add watermarks to protect your content so that nobody can steal your work.

Additional Tips for Making Money on Instagram

1. Your Instagram bio is your first impression so make it count! Write what you offer or specialize in. Whether it’s products, services, or digital content, always include a strong call-to-action link that directs your followers to your store, website, or any specific promotion. 

2. Engagement is key on Instagram. The more likes, comments, and shares your posts receive, the more your profile will become attractive to brands looking for collaborations and the more effective your affiliate marketing efforts will be. 

You can do this by encouraging interaction by asking questions, replying to comments, and creating polls or quizzes in Stories. Engaging with your audience will create a community and build loyalty which will increase your chances of making money.

3. Create content consistently for brands to recognize you and use Instagram’s built-in analytics tools to track performance and understand what type of content your audience likes the most. Try making the same type of content that your audience loves.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

Instagram is no longer just a platform to share photos, it’s way more than that. If you are still looking for how to make money using Instagram, just stop right now and pick a way that you think is easy for you. 

There will never be a better time to start and you should not wait to become a perfectionist and then start something. Everyone starts somewhere and as humans, we will make mistakes. Just focus on building a genuine connection with your audience, and they will be more inclined to support you in your business. 

By being creative and using the right strategies, you can use Instagram’s potential, and create a sustainable income stream. So, just start right now and explore the various ways to make money on Instagram, and watch this platform transform into a consistent money-making app!