How to make money on Instagram
If you’ve ever wondered how to make money on Instagram, this guide will reveal 10 effective strategies to turn your passion into profit. In today’s digital age, social media platforms have become powerful tools for income generation, and Instagram stands out as a leader in this space.
With over a billion active users, it offers endless opportunities for monetization, whether you’re an influencer, entrepreneur, or creative professional. From sponsored deals to selling digital products, discover the diverse ways you can leverage your Instagram presence to build a lucrative income stream.
The takeaway here is that yes, you can earn money on instagram, so long as you treat it like a business and know that there are many ways it can happen. From digital products to an ecommerce store to being a brand ambassador or selling physical products, people are making money on instagram.

Top 10 ways to earn money on Instagram:
1. Collaborate with a brand on a sponsored post.
Landing a sponsored post deal is the primary way many influencers make their money on Instagram. The Influencer, as a collaboration partner, creates content such as images, reels, and/or stories, about that brand and posts it on the Influencer’s Instagram. This is to educate their audience & get the brand in front of new eyeballs, expanding the brand’s reach.
Sponsored post campaigns are more about educating your audience than closing a sale. Depending on your niche and the brand’s goals of the partnership, the sponsored posts may look different. Check out this Instagram reel by my client Jessica Serna in partnership with Visit Laredo.
If you’re newer to sponsored content partnerships, your first few brand collaborations can pay via trade (meaning you receive free product for posting). Once you’ve become more established and your following grows, you can earn hundreds, even thousands of dollars per post.
How to find sponsored posts
There’s a couple different ways to find sponsored posts as an Influencer.
- Send a DM to brands that you’d like to work with asking them who is in charge of their Influencer Marketing program. Read more about how to approach brands for a collaboration.
- Organically tag brands that you want to work in your creative, engaging content.
- Hire an Influencer Talent Manager to help you find more deals. Please keep in mind that this isn’t for people that are just beginning their journey. This is for more established Influencers who have a portfolio of paid brand deals and are looking to grow. Here’s my Influencer Talent Management FAQs page if you’re interested in having me as your Manager.
- If you’re just getting started as an Influencer, read this about how to collab with brands.
If you’d like to learn more about how to find brand deals, I wrote this article for you.
2. Affilate marketing
Affiliate marketing is performance based marketing in which an Influencer (the affiliate) earns a certain percentage of money for every sale, download or website visit for a brand. You may be familiar with the platform LTK to purchase clothes.
The Influencer has a specific tracking link they use in their content, which are often times Instagram stories which has a link click, link in bio which they will direct people to via their Instagram reels or in a blog post.
If you’re a creator who converts really well, meaning you have high Instagram story views or a lot of blog traffic that drives sales, an affiliate partnership could be great for you. For the right type of partner, it’s oftentimes a win-win for both the brand and the affiliate. There’s no upfront marketing costs to the brand while the affiliates can choose how much they want to monetize their content.
Here’s an example of an affiliate partnership with my client Lorraine C. Ladish of Viva Fifty. Here’s an example of affiliate marketing within a blog post by my client Yvette Marquez of Muy Bueno Cooking.
Affiliate programs for Instagram Influencers
Instagram influencers can benefit from a variety of affiliate programs, especially those that align well with their niche and audience. Here are two highly recommended affiliate programs for Instagram influencers:
- Amazon Associates
- Amazon’s affiliate program is popular due to its wide range of products. Influencers can promote almost anything and earn commissions on qualifying purchases made through their unique affiliate links.
- RewardStyle (LIKEtoKNOW.it)
- Ideal for fashion, beauty, and lifestyle influencers, RewardStyle allows influencers to create shoppable posts where followers can purchase items directly through the LIKEtoKNOW.it app.
3. Launch an Instagram shop.
Instagram shopping isn’t reserved for big brands. In fact, you can convert anyone in your audience to an actual bona fide sale — of any product or service that you sell. Here’s how it works – you go into the settings of your Instagram profile, turn on the feature to add e-commerce and make your Instagram shoppable. You can then add products to your in-feed posts which your audience can click and by directly from the post.
What to sell on Instagram
If you’re wondering what to sell on Instagram, the top 3 categories of items that sell well are :
- Fashion – clothing, footwear, accessories
- Beauty and skincare – cosmetics, styling products, serums, moisturizers
- Home decor and lifestyle – candles, rugs, pillows, plants, dinnerware
4. Drive traffic to your website.
No matter what kind of influencer you end up being, I suggest that everyone creates a website. Use Instagram to drive traffic to your blog where you can monetize through ads, sponsored posts, or affiliate marketing. You can drive traffic through a link in your bio, Instagram story link clinks or a program such as Many Chat. Many Chat will automatically send out a URL via your DMs, triggered by a certain word in the comments.
I have several clients who make a 6 figure living by earning income from digital ads placed on their sites. Think of it this way: if you don’t have a website, you can’t sell ad space!
Here’s an example of my client Yvette Marquez driving traffic to her website for anyone who requests the recipe link.

Do Influencers need websites?
Absolutely! Not only does having a website help to hedge against inevitable changes to algorithms (your follower count can tank or your social profiles can get hacked, but you always “own” your email list), but it’s also another space where you can earn. It’s also digital real estate that you get to own and control.
Whether you sell services (e.g. ghostwriting, coaching, etc), physical products (e.g. bedazzled phone cases, homemade hot sauce, cookbooks, or bespoke knitted beanies), or digital downloads (printable infographics, subversive cross-stitch patterns, or meal plans and grocery lists), you’re not limited to hawking them on external sites like Etsy.
Even if you don’t sell any products or services, you can STILL make good money by having a website.
5. Subscription content
If you have a dedicated audience of engaged participants, chances are you also have at least a few superfans among them. Consider diversifying your earning portfolio by capitalizing on that fan-girl mentality via a subscription on Patreon or Substack.
You don’t have to have a huge following in order to monetize another platform like Substack. Even I have my own Substack that I’ve monetized.
The idea here is that your most fervent audience members sign up to support your awesomeness. Sometimes they’ll pay you a one-time donation or tip, but what I’d suggest you shoot for is an ongoing subscription of $1, $5, or $10+ per month.
In exchange for their ongoing support, they get exclusive access to extra content — podcasts, blog posts, digital downloads, more in-depth newsletters, members-only webinars, private Facebook groups, etc.
You can use Instagram and other social media platforms to both grow your base and convert your regular followers into your financial backers.

How to promote Substack on Instagram
You can use Instagram reels, stories and in-feed photos to share about your Substack content to your Instagram audience. What I like to do is give a little teaser clip about what I’m posting over on Substack to my Instagram audience. I use the graphics that Substack shares with me to post on Instagram.

6. Become a UGC (user generated content) creator
User-Generated Content refers to any content—such as images, videos, reviews, testimonials, or social media posts—created by users rather than the brand itself. UGC is powerful because it provides social proof, builds trust, and enhances engagement.
As an Instagram Influencer, you can make money with UGC by creating assets, photos and videos, for a brand’s use. You have zero obligation to post it to your channels. You can either sell the photos and video outright to a brand for their use or you can license some content that you’ve previously created for a brand’s use.
How many followers do you need to be a UGC creator?
This is what’s great about being a UGC creator. You’re not hired based on your follower count. A brand will hire a UGC creator based on the high quality of their work, unique storytelling perspective. All you need are excellent content creation skills such as photography & video editing.
7. Offer Coaching or Consulting services
Use your Instagram platform to promote your expertise and offer one-on-one coaching or consulting services. Via my Instagram I promote my Fractional COO consulting offering as well as my 8 week Influencer Talent Manager Coaching Mentorship.
You’ll want to make sure your niche and offerings are well defined. Make sure it’s clear what services people would be able to hire you for & how you offer that service. Is it a one time SEO audit? It is ongoing Pinterest Support? Are you a speaking coach and have a 4 week program you offer? Make sure your package is clear and priced well for the market and your level of expertise.
How I promote my Coaching services via Instagram
Making money via Instagram by offering coaching or consulting services involves a strategic approach to showcase your expertise, build an audience, and convert followers into paying clients. What I like to do is share across testimonials from current or past clients, success stories, recent questions or challenges that have come up in my coaching as content on my Instagram.
This lets my followers know about the other services I provide, establishes myself as an expert AND directs them where to go for more information.
8. Host Virtual Events or Workshops
Making money on Instagram by offering virtual events or workshops is an effective way to leverage your expertise and engage with your audience. There’s a couple ways you can use webinars to make money.
Whenever I offer workshops or participate in virtual events, I find it so genuinely fun to engage and speak directly with my audience. These events always also help solidify my expertise in the space. Spend 10 minutes listening to me talk about something related to Influencer Marketing and you know immediately I know what I’m talking about. This could work the same for you.
One way to make money from a webinar is to create an event and then charge people to attend. Not only does it make you money but it helps ensure people show up if they’ve got some skin in the game.
Another way is to create a free series of pre-recorded webinars as part of a sales sequence. At the end of the educational series, you can present an offering or way for them to go deeper in the work. This would help them to learn more about the topic, by hiring you after you’ve demonstrated your expertise in this arena.
How to promote your event on Instagram
- Design eye-catching promotional graphics and videos to announce your event. Highlight key topics, what people will learn and hype up any bonuses you’re offering for people who show up IRL.
- Utilize Instagram Stories and Reels to generate excitement about your event. Share behind-the-scenes content, sneak peeks, and countdowns to encourage sign-ups. Make sure to always include the link to register.
- Create a unique hashtag for your event and use relevant hashtags to increase visibility. Encourage attendees to use the hashtag when they share about the event.
- Engage with Your Audience Before the Event. Reshare other people’s stories about the event and whenever they post about signing up
- Share tips, articles, or videos that pique interest and encourage registrations leading up to the date. Get people hyped!
- Send reminders via Instagram and email to registered attendees as the event date approaches. Keep the excitement alive and ensure they don’t forget about the event.
9. Create a subscription box
Creating a subscription box on Instagram can be lucrative and rewarding for a couple different reasons. What a subscription box is, is a curated collection of high quality products that align with your audience and niche that either solve problems for your audience or add to their lifestyle.
You could have a subscription box of high quality skincare products from around the world, gluten free snacks for kids, all natural pet food and treats or home products such as kitchen gadgets and candles. These items could be sourced from local, small businesses or major popular brands.
Your subscribers would pay a monthly fee to receive their curated box of goodies each month. It’s a great way to expand your brand, introduce them to new products & increase revenue for your brand. Different companies could pay to have their products included in this monthly subscription.
How to set up a subscription box
Choose your ecommerce platform that will sell your subscriptions. Options include Shopify, Cratejoy, or WooCommerce. These platforms offer subscription management features that simplify the billing process.
Decide on your niche that helps choose which products to include. Create branding that appeals to both to your ideal customer and reflects the products in the subscription box. Add in appealing, high quality photos of the products and highlight the value of subscribing. What value adds are you providing to everyone who signs up? Why should they subscribe to your monthly box of goodies?
10. Offer freelance services
Promoting freelance services on Instagram offers numerous benefits that can significantly enhance a freelancer’s visibility and landing more clients, which is what we want right? As Instagram is a visual platform, you can showcase your work in an engaging and aesthetically pleasing way, making it easier to attract potential clients.
Use hashtags to connect with a wide audience, including both local and international clients, increasing the chances of finding the right fit for their services. With Instagram, you’re not limited geographically with who you can connect with.
Make sure engage with your audience through comments, direct messages, and interactive content like polls and stories. This engagement helps build trust and rapport, which are crucial for converting followers into clients. Sharing valuable content, such as tips and behind-the-scenes insights, positions freelancers as experts in their field, further enhancing their credibility.
How to promote freelance services on Instagram
- Make sure your Instagram bio is optimized to includes links to your freelance offerings and services. Link to your portfolio of work.
- Use your Instagram content to showcase your expertise. Share client success stories, recent solutions you’ve created for a client & post questions to build engagement from your audience.
- Include CTAs (Calls to Action) to inspire people to reach out for more information, book an appointment or hire you.
- Engage with your followers in your comments and DMs.

How much money can you make on Instagram?
I know people who make $100/month and I know people who make tens of thousands of dollars a month via Instagram. The amount of money you can make on Instagram depends on a few factors which are :
- How big is your following? Follower count does impact how much you can charge for sponsored deals. The bigger the following, theoretically, the more you can charge, ensuring you still have great engagement.
- The high quality of your work. This matters not just for sponsored work but also if you want to make money as a UGC creator.
- The service offerings you have and the multiple ways people can interact and hire you.
- Do you have a website where you can sell digital ads?
You’ll note that Influencers that are able to diversify their income steams can increase the ways they can make money from Instagram.
Does Instagram pay for likes and views?
I believe at the time of writing this post, Instagram pays content creators via their Instagram Reels bonus program. But as we know all too well, Instagram does change things up often. I highly recommend you research this on your own.
No, instagram does not directly pay for likes. That said, it does reward audience engagement via the Reels bonus program, so try to rack up all the likes, comments, and shares you can to help get your posts in front of more new eyeballs!
How many followers and views do you need to make money from Instagram?
There’s no minimum amount of views you need to make money from Instagram. Depending on how you’ve decided to make money from Instagram, you don’t necessarily need a huge amount of people following you. I wrote this article which would be a good read, How many followers do you need to be an Influencer?
If your audience is super targeted and specific and most everyone following you is exactly your ideal customer and in the market for whatever you’re about (it could be curly hair, horse training, makeup application, travel tips, how to make mexican food, or anything under the sun), then you’re in a great position.
Your instagram bio is valuable real estate that tells people exactly what you do, plus how and who you serve. It’s also where you can add affiliate links, your website to drive traffic to it and anything that you sell like a coaching program.
The foundation that you need to build in order to make money off of instagram all comes back to having really interesting visual content, a solid instagram following, and engagement.
Whether you build your Instagram to be used for your personal brand to sell your services, to partner with brands and companies to promote their products, or both, it’s up to you. You can make money from Instagram in many different ways.
Some instagram accounts with a small number of followers (considered micro-influencers), may earn less money on a brand deal with a big brand than someone with a million followers. But the flip side is they may sign more brand deals because they have a high engagement rate (the % of your following that engages in your content) than someone with a larger following.
Small accounts may do a lot of UGC projects and earn tens of thousands of dollars a month because they produce amazing videos and photos.
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