Earn Money With Sponsored Content on Instagram

Instagram sponsorships won’t just fall into your lap. You’ll have to pitch brands on your services and work with them to find a mutually beneficial partnership.

Sponsored posts on Instagram are paid advertisements that appear in your feed or Stories and can be targeted to a specific audience. The post will display a sponsored label and call-to-action button.

1. Sponsored Posts

Sponsored posts, which are also called branded content, are ads that brands pay to promote on social media. They can be a photo, video, or text post. These are similar to regular Instagram posts, but they’re only visible to a select group of users in the feed and don’t appear on your profile.

Brands often work with influencers to create sponsored content that appeals to their audience. These posts are usually labeled with a ‘Paid partnership with’ or ‘#ad’ message, and the influencer must disclose that it’s a sponsored post. This ensures audiences are aware of the marketing message and helps keep both parties ethical.

To maximize the impact of your sponsored posts, make sure you understand what types of engagement your audience is looking for. It’s also helpful to know what times of the day your audience is most active, so you can plan your content accordingly.

In addition, it’s important to choose brands and products that align with your personality and values. If you’re a fashion influencer, for example, try to partner with brands that carry the same style and aesthetic as your own. Lastly, be careful not to overwhelm your audience with too many sponsored content posts, as it can dilute the trust you’ve built with them.

2. Live Badges

Instagram has a number of native monetization features that allow creators to generate cash from their content. The most popular is influencer marketing, where brands pay to feature products or services in pictures, reels, stories, IGTV ads, and live videos that fit the content style and audience. This could include showcasing products in makeup or hairstyle tutorials, snack reviews, fitness routines, or lifestyle vlogs.

Another way to earn money on Instagram is by becoming a brand ambassador. This involves working with a specific brand for a longer term, such as a gaming star like Ninja who works closely with Samsung. This is a great way to make consistent income, as long as you maintain high-quality content and engage with your followers.

Instagram also offers badges, a new monetization tool inspired by similar features in TikTok and Twitch, that allows viewers to “tip” creators during live streams. This is a good way to engage with your audience and encourage interaction in real-time. Lastly, if you’re an influencer or creator who has a large following, consider offering a subscription service to earn recurring monthly revenue from your content. This can be done through Instagram’s subscription program, third-party tools like Patreon or Substack, or even gated content via your own online store (if you have the technical knowledge). Using these features will help you increase your revenue on Instagram while also providing a valuable resource for your audience.

3. Affiliate Shopping

Brands pay influencers to highlight their products in posts, stories, and Reels. This can include everything from makeup and styling tutorials to snack reviews. Instagram’s Creator Marketplace helps brands find influencers like you who fit their merch and marketing goals. Research shows micro- and nano-influencers earn $501 – $10K per brand partnership, with bigger budgets reserved for macro influencers with the biggest reach.

Alternatively, some creators build a membership and sell access to premium content in exchange for regular payments. For example, yoga instructor Sassy Bloom offers a monthly subscription that delivers a series of videos on movement, breathwork, and food to support her audience’s health journey. With proper marketing, 2% – 5% of followers will convert to paid subscribers, earning her an ongoing income.

It’s important to note that sponsored partnerships and product placements require a high level of authenticity. If your content feels too sales-y, it can turn off your audience and risk legal issues for both you and the brand you’re partnering with. In addition, remember to adhere to Instagram’s content monetization guidelines and hashtag rules for sponsored partnerships. This will ensure that you don’t violate the platform’s terms of service and end up losing your ability to create and use the app.

4. Sponsored Videos

Instagram is a shopping-centric platform and product placement videos can be an effective way to earn money on the app. Fashion influencers like Emily Miller use this method to monetize their followers by promoting products they’d actually wear or utilize themselves, such as these Vanquish Fitness workout clothes. This helps viewers connect with the content on a more personal level, making it more likely for them to engage.

Sponsored ads are a great way for businesses to reach new customers while also keeping current ones engaged with the brand. Instagram’s Ads Manager makes it simple to create ads that can be placed in front of the right people at the right time. The platform also allows you to track results so you know exactly how your ad performed.

As with sponsored posts, be sure to clearly label any ads you put on your Instagram account as paid partnerships. This will prevent you from losing the trust of your audience and ensure you’re complying with Instagram’s content monetization and sponsorship guidelines.