Make Money on Instagram The Ultimate Guide

1. Make Money on Instagram: The Ultimate Guide
So you’ve got your Instagram account and you’re posting some pretty sweet photos. You
even have a few thousand followers, and they seem to like what you’re posting! You’re all set
up to be an Instagram star, right? Well, unfortunately, no – just because you have the right
equipment doesn’t mean that people will follow you and pay attention to what you post. You
need to learn how to make money on Instagram if you want your hard work to pay off in
terms of making cash.
Market research
Before you start trying to make money on Instagram, it’s important to understand the
platform and your audience. Who are you trying to reach? What kind of content will they
respond to? How can you monetize your following? Answering these questions with market
research will help you create a strategy to make money on Instagram. Your goal is to build
up an engaged community that trusts you and is eager for more from you. When this
happens, making money on Instagram becomes much easier because they trust your
recommendations and will buy what you're selling. One thing that makes this process easier
is the ability to sell products through their app or website - what's called Instagram
Commerce. If you have a good-sized following, there's no reason why you shouldn't be able
to make some money off of your posts by partnering with brands who want access to your
followers.
Choosing a profitable niche
If you want to make money on Instagram, you need to start by finding a profitable niche. To
do this, you'll need to research your audience and figure out what they're interested in. Once
you know what kinds of products or services they're looking for, you can start promoting
them on your page. You may not be able to find products that are specific enough to meet
their needs at first, but over time as you build up your following, you'll be able to promote
more specific items. When it comes to making money with your Instagram account, think
about the types of things people like you might search for online (especially if it's something
you already use). And don't forget to include some photos!
-Always include images of the product/service so viewers know exactly what they're getting
before they buy anything.
-Include details about the company (like how long it's been around) and the benefits the
product offers.
-Add hashtags that are relevant to your industry so viewers will find related posts when
searching.
Creating an optimised profile
Your profile is the first thing potential followers will see when they come across your page, so
you want to make sure it’s representing your brand in the best light possible. Here are a few
tips for creating an optimised profile:
1. Use a high-quality profile photo that is on-brand.
2. Write a compelling bio that tells people who you are and what you do.
3. Use relevant keywords and hashtags in your bio so that people can find you easily.

2. 4. Use a link in your bio to drive traffic to your website or landing page.
5. Make sure your posts are high quality and on-brand.
6. Engage with other users regularly to build up a following. It's important to maintain a
healthy balance of sharing content from yourself and others to grow your audience. 7. Follow
similar accounts as yours - this will expose you to new content, help introduce you to new
audiences, and give you some perspective into what might work well for your account (and
vice versa). 8. Create an image library - There are plenty of stock image sites out there like
Unsplash or Pexels where it's free and easy to download beautiful images that can be used
as profile pictures or graphics in future posts. 9. Post consistently! You'll want at least one
post per day but don't go overboard by posting too much; no more than three times per day
tops (with an hour or two break between each post). 10. Be authentic!
Interacting with followers
Making money on Instagram starts with building a strong relationship with your followers.
Like and comment on their posts, ask them questions, and be genuine. The more you
interact, the more likely they are to interact with you – and that’s when the magic happens.
You can also run giveaways and post exclusive content to make your page more engaging.
Giveaways are great because they attract new followers and incentivize engagement from
current ones. Giveaways like buy one get one free or follow me for a chance to win work
best for this purpose. What I do is offer the follower a screenshot of my home screen where
all of my active followers are highlighted in blue so they know how many people will be
following them after entering the giveaway. Not only does it show that my account is worth
following, but it also builds trust by letting people know I don’t just randomly give away
anything! For example, here is what my home screen looks like right now
Finding out what works for you
If you're looking to make money on Instagram, there's no one-size-fits-all answer. You'll need
to figure out what works best for you and your audience. But there are a few general tips that
can help you get started. Think about the type of content you create—whether it's images,
videos, or text posts—and find an area where you have something unique to offer. What do
people like about the content you create? How would they feel if they didn't see it anymore?
How does this content fit in with what other influencers are doing? Are there any trends in
certain types of content right now? In terms of how much time you spend on Instagram,
remember that anything is better than nothing. Even if all you have time for is a quick post
every once in a while, it will eventually add up to significant numbers when multiplied by how
many followers you've got. And while likes and comments don't translate into dollars, they
still give you valuable insight into what resonates with your followers. Remembering these
things will help keep your expectations realistic as well as boost your confidence when
making decisions.
Promoting your account
If you want to make money on Instagram, you need to start by promoting your account. Get
active on other social media platforms and drive traffic to your Instagram page. Use relevant
hashtags, post interesting content, and engage with your followers. Once you have a solid
following, you can start working with brands and promoting their products on your page.
You'll be compensated for each product you promote (usually in the form of a commission or
discount). You can also work with an influencer agency that will help promote your posts for

3. companies that are looking for influencers. These agencies take care of all the marketing,
which means more time to focus on what matters most- creating great content! Here's how it
works: first, find an agency based on things like rates, location, and niche. Agencies will
typically provide a list of clients they work with that are looking for someone like you. Next,
sign up with them and fill out the profile questionnaire so they know what type of content is
right for you. They'll then reach out to potential clients that fit your profile and negotiate
deals. After deciding on one or two offers (the average is between $500-$5,000 per month),
they send over a contract where both parties agree on the terms before sending it off to be
signed. Keep in mind, not every offer will be worth your time. To help weed out any bad
offers, read reviews from previous campaigns from fellow influencers who did similar jobs.
Lastly, keep in mind that this isn't a get rich quick scheme; it takes hard work and patience to
build up a successful campaign.
Monetizing your account
If you're one of the many people with an Instagram account and you're looking to make
money from it, you're in luck. There are a few different ways to monetize your account, and
we're here to give you the lowdown. One way is by selling advertising space. It's as simple
as creating an ad campaign and putting it up for sale on your profile. You'll have the option to
include ads before or after your posts or within them, depending on what advertisers want.
Another way is by promoting products or services through sponsored posts. These will be
labelled as Sponsored at the top of the post so followers know that they are seeing a paid
promotion rather than regular content from you. The final way to monetize your account is by
becoming a brand ambassador. As part of this type of deal, you would promote brands'
products or services while also representing their company on social media. In exchange for
wearing clothes from the brand, writing blog posts about its product line, and posting pictures
with company-branded items (bags, hats), these companies will pay you an agreed-upon
amount each month. Just keep in mind that because there is always a chance that your
followers won't like something you do, not all brand ambassadorships will work out. But if
you can find one where you believe the company's values align with yours and who pays
more than just a token sum per post, then it could be worth considering! Finally, a great way
to earn extra cash on Instagram is by playing around with the app’s stories feature. To use
stories you first need to set up your account so that it has access to your location, which
means anyone can find and follow you easily—although all of your posts are public anyway.
Once your location has been added, go back into your profile settings and select Stories.
Stories act much like Snapchat does; they disappear after 24 hours unless someone takes a
screenshot or saves them otherwise. So if you upload photos or videos onto this feature
often enough, chances are someone will save some of them eventually!
Top Instagram Hashtags
Instagram hashtags can make or break your Instagram marketing
strategy. Use them correctly and you’ll get your posts seen by
more people likely to be interested in your products or brand.

4. But use the wrong and you can actually do damage, from
annoying potential followers to getting penalised by Instagram’s
algorithm.
To use hashtags for Instagram effectively, you need to understand
exactly how they work, and put some thought into a strategy.
These are the top 50 hashtags on Instagram:
1. #love
2. #instagood
3. #fashion
4. #photooftheday
5. #beautiful
6. #art
7. #photography
8. #happy
9. #picoftheday
10. #cute
11. #follow
12. #tbt
13. #followme
14. #nature
15. #like4like
16. #travel
17. #instagram
18. #style
19. #repost
20. #summer
21. #instadaily
22. #selfie
23. #me
24. #friends
25. #fitness

5. 26. #girl
27. #food
28. #fun
29. #beauty
30. #instalike
31. #smile
32. #family
33. #photo
34. #life
35. #likeforlike
36. #music
37. #ootd
38. #follow4follow
39. #makeup
40. #amazing
41. #igers
42. #nofilter
43. #dog
44. #model
45. #sunset
46. #beach
47. #instamood
48. #foodporn
49. #motivation
50. #followforfollow
Keep in mind that the most popular Instagram hashtags are not
necessarily the most effective.
How to start affiliate marketing on Instagram

6. 1. Switch to a Creator account
2. To run an affiliate marketing program on Instagram, you’ll need to
turn your Instagram account into a Creator account. Here are the
steps:
1. Open your Instagram account.
2. Select Settings.
3. Go to Account.
4. Tap Switch to a professional account and choose Creator.
5. Choose the category that best describes your affiliate niche.
6. Enter your contact information.
Instagram Creator profiles are designed for bloggers, influencers, and
content creators. It gives you access to tools that will help you grow your
affiliate business on the platform—including advanced insights and
simplified messaging.
You can see your follower growth, audience demographics, and manage
questions from people interested in your affiliated products by dividing your
Instagram DMs.
2. Choose the right affiliate partners
To make money on Instagram with affiliate marketing, you need to discover
brands that pay commission on sales you make.
There are two places to start:

7. ● Affiliate marketing programs. Brands in all niches encourage
customers to promote their products in exchange for commission.
Popular programs include Shopify, Amazon Associates, and the eBay
Partner Network.
● Affiliate networks. Platforms like ShareASale, Rakuten, Awin, and
CJ Affiliate allow marketers to generate custom links, track
commission, and receive payouts from one dashboard. Note that
many programs within a network have different commission rates.
While these two routes to monetization have the lowest barrier to entry, you
can expand your affiliate marketing business by pitching to work with the
brands you already know and love.
Roughly 80% of brands work with affiliates, though many high ticket affiliate
programs are invite-only (or at least require some digging). Proving you’re
already a loyal customer to the brand will help you secure affiliate links to
share on Instagram.
3. Build your influence
When it comes to Instagram affiliate marketing, quality is more important
than quantity.
Instagram influencers with fewer than 10,000 followers can demand
roughly $193 per sponsored post, according to a survey by Statista,
proving you don’t need tens of thousands of followers to build a new

8. revenue stream through the app as an affiliate marketer. You just need a
few people who know, like, and trust what you say.
To make money with Instagram affiliate marketing, the goal is to become an
influencer in your audience’s eyes. Only then will you stand a chance at
diverting them toward your affiliate links.
● Post when your audience is active. There’s not much point in
posting new Instagram content if your followers aren’t around to see
it. Find your optimal posting times in Instagram Insights.
● Be consistent. Help people know what to expect when they hit the
Follow button for the first time. Consistently sharing new content also
gives followers more opportunity to engage—a factor considered in
Instagram’s algorithm.
● Share mostly non-promotional content. Keep your content—and
recommendations—credible by posting mostly non-promotional
content. We like the rule suggested by Marc Bromhall, founder of
Beginner Surf Gear: “I adopt the one-in-20 principle, so only 5% of
my posts are affiliate posts. Any more than that and you run the risk
of eroding trust and credibility with your audience.”
● Pick a niche. The goal is to be known as a trustworthy source of
information, news, or entertainment in the industry you sell affiliate
products within. Take Jake Thomas, founder of Golden Hearts, for
example. He promotes pet products for golden retrievers, so it makes
sense that his Instagram page shares photos of cute dogs.

9. Seven tips to making more
affiliate sales on Instagram
Once you’ve got your Instagram affiliate account set up, the hard work
doesn’t stop there. Use these seven affiliate marketing tips to maximise
your income potential through Instagram.
1. Label affiliate products as a paid partnership.
2. Create an Instagram affiliate storefront.
3. Add affiliate links to your Instagram bio.
4. Create a discount code Story highlight.
5. Record product demonstrations.
6. Use hashtags to expand your reach.
7. Track affiliate performance.
1. Label affiliate products as a paid partnership
Given the surge in the number of Instagram users incentivized to share
products with their followers, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) laid out
strict guidelines on how marketers must disclose their relationship with an
affiliated brand: “When the review has a clear and conspicuous disclosure
of your relationship and the reader can see both the review containing that
disclosure and the link at the same time, readers have the information they
need. You could say something like, ‘I get commissions for purchases
made through links in this post.’ But if the product review containing the
disclosure and the link are separated, readers may not make the
connection.”
Instagram recently launched a feature designed to help affiliate marketers
meet these FTC endorsement requirements. The paid partnerships label,

10. But it’s not just the FTC’s good books you’ll land yourself in by being honest
with affiliate recommendations. Lattice Hudson, founder of Lattice & Co,
says, “I don’t suggest you obscure the fact that it's affiliate marketing, since
then you come off as spam, deceptive affiliate advertising, and promotions.
“Be truthful and fair with your [audience], establishing true relationships
through authentic content. They won’t return if all they perceive is a
commercial motive—that you don’t have their best interests in mind.”
2. Create an Instagram affiliate storefront
Back in June 2021, Instagram released news of its new affiliate
features—one of which is an in-app storefront, similar to the ecommerce
brand’s Instagram Shops, specifically for content creators using the
platform.
Creators can showcase the products they’re affiliated with from their profile.
The View Shop tab shows recommended products, with affiliates able to
tag these products from their Instagram content to encourage sales.
The Instagram affiliate shops feature is still in beta testing, though it’s
expected to roll out to US creators soon. In the meantime, work on testing
the popularity of different affiliate products. When the feature launches for
all creators, you’ll know which items should take pride of place in your
affiliate storefront.
3. Add affiliate links to your Instagram bio
Instagram users regularly complain about the fact that they’re only allowed
to include one link from their bio.

11. While the platform listened and took this into consideration for Stories
(more on that later), affiliate marketers have had to find workarounds to
divert Instagram traffic toward their affiliate links.
One popular workaround is a landing page link aggregator. Tools like
Linktree or Tap Bio allow affiliate marketers to build landing pages that
contain multiple other affiliate links, like this example from Lily Pebbles:
Lily uses the same link across most of her social media platforms, and
encourages followers to hop between them all through this landing page.
What’s interesting, though, is that Lily’s “Shop my favourites edit” link
directs Instagram followers toward a site on her blog that displays the
fashion products she loves. Each is monetized through a RewardStyle
affiliate link:
4. Create a discount code Story highlight
Did you know that 88% of US consumers use coupon codes when
shopping online? Work that into your affiliate marketing strategy by sharing
discount codes with Instagram followers.
Instagram Stories work perfectly here. Not only is the Story format one of
Instagram’s most popular, with over 500 million daily users, but affiliates
can use the link sticker to divert people toward products—no diversion
through your bio link required. (This replaces the swipe up feature
Instagram previously reserved for accounts with more than 10,000
followers.)
Take advantage of this direct linking opportunity by sharing discount codes
through Instagram Stories. Add affiliate links using the link sticker, like this
example from Sprocker Lovers:

12. Take this money-making strategy a step further by saving your discount
codes to a Story highlight. That way, coupon codes don’t disappear after 24
hours. You’ll also monetize first-time visitors to your profile by showcasing
the discount codes they can redeem on affiliated products.
5. Record product demonstrations
Affiliate marketing works when Instagram followers know, like, and trust you
enough to purchase the products you recommend. Help potential
customers do that—without making them exit their Instagram feed in
search of answers—by demonstrating how to use the product.
This includes:
● Instagram Stories for vlog-style videos
● Instagram Reels for short, TikTok-style videos
● Instagram Live for live streaming product tutorials in real time
“The best Instagram affiliate content is typically in the form of
recommendations and real life product applications, not sales pitches,”
says Hector Ruiz, founder of BBQ Grill Academy.
“This is because an original recommendation tells viewers that you like this
product or service that you might be marketing and how you use it in real
life. Then, if they like what they see, they will click on the link to learn more
about the product.”
💡Pro Tip: Product tutorials lend themselves well to Instagram carousels.
Break down each step into an individual photo or short video and post them
to your feed. Not only will repurposing the content give it more mileage, but
carousels serve as a more permanent place to educate your audience
about the products you’ll earn commission on.

13. 6. Use hashtags to expand your reach
To build an affiliate marketing business that generates passive income, you
need to build a sustainable stream of new Instagram followers. More
eyeballs on your content decreases the risk of audience fatigue—when
people grow bored of seeing the same content repetitively.
Hashtags help you expand your audience without much extra effort.
Instagram users can follow hashtags inside the app, meaning your content
could appear in their feed, even if they don’t follow your account.
To find Instagram hashtags, start with competitor research. Brands,
bloggers, and publishers often use hashtags to expand their own reach.
Look at the captions and first comment of Instagram posts shared by them
for ideas.
Platforms also exist to show popular hashtags in any given industry, such
as:
● SparkToro
● Inflact
Before adding a hashtag to your shortlist, double check that it’s not
prohibited. Seemingly innocent terms like #adulting and #beauty blogger,
and #pushups are all banned by Instagram. Using them in your affiliate
content could result in a shadowban.
7. Track affiliate performance
Earlier, we mentioned how an Instagram creator account gives you access
to Instagram’s analytics feature, Insights. Use this data to analyse how
successful your affiliate marketing campaigns are on the platform.

14. Key metrics to look out for include:
● Brand awareness. Use Post Insights to discover how people find your
content—be that the Explore page, their feed, or directly through your
profile.
● Profile activity. If you’re pointing followers toward a link aggregation
tool, check how many people click the link from your bio.
● Engagement rate. Evaluate this by affiliate product on offer, type of
content, and format. If tutorial-based Instagram Stories have a higher
engagement rate than standard grid posts, prioritise them going
forward.
Consult the data inside your affiliate marketing dashboard to corroborate
Instagram data. While it’s hard to find a platform with granular tracking (like
individual followers that purchased), keep an eye out for:
● Most and least purchased products
● Conversion rate for promoted affiliate items
● Affiliate conversion spikes around periods of heavy Instagram
promotion
The future of Instagram affiliate marketing
Instagram is constantly evolving its platform to be more creator-friendly.
That’s great news for affiliate marketers using the social media network as
a tool to generate extra income.
Start on the right foot by immediately switching to a creator account,
securing affiliate partners, and building your influence. Only then can you

15. begin promoting affiliate products in a way that encourages followers to
buy.