How to Make Money on Instagram: 3 Foolproof Strategies

 Everyone wants to know how to make money on Instagram. We’re all on it all day anyways—usually spending money instead of earning it.

In the past few years, Instagram’s endless feed of gorgeous photos has evolved into something between a glossy magazine, your best friend’s taste, and a boutique shop.

With over a billion monthly users, 71% of whom are under 35, Instagram is the platform of aspiration, inspiration—and now, in-app checkout.

There are three major ways to make money on Instagram.

• Work as an influencer to post content sponsored by brands
• Be an affiliate marketer selling other people’s products
• Become an entrepreneur and sell your own products

Read on for our best advice on all three tracks.

How to make money on Instagram

Strategy 1: Post sponsored content

Sponsored posts might be the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the phrase ‘Instagram influencer.’ There are over 500,000 active influencers on Instagram as of early 2019.

The base requirement here is a decent-to-impressive follower count and a competitive engagement rate. In other words, this strategy is for you if you’re good at making strangers on the internet like and trust you.

The appeal of this strategy is that it involves marketing without any of the headaches of e-commerce: it doesn’t require you to create a product or fulfill orders. In a perfect world, all this entails is just being yourself and posting about the products, services, or brands that make your life what it is.

Of course, there’s a downside: not all brands are born equal, and it might not be Bvlgari knocking on your door at first. Plus, there’s a wealth of scammers out there targeting aspiring influencers.

Even if you succeed with the sponsored content route, you’ll probably need to reflect on the balance between your integrity and your revenue. It’s your personal brand on the line, after all. And people trust authenticity.

You’ll need to put every brand who wants to work with you through a rigorous “does this fit my brand?” test. Read more about how one Instagram influencer knows which opportunities are right for her.

Here’s how to get started as an Instagram influencer.

Step 1: Choose a niche

If you really want to get paid on Instagram, you’re going to be living and breathing your personal brand. Make sure you truly love it.

And consider how your potential partners see things. Brands will be comparing your audience to their target market. According to a recent study, 55% of brands say they prefer micro-influencers, who they perceive to have a more authentic connection with their audience.

That means the more specific you get, the better. ‘Vegan’ is saturated, so why not try ‘sober vegan ultra-marathon runner dad who interviews famous people on his podcast’ instead? (Or don’t, because that one’s taken.)

Meanwhile, if you are a European heiress/model with an Instagram husband, your brand is ready-made.