How to Monetize Instagram – Your Guide for 2024
As of 2024, Instagram has 2.4 billion global users. In 2013, it only had 110 million users, so it’s grown tremendously in about a decade. Although Facebook has the most users, Instagram still has its audience. Plus, it's a platform rife with monetization opportunities. But how to monetize Instagram?
That’s the cool part – you have so many options. Whether you sell physical products or digital and whether you can commit full-time hours to growing on Instagram or only some time here and there, there’s a monetization strategy for you.
10 Smart Ways to Monetize Instagram
Okay, I won’t leave you in suspense any longer. Let’s dive right into my favorite strategies for making that moolah on Instagram.
1. Sell Your Online Courses
You built an online course that you’re insanely proud of. Now it’s time to put it out there into the world.
You have so many options for doing this. You can post it on your own website. You can also explore Instagram monetization by selling it through the social media giant.
It helps if you have a following on Instagram, as that’s the only way to attract attention to your online course. It’s also beneficial if your course is somehow related to Instagram, whether that’s how to take the perfect Insta photo, explore filters, or pose in a photo to look your best.
FreshLearn is the ultimate platform for content creators specializing in online courses. You can build an online course from scratch, manage several courses as you create a content library, and then sell your courses.
Beyond online courses, FreshLearn is also a fantastic platform for monetizing your community, emails, and memberships. It’s always good to have in your back pocket as you explore your monetization options online.
2. Link to Your eCommerce Store
How to get monetized on Instagram? I’ve got one of the easiest ways for you. All you have to do is modify your bio.
If you have an existing website or eCommerce platform such as Wix or Shopify, include the link in your bio. While Instagram doesn’t allow you to post clickable links in your content on its platform, including in comments or post captions themselves, you can always use your posts to redirect people to the link in your Instagram bio. Consider posting Instagram stories doing the same.
Gear up your website to receive an influx of traffic. Test its loading speed and consider upgrading your server if need be. Add some lead magnets to draw in new users, grow your email list, and drive conversions.
3. Sell a Subscription Service
The next method as you wonder how to monetize Instagram is much more hands-off. If you offer any kind of service your audience can subscribe to, then guess what? You’ll love how Instagram has a built-in service called, aptly enough, Subscriptions.
Your subscribers would gain access to exclusive content you don’t share with anyone else, such as posts, badges, stories, broadcast channels, social channels, reels, and Lives.
Instagram makes it easy to find your subscribers when interacting with your audience, as subscribers get a purple badge with a white crown. Non-subscribers can sign up for your Instagram Subscriptions by clicking the crown icon.
However, Instagram requires you to be at least 18 years old, have 10,000 or more followers, and meet its Partner Monetization Policies before you can sell Subscriptions.
4. Request Donations
Although it’s probably the least fun option on this list, I had to include it. After all, you’re wondering how to monetize Instagram, and this is indeed a way.
Instagram lets you request donations and start fundraisers on its platform. It’s been partnered with the PayPal Giving Fund through Meta (its owner) since late 2023.
Fundraisers only apply to nonprofit uses, so be advised before you create one. Once you build your fundraiser, you can include the link in your bio. It will be active for the next 30 days, and then close automatically unless you opt to extend it.
You can also close the fundraiser sooner, such as if you raise the required amount.
Besides promoting the fundraiser in your bio, Instagram also allows you to share it in live videos, stories, and posts. You can add donation stickers to your stories, so people can donate instantly and conveniently.
5. Get Badges by Going Live
Earlier, I discussed the concept of issuing badges to your subscribers, but there’s another monetization option related to badges on Instagram.
Each time you go Live, meaning you post a live video in which your followers can interact with you through a live chat, you can offer badges for sale.
These are separate from subscription badges. Rather, these are primarily a way to show support monetarily to your account. The follower buying a badge receives a heart beside their username so others can see they bought badges (and so can you so you can thank them).
The real-time interactivity of the badge system on Instagram Live can forge a stronger connection between content creators and their audiences.
Better yet, Instagram shows you how much you’ve made from badges while you’re live. If you’ve set any monetary goals through the platform, Instagram will track your goal progress as well.
Instagram does not offer badges globally, at least not as of this writing. If you’re based in the United States, you can use the badges feature when you go Live. However, in Mexico, Brazil, Japan, Germany, and the United Kingdom, you must be invited to offer the feature.
Badges aren’t on by default. You have to click Profile, then Professional to see your dashboard. There, click Set Up Badges.
6. Use Instagram Shopping
Today, shopping is more convenient than ever on social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook. If a customer sees something they like on Instagram, they don’t even need to leave the platform to buy it. They can check the item, read reviews, and purchase everything right through Instagram.
Sounds great, right? It is, and it’s called Instagram Shopping. Activating this feature lets you create shoppable posts with links to your products. Customers can discover great new products from your brand.
Instagram also displays products in the shopping tab, which is like the For You tab but only for shopping. This can broaden your exposure and help you reach new audiences.
7. Sell Filters and Templates
Are you still looking for how to monetize Instagram? I’ve got you covered.
Everyone wants to be unique on Instagram, right? It’s part of how you make a following, and once you do that, you can monetize your channel and begin raking in the dough. If you can sell filters and templates that help users differentiate themselves from their competitors, you can make a killing.
Filter presets and templates aren’t difficult to make if you have a creative eye and a knack for photo-editing tools like Photoshop or even Canva. Of course, you should begin by researching what’s already out there to ensure your templates and filters are unique.
You can make hundreds if not hundreds of thousands of filters and templates by creating variations on existing themes. Although each template won’t sell for much (costs usually start at $2), if you sell enough of them regularly, you can bring in money without trying to.
Of course, you should actively tend to your templates and filters, updating them and adding new ones to keep your long-term audience engaged.
You can use your website or a platform for handmade goods like Etsy to sell your templates and filters.
8. Sell Digital Downloads
And what if Instagram filters or templates aren’t really your thing? That’s okay. You can sell digital products through Instagram in much the same way that I described above. If you have downloadable prints, photos, eBooks, audio files (such as music or other recordings), or PDFs, guess what? You can sell them.
This is a simple method of Instagram monetization because as I mentioned, it’s quite hands-off. It’s important to come up with continually new and engaging products that keep your audience interested, but otherwise, you can sit back and watch as the money comes in.
9. Become an Affiliate
Are you looking for an even more hands-off method of Instagram monetization? You should strongly consider working in an affiliate capacity.
Instagram has an affiliate program for its content creators. Once you find products you really love (and you shouldn’t find that difficult considering you’ll have companies sending you things left and right), you’ll review them on your page. Perhaps you make a video about the product or showcase a variety of images. You could even go Live.
Your goal as an affiliate is to earn brand sales by talking it up to your audience. Then you’ll get paid a commission depending on the sales rate for the brand. The commissions are closed and only count after the return period ends, so 30 to 90 days.
You can become an affiliate on Instagram today by going to your Professional dashboard and then choosing Set Up Affiliate. You will then undergo an onboarding process.
Select a brand you want to work with and add them to your wishlist. Then you can begin working on your affiliate content. All affiliate posts include the “Eligible for commission” disclaimer.
10. Make Branded Content
I have one more option to share if you’re still wondering how to monetize Instagram. You can create Branded Content, also known as influencer marketing or sponsored content.
Essentially, Branded Content allows you to choose a campaign, service, or product to promote, much in the same way you do as an affiliate. Likewise, you have to disclose that you’re receiving freebies or money from the partnership.
Instagram Monetization Requirements
Now that you know how to get monetized on Instagram, you’re probably more eager than ever to jump right in, I bet. Before you do, you need to know the Instagram monetization requirements.
That’s right, there are requirements you have to pass, so let’s take a closer look.
a. Must Live in an Eligible Country
As I discussed earlier, many countries are eligible for monetization through Instagram, especially the major ones, but not all of them by far. If you try to monetize your Instagram account in a country in which you’re ineligible to do so, Instagram can take away your monetization abilities. Tread carefully!
b. Post Accurate Information
Instagram entrusts you as a content creator with the influence to be accurate and truthful in the information you post. You can’t share false news or misinformation, which means no outrageous declarations about a product.
For example, if you claim a hair serum helped you regrow 30 percent of your hair but it’s really more like five percent, you could get in trouble with Instagram. You will also likely alienate your followers and hurt your future chances at monetization, as no one will trust you. It’s not worth it.
c. Must Maintain Your Presence
Instagram expects that if you begin monetizing your account you aren’t going to let your followers stagnate. In between your monetization efforts, you should also be actively trying to grow your audience and “maintain…a sufficient follower base,” as Instagram says.
d. Must Follow Payment Terms
Read over Meta and Instagram’s Community Payment Terms and ensure you follow them before you strive to get monetized, not after!
e. Must-Have an Authentic Audience
No buying followers here. According to Instagram: “Creators and publishers can only monetize content consumed by their natural, authentic audience.” Besides the prospect of buying subscribers, Instagram also prohibits artificial amplification of your audience, such as through manufactured sharing.
If Instagram discovers that a lot of your views, follows, and/or likes are coming from fake or purchased accounts, they can take away your monetization options going forward.
f. Must Post Original Content
Instagram requires that you only take credit for content you were involved in or created directly. If your content is considered reproduced and/or unoriginal outside of the context of creative editing, parodying, or providing commentary on existing footage, you can’t monetize it.
g. Cannot Post Prohibited Content Formats
Instagram does not allow you to monetize embedded ads, text montages, looping videos (including gifs), image slideshows, static image polls, and static videos. Be aware of that when you create content.
h. Cannot Engage in Prohibited Behaviors
Like every social media platform, Instagram has a behavior standard it expects its users to meet, especially content creators earning money from the site.
You cannot use engagement baiting to get clicks and deceive your audience. Instagram also prohibits any form of soliciting engagement, whether that’s through sexual behavior, consuming illicit substances (like alcohol and drugs), showing any graphic content, or consuming inedible substances.
i. Cannot Post Restricted Content Types
Instagram does not allow any monetized content in the following categories:
i. Explicit content such as bodily conditions and gore, with the following as examples:
- Infestation
- Decay
- Consuming nauseating substances
- Consuming nonedible substances
- Bodily functions
- “Extreme” body modification
- Food processing
- Medical and surgical procedures
- Bodily fluids
- Infections
- Wounds
ii). Strong language, including motions and gestures, such as:
- Innuendos
- Sexual words
- Slurs
- Derogatory terms
- Profanity
iii). Suggestive or sexual content, as your monetization can be disabled or reduced, even if you use a fictional depiction of:
- Revealing clothing
- Lack of clothing
- Suggestive language
- Sex objects
- Sexual activity, whether real or simulated
- Suggestive dancing
- Sexual poses
- Nudity
iv). Illicit activities and behaviors, whether fictional or real, as you risk disabled or reduced monetization:
- Ongoing judicial proceedings
- Copyright infringement
- Hacking
- Embezzlement
- Insider trading
- Bribery
- Fraud
- Corruption
- Trespassing
- Vandalism
- Theft
- Trafficking
- Advocating for harm
- Threats
- Substance abuse
v). Conflicts or tragedies, which Instagram defines as showing events that cause distress, destruction, and suffering, such as:
- Property damage
- Emotional abuse
- Sexual abuse
- Physical abuse
- Illness
- Mental disability
- Physical injury
- Death
vi). Social issues, but only if discussed in a “polarizing or inflammatory manner,” including:
- Immigration
- Religion
- Socioeconomic class
- Sexual orientation
- Disability
- Ethnicity
- Political affiliation
- Age
- National origin
- Gender
- Race
Conclusion
How to monetize Instagram? It’s easier than you thought. You can sell digital (or physical) products, become an affiliate, earn money from branded content, start a subscription service, earn badges, or even get donations.
No matter which option seems best for you and your personal brand, remember that Instagram’s terms of service and monetization guidelines are worth following inside and out to maintain your money-making status!
FAQ
1. What are the most effective ways to monetize Instagram in 2024?
You can monetize Instagram through affiliate marketing, sponsored posts, selling products, or offering services. Other popular methods include leveraging Instagram’s in-app shopping feature and collaborating with brands.
2. How many followers do I need to start earning money on Instagram?
While larger followings can attract more opportunities, you can start monetizing with as few as 1,000 engaged followers. Micro-influencers with niche audiences often find great success.
3. Do I need a business account to monetize Instagram?
Yes, switching to a business or creator account provides access to tools like insights, in-app shopping, and the ability to promote posts, all of which can help you monetize more
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