Ready to make money with Instagram? Follow these steps to see a return.
Instagram is a great way to show off what your products and services look like. But the site also has many features that will take your customers from “just looking” to buying.
Instagram is the go-to platform for perfectly curated photos and videos. It is also a prime space for small business owners to build relationships with potential clients. As such, the natural next step is to monetize Instagram, so that you make money from your content, recommendations or ads.
Each monetization method requires a different investment, both time and financial. Just like making money on other platforms, choosing a few different tactics can diversify your income streams and help you achieve consistent income. Here are some ways to level up your Instagram game and generate a faster return on your investment (ROI).
Instagram Shop: Show your products
An Instagram store offers an interactive and visual shopping experience, which is a good reason why, according to instagram, “almost half of the people surveyed use Instagram to shop weekly.” Business and creator accounts can create an Instagram showcase.
The three key features in Instagram Shops are:
- Collections: Make it easier for Instagramers to search for items by grouping products. Highlight the latest seasonal trends or new arrivals within a specific category, or recommend gifts for different demographics and holidays.
- Product Detail Pages (PDP): Write interesting and informative product descriptions in your PDPs. Include pricing and sizing details, or add a customer testimonial to use your product detail pages to convert potential customers.
- Checking on Instagram: Although you can still send people to your website to check out, Instagram’s in-app service allows customers to complete transactions without leaving their favorite app. This feature also allows companies to announce an upcoming product launch, and Instagramers can set reminders.
- Instagram Shopping Tab: Get noticed with the shopping tab on the Instagram home screen. Users see a personalized feed and can explore new brands and products.
Turn on in-stream video ads
Earn money from your Instagram videos by enabling in-stream video ads. In exchange, Instagram said, “you will earn 55% of the ad revenue generated per view paid monthly.” The minimum length of your video is two minutes, but Instagram recommends two to four minutes as the “sweet spot.” Certain content does not qualify, including still images, looping videos, slideshows, polls, and text montages.
You can earn money by sharing content that highlights a brand, product or service.
Design shoppable posts
Monetize your existing and new Instagram content by tagging products in your Instagram stories, posts, and ads. Instagram users can tap the image or video to learn more about an item or purchase it. Add up to five tags per image post or 20 products per carousel post.
Optimize your shoppable posts by:
- Add a product tag and repost, with permission, content from influencers and customers with your products.
- Use multiple tags so users can review every aspect of your Instagram post quickly.
- Instagram activates the “Shop” tab on your Instagram profile once you have nine shoppable posts. Users click the tab to see all of their shoppable posts in one place.
Use affiliate marketing and sponsored posts
Join affiliate marketing programs and insert links into Instagram Stories using stickers or the Swipe Up feature. However, Instagram limits the links in your profile bio to one. Avoid this by using Linktr.ee. Once an Instagrammer clicks on your profile link, Linktr.ee opens a page in the app with your links, including trackable ones.
Their affiliate partners may also provide promotional codes. In this case, you can share them on your Instagram posts, including in the comments or on Instagram Reels. Depending on the program, you can get paid per click or per purchase.
Sponsored posts are another option. You can earn money by sharing content that highlights a brand, product or service. Connect with individual businesses to launch the reach of your social media platforms or join influencer marketplaces, such as Fohr, indaHash and Grapevine. Explore examples of sponsored posts by searching the hashtag #sponsored on Instagram.
Get started to sell your products
If you love connecting with your audience in real time, why not monetize it? Turn any live video into an interactive shopping experience by tagging products to appear during your live stream. Instagram displays each tagged item at the bottom of the screen, so Instagrammers can simply tap the screen to shop.
