Making money on Instagram is a dream for many people, but it can seem out of reach if you don't have a massive following. After all, the top Instagram influencers with millions of followers can command thousands of dollars per sponsored post.
But you don't have to be an influencer to monetize your Instagram account. There are plenty of ways for everyday users to make money on the platform, even if you only have a few hundred or a few thousand followers. The key is to get creative and take advantage of Instagram's unique features and capabilities.
I'm going to give you 10 effective strategies on how to make money on Instagram without being an influencer. I'll give you detailed explanations, real-life examples, and practical tips to help you start making money from your Instagram presence. This article will give you the knowledge and tools you need to be successful, whether you're looking to increase your income or build a serious online business.
1. Sell your products directly on Instagram
One of the easiest ways to make money on Instagram is to sell your own products or services directly to your followers. Instagram has made this process easier than ever with features like Instagram Shopping and shoppable posts.
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With Instagram Shopping, you can create a virtual storefront right on the platform. You can upload product images, descriptions, and prices, and then tag those products in your posts and Stories. When users click on the product tags, they're taken directly to a checkout page to complete the purchase without ever leaving the app.
To get started with Instagram Shopping, you'll need to:
- Convert your personal Instagram account to a business or creator account.
- Link your Instagram account to a Facebook page.
- Upload your product catalog to Facebook Commerce Manager.
- Have your account approved for Instagram Shopping.
Once you've completed these steps, you can start tagging your products in your posts and Stories. You can also create shoppable Instagram reels and use Instagram ads to promote your products to your target audience.
The key to success with this strategy is to create visually appealing, high-quality product images and videos that showcase your offerings in the best light. You'll also want to optimize your product descriptions, pricing, and checkout process to create a seamless shopping experience for your followers.
Example: Necklacedays, a jewelry brand, uses Instagram Shopping to allow customers to purchase their products directly from their posts. By making their products shoppable, they've been able to drive significant sales and revenue directly from their Instagram presence.
2. Take advantage of affiliate marketing
Another effective way to make money on Instagram without being an influencer is through affiliate marketing. As an affiliate, you can earn commissions by promoting the products or services of other businesses to your followers.
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The process works like this:
- Sign up for an affiliate program with a brand or retailer that matches your niche and audience.
- Get a unique affiliate link or tracking code that you can use to promote the products.
- Share the affiliate links in your Instagram bio, posts, stories, or reels.
- Earn a commission (typically 5-30%) every time a follower clicks on your link and makes a purchase.
The beauty of affiliate marketing is that you don't need a huge following to make money. Even with a smaller audience, you can still generate income by promoting products that your followers are genuinely interested in.
To be successful with affiliate marketing on Instagram, focus on promoting products that you've used and can truly recommend. This will help build trust with your audience and increase the chances of sales. You can also create content that shows the product in action, or highlights its key features and benefits.
Example: If you're a fitness enthusiast, you could partner with a supplement brand as an affiliate. You could then create Instagram posts and reels that demonstrate how you use the products, and encourage your followers to try them using your unique affiliate link.
3. Sell digital products and services
Another way to make money on Instagram without being an influencer is to sell digital products and services.
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This could include things like:
- Ebooks and guides
- Online courses and tutorials
- Graphic design templates
- Stock photography and illustrations
- Consulting or coaching services
The advantage of selling digital products and services is that they are easy to create, deliver, and scale. Once you've developed the initial product or service, you can continue to sell it to an unlimited number of customers without having to incur additional production costs.
To get started, you'll need to create a website or online store where you can host and sell your digital offerings. You can then use your Instagram account to drive traffic to your website and promote your products or services.
If you don't want to build a website, you can sell your digital products directly with a link in bio tool. I personally use Stan Store. It's like a link in bio but way better. It's easy to set up, you can capture emails from your audience with a lead magnet and much more. It has the same features as a website but easier to use and less time consuming.
Some effective strategies for selling digital products and services on Instagram include:
- Sharing sneak peeks or behind-the-scenes content to build excitement and interest
- Offering exclusive discounts or limited-time offers to your Instagram followers
- Partnering with other creators or influencers to cross-promote your products
- Leveraging Instagram Stories and reels to showcase your expertise and the value of your offerings.
For example, if you're a graphic designer, you could create a collection of Instagram Story templates and sell them on your website, then use your Instagram account to show the templates in action, share testimonials from satisfied customers, and drive traffic to your online store.
4. Become an Instagram Affiliate Marketer
As mentioned earlier, affiliate marketing is a powerful way to make money on Instagram without being an influencer. But you can take it a step further. You can become an affiliate marketer for other Instagram-based businesses and creators.
Many brands and influencers on Instagram have their own affiliate programs, where they offer a commission to anyone who helps promote and sell their products or services. As an affiliate marketer, you can sign up for these programs and earn a percentage of the sales you generate through your unique affiliate links or discount codes.
To be successful as an Instagram affiliate marketer, you'll need to:
- Research and identify brands or creators in your niche that have affiliate programs.
- Apply to their affiliate programs and get approved.
- Create compelling content that showcases the products or services you're promoting.
- Share your affiliate links or discount codes in your Instagram bio, posts, Stories, and reels.
- Keep track of your performance and optimize your content and promotion strategies.
The main advantage of becoming an Instagram affiliate marketer is that you don't need a huge following to make money. Even with a smaller audience, you can still generate income by promoting products or services that your followers are interested in.
For example, in the fashion and beauty niche, you could become an affiliate for an online clothing or cosmetics brand. You can create Instagram posts and reels that promote the brand's products and encourage your followers to use your unique affiliate link or discount code to make a purchase.
5. Offer Instagram Marketing Services
If you have a talent for creating engaging content, growing an audience, and driving results on Instagram, you could potentially offer your services as an Instagram marketing consultant or freelancer.
Many businesses and brands are willing to pay for professional Instagram management, content creation, and strategy services. As an Instagram marketing expert, you could offer a number of services, such as:
- Creating and scheduling Instagram posts, stories, and reels
- Developing and implementing Instagram content strategies
- Optimize Instagram profiles and accounts
- Analyzing Instagram analytics and performance
- Delivering Instagram advertising and paid promotion services
To get started, you'll need to build a strong personal brand and showcase your Instagram expertise through your own account. You can then use your Instagram presence to promote your services and attract potential clients.
Some effective strategies for offering Instagram marketing services include
- Creating a professional website or online portfolio to showcase your work
- Networking with other entrepreneurs and small business owners in your community
- Reaching out to brands or creators in your niche and offering your services
- Using platforms like Fiverr, Upwork, or Freelancer to find and bid on Instagram-related projects.
Example: A social media manager could offer Instagram marketing services to local businesses, helping them create and execute a comprehensive Instagram strategy to grow their following, increase engagement, and drive sales.
6. Sell Stock Photos and Artwork
If you have a talent for photography or graphic design, you can monetize your skills by selling stock photos and artwork on Instagram.
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There are plenty of platforms, such as Shutterstock, Adobe Stock, and Getty Images, that allow you to upload and sell your visual content to a global audience of buyers. By sharing your best work on Instagram, you can drive traffic to your stock photography portfolio and generate passive income every time someone purchases your images or graphics.
To be successful with this strategy, you'll need to:
- Create a diverse portfolio of high-quality, visually appealing stock photos and artworks.
- Optimize your images with relevant keywords and tags. This will make them easy to find.
- Promote your stock photo portfolio on your Instagram account with relevant hashtags and engaging captions.
- Continually add new content to your portfolio to keep it fresh and relevant.
The great thing about selling stock photos and illustrations is that you can make money even if you don't have a huge Instagram following. As long as your content is of high quality and meets the needs of your target buyers, you can generate passive income from your creative work.
Example: If you're a travel photographer, you could share your best landscape and cityscape photos on Instagram, using relevant hashtags and location tags to drive traffic to your stock photography portfolio. Every time someone purchases one of your images, you earn a commission.
7. Create Exclusive Content or Memberships
Another way to make money on Instagram without being an influencer is to offer exclusive content or memberships to your followers.
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This could involve creating a private Instagram account or group where you share behind-the-scenes content, exclusive tutorials, or other premium material that's only available to paying subscribers. You can charge a monthly or annual fee for access to this exclusive content, creating a recurring revenue stream.
Alternatively, you can offer exclusive rewards or discounts to your most engaged followers, such as
- Early access to new products or services
- One-on-one coaching or consulting sessions
- Exclusive merchandise or limited edition items
- Invitations to virtual or in-person events
To make this strategy work, you need to create content and experiences that are truly valuable and compelling enough that your followers are willing to pay for them. You'll also need to effectively promote these offers on your main Instagram account to drive sign-ups and subscriptions.
Example: A fitness instructor could create a private Instagram account or group where they share exclusive workout routines, nutrition tips, and Q&A sessions with their paying members. By offering this premium content, they can generate a steady stream of recurring revenue from their most engaged followers.
8. Sell Digital Downloads and Templates
If you have a talent for design or content creation, you can use your skills to create and sell digital downloads and templates on Instagram.
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This could include things like:
- Graphic design templates (think social media post templates, PowerPoint slides, etc.)
- Printable art or wall decor
- Digital planners or journals
- Presets for photo editing applications
- Branded social media templates
The beauty of selling digital downloads and templates is that they are easy to create, automate, and scale. Once you've developed the initial product, you can continue to sell it to an unlimited number of customers without incurring additional production costs.
To sell digital downloads and templates on Instagram, you'll need to:
- Create a diverse portfolio of high-quality, visually appealing products.
- Promote your offerings through engaging Instagram posts, stories, and reels.
- Provide customers with clear instructions and support on how to use and implement your products.
- Leverage platforms like Etsy, Gumroad, or your own e-commerce site to sell and deliver your digital downloads.
For example: A graphic designer could create a collection of Instagram story templates and sell them on their Etsy store. They could then use their Instagram account to show the templates in action, share testimonials from satisfied customers, and drive traffic to their online store.
9. Offer Instagram-based services
In addition to offering Instagram marketing services, you can also use your Instagram presence to offer other types of services to your followers.
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This could include things like:
- Virtual coaching or consulting (e.g., life coaching, career coaching, fitness coaching, etc.)
- Online tutoring or educational services (e.g., language lessons, coding classes, etc.)
- Creative services (e.g., graphic design, video editing, photography, etc.)
- Business services (e.g., virtual assistant, bookkeeping, social media management, etc.)
The key to success with this strategy is to identify a specific service or skill that your followers would find valuable and be willing to pay for. You can then use your Instagram account to showcase your expertise, build trust with your audience, and drive leads and bookings for your services.
Some effective tactics for offering Instagram-based services include:
- Sharing behind-the-scenes content or "day in the life" posts to build credibility
- Hosting live Q&A sessions or webinars to demonstrate your knowledge and skills
- Partnering with other creators or influencers to cross-promote your services
Taking advantage of Instagram's various features (e.g., Stories, Reels, IGTV) to showcase your work.
Example: A life coach could use their Instagram account to share inspirational content, offer free coaching tips, and promote their paid one-on-one coaching services. By building a following of people interested in personal development, they can generate a steady stream of clients and revenue directly from their Instagram presence.
10. Take Advantage of Instagram's Monetization Tools
Finally, it's worth noting that Instagram itself is actively developing a number of monetization tools and features specifically for creators and influencers. While these may not be accessible to all users, they can be a worthy source of income for those who qualify.
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Some of the most important monetization tools for Instagram creators include:
- Instagram Badges: Allows followers to buy "badges" during live streams that create revenue for the creator.
- IGTV Ads: Creators can earn a cut of ad revenue from ads placed on their IGTV videos.
- Branded Content Ads: Creators can earn a commission by allowing brands to promote their sponsored posts as ads.
- Instagram Bonuses: Creators can earn bonuses from Instagram for reaching certain milestones or engaging in certain activities, such as going live or creating reels.
To access these monetization tools, you'll typically need to meet certain eligibility requirements, such as having a certain number of followers, meeting engagement thresholds, or being part of Instagram's Creator Program.
While these tools may not be accessible to all users, they can be a valuable source of income for those who are able to take advantage of them. By staying up to date on the latest monetization opportunities for Instagram creators, you can maximize your earning potential on the platform.
Example: A popular Instagram creator with a large following could use the Instagram Badges feature to generate revenue during their live streams, where their most engaged followers can purchase digital badges to show their support.
Conclusion
Making money on Instagram without being an influencer may take a little more creativity and effort, but it's certainly possible. By taking advantage of the various strategies and features covered in this post, you can start generating income from your Instagram presence even if you don't have a massive following.
Remember, the key to success is to focus on providing value to your audience, whether it's selling products, offering services, or creating exclusive content. By building a loyal and engaged following, you can unlock a wide range of monetization opportunities on Instagram.
So start exploring these strategies, experiment with different approaches, and don't be afraid to get creative. With the right mindset and a willingness to execute, you can turn your Instagram account into a profitable business, even if you're not an influencer.