How to Make Money on Instagram as a Beginner

Instagram is one of the most popular social media platforms, with over 2 billion active users. That massive user base makes Instagram a goldmine to make money online.

If you can utilize it properly, Instagram can be a great passive income channel for you. You can follow numerous methods to make money on Instagram.

Instagram acts as a marketplace where brands connect with their audiences and where creators like you build thriving businesses. So, if you’re serious about making money on Instagram, you’re in the right place.

I’ll discuss practical ways to set up your brand or business using Instagram and make good money from it.

Prerequisites to Make Money on Instagram

Here is a checklist that’ll help you to get noticed on Instagram. You need to stand out in the crowd with your approach if you want to convert your Instagram profile into a money-making machine.

1. Pick a Niche and Grow Your Profile

Before you can make money, you need the right audience. Ask yourself: What value can I provide? Pick a niche that excites you, whether it’s fitness, fashion, or finance. Then, focus on creating high-quality, engaging content your target audience will relate to.

Keep publishing content on a daily basis to grow your followers. The more followers you can make, the better it will be for your revenue.

Another thing that matters even more than growing your followers is your content’s engagement rate. Instagram algorithm prefers content that attracts more likes, comments, and shares. So, you need to make content that urges people to engage with them. 

You can boost engagement by replying to comments and using interactive features like polls and questions in the comment section.

2. Optimize Your Profile

Your profile is your first impression. So, it’s absolutely vital to make sure your bio is clear and tells people exactly what you do. Add a professional photo and include a clickable link (use tools like Linktree if you have multiple links).

3. Create Engaging Posts

Interaction is the secret sauce, as I mentioned earlier. Instagram rewards engagement, so make time to connect with your followers. Answer DMs, comment on other posts, and create content that sparks conversation.

You need to ensure your presence all over Instagram. Your activity will increase your exposure, so use it to your benefit.

14 Effective Ways to Make Money on Instagram

Here are 14 methods to make money on Instagram for beginners and professionals:

Here is a comparison table for all the money-making opportunities on Instagram.

Let’s get into the details and learn how to generate income from Instagram with these methods.

1. Collaborate with Brands for Sponsored Posts

Sponsored posts are one of the most popular ways to make money on Instagram. Brands pay you to promote their products or services to your audience. The more engaged your audience is, the more brands will want to work with you.

Sponsored posts mean you’ll create content for a brand that showcases its products or services to your audience in exchange for payment or gifts. This could include photo posts, reels, or even stories with CTAs like “Swipe Up” or link stickers.

For example, if you're a fitness influencer, you might collaborate with a sportswear brand to showcase their latest gear in a reel. Sponsored posts work because they blend seamlessly into the Instagram feed, making them feel authentic to followers.

Tips to Get Sponsored Posts from Brands:

Nano and Micro influencers (1,000–50,000 followers) can earn between $10 and $500 per post, depending on their niche and engagement rates. Even with a smaller following, authenticity and engagement are what brands value most.

2. Join Affiliate Marketing Programs

Affiliate marketing is a performance-based way to earn money on Instagram, with commissions ranging from 5% to 30% of a product’s sale price. 

It’s a great option if you’re not ready for upfront collaborations or creating your own products. Instead, you promote a brand’s services or products and earn when your followers make purchases through your unique affiliate links.

You just need to find the best recurring affiliate programs to maximize your earning potential.

For example, a tech influencer might review gadgets and share affiliate links in their bio or stories to buy those gadgets. Similarly, a fashion blogger could post outfit ideas, tagging affiliate links for each item.

Steps to Start Affiliate Marketing on Instagram:

Pro Tip: Focus on promoting products that genuinely align with your brand. A highly engaged audience that trusts your recommendations often leads to 3x higher conversion rates than traditional ads.

3. Sell Your Own Products or Services

Selling your own products or services on Instagram can be incredibly profitable. According to research, 36% of Gen Z users start their product search on Instagram, along with 19% of all US adults. 

So, if you have a product that you want to sell online, look no further than Instagram. Instagram’s visual platform lets you showcase your offerings creatively and drive sales.

For example, a jewelry maker could sell handmade pieces through Instagram Shop, while a graphic designer might promote branding services using carousel posts and testimonials.

Follow these five steps to create an Instagram shop:

Pro Tip: Pair exclusive discounts (e.g., “10% off for Instagram followers”) with limited-time offers to create urgency and drive conversions.

4. Offer Exclusive Content to Paid Subscribers

Instagram subscriptions let you monetize your most loyal followers by offering exclusive content for a monthly fee. With over 2 billion active users, even targeting a fraction of this audience can translate to significant recurring revenue.

You and your followers will be able to identify your subscribers with a subscriber badge , which will appear in the comments.

Subscribers can enjoy members-only reels, lives, stories, bonus tutorials, or personalized Q&A sessions.

For example, a fitness influencer could share exclusive workout plans, while a musician might offer behind-the-scenes videos of their music videos.

Here’s how to launch Paid Subscriptions:

Note: You must fulfill the eligibility criteria of Instagram to be able to offer paid subscriptions as a content creator. Read the criteria list carefully to understand if you’re eligible or not.

5. Earn Money from Instagram Live with Badges

Instagram Live Badges allow your followers to support you financially during live streams. Badges cost between $0.99 and $4.99, and creators keep 100% of their earnings during Instagram live streams.

This is a great way to engage with your audience while earning in real time. For example, a chef could host a live cooking demo and answer questions, while an artist might do a live painting session and interact with viewers who purchase badges.

Tips to Maximize Live Badges Earnings:

You can schedule your live sessions during peak activity hours (usually evenings or weekends) to maximize attendance. Creators with an engaged audience can earn upwards of $500 per live session, depending on the size of their following.

6. Become an Instagram Influencer

With over 50 million creators identifying as influencers globally, this is one of the most popular ways to monetize Instagram. As an influencer, you can partner with brands to promote their products through posts, stories, or reels. 

Depending on your follower count and engagement, influencers can earn anywhere from $50 to $1,000 per post for nano and micro influencers to $10,000 or more for top-tier creators.

For instance, if you’re a food blogger, you could work with local restaurants to showcase their signature dishes or partner with kitchen appliance brands for sponsored content.

Steps to Become an Influencer:

Pro Tip: Engagement rates above 2–3% are more important to brands than follower count. Keep your audience engaged for better earning potential.

7. Sell Content to Brands

If you’re skilled at photography or video production, licensing your content to brands is a lucrative option. High-quality content creators can earn a good amount of money per licensed image or video, depending on the usage rights and industry.

For example, a travel photographer could license stunning landscape photos to travel agencies, or a videographer might sell short clips to lifestyle brands for ad campaigns.

How to Sell Content to Brands:

Pro Tip: Add watermarks to your samples and only share the high-resolution versions once payment is secured.

8. Host Sponsored Events and Webinars

Instagram's interactive features make it a great platform for hosting virtual events or webinars. In fact, 73% of B2B marketers believe webinars are one of the best ways to generate leads. Brands may sponsor your event if it aligns with their target audience.

For example, a fitness influencer could host a branded workout session or a marketing expert might offer a webinar on social media strategies with tools or software companies as sponsors. These events not only earn you sponsorship money but also help grow your credibility.

9. Create and Sell Digital Products

Digital products are highly scalable and offer significant profit margins. Creators across niches have successfully sold eBooks, presets, templates, and online courses, with some earning up to $10,000 per month.

For example, a photographer might sell Lightroom presets, or a writer could offer an eBook on productivity tips. Digital products require an upfront effort but continue to generate passive income over time.

Steps to Sell Digital Products:

Tip: Bundling multiple digital products into a discounted package can increase sales while providing extra value to your audience.

10. Dropshipping Business via Instagram

The global dropshipping market is expected to reach $1253.79 billion by 2030, and Instagram is a fantastic platform to tap into this trend. With dropshipping, you sell products directly to customers without managing inventory.

For example, a fashion influencer could create an Instagram Shop selling trendy clothing items sourced from suppliers like AliExpress or Oberlo. Your role is to market the products, while suppliers handle storage and shipping.

Steps to Launch a Dropshipping Business:

Tip: Offer discounts or free shipping for first-time customers to attract buyers and build trust.

11. Become an Instagram Account Manager

Not everyone has the time or creativity to manage their Instagram accounts. That’s where you come in. Freelance social media managers can earn anywhere from $20 to $100 per hour, depending on their experience and scope of work.

You can help small businesses with Instagram marketing, writing engaging captions, or creating a consistent posting schedule. Larger clients might hire you to oversee their entire Instagram strategy, including analytics and ad campaigns.

Tips to get clients as an Instagram Account Manager:

12. Drive Traffic to Your Website

You can create a website and then send traffic to your website from Instagram. This way, you’ll open a new channel to earn money online. You can monetize your website through ads, eCommerce sales, or other strategies.

For example, a blogger can share teaser content on Instagram and include a link in their bio or stories leading to their blog website. Similarly, an online store can use shoppable posts and reels to redirect users to product pages.

How to Drive Website Traffic with Instagram:

13. Create an Instagram Feature Account

An Instagram feature account curates and shares content from other creators in a specific niche, gaining followers and engagement. Once your account grows, you can monetize through sponsored posts, affiliate links, or shoutouts.

For example, an account focused on minimalist home décor could repost high-quality images (with proper credit) while tagging relevant brands. As the account grows, those brands may sponsor posts or offer affiliate partnerships.

Steps to Build a Successful Feature Account:

Pro Tip: Some feature accounts charge brands $50–$200 per post once they’ve reached a follower count of 10,000 or more, making it a lucrative option.

14. Start a Patreon

With over 279,000 creators actively using Patreon, crowdfunding has become a popular way to earn recurring income. Instagram helps you promote your campaigns, whether it’s for creative projects, exclusive memberships, or community-driven initiatives.

For example, artists can invite followers to join their Patreon for access to exclusive behind-the-scenes content, early releases, or tutorials. You could also use Instagram Stories to thank patrons publicly, creating a sense of belonging.

Steps to Get Started:

Pro Tip: Offer unique rewards, like signed artwork or shoutouts, to entice more contributions.

Tips to Boost Your Income on Instagram

Making money on Instagram doesn’t stop at choosing the right monetization method. You need smart strategies to grow your audience, increase engagement, and attract more opportunities to maximize your earnings. 

Here are some actionable tips to take your Instagram income to the next level:

These strategies, when implemented consistently, can help you grow your account and maximize your earning potential. The key is staying proactive, analyzing results, and adapting to trends.

Mistakes to Avoid While Monetizing Instagram

While Instagram offers endless opportunities to earn, certain missteps can slow your growth or harm your reputation. 

Here are common mistakes to watch out for and avoid as you monetize your account:

Avoiding these pitfalls can help you build a sustainable and profitable presence on Instagram while maintaining trust with your audience and partners.

Tools You Can Use to Make Money on Instagram

Making money on Instagram requires strategy and the right tools. Here’s a list of essential resources to streamline your efforts:

1. Content Creation Tools

2. Analytics Tools

3. Hashtag Research Tools

4. Affiliate and Monetization Platforms

5. Post Scheduling and Automation Tools

Real-Life Success Stories of Instagram Earners

Let’s dive into inspiring examples of people who’ve mastered Instagram monetization:

1. Fitness Influencer: Kayla Itsines (15M+ Followers)

Kayla turned her Instagram following into a fitness empire. She started by sharing workout tips and client transformations, eventually launching the Sweat app, which reportedly generated over $100 million in revenue. Her authentic approach and actionable content resonated with fitness enthusiasts worldwide.

2. Fashion Blogger: Aimee Song (7M+ Followers)

Aimee grew her account, @songofstyle, by sharing chic outfit inspirations. Her collaborations with brands like Revolve and the launch of her own clothing line have made her a household name in fashion.

3. Travel Photographer: Chris Burkard (3M+ Followers)

Chris leveraged his stunning travel photography to gain millions of followers. He earns by licensing his work, selling prints, and partnering with travel brands.

4. Niche Creator: The Dogist (7M+ Followers)

The Dogist is a photography account focused entirely on dogs. It’s monetized through merchandise sales, sponsored posts, and book deals, proving that even niche content can thrive.

FAQs

How many followers do I need to start making money on Instagram?

There’s no exact number of followers to start making money on Instagram. It all depends on your money-making strategy. Micro-influencers with 1,000 to 10,000 followers can earn through sponsored posts, affiliate marketing, and product sales. What matters more is having an engaged and loyal audience.

Can I make money on Instagram without showing my face?

Yes, you can make money on Instagram without showing your face. Accounts focused on niches like photography, travel, or memes often thrive without the creator showing their face. Just focus on providing high-quality, engaging content.

Do I need a business account to monetize Instagram?

A business or creator account is recommended to monetize Instagram. It unlocks features like Insights, Instagram Shop, and advanced messaging tools, all of which help with monetization.

How to Make Money on Instagram as a Beginner?

As a beginner, you need to consistently publish good-quality content to earn followers. Once you have a good number of followers, you can select any monetization method we discussed above to make money on Instagram.

Conclusion

Making money on Instagram is more achievable than ever, regardless of your follower count or niche. The key is to focus on building a community, creating value-driven content, and exploring multiple income streams.

You can start small by experimenting with affiliate marketing or sponsored posts. As your audience grows, diversify your strategies with digital products, coaching, or exclusive content. Don’t forget to track your progress using analytics tools and refine your approach based on audience feedback.

The possibilities to earn on Instagram are endless if you stay consistent, authentic, and open to learning.