Having Instagram influence can be profitable. Knowing how to make money from Instagram separates successful influencers from casual posters. For starters, knowing how many Instagram followers you need to make money. If you need help building a following or monetizing your audience, Scalefluence is here to help!
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Having followers and a decent engagement rate is only the first step. There is a lot more that goes into becoming an Instagram influencer. A certain level of dedication is needed, and a solid marketing strategy.
However, once you know how to leverage your Instagram influence and understand how to get paid on Instagram, you can grow your bank account rather quickly.
The first step is knowing how many followers you need and focusing on building your audience first. Unfortunately, the answer to this question isn’t as easy as, say, YouTube, which sets a threshold of 1,000 subscribers. Let’s find out why.
How Many IG Followers Do You Need To Make Money?
Having more followers is always great. But a certain follower count isn’t what you need to make money on Instagram. Many factors will dictate how to monetize your Instagram content.
Some might think you need millions of followers to make serious money on Instagram, but that isn’t always the case. The general rule of thumb is to aim for at least a couple thousand followers before you start monetizing, but there is no minimum. With only a thousand followers or less, you can start selling affiliate products, your own products, or making sponsored posts for niche brands.
From mega-influencers to nano-influencers, there is no hard-and-fast rule on follower count when making money on Instagram. If you are a micro-influencer with 3,000 very loyal followers, a brand in your niche will pay you top dollar to reach that audience.
Here’s a great example of how to leverage Instagram influence when you have only 2,000 followers . . .
Instagram travel and fashion nano-influencer @luperezluppino has a loyal 2k following that she can use to make money on Instagram . . .
This proves a lower follower count doesn’t mean you can’t make money on Instagram. With followers out of the way, let’s get to the good stuff — How to earn cash from Instagram.
How Much Money Can You Make From Instagram?
The sky is the limit when it comes to making money as an influencer. By using different monetization methods, you can rake in good money by leveraging your influence. Some mega-influencers make tens of thousands of dollars from a single post or more.
Once you have a decent following, there are a few different ways to make money as an IG influencer. You can choose one of the below ways to get started. There is also no harm in combining methods to maximize your earning potential, just don’t overstretch yourself.
Subscriptions
Instagram Subscriptions are a relatively new feature that holds great potential for content creators. A subscription model is an excellent way for influencers to earn a steady paycheck.
The basic idea is to block certain types of content behind a paywall. This allows your superfans the opportunity to pay for exclusive content access, earning you passive income for your high-quality content.
It will be interesting to see how these new features develop alongside the influencer industry.
Sponsorships
Sponsored posts are among the best ways to make money as an Instagram influencer. Why? Because brands want to influence, and if you have loyal followers hanging on every recommendation you make, a quick post is easy money.
Brands want your audience. Once you’ve taken the time to build yours up, it can be a very valuable asset. When an influencer like you delivers the marketing message for the brand, everyone wins.
Here’s a sponsored post example via fashion micro-influencer @mikaela.wightman and Zara . . .
A straightforward Instagram video post that netted over 2,600 views and nearly 20 comments . . .
You might think a major brand like Zara wouldn’t be interested in an influencer with only 30k followers, but this post may have sold over 2,000 dresses. For Zara, if they had several affordable influencers promoting their products, the payoff could be huge.
How to Set Up Sponsored Partnerships
To get the attention of brands for sponsored posts, you do need to do some homework. Find brands in your niche and reach out. Have your sales pitch ready, as they’ll want to see your follower count, engagement rate, and success of previous sponsorship campaigns.
You can also make connecting and partnering with brands easier by teaming up with an influencer marketing platform like Scalefluence. Influencer marketing platforms already have a network of brands and agencies looking for influencers like you across a number of industries and niches.
Ads
There are many different types of ads available to businesses that want to pay for advertising content on Instagram. These include:
- Image ads
- Instagram Stories ads
- Video ads
- Carousel ads
- Collection ads
- Explore ads
- Shopping ads
- Reels ads
While many of these are handled by Instagram directly, and you can’t sell ad space on your page like you can on websites, there are other ways to monetize, such as branded content.
The most common way is to mimic the above types of ads to promote a business’s products or services. For example, you could create a carousel-type post with products you recommend from a brand willing to sponsor you.
You may also be able to earn income from new ad programs like Instagram Reels Bonus, though these features are only now rolling out and are not available to everyone.
Affiliate Links
Affiliate marketing has been around for quite some time, and skilled influencers know how to turn affiliate links into decent cash.
Simply make affiliate posts on your page, and anyone who clicks through to make a purchase earns you a commission. Joining affiliate networks is easy. Just visit an affiliate marketing platform like Rakuten or Commission Junction, submit an application, and wait to be approved.
Sometimes content creators will use their Instagram posts to promote affiliate links via another medium, such as a website, YouTube channel, or podcast. Here’s an example from micro-influencer @thelipstickfever . . .
Once you visit the podcast from her Instagram profile, you get more content, more affiliate links to check out, and more opportunities to become a loyal follower . . .
Selling Directly
For some, using their influence to market their own digital or physical products can be very lucrative. As an influencer, you are a personal brand. Instagram users visit you for brand information and product or service recommendations. It isn’t only about entertainment value.
This makes creating a strong personal brand with branded merchandise a great opportunity for making money via your IG influence.
Here’s a great personal branding merchandise example from @lizarch . . .
This health and wellness influencer turned her influence of over 60k followers into personal branded book success . . .
Personal brand merchandise can generate massive revenue when promoted correctly alongside content for followers, especially if it provides value in your niche.
Factors That Can Affect Your Earnings on Instagram
While follower count is an integral part of the equation regarding the value of your reach and influence, it is far from the only factor. The main aspects you need to consider are:
Number of Followers
The size of your audience does play an important part in your earning potential. After all, brands will pay more for an influencer that can reach a million Instagram users than one who can only reach 1,000. But as long as you have thousands of followers, you can start earning money.
Engagement
Engagement rates have become a standard metric for evaluating the actual influence of content creators. For example, f you have 100,000 followers, but only 1% engagement, you have less influence than someone with only 10,000 followers but 20% engagement. Potential sponsors will look at your likes, comments, shares, and other interactions to gauge engagement.
Niche Difficulty
Your niche can dictate how many followers you need to make money on IG. As an example, an influencer with a smaller niche with a smaller target audience generally has less competition and can connect with niche brands in their field. For more mainstream niches, like gaming or beauty, there may be more brands looking to make sponsorship deals, but there are also a lot more influencers competing for those partnerships.
Reputation
Influencers reflect on the brands they sponsor for better or worse. Simply put, influencers with bad PR will be less attractive than those with a sterling reputation and adoring fans. To build a good reputation, continue to produce quality content and cater to your loyal following.
Start Making Money on IG With Scalefluence
The above ways to leverage your Instagram influence are only the tip of the iceberg. Mastering each method and expanding into other income streams on Instagram and beyond is key to turning your reach into revenue.
Many have tried to start this journey on their own, though Scalefluence is a reputable influencer marketing platform that can help you accelerate your growth and earnings. Our skilled team and a large network of sponsors will take much of the guesswork out of the equation, allowing you to earn consistent income for your content.
Sign up today to learn about how many Instagram followers to make money and what to do once you have them. There’s no need to struggle on your own!
FAQs
No. Unlike YouTube, with a clean 1,000 subscriber limit to join their Partner Program, Instagram isn’t as clear-cut in its monetization options.
Your earning potential will vary based on several factors, though a good rule of thumb is to multiply by a factor of 10. To earn $1,000 a month, you will want at least 10,000 followers.
With quality content, a marketable niche, and good engagement, you can earn $1,000 or more monthly with 10,000 Instagram followers.
Again, there is no set limit like YouTube, but you will need a decent following that views and engages with your content to attract sponsors.
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