How to Monetize Your Brand-New Instagram Account?

Have you ever looked at Instagrammers’ stories where they post pictures and cash out and thought to yourself whether you could do that too? Well, we are here to answer this question and help you monetize your brand-new Instagram account.

Just like YouTubers and bloggers, Instagrammers have influence and reach—things that brands struggle with. Together, these offer Instagram creators an opportunity to explore different potential revenue streams.

But, before we tell you how to monetize your Instagram account, let’s start by taking a look at some of the prerequisites.

Before you monetize your account

Whether you are planning to build an empire or just earn some extra money, monetizing Instagram is not a simple task. Having a catchy Instagram username and posting photos might be enough to impress your friends, but you would not be able to gain the much-needed influence. If you are new to Instagram, there are two things that you need to focus on:

Fanbase

Why do companies pay an Instagram content creator for sponsored content? Because they are looking to gain excess to your audience so that they can sell their products to them. Since you have a brand-new Instagram account, you won’t have a ton of followers. This means that you won’t be able to drive any brand’s products by posting sponsored content. What you need to do is focus on organically growing your follower count until it reaches a few thousand Instagram followers. This is when you will start to have influence.

Now, the question is exactly how many followers you need to start making money on Instagram? The answer depends on certain factors:

• The niche you are in and how it ties to the product category.
• Whether or not you have engaged followers.
• The revenue channels you are exploring.

It would be better if you had more engaged followers. The top Instagrammers make over a thousand per post. However, you can start making by having a smaller but engaged following of 1000.

Engaged followers

More followers means more influence, right? Technically, right, but there is more to this. Having a big follower count will increase your chances of appearing in users’ feeds. However, what will be the point of this if your followers won’t engage with your posts? The trick is to create content that satisfies the content needs of your followers. This is not measured by the number of followers but by the number of Instagram likes, comments, and shares. Having engaged followers means that brands will be willing to invest in you.

How can you increase your reach on Instagram?

Now that you know that the basic requirements are for monetizing your Instagram, you might be wondering how you can actually achieve these goals? Here are a few tips to help you get that social reach and increase engagement on your account:

1. Hashtags To improve the reach and discoverability of your content, you have to use the right hashtags. You can use up to 30 hashtags on Instagram. However, it is recommended that you use only 10-15. When you are creating sponsored effects, you have to be extra careful and use the right hashtags to create maximum effect. For this, you can use a hashtag generator tool that will do all the groundwork for you. These tools can provide you with a list of popular hashtags based on your niche.
2. Bio – Whether you are an individual or a business trying to monetize your Instagram account, you have to be wise about the content you post. Your bio can be a valuable asset to your page. Consider this as a pitch for your first-time visitors. It has to be simple, quirky, and crisp that showcases your creativity and tells the users what value you can provide them.
3. Regular posting – If you want to nurture a relationship with your followers, you have to interact with them regularly. In order to monetize your account, you have to post content and engage with your followers every day. There is a positive correlation between engagement rates and the frequency of posting. To do this, you need a fixed posting schedule that aligns with the time your followers are most active. The more your post, the faster your following will grow. Don’t forget to interact with people who comment on your post. This will show them that you care for them and appreciate them.
4. Content Quality – There are many content creators on Instagram who are vying for your target audience’s attention. It won’t be easy to stand out in this sea. However, by posting high-quality content, the task will become a bit easier. This includes the captions as well. You need to write captions based on your actual experience with the product so that it appears genuine. Also, don’t forget to leverage the different types of video content opportunities Instagram has to offer, including reels, IGTV, and more.
5. Connect – An important part of increasing your reach is connecting with other creators from your niche. You can either get in touch with them directly or engage with them through Instagram comments on their comments. You can also collaborate with them and create content together. By running contests and giveaways with other influencers, you can boost your visibility on the platform.

So, how can you start making money?

Once you have a respectable number of engaged followers, you can leverage it to start making some money. Here are a few ideas to help you get started:

Teach

If you want something that is low investment and high payoff, then teaching what you know is the best option for you. You can teach anything you want, such as card tricks, astrology, anything. You can provide info products to your audience, including audio or video courses, one-off payment courses, e-books, etc. Instagram can help you promote your brand and deliver your knowledge. There are some common posting techniques that you can use, such as “How-to” posts, “Ask Me Anything” sessions, weekly tip series, explainer videos, etc.

These videos will help you gain your audience’s trust. Then, you can direct them to your or your sponsor’s website.

Product placement

This method of monetizing your Instagram account involves a brand paying you to feature their product in your videos. You will be advertising it and earning some money. This is also known as embedded marketing, and it has been around for years. Usually, they are so subtle that they often fly under the radar. For product placements, you can use the following types of video on Instagram:

• Stories
• Reels
• IG Live
• IGTV

In all of these types of videos, you will either be providing the product insight or interacting with the product.

You can even use the product placement videos to generate another stream of income. For this, you have to enable IGTV Ads, the new monetization feature from Instagram. Another feature that you can use for generating extra revenue is Instagram’s Live Badges. Your followers can use badges to tip you while you are live streaming.

To get started with product placements, you can approach companies with a pitch and present your proposal. However, you also have to be careful and make sure that your placement doesn’t feel like an ad. It might rub some of your followers the wrong way. Try to be genuine in your content.

Sell your own products

For this stream of income, you have two options:

Create your own

You can create physical as well as digital products and sell them on your IG page. Make sure that your content matches your product. But, it is important to know that this will take a lot of work. Apart from dealing with the logistics of creating the products, you also have to market them on Instagram. However, once done right, it can help create a strong image of your brand, get commissioned jobs, generate revenue, and increase brand collaborations.

Try dropshipping

Dropshipping is a setup where businesses arrange for the manufacturer to directly ship to the customer. For a physical product, you can set up a dropshipping store and enlist with a manufacturer. You will be able to bypass the hassles of production, shipping, and inventory storage. There are dropshipping apps that can help you coordinate the process.

If you are unsure about what to sell, you can start by checking out your followers and their interests. With Instagram’s shopping tags, selling has become easier on the platform. You can add the price and the direct link in the photo itself.

Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing has to be one of the best ways of monetizing Instagram. In this, you work as a brand ambassador and sell their services or products in exchange for money or a portion of revenue. For this, you need to sign up as an affiliate and paste the unique code or URL link in your post. You will receive money depending on the number of purchases made through your unique URL or code.

To get started, you can join an affiliate marketplace that will connect you with merchants. You should stick to brands that fit your niche and that you believe in. These products will resonate with your audience.

Video streaming service

This works best for content creators who have been on the platform a while and have a dedicated following. If your followers are hooked on your IG content, you can offer them access to your exclusive video content through paid membership. Through this model, you can expand your brand and design a world of entertainment, inspiration, or education. The best part is that you will be the one in charge and be able to make a consistent income through your hard work.

Hope that this article helped you learn about potential business opportunities on Instagram and how you can monetize your account. Instagram is the biggest game-changer out there, and having a monetized account on the platform can help you take off your business. This is not an easy task, and you need all the help you can get. Mr.Insta can help you get free Instagram followers and free Instagram likes. Once you have the much-needed high follower count, you can get started on building your business. Instagram is currently one of the biggest social media platforms. It continues to launch new, engaging features allowing content creators like you to make money. If you are able to build an engaging audience, there are multiple streams of revenue on Instagram you can give a try.