A few decades ago, the concept of an “influencer” had nothing to do with digital content and media. Yet, as we’ve seen over the past several years, social media went from a casual space for online connections to a robust economy with multi-millionaire creators.
And while many social platforms comprise this larger online space, Instagram stands out in particular for its influencer-style content. In fact, if you’ve been trying to figure out how to make money on Instagram, you’ll find no shortage of creators who’ve turned posts, stories, and reels into full-time income streams by promoting themselves and their brands.
If you have any interest at all in how to make money on Instagram, whether that be for yourself or for a brand or company that you represent, then we’re here to help explain the best ways to monetize your Instagram accounts and content.
We’ll go over some basics for Instagram influencer marketing, as well as provide you with some additional tips and resources. We’ll also provide you with high-quality, royalty free music to help you give your content that extra level of professionalism without jeopardizing your posts or videos being taken down for copyright strikes.
So, if you’re ready for that Instagram influencer lifestyle, or at least happy to learn some tips and tricks of the trade, let’s go over everything you need to know to make money on Instagram.
The basics of Instagram
If you haven’t used Instagram before, or at least haven’t opened it up for several years, it’s not very hard to get started and get used to. In fact, most creators can set up an account and start creating content within minutes.
The real tricks for Instagram, when first starting out, actually come down to research. If you’re looking to launch a brand on Instagram, it would be immensely helpful to conduct some research first into what types of accounts are popular and doing well with different types of content.
Referred to as niches, if you can give a name to what your interests are and what your brand is about, it'll help quite a bit when trying to determine how you’ll want to position a channel and what type of content you’d like to create.
Yet, with all that being said, there is one area of Instagram content creation that you’ll want to be wary of, which could derail your success before you find it.
The best royalty free music for Instagram
Using music on Instagram, particularly in your Instagram videos and Reels, is a complex and nuanced space to navigate and learn. In short, if you’re creating any content on Instagram that promotes a business or service, you’re going to want to make sure that you’re using music and assets that have been appropriately licensed to be used on the platform.
When it comes to music, while it might seem appealing to use the latest Taylor Swift song to promote your business, you could find yourself with a copyright strike and your video muted, taken down, or even have your account banned.
To help you off the bat here, let’s explore some of the best high-quality royalty free music for Instagram that would be ideal to license and use to monetize your content. Here are some top picks from our Soundstripe music library.
1. “Astro Jetson” by Mikey Geiger
- Genre: Electro Pop
- Instruments: Drums and synth
- Listen and license here
2. “Back To You” by Daniel King - Genre: Electro Pop
- Instruments: Drums and electronic drums
- Listen and license here
- Genre: Chill LoFi
- Instruments: Samples and electronic drums
- Listen and license here
- Genre: Electro Pop
- Instruments: Electric guitar and synth
- Listen and license here
- Genre: Electro Pop
- Instruments: Synth and electric guitar
- Listen and license here
These are just a few tracks, though. Check out this article, which explores our comprehensive list of the best royalty free music for Instagram.
Instagram influencer marketing
Moving on to the actual money-making parts of Instagram, once you’re confident your content won’t be removed due to copyright, it’s time to look into how to get paid on Instagram through brand sponsorships, affiliate marketing, and partnerships.
Here are some of the primary ways Instagram influencers monetize their marketing efforts.
- Sponsored Posts: Brands can pay creators to create content featuring or mentioning their products or services.
- Affiliate marketing: Creators can promote other companies’ products and earn a commission on successful sales generated through unique links or promo codes.
- Brand Ambassadorship: Creators can partner with brands for longer, more serious collaborations that usually involve an ongoing series of posts and other types of content.
These are just a few prominent examples. As Instagram continues to evolve, new opportunities will always arise for brands and creators to partner and promote their content.
Selling products or services on Instagram
Another great way for creators wondering how to earn from Instagram is by selling their own products or services directly through the platform. If you’re creating an Instagram channel to promote your business or non-profit, or a company or organization that you work for, then this will probably be the best way for you to monetize your account.
Keep in mind, though, that when setting up your Instagram account, you’re going to want to create a specific type of Instagram account. To learn more about this process, here’s a full guide on how to create the right Instagram account for your business.
With that being said, here are some ways in which you can sell products or services on Instagram.
- Instagram Shop: Users can create a shop within Instagram where they can sell physical goods directly to their followers.
- Digital Products: Creators can also use Instagram to offer courses, ebooks, or other digital products that require users to sign up for plans or subscriptions.
- Digital and Real Services: Along with products, businesses that provide services, either online or in real life, can promote themselves on Instagram to offer their skills and services.
How to use monetization tools on Instagram
Ultimately, many creators on Instagram primarily generate income directly through the platform itself by learning how to use monetization tools on Instagram, like in-profile ads and affiliate features.
If you're eligible for monetization with ads on your Instagram profile feed, you will receive an email invitation and an in-app notification on your Instagram account. You can learn more about monetization for ads in the Instagram profile feed here.
As far as eligibility goes, here are the requirements:
- You must pass and remain compliant with Instagram’s Partner Monetization Policies.
- You must have a professional account on Instagram.
- You must be at least 18 years old.
- You must be located in the United States, Japan, South Korea, or Canada.
And here’s how you can get started.
- Agree to the Terms of Use.
- Navigate to the Business info page. This information will be used to set up your profile and report your taxes.
- If you already have an existing business profile, you can select your existing account and tap Next.
- You can also set up your account by tapping 'Add new business info'.
- Next, set up your payout account.
- If you already have a payout account, select your payout method and tap "Confirm Payout Method."
- You can also set up a new payout account by tapping Add new payout method.
- On the Ads in Profile Feed page, keep Monetize Ads in Profile Feed toggled on, then tap Continue.
- On the next page, tap Done.
You can find out more about setting up monetization on your Instagram accounts here.
For more tips and insights into monetizing your Instagram as well as other social platforms, check out these additional articles below.
- How to use Copyrighted Music on Instagram - Navigate the Rules, Drive Users to Your Content
- The Complete Guide to Video Monetization
- How to Use Copyrighted Music on Instagram Reels the Right Way—Tips for Creators & Brands
- 8 Ways Creators Can Monetize Their Content
- How to Choose Music for YouTube Videos That Boost Views, Match Your Style, and Keep Audiences Hooked
