How to make money on Instagram in 2025

Where there’s fun on social media, there’s potential for profit – and Instagram’s no different. Many people have turned their Instagram side hustle into a full-time gig, using various strategies like selling products, hosting giveaways, publishing sponsored content, and becoming brand ambassadors.

We’ll explore ten ways to make money on Instagram, with examples and pricing tips to get you started. Since the size of your audience plays a key role in your success, we’ll also share best practices for growing your followers organically.

1. Start affiliate marketing

With affiliate marketing, you receive a commission for promoting someone else’s product to your audience. When someone buys through your affiliate link, you earn a percentage or flat rate of the sale (depending on the commission structure).

This is how Chaitra and Sunkist (@madoverexploring) earn money from their Instagram creator account. The couple shares Instagram posts and stories about their adventures as travel vloggers, adding affiliate links so their audience can book the places they visit.

You can start by joining popular affiliate marketing programs in your niche. Create content that resonates with your followers’ interests, and include affiliate links in your Instagram post captions, stories (using the Swipe Up feature), and reels.

However, unlike digital marketing, affiliate marketing relies heavily on your audience. To generate revenue faster, focus on increasing the number of Instagram followers you have first. Having a sizable audience also increases your chances of qualifying for higher-paying affiliate programs and earning more per sale.

Check out our article about how much affiliates actually make. We also wrote an article covering the best affiliate marketing niches to help you set yourself up for success.

How much is the monthly income from affiliate marketing?

The average affiliate marketer makes $8,038 per month. Boost your earnings by creating an affiliate marketing website.

2. Sell products

If you have your own product line, consider setting up shopping on Instagram to let your audience buy directly from your account or redirect them to your website.

Integrating your store with Instagram makes it super easy for people to buy on impulse. You can tag products in post captions, stories, and reels to help Instagram users find and buy them.

However, Instagram Shop is currently only available in certain countries, and you’ll need to set up a payment option on your own website. What’s more, only sellers in North America can use Instagram Checkout to accept purchases through the app instead of just browsing products.

Another option is to set up your own online store and promote it on Instagram. You’ll also have total control over your store’s look and feel, which is great for long-term branding.

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3. Sell digital products

If managing physical products feels like a hassle, try selling digital products instead. Convert your skills into downloadables like ebooks, music files, and online courses and generate recurring income from them ‒ no inventory or shipping required.

This is how Maggie Waters (@itslifebymaggie) makes a living on Instagram. After getting into medical school, she started offering workshops on navigating pre-med life while maintaining her course’s original values.

“My main revenue stream from Instagram is my online course Road to Acceptance. I promote a free workshop through my Instagram posts and stories, which include a special offer for the course,” Maggie tells us.

Many third-party platforms offer tools to make selling certain digital products easy, like OFFstep for audio files and Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing for ebooks. However, they usually charge a commission per sale, affecting your total revenue.

Content creators can get the best of both worlds by hosting their downloadables on these platforms and their own sites. Chaitra and Sunkist, for example, cater to their audience’s split preferences by hosting content on their own madoverexploring.com site and Mindtrip (formerly Thatch) with downloadable itineraries hosted by Kit.

“While people can visually see what we did through YouTube videos or Instagram Reels, they still want detailed information about the trip laid out in a written format, along with links, references, and so on. So, the tool really helps me put all those recommendations in one place. It works kinda like an ebook, so we can also sell it as a digital product,” says Chaitra.

Or, do what Maggie does ‒ make the most of your website by using Instagram’s huge user base to drive traffic.

“I mainly get new students from Instagram. But I also attract some leads to my freebies and online courses by consistently publishing blog posts on my website itslifebymaggie.com,” Maggie shares.

Check out our article on selling online courses for tips and best practices.

4. Publish sponsored posts and stories

Sponsored Instagram posts and stories are like affiliate marketing, but you get paid a fixed amount to promote a product even if no sales are made.

Since this business model focuses on brand exposure rather than purchases, it’s more common among top-tier creators with an established following. Partnering with creators who share a target audience helps brands reach more people and boost sales.

You can usually tell an Instagram post or story is sponsored if it has #ad or #sponsored in the caption, though not all countries require creators to share that information. Or, like Mark Fischbach (@markiplier), the creator must add the Paid Partnership tag to sponsored post captions.

For the best results, it’s important to partner with companies in your niche. If you promote something that resonates with you and your audience, your post will look more genuine. After all, you’d trust your favorite creator over a brand, right?

5. Offer paid subscriptions

To make a recurring income while building a deeper connection with your loyal followers, try enabling Instagram Subscriptions.

Followers can pay a monthly subscription fee to support their favorite creators. In return, they get access to exclusive content, subscriber-only group chats, and a subscriber badge next to their username.

To set up a subscription system, you need to have an Instagram business or creator account with at least 10,000 followers.

There’s no extra cost, and you keep 100% of the revenue from subscriptions bought during Instagram Live (minus taxes or fees). However, Google and Apple take 30% off any in-app purchases.

As for the content? That’s up to you. Cafe Maddy (@cafemaddy), for example, offers exclusive home cooking and daily life content, as well as access to a subscriber-only group chat.

Here are more content ideas for inspiration:

• Q&A. Answer people’s questions or ask them how they’re doing. This is a great way to show your authenticity and build trust with your subscribers.
• Behind-the-scenes glimpses. Creating content regularly takes effort, so why not share your process with those consuming it for extra dollars? You can even share funny bloopers that didn’t make the final cut.
• Personalized message. Let your followers request a birthday message or positive encouragement for themselves or a loved one.
• Upcoming content. Drop hints on upcoming projects and give your followers early access.
• User-generated content. Share your followers’ creative work to give them recognition and a sense of belonging in your community.

6. Collaborate with other creators

The number one benefit of teaming up with other Instagram creators is brand exposure. Collaborating with a creator in your niche expands your audience of like-minded people. This helps boost visibility, growth, and engagement ‒ key factors to make the other monetization methods on this list work.

Collaborating with other creators also encourages an exchange of ideas and knowledge. By working together, creators can share techniques, insights, and strategies that have worked for them. And let’s not forget, it provides the opportunity to make new friends and have fun.

You can use Instagram Collabs to co-author posts with another creator and display them on both accounts. Don’t forget to tag each other when sharing with your followers.

Collabs don’t have to be elaborate to be engaging. For example, Ashley Yi (@ashyi) and fellow creator Jeenie Weenie (@jeenie.weenie) made their trip to a 7-Eleven in Korea fun and relatable by trying new things while tackling the language barrier.

7. Host giveaways

Most creators have done a giveaway at some point because it’s great for driving engagement and follower count. The host usually requires Instagram users to do certain things in order to enter, such as liking or commenting on the post, following the account, or tagging some friends.

You can prepare the prize yourself or team up with a brand and let them handle it for you. It’s a win-win ‒ the brand gets access to your audience, and you get engagement (and maybe new followers) without spending a dime.

Take Alyshia Jones-Mathie (@alyshiajoness) as an example. She partnered with Megan Fairley Chocolate Queen (@meganfairley_chocolatequeen) to give away chocolate gift boxes for Christmas.

To enter the draw, users must follow both accounts, tag a friend, and share the post on their Instagram story. To increase their chance of winning, they could tag multiple friends and subscribe to Alyshia’s YouTube channel ‒ bringing more traffic to her page.

The key to hosting a successful giveaway is the prize, so collaborate with a brand relevant to your target audience. The right prize will bring in more entries and strengthen your partnership with the brand sponsoring the event.

Most importantly, make sure to follow Instagram’s promotion guidelines to avoid being penalized, suspended, or shadowbanned by the platform.

A good rule of thumb is to state that Instagram doesn’t sponsor or endorse your giveaway. Also, share all the key details about the event, including the dates (and timezone), terms and conditions, and how the winner will be chosen.

8. Promote freelance services

You can monetize your skills by offering freelance services and using your Instagram as an online portfolio. Share your work, like Manuel Medina (@hands_on_lens) showcasing photography, or Jenn Mullen (@mindfulvirtualassistant) promoting her virtual assistant services with photos, quotes, and tools.

Make your Instagram portfolio more effective by linking to a professional website where clients can see more of your work. If you’re starting from scratch, check out these portfolio website templates for creating a clean, attractive site with Hostinger. Our site builder offers a drag-and-drop editor and helpful AI tools, making the process simple for both beginners and pros.

Attract clients by sharing testimonials, case studies, and examples of your best work on Instagram and your website. Show them the value you bring by offering sneak peeks of your services or behind-the-scenes content. Engaging with your audience through comments and DMs also builds trust and strengthens your reputation.

Also, don’t forget to use relevant hashtags, including location-specific ones like Manuel’s #calgaryphotography and #calgaryphotographer, to improve visibility.

9. Advertise events or webinars

Instagram’s massive reach makes it valuable for promoting events, from educational webinars to live Q&As and concerts. Whether you’re promoting your own event or someone else’s, you can monetize it with the right approach.

Start by sharing all the details about your event – who it’s for, how it’ll help attendees (if applicable), the date, time, and anything else they need to know.

Take inspiration from Rebecca Eldridge (@hellohappyhormonesclub) and how she promotes her group sessions for women with Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD).

She shares details about the event, including who it’s for and what to expect, to promote transparency and helping new followers who might want to join.

Then, direct people to a website where they can buy tickets or book seats. Since you can’t click a link on an Instagram post caption, it’s better to place it on your bio instead. Or, promote it with an Instagram story and use Swipe Up to attach the link.

Come up with a unique hashtag to increase your promotional posts’ visibility. Your followers can use it to post about the event, which is great for driving user-generated content. Just make sure the hashtag represents your event and is easy to spell.

10. Join brand ambassador programs

Unlike influencers, brand ambassadors usually collaborate with only one brand in a certain niche. The brand purposely finds creators who can best represent their product to serve as a marketing funnel. That’s why these partnerships are usually long-term, starting with the creator genuinely loving the products.

Ryan Leier (@ryanleier) serves as a global ambassador for Lululemon thanks to his passion for yoga, mental health advocacy, and community empowerment. The athletic apparel brand saw Ryan’s online platform as a suitable opportunity to spread its message, so they formed a partnership.

While working with one brand at a time might seem limiting, it allows you to demonstrate that you were able to build a strong and lasting relationship with a single brand. This can help you build a strong portfolio for future partnerships, boost visibility, and expand your network through events.

Follow Ryan’s lead by joining a brand ambassador program in your niche. Consider the rewards before joining ‒ cash, points, discounts, and freebies are the most common.

Once you find the right brand, start creating content about its products and niche. Showing your love for the brand and getting involved in its community helps you stand out. It’s also a great way to grow your own following, something every brand considers when selecting ambassadors.

How much money can I make on Instagram?

Earnings on Instagram vary depending on your follower count. According to Influencer Marketing Hub, beginners can earn as little as $5 per post.

As your audience grows, so does your pay. Nano-creators (500-10,000 followers) make $5-25 per post, while micro-creators (up to 100,000 followers) can earn $25-125 per post. Once you hit 500,000 followers, as a macro-creator, you can expect to make around $1,250-2,500 per post. If you have over a million followers, you’ll command at least $2,500 per post.

Remember, these are estimates. Your niche, monetization strategy, and marketing efforts will also play a big part in how much you can earn.

Can you get paid from Instagram?

Yes, Instagram actually offers monetization programs like seasonal bonuses and Live Badges. However, you need to hit a certain number of followers and live in a certain region. Also, the pay isn’t as big as from platforms like YouTube.

How should I price my posts for Instagram sponsorships?

The standard rate is $100 per 100,000 followers. That said, consider factors like your niche, reach, and level of engagement – as well as the number of posts you should make and the production costs – when negotiating your rate.

How can I grow my followers on Instagram?

Here are some strategies Instagram creators swear by to grow followers:

• Add keywords to your name. Help first-time visitors know what to expect from your account. Using keywords relevant to your niche also helps people find you.
• Optimize your Instagram bio. Tell people who you are and what you do in 150 characters. Throw in a call to action and links to your website to drive engagement.
• Create a content calendar. Whether you want to post every day or once a week, consistency is key. For optimal results, try posting during peak times.
• Use reels and carousels. Sure, they take more effort than single-photo posts. However, Buffer claims that reels get 36% more reach, and carousels see 12% higher engagement.
• Cross-promote. Repurpose existing content for other social media channels and see your brand awareness skyrocket with minimal effort. You can then redirect new people from other platforms to your Instagram page and vice versa.
• Focus on creating visually appealing content. Instagram is all about visuals, so make sure your content is worth other users’ time.
• Use hashtags. Add popular and relevant hashtags to your post captions to boost discoverability. Keep it under five per post for optimal reach without appearing spammy.
• Invest in Instagram Ads. Not to be confused with buying followers (which can harm your credibility and engagement rate), turning content into ads guarantees visibility when you’re starting out. Be sure to target the right audience and stick to your budget.
• Collaborate with other creators. Partnerships can expand your reach and boost your earning potential by connecting you with new followers. Plus, it doesn’t hurt to make a friend in your niche.

How many followers do you need on Instagram to make money?

There’s no fixed rule. You can get clients with only 100 followers as long as you attract the right audience. However, you usually need 1,000 to 10,000 followers to secure brand collaborations.

Next steps for your Instagram monetization journey

To make serious money on Instagram, you need to align your monetization strategy with your niche and content. Strong branding and engagement are key to growing your follower count. Since Instagram is always rolling out new features and monetization options, staying on top of those changes will help you get the most out of the platform.

Don’t be afraid to explore different income streams like affiliate marketing, sponsored posts, or selling your own products. Optimize your profile, interact with your audience, and use Instagram’s business tools to improve visibility.

Most importantly, keep adapting and stay creative. With the Instagram influencer marketing industry expected to hit $22.2 billion by 2025 according to our social commerce statistics, there’s plenty of room to turn what you love into a money-making venture.

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