But how, you ask? How exactly can Instagram be used to make money and what differentiates it from other types of businesses? The answers you are looking for are in this article. Here, you will learn some critical e-commerce statistics through an in-depth discussion on Instagram influencers.

Can you make money on Instagram? The answer is definitely ‘Yes!’ You can earn some cash through your Insta if you think you can express your business visually and creatively in marketing it. If it is, then you can certainly take advantage of the million users of this social media platform.

According to 2019 Instagram e-commerce statistics, 60% of Instagram users use the platform to look for new products. Take advantage of this by becoming an influencer. This article will discuss the different ways you can do that.

To start, here are the most common ways people make money on Insta.

• Become an affiliate partner
• Sell products belonging to other brands
• Sell your own products and services
• Sell photography
• Become an influencer by reaching a massive number of followers, or
• Post sponsored content for brands who want to reach out to their followers

How to Reach the Number of Followers to Become an Influencer

There are two things numerous companies are struggling with, but Instagrammers have – reach and influence. Instagrammers have a vast audience that follows their produced content, something it shares with YouTubers and bloggers.

The Instagrammers who have these things usually become influencers. Having reach and influence, creators on Insta can explore various streams where there is potential revenue. It gives them immense opportunities to earn money and get free stuff or build a brand.

Now, you probably think you are going to need millions, or at least thousands, of followers to make it as an influencer. The truth is, the number of followers you need is not as many as you might think. It is all based on several factors.

It usually depends on your niche and the category where your brand may belong. Also, it matters how engaged or active your followers are. Lastly, your revenue channels are a factor as well. What most affects your chance of becoming an influencer is the activity of your audience.

Here is how you can become an influencer:

Choose the Niche that Suits You

If you want to reach the influencer-level of followers, you need to choose a niche that you feel passionate about, something suitable to your personality. You cannot do what everyone else is doing only because they are doing it. Choose something that you will be happy to research, and post content, which will also interest your potential followers.

Create a Buzzworthy Insta Bio

After finding out which niche you want to represent, the next step is to create an Instagram profile that will instantly grab people’s attention. Your bio is one of the first things your potential follower will look for, so make sure it is both attractive and compelling. A good tip is to use the right keywords that ensure your profile will show up for related searches.

Share Stories and Connect with Followers

Like what was said, Instagram is a photo-sharing platform, at first. It still is, but as an influencer, your job is not just to post photos. What you need to do to gain followers is to connect with them on an emotional level. You can do that by sharing stories through your pictures in a way that will be seen by your audience as authentic and interesting.

Create an Appealing Instafeed

Your bio and pictures are not the only things that must be pleasing. Your entire feed must be visually appealing as well. It means that all your photos must look good, not just on their own but together. On that note, you can use various tools to edit your photos or use Instagram’s built-in filters to create a uniform and beautiful tone for your Instafeed.

Post Relevant Content Consistently

One thing that all other digital marketing techniques share is posting content regularly. If you want to build a good number of followers to become an influencer, consistency is a prerequisite. Most influencers post either daily or every other day. Some also post several times a week. Whichever you choose, e-commerce statistics show that frequent posting improves engagement rates.

Follow these steps to make your way as an Instagram influencer.

Make Money on Instagram Through Paid Partnerships and Post Sponsored Content

If you choose to become an influencer, one way you can earn money is by posting sponsored content. You can enter into a paid partnership with brands and help them promote through your posts. As an influencer, you successfully built a reputation by sharing things online and earned a good following for it.

With that, you have built a level of trust with your followers which your partner brands can reach out to using your Instagram. Through sponsored posts, you can assist these brands in spreading the positive word about their products and services. Instagram influencers can do this by creating content – an Instagram post or story – that includes a promotion for the products or brand. Just remember that it’s possible that promoted content can be too promotional sometimes, so it’s a good idea to analyze your Instagram from time to time to make sure it’s not negatively influencing engagement.

How to Find Brands to Work With

If you are a big influencer, you likely do not have to find brands yourself. They will come to you. But if you are still new in the game, the best brands to work with are those on the same level as yours when it comes to personality and values.

If you already have a brand in mind, you can reach out to them directly to work out a deal. On the other hand, you can also find brands by listing yourself in influencer marketplaces. By doing this, you can have a better chance of getting discovered.

Here are some of the top places to find brands for influencers:

• CrowdTap – Only in the U.S. Offers small tasks on content creation for some rewards.
• Grapevine – Marketplace for Instagrammers with 5000+ followers to work with compatible brands.
• Fohr Card – Allows you to create an influencer “card” to reach brands for partnerships.

Becoming an Affiliate Partner

Besides becoming an influencer and entering into a paid partnership, you can also make money on Instagram by becoming an affiliate. If you choose this method, your focus is more on making sales for your partner for a commission.

Unlike influencers, you are less concerned with generating awareness about your partner brand. On Instagram, becoming an affiliate is done by including a promo code or a trackable link to your posts. By adding these, you can ensure that the clicks to your posts can translate into sales.

The thing with Instagram is that links are not allowed yet except in your bio. In that case, the use of promo codes is a better option if you want to become an affiliate. If you are looking to make money through this method, you can try reaching out to online stores offering affiliate programs.

On the other hand, you may also look at marketplaces such as:

• RewardStyle – A fashion and lifestyle influencer network, but invitation-only.
• ClickBank – A tier-based commission affiliate platform.
• Amazon – Amazon has an Affiliate Program that offers a 10% commission.

The advantage of affiliate marketing on Instagram is it gives you a better chance of succeeding. It works out even better when you go into it and expand your presence to include your own site as well as other marketing channels.

Conclusion

Most people open Instagram starting as a hobby or just a way to share photos of themselves. But it can give you a snowball chance of earning income through an active following. Instagram offers a world of possibilities and now may be the perfect time to explore those.