Instagram is a social media platform that has been growing in popularity as of late, especially among the creative and artistic industries.
If you’re not acquainted with Instagram, it’s the latest social media craze to hit the internet.
Instagram is mostly known for its use as a photo-sharing application but can also be used for videos and other formats. Some of these formats include stories, live video chats, and long-form video clips.
On this social media platform, users are able to post content on their own profile or upload pictures taken by others.
Users are also able to like or comment on posts they find interesting or worth sharing to other people’s profiles. The interface offers various filters for images to make them look more aesthetically pleasing.
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Can you make money on Instagram?
Yes, you can make a lot of money on Instagram. There are many ways to do so, such as:
Create sponsored posts – post something for free with the understanding that you will get paid for your post.
Create an e-commerce store – sell your products to make money on Instagram.
Sell ad space – partner up with brands and companies and get paid per impression or engagement.
Promoting Your Business on Instagram
You have to be creative when it comes to marketing on Instagram. You can’t just post too often and hope for the best.
With that said, you should try and use Instagram’s natural strengths such as the stories feature which has been in existence for quite some time now.
Smart Ways to Make Money on Instagram Without Followers
Instagram influencers are people who use social media to affect the buying decisions of consumers. They do this by posting pictures and videos of their lifestyles.
With an increase in Instagram influencers, it is becoming very competitive to establish yourself as a noteworthy influencer with a huge following.
With that said, there are still ways to make money on Instagram without followers. These methods will depend on your niche or the specific type of product you’re promoting.
1. Setup your Instagram page correctly and smartly
You’ve created your Instagram page and now you’re wondering how to set it up. There are a few steps you can take to make the most of your page and make it more personal.
The first thing you should do is set your profile picture. You want the picture to be recognizable but not too flashy or messy.
Next, upload a banner that will go to the top of your page every time someone visits it. Add your contact details if you want.
2. Create Engaging content
This is a type of visual storytelling and the key to getting people excited about your products or services. You should remember that Instagram is a social media platform so it’s important to keep in mind people who will be viewing your content.
Some of the key points you should remember are:
- Keep it short and sweet – your posts should be between 15-30 seconds long;
- Make sure you use filters – this will add a new dimension to your post and make it more interesting;
- Use hashtags that are relevant to your post – these will help people find your content
- Include videos or photos with an emoji on them when posting for increased engagement and shares.
3. Leverage Instagram Direct Message
Instagram Direct Message is a newer feature that allows users to communicate with others who have their account.
The content within these messages are different than the content on Instagram and is private to only those two people.
There are many ways in which one can leverage Instagram Direct Message, such as using it as a line of communication for customers through exploring products, answering common questions, giving discounts or offers, providing customer service, and much more.
This new feature makes it easy for one to communicate with someone without the need of having their phone number or email address. It also keeps the conversation specific and private between just those two people so only they know what is being said.
As a result, this provides an opportunity for brands to engage with customers without having them feel like they are being spammed by the company.
4. Do more than just promote; Inform your Audience
One of the many ways you can engage your audience to get them informed and educated. You may provide information, encourage discussion, or simply promote products.
The most successful Instagram influencers do more than just promote, they also dish out information to their audience.
By providing your audience with valuable content and interacting with them through comments and instant messaging, you are helping them convert into customers.
Customers who will be interested in your products and services because they have seen what you have to offer first hand.
5. Be consistent with your contents
Consistency is key in order to grow your Instagram followers. One of the best ways to do this is by using a cleanly designed template to post your content and products.
There are templates available on the web in platforms such as Canva that can help you with this. You can pick from thousands of templates and customize them according to your needs.
You can also look for pre-written sales pitches that you can customize for every post, so you don’t run out of the content idea.
6. Share a mix of your lifestyle and personal experience
Your followers want to connect with you. Creating content that will allow them to understand and feel a certain way about your brand is key. Once they connect, it becomes easy for you to sell your brand.
Photos are the most important thing when it comes to social media, and they can also be used for marketing purposes.
You should take a lot of photos from different angles, but your content doesn’t have to be limited to just photos.
You can post videos or short clips that will help your audience understand a product or service that you provide.
7. Don’t neglect Instagram hashtags
Hashtags are a huge opportunity for influencers and marketers to connect with their audience. The best hashtags are the ones that are trending, relevant to your niche, and simple enough that it is easy to remember what they mean.
Don’t neglect using hashtags on Instagram! These things have a much higher chance of going viral than you might think. If you want to see some really great examples of how hashtags can drive traffic and engagement with your content, check out this article by Hubspot.
8. Follow, Unfollow people
On Instagram, you can follow other users and they will be notified. You can also unfollow them so that they are not notified.
You can unfollow people on Instagram that are not interested in following you back. You can also make it a duty to follow a specific number of people daily, but limit it to around 5 to 12 to avoid any form of restrictions or ban from Instagram.
9. Start Affiliate Marketing
Instagram is a popular social media platform that can be used to start an affiliate marketing campaign.
The best way to grow a following on Instagram is through following accounts related to your niche and liking their posts.
With each post you like, it will show up in your followers’ feed so they are more likely to engage with your content. The more engagement you get, the higher are the chances of getting picked by one of the Instagram algorithms for promotion.
10. Become a social media influencer
Instagram is a very powerful social media platform for companies to advertise their products and services. Influencers are becoming more popular on social media, but it can be tricky to know what steps to take in order to become an influencer.
To start, you need a quality profile picture. Your bio should not only include your Instagram username but some information about yourself as well such as where you live, what you do for a living or if you’re married or have children. Write interesting captions in order to catch the attention of your followers.
You need to grow your followers gradually over time by engaging with people on the platform regularly and get them interested in your profile.
You’ll want to post at least once a day and while it’s important that all posts are original content, it’s also important that you post consistently so that your followers know when to expect content.
11. Consultation
This section will teach you how to consult for other people on Instagram.
You can find this out by using their website, finding them on social media, or looking up their profile on a directory like Webstagram.
You should ask them what they are looking for in an account manager or consultant and what they expect from you as a consultant.
Some people may want to know your rates upfront, while others might not be sure about how often you will need to work with them or how much work you can do at once.
12. Freelancing
A social media platform that is not only used for posting selfies and food snaps, but Instagram has also become a hot spot for freelancers and businesses to find and offer work.
There are many freelance jobs on Instagram that offer the opportunity of working remotely, from anywhere in the world. From creating content for brands to reposting other people’s posts on behalf of them, there are a number of ways to make money on the app.
13. Master social media marketing and train others
Social media marketing is not just about advertising a product or service. It’s about building a community and engaging them to market your brand.
Learn how to use social media as an effective marketing tool by targeting the right audience, using effective messaging, and maximizing your budget, also learn how to measure the success of your efforts and improving them over time. Then teach others the same skill for a fee.
14. Engage Instagram Influencers to promote your product
You can make money on Instagram with no followers by using influencers.
Many companies are using influencers to promote their products. It is a great strategy for some businesses because it is cost-effective and the product’s features can be highlighted by an influencer who is knowledgeable about that product.
However, there are many challenges in this marketing technique. For example, it can be super-costly, and also, building a relationship with an influencer requires constant communication with them and it can be difficult to find the right one.
Social media has been playing an important role in connecting people together and it has become one of the best tools for marketing. According to a recent study, around 85% of marketers use social media to some degree for their business. One type of social media that many marketers use is Instagram.
With Instagram, marketers have the opportunity to connect with millions of followers across the globe in real-time.
Instagram Monetization FAQs
Does Instagram Pay you for Followers?
Yes, the answer is yes. Instagram pays for followers. But you need millions of followers like the most popular footballer celebrity in the world to get paid by Instagram for posts and followership.
The more followers you have, the more money you are going to make. The idea is that brands can reach out to these influencers and sponsor them in exchange for them advertising their product on their Instagram account.
The more followers they have, the higher price they are going to be asking for and this means that the brands will be willing to pay the influencer more money which will in turn mean that they will be able to charge more for a sponsored post than if they had fewer followers.
How Many Followers d you Need on Instagram to Make Money?
There is no definitive answer to how many followers on Instagram equals money. The amount of money you make on Instagram is determined by the number of followers you have, your engagement rates and the deals that are offered to you.
Care for what percentage of your followers are active, what your engagement rate is, and what niche you are in. For example, if you have 100 followers with an average engagement rate of 10%, then it might be worth continuing to grow your following if money isn’t set as your main goal in the industry.
Conclusion
When it comes to making money on Instagram, you will need to have a lot of followers before marketers will pay you for your services. But according to an article on TechCrunch, there are ways to make cash with no followers at all.
One way is by becoming an influencer yourself and selling sponsored posts to brands that are looking for content or native advertisement.
