12 Ways to Make Money on Instagram: Exact Follower Count Guide

Instagram has become a top platform where creators can make money from their content . The platform’s 3.5% average engagement rate is by a lot higher than Facebook’s 1.3%, X’s 1.8%, and TikTok’s 1.5% . This creates money-making opportunities whatever your follower count might be. Creators with just 500+ followers in a specific niche can earn between $10-$50,000+ per post . New influencers usually start by charging $25-$50 for each sponsored post .

The platform reaches , making it perfect for creators, entrepreneurs, and small businesses to generate income. People love using Instagram to shop – 80% say it helps them find and buy new products or services . More than 70% look at social media before making purchase decisions .nearly two billion active users

This piece breaks down the exact number of followers you need for different ways to make money, from sponsored posts to digital products. You’ll find practical ways to turn your Instagram presence into steady income without fighting the algorithm constantly, whether you’re new or already have followers.

Partner with brands for sponsored posts

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help Instagram creators of all sizes earn money. Small accounts can start making money through brand partnerships earlier than most people think.Sponsored posts

What sponsored posts are

Brands pay creators to promote products or services through sponsored posts on Instagram. Creators must clearly mark these collaborations with tags like #ad or #sponsored according to FTC guidelines [1]. The best sponsored posts naturally showcase how a brand’s product enhances your lifestyle and benefits your followers [1].

Follower count needed for sponsored posts

You can secure paid brand deals with as few as 1,000 followers[2]. The industry divides influencers into these tiers:

Most brands now prefer working with influencers who show high engagement rather than just high follower counts [2]. This fundamental change creates more opportunities for smaller creators with dedicated audiences.

How sponsored posts work

Brands might approach you directly, or you can pitch to companies that match your niche [3]. Your audience demographics and engagement metrics matter during deal negotiations [4]. A professional response to brands offering only free products could be: “Thank you for reaching out! Would you happen to have a budget for content creation? I’m happy to send over my media kit and discuss rates” [3].

Monetization potential of sponsored posts

Your earnings depend on follower count, engagement rate, content type, and niche. Micro-influencers with 30,000-80,000 followers earn hundreds of dollars per post [2]. Creators with over 100,000 followers often make $1,000+ per post [2].

Video content brings in more money than static posts. Instagram creators typically earn:

• $10-$100 for posts (nano-influencers)
• $20-$200 for videos (nano-influencers)
• $100-$500 for posts (micro-influencers) [2]

Your earning potential grows with high engagement rates (4-6% is excellent) [2]. Premium niches like finance, tech, or luxury travel often pay more [5].

Get paid through Instagram Creator tools

Image Source: Variety

Instagram Creator tools are a great way to make money directly through the platform. Creators don’t need third-party brand deals to earn income anymore.

What Instagram Creator tools are

These tools include several features that help creators make money right on the platform. You’ll find options like Subscriptions, Live Badges, Gifts, Bonuses, and access to the Creator Marketplace [6]. The first step is switching your Personal account to a Professional one – either Creator or Business [7]. You’ll also need to set up your payout account through the Professional Dashboard with your bank details, personal info, and tax information [8].

Follower count needed for Creator tools

Different Creator tools have their own follower requirements:

• Instagram Subscriptions: You need and a Professional account at least 10,000 followers[6]
• Live Badges: The requirement stands at 10,000 followers plus regular live broadcasts [6]
• Gifts and Bonuses: These are available to creators with fewer followers, especially those who get lots of engagement [5]

Meta’s data shows something interesting – some creators make over $1,000 monthly through Subscriptions with less than 10K followers [8]. This proves that quality engagement matters more than just follower numbers.

How Creator tools generate income

Each tool works differently to help you earn:

Subscriptions let your followers pay monthly ($0.99-$9.99) for . This includes subscriber-only posts, Stories, Reels, Lives, and broadcast channels exclusive content[8]. You’ll get your money on the 21st of the next month [9].

Live Badges work like virtual tips during your Instagram Live broadcasts. They come in three tiers: $0.99 (1 heart), $1.99 (2 hearts), and $4.99 (3 hearts) [8].

Gifts let viewers support you with virtual gifts bought using Stars (worth $0.01 each) [8].

Bonuses reward you for hitting specific goals. The Live Bonus Program gives milestone payments ($100, $150, $250) when you meet streaming targets [10].

Best practices for using Creator tools

Here’s how to make the most money with Creator tools:

Instagram’s Partner Monetization Policies and Community Guidelines are the rules you must follow [6]. Your content should be original – no reposts, static images, or basic slideshows [11].

Subscription success depends on regular posting and valuable exclusive content [7]. This keeps your subscribers happy and reduces cancelations.

Live Badges work best when you thank supporters during your broadcasts. Q&As and behind-the-scenes content make your lives more interactive [8].

The key to success is creating authentic, quality content that follows Instagram’s guidelines. This helps you avoid any restrictions or demonetization [11].

Open an Instagram Shop

Image Source: Crowdfundly

Your Instagram profile can become a virtual storefront that lets you sell directly to your audience without sending them elsewhere. Plus, this creates another way to make money beyond sponsored posts and creator tools.

What an Instagram Shop is

An Instagram Shop works like a digital storefront where businesses showcase and sell products right in the app [4]. This feature turns your profile into a browsable catalog where followers find and buy items without leaving Instagram. After setup, a “Shop” tab shows up on your profile and gives visitors quick access to your products [3]. Users can tap product tags in your posts, stories, and reels to see details and make purchases [12].

Follower count needed for Instagram Shop

Instagram Shop doesn’t have no minimum follower requirement[13], unlike other ways to monetize. But you need to meet these eligibility criteria:

• Business account (not creator account) [14]
• Compliance with Instagram’s commerce policies [13]
• Physical products (not services) [12]
• Located in a supported market [6]
• Own the website domain where products are purchased [6]

Meta doesn’t state a specific follower count, but some sources suggest having about 100 followers shows enough account legitimacy for approval [13].

How to set up and sell via Instagram Shop

You’ll need to follow these steps to set up an Instagram Shop:

1. Convert to a business account (Settings → Account → Switch to Professional Account) [6]
2. Connect to a Facebook Page [6]
3. Create a shop in Commerce Manager [6]
4. Upload your product catalog (either manually or via integration with platforms like Shopify) [6]
5. Submit your shop for review [14]
6. Once approved, activate shopping features in your profile settings [6]

After activation, you can tag up to 5 products per post or 30 products per video [12]. This turns your content into a shopping experience.

Revenue potential from Instagram Shop

Your Instagram Shop income comes from direct product sales. Instagram doesn’t charge for setup, but takes a 5% selling fee per shipment or a flat $0.40 fee for orders under $8.00 [6].

Social shopping has become quite profitable – 72% of users say they make purchase decisions based on Instagram content [13]. Some brands see their revenue jump 20% week-over-week after they start using Instagram Shopping [13].

Selling digital products through your Instagram Shop can create recurring revenue without constant content creation. Tools like help turn your expertise into digital products that sell automatically.Rupa

Become an affiliate marketer

Image Source: Influencer Marketing Hub

Affiliate marketing opens up a new way to monetize your Instagram following through product recommendation commissions. Let me show you how this method works whatever your account size.

What affiliate marketing is

Affiliate marketing lets you promote other people’s products and earn commissions from sales through your unique tracking link [10]. The relationship connects the brand (seller), the affiliate (you), the customer, and sometimes an affiliate network that brings sellers and affiliates together [10]. You earn money as an affiliate through word-of-mouth marketing that thrives on trust and authentic content [8].

Follower count needed for affiliate marketing

You don’t need a specific minimum follower count for affiliate marketing on Instagram. Notwithstanding that, you should target to gain real traction around 5,000 dedicated followers[10]. This audience size means even if 1% of your followers buy through your links monthly, you could earn 50 commissions [10]. Nano and micro-influencers (under 50,000 followers) now generate over 60% of affiliate sales [8], which shows engagement quality matters more than numbers alone.

How affiliate marketing works on Instagram

Instagram doesn’t allow clickable links in regular posts, so you need smart placement strategies [10]. Here are the four main approaches:

1. Bio link: Link-in-bio tools like help host multiple affiliate links Linktr.ee[10]
2. Instagram Stories: Direct clickable links work in stories [10]
3. Instagram Shop: Product tags and affiliate links work together [15]
4. Promotional codes: Special codes let followers use them on other platforms [10]

Networks like Amazon Associates, ShareASale, or Rakuten [16] provide tracking links once you join their affiliate programs.

Tips to increase affiliate sales

Your affiliate revenue grows when you:

• Create demonstrative content such as tutorials, unboxings, and before/after transformations [8]
• Tell personal stories about your product experiences [8]
• Stay authentic—followers spot fake enthusiasm quickly [8]
• Try different content styles to find what resonates with your audience [10]
• Monitor performance metrics to see which strategies drive more clicks and sales [15]

Tools like Rupa help you create digital products to promote alongside affiliate offers, which varies your income streams beyond platform dependence.

Drive traffic to your website or blog

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Instagram does more than make money directly. It can send valuable traffic to your external websites or blogs that create additional revenue opportunities.

What this strategy involves

You need smart link placement to send traffic from Instagram to your website because of platform restrictions. Instagram won’t let you add clickable links in regular posts [9]. You can add links in three places: your bio link, Instagram Stories, and IGTV descriptions [9]. Your content strategy should guide followers naturally to these clickable spots.

Follower count needed to drive traffic

You can start sending website traffic through your bio link with any number of followers. Instagram Stories’ “Link” sticker feature has replaced the “Swipe Up” function. Now all accounts can use it whatever their follower count [5]. This change has created new opportunities that were once limited to accounts with 10,000+ followers [17].

How to convert Instagram traffic into revenue

Your site visitors can become customers through:

1. Strategic landing pages: Build just for Instagram traffic mobile-optimized pages[9]
2. Digital products: Create downloadable guides, templates or courses that solve specific problems
3. Email capture: Turn visitors into subscribers you can monetize later
4. Affiliate links: Add relevant product recommendations on your website

A smart strategy creates “open loops”—content that makes people curious but needs a website visit to get the full story [9]. When you combine this with strong CTAs like “To see more click our profile link” [9], your click-through rates improve by a lot.

Tools to optimize traffic conversion

These tools will help you get better results:

• Link-in-bio solutions: Tools like Linktree, Beacons, or Smart.bio let you share multiple links from one bio link [18]
• Analytics tracking: Add UTM parameters to all links to track traffic sources in Google Analytics [19]
• Custom landing pages: Your own domain pages work better than third-party tools for branding and SEO [20]

Regular analysis shows which content types best convert your audience into website visitors [9].

Offer Instagram marketing services

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You can turn your Instagram expertise and marketing skills into a service business. This path helps you create a steady income stream beyond just making content.

What Instagram marketing services include

Instagram marketing services are built on specialized expertise that businesses need to succeed. These services usually include:

• Content creation and scheduling
• Strategy development and audience growth
• Engagement management and community building
• Analytics tracking and performance reporting
• Paid advertising campaign management

Your role as an Instagram marketing consultant makes you a problem-solver for the 71% of US businesses using Instagram[21] who can’t get the most out of the platform.

Follower count needed to offer services

The number of followers you have doesn’t determine your success as an Instagram marketing consultant. Many consultants run successful businesses with smaller personal accounts. They prove their expertise through:

• A professional portfolio with client success stories
• Deep knowledge of the platform and strategic thinking
• Special skills in content creation or analytics

The key is to build a strong portfolio that shows what you can do rather than worrying about follower numbers.

How to promote your services on Instagram

Share educational content regularly to show your expertise effectively. Create content that highlights transformations, case studies, and useful tips to prove your value to potential clients.

Make your bio clear about what you offer and add a strong call-to-action that tells potential clients how to reach you.

Earning potential from services

Instagram marketing services can be quite profitable as you gain experience. New consultants charge $20-200 per hour [22], while experts with experience make $150-500+ hourly [23].

Monthly retainer packages for Instagram management cost between $500-5,000, depending on what’s included. You can add more income streams through specialized services like content creation or analytics reports.

Digital products created with tools like Rupa can boost your service offerings by giving clients pre-made solutions alongside your custom work.

Sell digital products or downloads

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Digital products are one of the most profitable ways to make money on Instagram. They come with very high margins and unlimited growth potential. Let’s see how you can make the most of this amazing chance.

What digital products you can sell

You can create digital goods once and profit from them repeatedly without worrying about inventory. These popular options bring impressive profits:

• E-books and guides (60-80% profit margin) [7]
• Online courses and tutorials (70-90% profit margin) [7]
• Templates, planners, and Notion boards (70-90% profit margin) [7]
• Presets and digital art (70-90% profit margin) [7]
• Music packs, sound effects, and beats (70-90% profit margin) [7]

The global digital goods market will likely exceed $123 billion in 2025[6]. The e-learning segment alone should reach $840 billion by 2030 [6].

Follower count needed to sell digital products

The good news is you don’t need a minimum number of followers to start selling digital products on Instagram. Success stories show that accounts with just 1,000 followers can make money [3]. Reddit sellers say audience quality matters more than size [24].

How to market digital products on Instagram

These Instagram marketing strategies really work:

1. Show your products through Instagram Stories Highlights [25]
2. Make shoppable posts with product tags [26]
3. Show transformations and benefits visually [26]
4. Use Instagram Live to teach potential buyers [25]
5. Put your store link in your bio [27]

Rupa makes it easy to create a mini course and start earning, even with a small following. This platform helps turn your knowledge into products you can sell without complex technical setup.

Best platforms to host your products

These platforms excel at hosting and selling digital products:

Make your digital product experience great. Your products should work well on mobile devices, be easy to access, and give clear results [6].

Offer exclusive content or courses

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Exclusive content creates a direct connection with your most dedicated followers through . You won’t need any middlemen.recurring revenue

What exclusive content means

Instagram Subscriptions let creators share premium content with their paying followers [13]. The platform has sections for subscriber-only stories, posts, reels, livestreams, and private broadcast channels that regular followers can’t access [29]. Your subscribers get purple badges next to their names, which makes them easy to spot in comments and DMs [29].

Follower count needed for exclusive content

Instagram hasn’t set a minimum follower requirement for Subscriptions. The platform’s eligibility rules are straightforward:

• You must be 18 or older
• Your content shouldn’t focus on children
• You need to live in one of 46 supported countries including the US, UK, and Australia [30]

Creators with make over $1,000 monthly using this feature.under 10,000 followers

How to monetize with courses or memberships

Monthly subscription prices range from $0.99 to $99.99 [13]. Pick your price point and create an engaging promotional video that shows your subscriber benefits clearly [31]. Your subscribers will appreciate a consistent content schedule [29]. The platform sends payouts on the 21st of each following month [29].

A mini course on Rupa could help you expand beyond platform dependence. This approach is a great way to monetize even with a smaller following.

Examples of successful creators

• Tyler Hoechlin (4.2M followers): Shares behind-the-scenes content for just $0.99 monthly [13]
• Alan Chikin Chow (2.2M followers): Provides exclusive comedy content at $2.99 monthly per subscriber [13]
• Carson Roney (722K followers): Delivers lifestyle and sports content for $4.99 monthly [13]

Start a dropshipping business

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Dropshipping can turn your Instagram presence into a thriving e-commerce business without the hassle of managing inventory. This retail model needs careful planning but rewards creators who are ready to expand beyond creating content.

What dropshipping is

Dropshipping works as a retail fulfillment system where you don’t keep any inventory. You pass order details to suppliers who ship products straight to your customers [12]. You work as the middleman—you pick products, set prices, and handle customer service while making money from the price difference between wholesale and retail [12].

Follower count needed for dropshipping

You don’t need a specific number of followers to start dropshipping. Unlike other ways to make money, your success depends more on how well your audience engages with your content rather than its size. Expert advice warns against buying followers because real engagement leads to actual sales [32]. Mutually beneficial alliances with micro-influencers can help grow your dropshipping business even with a small marketing budget [33].

How to run a dropshipping store via Instagram

Here’s how to set up your dropshipping operation:

1. Create a dropshipping store on platforms like Shopify, Wix, or Facebook Shops [34]
2. Set up a business Instagram account with a clear username and compelling bio [32]
3. Select trending, high-profit potential products [34]
4. Partner with reliable suppliers for fulfillment [34]
5. Use Instagram’s shopping features to tag products [14]

Profit margins and logistics

Dropshipping profit margins usually range between 10-30% per sale [12]. Most dropshippers see 15-20% margins, while successful sellers aim for over 20% [35]. Your profitability depends on:

• Product selection and pricing strategy
• Supplier’s relationships and negotiated rates
• Marketing expenses (your biggest cost)
• Shipping fees and platform costs

The quickest way to calculate your margin: subtract all expenses from revenue, divide by revenue, then multiply by 100 [35]. Your business can grow substantially when you sell through multiple channels beyond Instagram [35].

Create a feature account

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Feature accounts utilize content curation to build audiences in specific niches without creating their own content. These accounts showcase other creators’ work and grow followers through consistent, high-quality curation.

What a feature account is

Feature accounts share and compile content from other creators in a particular niche—from photography and travel to specific hobbies or lifestyles. They provide value by finding and organizing exceptional content that saves followers time and effort.

Follower count needed for feature accounts

Feature accounts can start earning with just 20,000 followers who generate around 1,000 likes and 5,000 video views per post [36]. Your primary focus should be building engagement rather than just increasing follower numbers.

How to monetize a feature account

A 6-month old feature account can earn through:

• Paid shoutouts and features
• Brand partnerships with relevant companies
• Promotional posts for startups seeking exposure

You might receive product-only compensation at first. One creator got phone cases from Urban Armor Gear before they started earning $200 per featured post [36].

Tips to grow a niche feature page

Quality matters more than quantity during your growth phase. Startups without an Instagram presence make great targets because they often can’t afford traditional advertising channels [36]. Your outreach to potential partners should stay professional, and you should avoid discussing payment in your first message [36].

Leverage livestreaming and badges

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Instagram Live broadcasts let you earn money through viewer-purchased badges that support your content creation journey.

What livestreaming and badges are

Instagram Live helps creators broadcast video immediately to their audience. Your broadcast appears at the front of viewers’ Stories feeds and sends automatic notifications. Badges work like virtual tips that viewers buy during livestreams. These badges show up as hearts next to usernames. Viewers can choose from three tiers—$0.99 (one heart), $1.99 (two hearts), and $4.99 (three hearts). The badges highlight your supporters throughout the broadcast.

Follower count needed for badges

You’ll need at least 10,000 followers and a Professional account (Creator or Business) to access badges. The platform also requires you to:

• Be 18+ years old
• Follow Instagram’s community guidelines
• Meet monetization policies

The badges become available after you apply through your Professional Dashboard and complete payment setup.

How to earn from livestreams

Your viewers can buy multiple badges during streams, with a $250 limit per live video. Instagram processes payment within 1-7 business days once your earnings reach $100. Google and Apple take 30% from all in-app purchases as their standard platform fees.

Engagement strategies for live sessions

Your badge purchases will increase if you:

• Remind viewers about badge support at key moments during broadcasts
• Pin specific financial goals as comments
• Thank badge purchasers with personal shout-outs
• Create interactive content such as Q&As, tutorials, or product demonstrations
• Time your livestreams during peak audience activity

The content from your live session can serve double duty as Reels or Stories after the broadcast ends.

Create user-generated content (UGC)

Image Source: Billo

The traditional Instagram monetization path has changed. Content creation skills now matter more than follower numbers for UGC (user-generated content) creators.

What UGC is

UGC represents brand content that looks authentic and connects with viewers [37]. The content mirrors everyday users’ genuine product experiences while maintaining professional quality. UGC is different from influencer marketing because brands use your content on their channels instead of yours [38].

Follower count needed for UGC deals

UGC creators can start earning with zero followers. A creator points out: “When reaching out to brands, they want to see your content, but if it’s true UGC, your follower count doesn’t matter” [39]. This makes UGC the perfect revenue stream for skilled content creators who haven’t built large audiences yet.

How to pitch UGC to brands

The path to success includes:

• Building a portfolio that shows your unique style [40]
• Finding brands that already use UGC marketing
• Showing your work with similar products [41]
• Adding clear next steps in your brand messages [40]

Why brands pay for UGC

Brands value UGC because it delivers better results than traditional marketing. Studies reveal that 92% of consumers trust UGC more than conventional advertising [42]. The data shows UGC is 9.8 times more influential than influencer content [43]. Marketing campaigns that use UGC see 50% more engagement [44].

Comparison Table

Conclusion

Learning about these 12 Instagram monetization methods shows one clear thing—you don’t need millions of followers to make money on the platform. You can find opportunities with 500 loyal followers or 50,000. The size doesn’t matter.

The sort of thing I love about this piece is how quality beats quantity in all monetization strategies. Brands now look for micro-influencers who have engaged audiences instead of celebrities with passive followers. The same goes for digital product sales where audience trust matters more than size.

Most creators succeed by testing multiple methods at once. You could start with affiliate marketing while creating your first digital product on Rupa. As your audience grows, you can add sponsored posts to your mix.

A steady income stream comes from looking beyond what the algorithm wants. Digital products and services keep making money whatever platform changes happen. This turns your Instagram from a content platform into a marketing channel that powers your independent business.

Want to get started? Choose a method that lines up with your current follower count and what you’re good at. Then put it into action this week. Taking small, steady steps builds momentum faster than waiting to hit that “perfect” number of followers. Your trip to Instagram monetization starts right now—not when you reach some random follower goal.

Key Takeaways

Instagram monetization is accessible at every follower level, with engagement quality mattering more than quantity for sustainable income generation.

• Start earning with just 1,000 followers through sponsored posts ($10-$250), affiliate marketing, or digital products—no celebrity status required.

• Engagement beats follower count as 82% of brands prefer high-engagement creators over large audiences with passive followers.

• Multiple income streams maximize earnings by combining methods like Creator tools, Instagram Shop, and digital products for algorithm-proof revenue.

• UGC creation requires zero followers making it the perfect entry point for new creators to earn through content skills alone.

• Digital products offer 60-90% profit margins with unlimited scalability, providing recurring income beyond platform dependency.

The most successful creators diversify their monetization strategies rather than relying on a single method. Whether you’re starting with 500 followers or scaling beyond 50,000, focus on building genuine audience relationships and creating valuable content that serves your community’s needs.

FAQs

Q1. How many followers do I need to start making money on Instagram in 2025? You can start monetizing Instagram with as few as 1,000 followers. Micro-influencers with 1,000-10,000 followers can earn $10-$250 per sponsored post. The key is having an engaged audience rather than a large but passive following.

Q2. What are the most profitable ways to monetize Instagram in 2025? The most profitable methods include sponsored posts, selling digital products (60-90% profit margins), Instagram Shop for physical products, and offering exclusive content through subscriptions. Combining multiple monetization strategies often leads to the best results.

Q3. Can I make money on Instagram without a large following? Yes, you can. Methods like creating user-generated content (UGC) for brands require zero followers to start earning. Additionally, selling digital products or offering marketing services can be profitable regardless of follower count if you have valuable skills or knowledge to share.

Q4. What are Instagram Creator tools and how do they help monetization? Instagram Creator tools include features like Subscriptions, Live Badges, and Gifts. These allow creators to earn directly from their audience through monthly subscriptions for exclusive content or virtual tips during livestreams. To access most of these tools, you typically need at least 10,000 followers and a Professional account.

Q5. How can I increase my chances of securing brand partnerships on Instagram? To increase your chances of brand partnerships, focus on growing a highly engaged audience in a specific niche, create high-quality content consistently, and maintain a professional-looking profile. Engage with your followers authentically, and consider reaching out to brands directly with a well-crafted pitch showcasing your value proposition.