Want to learn how to make money on Instagram?
Instagram is a GOLDMINE in 2025 for making money:
- Instagram has 2 BILLION active users
- 61% use Instagram to find new products
- 90% of users follow business accounts
This article shows you the top 17 strategies to start making money on Instagram TODAY!
Plus, I've dug up examples of each money-making strategy to use as inspiration.
Feel free to skip ahead:
- 1. Sell Instagram Subscriptions
- 2. Partner with brands via the Creator Marketplace
- 3. Earn Instagram Gifts
- 4. Sell Live Badges
- 5. Sell your products
- 6. Get sponsored
- 7. Sell a digital product
- 8. Promote your paid community
- 9. Drive newsletter subscribers
- 10. Sell merch for your brand
- 11. Sell used products (flipping)
- 12. Make affiliate posts
- 13. Push people to your website
- 14. Increase brand awareness
- 15. Sell your services
- 16. Advertise sales events
- 17. Host giveaways
- How to use Post Planner to make more money on Instagram
1. Sell Instagram Subscriptions
You can get paid every single month just for sharing the content you already love to create.
Instagram Subscriptions lets your most loyal fans pay a monthly fee for exclusive access to premium content, delivered right inside Instagram. When someone subscribes, they get a purple subscriber badge, plus front-row access to subscriber-only Stories, Reels, posts, private Lives, and even exclusive group chats.
Subscriptions give creators a sustainable, reliable revenue source while deepening your connection with the fans who matter most.
@thexiazhao, a former WWE wrestler, promoted her Instagram Subscriptions by posting a Reel inviting followers to subscribe to watch all her exclusive content. That single post attracted about 1,800 Likes and plenty of comments from fans eager to unlock her subscriber-only updates.
That’s exactly the kind of loyal, paying community you can build with subscriptions.
Here’s how to kick off your own subscriber program:
- Check your eligibility. You’ll need 10K+ followers, be at least 18, and live in a supported country.
- Set up your subscription. Go to your Professional Dashboard on Instagram, tap “Subscriptions,” and set your pricing.
- Build your value. Create subscriber-only Lives, behind-the-scenes Stories, bonus Reels, or exclusive group chats. Make that purple subscriber ring truly worth it!
- Promote it like crazy. Share teasers in Stories, pin a Subscribe sticker, and explain why the perks are worth paying for. Remember — you're your own best hype machine.
Pro tip: Consistency is EVERYTHING. Subscribers want to know what they’re paying for, so set a reliable cadence. Think “New bonus Reel every Friday” or “Monthly Q&A Live for subscribers.” That steady rhythm keeps your superfans coming back — and keeps the revenue flowing.
2. Partner with brands via the Creator Marketplace
Let’s be honest: Your followers already look to YOU for recommendations. So why not get paid for sharing products you truly believe in?
Instagram’s Creator Marketplace makes it simple to connect directly with brands that fit your vibe — no awkward cold pitches or no shady DMs. You list your interests and skills, and brands can invite you to paid projects right through Instagram.
You can negotiate rates, review campaign briefs, and manage every detail — all without ever leaving the app.
Lifestyle influencer @brookemiccio partnered with FlatRate Moving through Instagram’s Creator Marketplace. She shared a Reel thanking the brand for a “seamless moving experience,” even giving her followers a discount code. Brooke labeled her content with Instagram’s “Paid partnership” tag and the hashtag #FlatRatePartner, showing her audience that it was a sponsored collaboration (which is the law).
That Reel racked up thousands of Likes and sparked tons of comments from her engaged followers — proof that authentic partnerships can pay off big time.
Here’s how to get started yourself:
- Join the Creator Marketplace through your Professional Dashboard and activate your branded content tools.
- List your interests so brands know what kinds of projects match your style — think fitness, travel, home décor, you name it.
- Use the Paid Partnership label on branded posts to stay transparent and protect your followers’ trust.
- Watch your Partnership Messages folder — that’s where incoming brand opportunities will land, so you never miss a chance.
Pro tip: Protect your vibe. Only partner with brands you genuinely love. Your followers can sniff out a fake deal from a mile away. Stay consistent with your voice, and you’ll keep their respect (and loyalty) intact.
3. Earn Instagram Gifts
If you’ve ever thought, “I wish my followers could just buy me a coffee for all this hard work,” Instagram Gifts is basically that, but better.
Instagram Gifts allows your fans to reward you with virtual gifts (bought using Stars) right inside the app. Think of them as digital tips for creating Reels your audience loves. When viewers send gifts, you’re getting real money as a "thank you" for the content you already planned to post.
@specialkracer jumped on this feature to celebrate the New Year, inviting fans to send gifts and unlocking a whole new income stream.
Getting started is pretty straightforward:
- Meet the requirements. You’ll need a professional account, be 18+, have at least 500 followers, and live in an eligible country.
- Set up your payout account so you can cash in the gifts you receive.
- Make sure your fans know. Announce in your Stories or Reels that they can send you gifts, and show them how.
- Recognize your supporters. Tap the heart next to a gift, and your fan gets a notification — this small gesture builds major loyalty.
Pro tip: Use Gifts data to shape your Instagram content strategy. If you notice certain Reels bring in the most gifts, double down on what your audience is telling you they value.
4. Sell Live Badges
One of Instagram’s newer money-making features is Live Badges.
Instagram Live lets you connect with your audience in real time — and badges take that connection a step further. When viewers purchase a badge, it appears next to their name during your live broadcast.
This makes their comments stand out, increasing the odds you’ll notice and respond to them.
Sure, badges probably won’t make you rich overnight. But they’re an easy way to stack a bit of extra income on top of your other Instagram earnings. And if you already use Instagram Live as part of your strategy, there’s no reason not to turn on badges.
Fitness influencer @londondagreat went Live for the very first time and earned Live Badges.
Here’s how to get rolling:
- Go Live regularly. Badges only work if you’re going Live — so commit to showing up.
- Turn on Badges in your Professional Dashboard under monetization tools.
- Acknowledge supporters. Thank fans who buy badges during or after your broadcast — this recognition builds even more loyalty.
- Stay consistent. If Lives are a regular part of your content plan, badges can grow into a solid revenue stream over time.
Pro tip: Tease your upcoming Live in your feed or Stories and mention that badges will be active. That way, supporters come ready to pitch in.
5. Sell your products
Your business sells something you believe offers value to your customers’ lives.
If you truly believe in your product or service, the chances are good that there are Instagram users who want to BUY what you’re selling.
Beauty giant @glossier regularly uses Instagram to tease and drop products. In one post, they announced the comeback of their fan-favorite highlighter. That single announcement sparked major excitement, getting over 7k Likes and tons of comments from excited customers.
You can make a short advertisement for:
- New products
- Seasonal products
- Upcoming products
In the old days, people had to go to your website, search for the product you were advertising, and buy it the old-fashioned way.
Now, Instagram allows businesses to set up sales posts that enable Instagram users to buy products directly from the app.
Warning: Steer clear of making sales posts too frequently, but mixing this into your posting schedule can be a great way to generate some income.
6. Get sponsored
When most people think of making money on social media, they think of sponsored posts.
This isn’t the only way to make money on Instagram, but it's one excellent way to do it.
Unfortunately, you most likely won’t be able to get sponsored until you have several thousand followers.
However, you can start making serious money from sponsored posts once you DO get sponsored.
Take professional disc golfer @discgolfali, for example. She announced a sponsorship with @ThoughtSpaceAthletics for the 2024 season. That single announcement earned about 1,200 Likes and 95 supportive comments, showing her fans were excited to see her grow with a sponsor they could also trust (even with just 6k followers!).
While you probably won’t make much, even smaller accounts can make some money through sponsored posts.
The secret? If your account has a smaller but very niche audience, brands will still see you as a goldmine.
The trick to maximizing your income from sponsored Instagram posts is getting as many followers as possible, as sponsorship rates often depend on your follower count and average engagement per post.
7. Sell a digital product
You’ve worked hard to build trust with your audience, so why not monetize that trust with a product that solves their problems?
Selling a digital product on Instagram (like an eBook, mini-course, software tool, or even a custom AI prompt pack) is a powerful way to earn active income. Instead of relying on brand sponsorships or tips, you’re selling your own intellectual property — which means higher margins and total ownership.
Here’s the catch: your product needs to connect tightly with the content your audience already loves. In other words, if you’re posting social media growth tips, selling a video editing course makes sense. If you’re sharing productivity hacks, a digital planner or an AI automation template might be a natural fit.
@the0nlyyonii's post below is a perfect example. In January, she launched a new ebook titled “Little Miss Content Creator” and promoted it to her audience with a post saying, “MY NEW E-BOOK JUST DROPPED!” Her excitement paid off: the announcement racked up around 62,000 likes, showing just how powerful a well-teased digital product can be for driving both engagement and sales.
How to execute this strategy:
- Pick a problem worth solving. Your DMs and comments are goldmines for post ideas.
- Create a simple offer first. You don’t need to build a 10-hour course to get started. A one-page template or short video training can sell surprisingly well.
- Use a landing page. Build a clean, easy-to-understand page that makes buying a no-brainer.
- Drive traffic intentionally. Promote your offer in your Reels, link to it in your bio, talk about it in Stories, and even add a CTA in your captions. You want to weave your product into your normal content rhythm so it feels natural, not forced.
8. Promote your paid community
If you’ve built a passionate audience that lives for your content, a paid community is one of the smartest ways to monetize their loyalty.
A paid community gives your superfans a place to connect with you (and each other) on a deeper level — and rewards you with recurring monthly income. Think of it as your VIP club, where people pay for closer access, exclusive content, or premium support.
Followers who already engage heavily with you on Instagram are primed to go even deeper, especially if they’re part of a tight niche — whether that’s fitness coaching, photography, parenting, or financial independence.
For example, spiritual creator @readbydes uses Patreon to grow her paid community. In the post below, she shared a Monday Message and invited followers to “Link in my bio to subscribe to my Patreon” for exclusive readings. That single CTA racked up about 1,460 likes and plenty of interest, showing just how engaged fans can be when offered a chance to join a more intimate, premium space.
You can host your paid community on platforms like:
- Discord (great for communities that want voice/video chats)
- Telegram (popular with international audiences)
- WhatsApp (fast and familiar, especially for smaller groups)
- Slack (works well for professionals or entrepreneurs)
- Circle (premium memberships with a slick experience)
- Facebook Groups (still solid, especially if your audience is already there)
But how do you get people in the door from IG?
- Promote your community in your Reels, Stories, and pinned posts
- Talk about what members get inside the community (don’t be shy!)
- Add a strong call-to-action in your bio link to your community sign-up page
- Give sneak peeks or testimonials from current members to create FOMO
To spice up your paid community offer, you can add membership tiers like:
- Basic tier (access to chat, group Q&As)
- Premium tier (exclusive 1:1 calls, challenges, bonus resources)
- Elite tier (personalized coaching or hands-on support)
Pro tip: Deliver consistently. People will only stay if they feel like your community has energy. So, plan your welcome messages, live events, and updates in advance.
9. Drive newsletter subs
If you’re an education-focused creator, there’s no better safety net — or money-maker — than an email newsletter.
Why? Because you own that list. Unlike Instagram followers who can vanish with one algorithm change, an email list is yours for life. And once you have it, you can monetize it through sponsorships, ad networks like Paved or beehiiv, or even offer a paid newsletter for premium subscribers.
@zicksworld uses Instagram masterfully to build his newsletter audience. In a carousel post, after dropping a thought-provoking message, he added a CTA to his Substack newsletter. The post pulled in about 3,552 likes and 197 comments.
But first, you have to get people to subscribe. That means treating your newsletter like its own product. You’ll need to push it consistently on Instagram — with CTAs in Reels, captions, Stories, and a link in bio pointing to your newsletter’s opt-in page.
Here’s the secret sauce: people rarely sign up just because you ask. They sign up because you give them something irresistible. That’s where lead magnets come in. This could be:
- A free checklist (like “10 Steps to Monetize Your IG”)
- A swipe file (your best hook templates for Reels)
- A mini video course
- An ebook or guide
- A free resource library
Give something valuable away, and in return, you’ll build a list of hyper-engaged, niche-focused subscribers who actually want to hear from you.
Pro tip: Once you’re sending emails, treat your newsletter like your Instagram content — consistent, high-value, and personal.
10. Sell merch for your brand
If you have a loyal following that feels like a tribe, branded merch can be a killer way to monetize. Think about it: your fans already love your vibe — why not let them wear it proudly.
Selling merch works best if your audience is super engaged and passionate about your brand’s style, motto, or community identity. Fitness coaches, musicians, motivational creators, or anyone with a strong brand voice are perfect candidates for this.
Take Twitch streamer @vanilllamace, for example. She used an aesthetic launch video to drive urgency among fans to purchase her merch (making it available for a limited time).
Here’s how to promote your merch on IG:
- Show yourself wearing or using your merch in Reels
- Add product tags if you’re using Instagram Shopping
- Talk about it in Stories — behind the scenes, design choices, even silly bloopers
- Pin your shop or store link in your bio
- Run giveaways for extra hype
Want to keep things simple? Go the dropshipping route. Services like Printful, Teespring, or Printify handle production and shipping for you — you keep a cut of each sale without any inventory headaches.
Want bigger margins? Order merch in bulk, get lower per-unit costs, and ship it yourself. Just be prepared to manage inventory and handle shipping fees.
Pro tip: Think beyond “slap your logo on a tee.” High-quality design, fun slogans, and limited-edition drops can all create buzz — and let you charge more.
11. Sell used products
Ever looked around your house and thought, “Why am I holding onto this stuff?” Good news: your old stuff can turn into quick cash — or even kickstart a flipping side hustle.
Selling used products on Instagram is perfect for creators with an audience interested in thrifting, vintage finds, streetwear, collectibles, or even sustainability. If your followers already love seeing what you buy, they might love getting a chance to buy your gently-used items too.
@flippedbymolly is a furniture flipper who uses Instagram to document her projects and connect with buyers. In one viral Reel, she showed how she bought a dresser for $50 and flipped it for $550 — more than a 10x profit in just hours.
How to promote your secondhand goods on IG:
- Show behind-the-scenes Stories as you prep and price your items
- Go live to auction off popular pieces in real time
- Share Reels with styling ideas using the item (so people see its value)
- Highlight “before and after” if you’re flipping and restoring
- Link to your selling page or your DMs for inquiries
How to execute your sales:
- Keep things casual by selling directly via Instagram Stories or DMs
- Use platforms like Depop, Poshmark, Mercari, or eBay for easier checkout
- Set clear terms on shipping and returns so there’s no confusion
If you go bigger, you can brand it as a “flipping” business and build a loyal audience of buyers
Pro tip: Batch your sales drops to build hype. Announce the drop ahead of time, tease the best products, and use countdown stickers in your Stories to get people excited.
12. Make affiliate posts
Even if your account isn’t big enough to make sponsored posts, you can still make money helping other brands sell their products.
Are there products that you use and love?
Making affiliate posts can get you a cut of the profit whenever your followers buy something using your link or discount code.
Fashion YouTuber @lovelylor used Instagram to promote an affiliate partnership with @42Lolita_official. She modeled a Lolita-style outfit and encouraged fans to use her personal code (you earn when customers use your code).
If you're new to affiliate marketing, you can easily join affiliate programs like Amazon Affiliates or CJ Affiliates.
As your Instagram presence grows, you can reach out to brands you like to act as an affiliate marketer for them.
Even if you don’t have hundreds of thousands of followers, you may still be able to make $100-$300 per affiliate post!
13. Push people to your website
Some of the BEST ways to make money on Instagram don’t even happen on Instagram’s platform.
For example, @simonsquibb uses IG Reels to funnel viewers to his website, where he promotes his book.
You, too, can increase your business’s sales by pushing people from Instagram to your website.
There are 2 ways to do this:
- Put the link to your website in your Instagram bio
- Encourage people to visit your website in your posts
Increasing your website traffic by using your Instagram can dramatically increase your sales.
Every click to your website from Instagram means the viewer is already highly interested in your products.
BUT it’s incredibly important to avoid making every post a direct push to your website. (People will start to view your Instagram account as salesy and uninteresting.)
Instead, use these posts sparingly and rely on quality content for the remainder of your posts.
14. Increase brand awareness
Every post you make on Facebook increases the likelihood that people will buy from you in the future.
Don’t believe us?
Studies show that customers are more likely to buy from brands they recognize, and digital interaction with customers affects 70% of purchases.
In other words, the more often you can get your brand name in front of your followers, the more likely they are to buy from you in the future.
The quickest route to increased brand awareness is frequent, high-quality posts.
Take @nike, for example (the king of brand marketing). They often post culture-driven, inspirational content that strengthens their brand identity rather than directly selling a product.
Every post you make gives you a higher chance of bigger future earnings, so post away!
15. Sell your services
What if your business sells services instead of products? Can you still make money on Instagram?
YES!
Even if you’re a local business selling services, you can still benefit from being on Instagram.
For example, fitness and mindset coach @sawyer.sturgis used Instagram to announce he was "now accepting clients". He followed it up with an engaging question — “Are you ready to feel confident, empowered…?” — while outlining the benefits of his coaching program and how to sign up.
Advertising services on Instagram may not be as glamorous as advertising products, but it still works.
The key to selling services through Instagram is to try to make every post as visually appealing as possible.
Visual content sells better, so try to make each post catch your viewers’ eyes.
16. Advertise sales events
If you aren’t posting your sales on Instagram, you’re missing out!
People on Instagram are primed and ready to make purchases, so pointing out sales to them is a great way to make money on Instagram!
Another great option is to host sales that are exclusive to your Instagram following.
You can give away a discount code in the caption of your post, making your Instagram seem more exclusive and interesting.
For example, @fashionnova regularly uses Instagram to announce major sales. During one Friends & Family event, they posted a bold graphic proclaiming “50% Off EVERYTHING…Use Code: THANKU50 (Link in bio)” — grabbing instant attention and sending customers racing to their site.
Sales also encourage people to follow you since they won’t want to MISS OUT on future sales.
More followers will lead to more sales, which means more money!
17. Host giveaways
The only thing people like more than CHEAP stuff is FREE stuff.
That’s why hosting a giveaway on Instagram is a great idea to make more money.
But how can giving stuff away for free earn you more money?
When you host a giveaway, you can make the entry conditions to follow your account and tag 2 people in the post.
If 500 people enter your competition, that automatically means you reached 1,000 more people!
Those new followers will now be more likely to purchase from you in the future.
Your next giveaway will now have even more participants, meaning even greater reach.
@bakcoulife, an e-bike brand, ran a prize package giveaway with simple rules: follow the account, Like the post, and tag friends in the comments. Their post — labeled “(Closed) GIVEAWAY!” — pulled in about 490 likes and over 1,000 comments (mostly tags), proving that a tempting prize plus easy entry instructions can generate massive engagement and bring in fresh followers who might turn into customers down the road.
You don’t have to host a giveaway every day, but hosting seasonal giveaways is a great way to generate interest in your page.
You might even see your sales BOOM during and after a giveaway!
How to use Post Planner to make more money on Instagram
Now that you have a stockpile of money-making strategies under your belt, let’s talk about how to do them practically.
One of the biggest roadblocks to improving your Instagram strategy and making more money is TIME.
The better you want your strategy to be (which will make you more money), the more time it takes to execute the strategy.
At least, that’s generally true.
When it comes to using Instagram tools like Post Planner, the opposite can be true.
In other words, you can actually SAVE time while making MORE money and improving your content strategy.
Let’s talk about how to use Post Planner to make more money on Instagram.
Find better content with Content Streams
Every single strategy we talked about shares something in common:
You’ll make more money if you get more followers.
The best way to get more followers isn’t to purchase them.
Instead, you should simply improve the quality of your content.
Post Planner gathers high-quality content from around the web in its Content Streams.
You can easily search Content Streams by keyword.
Using Content Streams in your niche, you can quickly find a month’s worth of Instagram content.
There are also Content Streams that show general popular content that almost any audience will enjoy. These include:
- Quotes
- Conversation starters
- Memes
- Great photos
Fill in the gaps in your content strategy with these popular options and watch your follower numbers increase consistently!
Post more frequently with automated posting
Remember when we talked about brand recognition?
Posting more frequently is the key to brand recognition on Instagram.
Without brand recognition, your sales will tank.
It’s worth your time to learn how to improve this important metric.
Without Post Planner, posting more frequently is a massive chore.
You have to decide what you’re going to post (which we talked about in the last step), then you have to log in to Instagram and make your posts.
Doing this daily (or more than once daily) can be time-consuming.
Fortunately, Post Planner’s automated Instagram scheduler tool makes it extremely easy to quickly add posts to a schedule.
When their scheduled time comes, Post Planner will automatically post it to your social media accounts.
Just select your content from the Content Streams, then hover over it and click “Create post.”
Fill in the caption if you want, then Post Planner will do the rest for you!
Repeat this step to quickly fill up your entire social media calendar.
Save time
If you can save time on your Instagram content strategy, you can spend more time actually improving your social media strategy.
You could:
- Share the best content possible
- Keep a varied and interesting flow of content on your social media accounts
- Interact with your customers (perhaps selling Live Badges)
- Create a targeted ad campaign
- Host a giveaway
You get the point.
When you save time on your Instagram strategy, you can use your spare time to invest in things that will make you MONEY.
Saving time, ultimately, will help you earn more money, grow your account, and boost your business!
Frequently asked questions
How many followers do you need to make money on Instagram?
One of the most common questions about making money on Instagram is how many followers you need.
Can you make money if you don’t have 10,000 followers?
What about 5,000?
1,000?
The real answer to this question is that you can make money on Instagram even if you have very few followers.
For example, even if you only have 100 followers, you still might push an extra few high-quality visitors to your site.
One of those visitors might buy a product or service.
However, the number of followers you have will affect the amount of money you make.
How much money can you make on Instagram?
So, how much money does 1,000 Instagram followers make?
It’s hard to say exactly, but estimates show that accounts with between 1,000 and 10,000 followers can make a bit less than $1,000 a month.
Once you hit 100,000 followers, a good rule of thumb is that brands will pay about $10 per 1,000 followers for a sponsored post.
In other words, you can start making money with just a few followers, but your earnings will drastically increase as you gain more followers.
It’s also important to note that it’s impossible to measure precisely how much you’ll earn from your followers on Instagram apart from sponsored posts.
For example, you might make money from extra sales, word-of-mouth advertising, and increased brand awareness.
Want to make money with IG? Try Post Planner for FREE
If you aren’t sure how much using Post Planner could help your business grow on Instagram, start by using our free trial!
Now get out there and make some money!
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