It’s well known that Instagram is one of the most popular social networks. But the fact that you can also earn money with it—in the best-case scenario, even a lot of money—might not be so widely known. 

A few years ago, the job of influencer didn’t even exist; nowadays, the business is booming. Influencers reach millions of people, and the profession is now considered a “dream job.” More and more people are earning money with Instagram; for many, it’s already a lucrative full-time job.

Influencer earnings depend heavily on various factors: they vary depending on reach, engagement, and niche. This article will show you how you too can boost your income and make money with Instagram. 

How to Make Money with Instagram?

You can earn money on Instagram in various ways, primarily through advertising. Here, we distinguish between direct and indirect income. Indirect income includes, for example, free products sent to you by companies so you can then feature them in an Instagram story.

This gives you a clear financial advantage because you don’t have to buy the products yourself. Depending on the topic you choose for your account, you can also receive free tickets to concerts, theater performances, and similar events. Often, you even get VIP tickets, allowing you to go behind the scenes of such an event. All of this naturally makes your Instagram profile more appealing to potential followers interested in your topic.

However, direct income is even more important. There are significantly more opportunities for you to earn money with Instagram. Let’s take a closer look at the best sources of income.

Direct Methods to Make Money with Instagram 

  1. Paid contributions
  2. Sponsorship
  3. Advertising for own products
  4. Merchandising
  5. Paid shoutouts
  6. Photo sale

How Many Followers Are Needed to Make Money With Instagram?

This varies greatly from person to person and depends heavily on the topic. The basic newbie with 10K followers can start earning money with Instagram. People who have more followers can make more money compared to those with fewer followers.

Earning potential depends on numerous factors, such as topics, profiles, quality, followers, likes, and combinations. Therefore, the range of possible earnings extends from a small side income to several thousand. The more professionally you build your Instagram business, the higher your earning potential. 

How to Increase the Revenue from Instagram?

While there’s no guarantee that your influencer business will always thrive, we can give you a few tips on how to increase your influencer income in the long term:

  • Focus on long-term partnerships: If you don’t just collaborate with a brand on a one-off occasion but can enter into a long-term partnership, this offers the same advantages: a secure income and greater trust in the brand from your followers.
  • Activate your followers: Brands are often more interested in a smaller, active community that likes, shares, and comments on content than in a large, passive one. Therefore, try to activate your followers by publishing highly shareable content or inviting them to comment.
  • Know the trends: Always stay informed about what’s trending on your platform. This way, you can adapt your content and remain engaging. But be careful: Only follow trends that suit you; otherwise, you’ll quickly seem inauthentic.
  • Be aware of the legal and tax aspects: Find out which legal requirements apply to you (for example, advertising on Instagram must be labeled) and stay up-to-date on your tax obligations. Accountable also offers tax tips for influencers that will certainly be helpful.