Instagram is often seen as a platform where only influencers with massive followings can make money, but that’s far from the truth. You can turn your Instagram account into a money-making machine even without a large audience. Whether you’re offering services, selling products, or creating content for brands, there are several ways to monetize your skills and creativity.
In this blog post, we’ll dive into six effective strategies to make money on Instagram without relying on followers.
1. Offer Freelance Services
One of the quickest ways to start making money on Instagram is by offering your freelance services. If you have a marketable skill like graphic design, photography, video editing, or copywriting, you can easily use Instagram to showcase your work and attract clients.
Learn how Niklas Pedde makes over $30k/month with a single Instagram theme page.
How to Get Started (With Freelancing on Instagram):
- Create a Portfolio: Use Instagram as your portfolio by posting images or short videos that showcase your work. For example, if you’re a photographer, post your best shots. If you’re a graphic designer, share before-and-after images of projects.
- Use Hashtags: Hashtags are powerful for discovery. Include relevant tags like #freelancer, #graphicdesign, #videographer, or #copywriting to reach potential clients.
- Network: Engage with others in your industry by commenting on posts and sharing insights. You’ll be more likely to get noticed and build professional relationships.
Example:
A freelance video editor could create reels or stories that showcase their editing skills—before and after clips of edited content. By doing so, you demonstrate your abilities and attract businesses that may need those services.
2. Sell Products or Services
You don’t need thousands of followers to sell products or services on Instagram. Whether you create physical products or offer digital services, Instagram is an ideal platform to set up shop and reach potential customers.
How to Get Started:
- Set Up Instagram Shop: Instagram offers a feature called Instagram Shops that lets you list products and tag them in your posts or stories. This makes it easier for people to browse your products and make purchases directly on the platform.
- Run Ads: Even without a large following, you can run targeted ads to attract customers. Instagram’s ad targeting options allow you to reach the right audience based on interests, behaviors, and demographics.
- Show Your Process: Post behind-the-scenes content to create buzz around your products. Videos of how your products are made or how your services work can intrigue potential customers.
Related: Make Money Browsing the Web
Example:
If you make handmade jewelry, you can set up an Instagram Shop, post attractive product photos, and use ads to reach people who are interested in fashion accessories. You don’t need a huge following; just well-targeted ads.
3. Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate marketing is a great way to earn a commission by promoting other people’s products. The best part? You don’t need a big audience to make money from affiliate links on Instagram.
How to Get Started:
- Join Affiliate Programs: Many companies offer affiliate programs where you can earn money for every sale made through your unique referral link. Popular platforms like Amazon, ShareASale, and ClickBank offer products across various niches.
- Use Instagram Bio and Stories: You can place affiliate links in your bio or share them in Stories with a direct link sticker. This allows your audience to easily access the products you’re recommending, even if they’re small in number.
- Niche Down: Focus on promoting niche products that align with your content. For instance, if you’re passionate about fitness, promote workout gear or supplements. Smaller, niche communities often convert better than large, generic audiences.
Example:
A fitness enthusiast could promote workout programs or health supplements through affiliate links in their bio or Stories. Even with a small audience, the targeted nature of the promotions can result in sales.
4. Sponsored Posts Through Niche Marketing
Brands are increasingly looking to collaborate with micro-influencers—accounts with smaller but highly engaged audiences. If your content aligns with a specific niche, you can attract sponsorship deals, even without a massive following.
How to Get Started:
- Create Niche-Specific Content: Focus on a specific niche that aligns with your interests or skills. Whether it’s fashion, fitness, or food, brands in that niche will be more interested in partnering with you if you create content relevant to their market.
- Reach Out to Brands: Don’t wait for brands to come to you. Send direct messages or emails to companies, offering your services. Explain how your content and audience align with their products and how you can create valuable promotional content.
- Showcase Results: If you’ve collaborated with brands before, even on a small scale, showcase those partnerships in your Instagram highlights or posts. This gives credibility and attracts future collaborations.
Example:
A fashion enthusiast with a small but engaged audience could create styled looks and tag the brands they wear. Even if a post doesn’t go viral, a well-targeted fashion brand might reach out for a paid collaboration.
5. Create User-Generated Content (UGC) for Brands
User-Generated Content (UGC) refers to content created by regular users that brands use in their own marketing efforts. This is an easy way to make money without needing a following because brands want quality visuals and videos for their feeds and ads, and they’ll pay you for creating it.
How to Get Started:
- High-Quality Content: Focus on creating high-quality content that brands can use on their pages. This could be product photos, videos, or reels that highlight a product’s features or benefits.
- Contact Brands Directly: Pitch your services to brands that you think would benefit from your content. Show examples of the type of content you can create for them.
- Leverage Your Skills: You don’t need a big following to create great content. If you’re good at photography or video editing, you can sell this as a service to brands.
Example:
You could create an unboxing video or a creative product review and then offer it to the brand for them to post on their own Instagram page. This way, they benefit from your content without relying on your follower count.
6. Instagram Consulting or Coaching
If you understand how Instagram works—whether it’s in growing an account, creating engagement, or developing strategies—you can offer consulting services to businesses or individuals who need help improving their Instagram presence.
How to Get Started:
- Offer Instagram Coaching: If you’ve successfully managed an Instagram account, offer one-on-one coaching sessions or workshops to teach others. You can market this service through your Instagram bio and posts.
- Share Tips and Tricks: Post helpful tips on your feed or in Stories that demonstrate your expertise. You can share insights on how to optimize an Instagram profile, create engaging content, or utilize Instagram’s tools effectively.
- Host Paid Workshops: Instagram Live or Zoom workshops can be an additional revenue stream. Offer insights into Instagram marketing strategies, content creation, or advertising, and charge participants a fee.
Example:
If you have a background in social media marketing, offer a paid Instagram audit service. You can analyze a business’s Instagram profile, suggest improvements, and provide actionable steps they can take to grow their account.
Final Thoughts
You don’t need to be a big-time influencer to make money on Instagram. By leveraging skills, creating valuable content, and connecting with the right brands or customers, you can generate income without thousands of followers. Whether you’re offering services, selling products, or using Instagram as a marketing tool, there are plenty of opportunities to explore.
