With Instagram gaining in popularity, now could be the time to turn your interest into a side-gig. Here's all the best tips on how to do it!
Instagram is one of the most popular social media platforms. It has more users than Facebook and it has a simpler template which is heavy on the visuals.
People can post photos or videos on Instagram and you can follow hashtags to stay up to date on your favourite topics. You can also take your Instagram game to the next level and turn it into a profitable side-gig.
Become a Content Creator
Posting photos of our lives is practically a past-time for millennials. Turn it up a notch to become a bonafide content creator. Consider what people are interested in and provide said content in a way for them to digest, enjoy and share with others.
Depending on your interests, there are many ways to do this.
If you’re a foodie, turn your restaurant selfies into reviews and recommendations. If you travel a lot, take some time to provide useful tips for your followers. The opportunities are endless.
Influencer Status
When talking about people who make money on Instagram, the term ‘influencer’ is often used.
It simply means that these people have a lot of engaged followers. This literally gives them the ability to ‘influence’ what these people see, like, and even purchase.
This is why companies will reach out and offer paid collaborations or free sample products to review.
Contrary to popular belief, you do not need hundreds of thousands of screaming fans to be an influencer.
Depending on your niche, as few as one thousand can make you a desirable candidate for a featured product. For example, if your niche is entomophagy or edible insects, you just need a lot of enthusiastic fans for a cricket protein company to give you a chance.
Obviously, more popular areas like travel, health and fitness are a lot harder to stand out in. But it’s not impossible as long as you find a unique point of focus among them.
Never Buy Followers
There are many websites such as Fiverr that offer a range of services from creating affordable logos to giving you fake followers. It honestly isn’t about the numbers at all. It is all about engagement.
Which is why you can be an influencer with just 1,000 followers and you can have no standing with 100,000 followers. It truly is a popularity contest that is all about likes, comments and shares more than anything else.
Start Affiliate Links
Being an affiliate means that you have personalized links that you can share with your followers. If they use your link to buy the product, you will get a commission.
This can be as much as a few cents, dollars or even a percentage of the earnings. This is different depending on the company ad usually isn’t much for regular products.
Affiliate programmes are the best way to start making a passive income using your social media accounts. Amazon, eBay and most companies out there offer affiliate programs. Better yet, most don’t have any requirements.
Smaller companies and startups may, on the other hand, ask for a specific amount of followers or have stricter rules.
Just search any companies website to see if they have a page about their affiliate options. Most websites at least have a referral program.
Obviously, it is easier to sell many cheap items than the occasional pricey product. But if your niche is drones, you could earn a hefty commission as a DJI affiliate.
Sell Your Own Product or Service
If you have a lot of followers in a specific area, consider selling your own product or providing a service.
Consulting in a field of your expertise or selling a handmade product can be possible with the help of an Instagram account. Even selling photographs is a possibility.
Take advantage of content subscription services such as Only Fans or Patreon to share your content.
Don’t Quit Your Day Job
While top influencers on Instagram do make thousands of dollars, it can be unrealistic to aspire to this. Instagram can be a great side gig and even a professional tool.
It doesn’t have to be an all or nothing situation. Just because you get a great opportunity to make money on your Instagram doesn’t mean that other companies will line up to follow.
It takes a certain type of person and potentially a lot of financial investment to build influence.
Instagram is more than just a place where you can share your selfies. It can be a business tool to earn some extra cash on the side.
Turn your photos into well-crafted content and find a niche where you can gain influence. It just takes time to make money doing something you love!
Photos: Shutterstock
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