Influencer marketing has become a powerful tool for businesses looking to increase their revenue in today's digital media landscape. With the rise of social platforms like Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok, influencers have amassed massive followings that can be leveraged by companies seeking exposure to new audiences. These individuals often possess unique traits such as authenticity, relatability, and trustworthiness, which make them ideal partners for brand collaborations.
Unlike YouTube, Instagram doesn’t pay you per view. In fact, Instagram lacks a built-in monetization platform based on views, which means generating revenue requires becoming an influencer and leveraging brand partnerships or affiliate marketing.
If you can, another option of getting Instagram income is selling your own products through your own Instagram Business shop, but just established e-commerce and medium-sized brands have the capacity of creating/having their own products. Instagram shopping as an Instagram income option is something we won't talk about in this article.
India, with 400 million active Instagram users, is the largest market globally for Instagram. This massive user base offers unparalleled opportunities to earn money by growing your Instagram presence and connecting with brands seeking to engage audiences.
In another article, we revealed some insights about how big influencers monetize their accounts. Check it out.
Collaborating with influencers allows businesses to tap into pre-existing media networks while maintaining authenticity. When done right, influencer marketing leads to increased revenue, improved brand recognition, and greater consumer loyalty. Additionally, working alongside influencers gives companies access to diverse perspectives, ensuring messages resonate effectively among different segments of society.
How to get income from Instagram in India
To monetize your Instagram account without having an Instagram shop, you can explore several paid opportunities.
The most common ones are:
- Affiliate marketing: Partner with brands and earn a commission for every product or service sold through your unique affiliate link.
- Look for brands to sponsor their products: Collaborate with brands that pay you to create content promoting their products. This often includes sponsored posts or long-term partnership.
Each of these options provides a way to turn your Instagram account into a profitable platform, depending on your follower base and niche.
How much can you get paid on Instagram?
If you are planning to monetize your social media account, the 2 most common ways of doing it are affiliate marketing and paid posts.
Monetization through affiliate marketing
Affiliate marketing works on a commission-based model, where you earn a percentage of the product’s sale price.
The commission varies depending on the product type, the vertical you are a specialist in and the industry.
For instance:
- Fashion or beauty products might offer 10–20% commission per sale, depending on the exact product.
- Electronics often have a lower commission, around 5–10% per sale, due to higher product prices and a big offer.
- Digital products like e-books, movies, and music, have low commissions since they are easy to sell for brands without the need of affiliate programs.
At the moment of writing this post (2025) the most profitable affiliate sectors that you can think about promoting to get Instagram income are:
- Finance, with commissions rounding 20% - 30%
- Software and SaaS subscriptions, where commissions can go up to 100%
- Health and Well-Being, with commissions around 15%
If you are a real expert in the field and you have an engaged audience, affiliate marketing can generate a steady income stream.
The average conversion rate for affiliate marketing can vary between 1%-5%, so run your numbers using the product you will promote and you will get an estimation of possible Instagram income.
You can check more about affiliate marketing as an Instagram income option in these 2 posts here:
Monetization through paid posts in social media
Paid posts are another lucrative option, where brands pay influencers to create content featuring their products or services. Your revenue depends on factors like your niche, engagement rate, and follower base (number of followers).
In the next section, we’ll break down how much you can potentially charge per post based on your follower count.
Types of Influencers
There are various categories of influencers, each offering distinct advantages depending on their reach and level of engagement:
Nano Influencers: Individuals with fewer than 10,000 followers. They tend to be highly relatable and have strong connections with their small yet loyal fanbase.
Micro Influencers: Those with 10,000–50,000 followers. They are seen as trustworthy voices within particular communities, making them ideal partners for niche markets.
Macro Influencers: Creators boasting anywhere from 50,000 to one million followers. Their larger audience translates into broader exposure, although engagement may not always match smaller-scale counterparts.
Mega Influencers: Superstars exceeding one million followers. They enjoy significant visibility across multiple channels, enabling widespread promotion efforts.
How much can you ask for a post based on the follower base you have?
Here’s a rough guide to the rates influencers in India can charge per post based on their follower base:
Follower Count |
Estimated Income per Post (₹) |
Instagram 10K followers |
₹5,000–₹10,000 |
Instagram 100K followers |
₹15,000–₹50,000 |
Instagram 200K followers |
₹50,000–₹1,00,000 |
Instagram 500K followers |
₹1,00,000–₹2,50,000 |
Instagram 1 Million followers |
₹3,00,000–₹5,00,000 |
These numbers vary depending on the niche and the influencer's engagement rate. The rise of influencer marketing has also led to the emergence of new media formats and content styles on Instagram. By experimenting with creative ways to engage your audience, such as live streams, interactive Q&A sessions, immersive storytelling, and other innovative approaches, you can not only enhance your appeal but also provide brands with fresh opportunities to connect with consumers and boost revenue.
Similarly to affiliate marketing, depending on the Instagram niche you are specializing in, the higher you can charge for a post.
For instance, influencers in niches like tech or finance might charge more due to higher perceived value.
Join DRIM and Monetize Your Instagram Today!
Ready to start earning money on Instagram? At DRIM, we specialize in connecting influencers with brands for performance-driven campaigns.
Through our platform you can partner with many different brands to promote their product or service.
Whether you’re new to influencing or an established creator, we’ll help you monetize your audience effectively.
Collaborating with a company that specializes in affiliate marketing with brands offers numerous advantages for influencers. Firstly, it provides access to a diverse range of products and services that align with the influencer's niche, enhancing their credibility and expanding their revenue streams. Secondly, influencers benefit from comprehensive support and resources, including high-quality creatives, detailed analytics, and personalized guidance from dedicated account managers. This partnership simplifies tracking and managing earnings, allowing influencers to focus on creating engaging content. Additionally, collaborating with an affiliate marketing company opens up new opportunities to expand reach and grow the audience by tapping into new markets and demographics. Ultimately, this partnership fosters mutual growth and success in the dynamic world of digital marketing.
Register today to unlock your potential and partner with top brands through DRIM.one!