Unlike YouTube, Instagram doesn’t pay you per view. In fact, Instagram lacks a built-in monetization platform based on views, which means earning money 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 income 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.
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: Partner with brands that pay you to create content promoting their products. This often includes sponsored posts or long-term collaborations.
Each of these options provides a way to turn your Instagram account into a profitable platform, depending on your follower base and niche.
If you are just starting out, we recommend you to check those 2 articles to get your Instagram adventure started, how to become an Instagram influencer and
How much can you get paid on Instagram?
If you are planning to monetize your Instagram, 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 (2024) 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
Paid posts are another lucrative option, where brands pay influencers to create content featuring their products or services. Your income 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.
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.
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.
Register today to unlock your potential and partner with top brands through DRIM.one!