6 Strategies for Making Money with Influencer Marketing on Instagram: Easy Side Hustle Tips

Instagram has become a popular place for brands and users to make money.

With over a billion users, it offers many ways to earn cash through influencer marketing.

You can turn your Instagram account into a side gig by working with companies to promote their products.

You can make money on Instagram even if you don’t have millions of followers. Many brands work with smaller accounts that have loyal fans.

This article will show you 6 ways to get started with influencer marketing on Instagram as a fun side hustle.

You’ll learn tips to grow your account and connect with brands looking for promoters like you.

Table of Contents

1) Partner with micro-influencers

Want to make money on Instagram without a huge following? Micro-influencers are your answer.

These are folks with smaller, but super engaged audiences.

Micro-influencers make up 91% of the influencer market.

That’s a lot of potential partners for your side hustle!

You don’t need millions of followers to start.

Micro-influencers often have between 1,000 to 100,000 followers.

The sweet spot? It depends on your niche.

What’s cool about micro-influencers is their authenticity.

Their followers trust them more than big celebs.

This means better engagement rates for you.

Looking to team up? Find micro-influencers in your niche.

Check out hashtags related to your products or services.

See who’s posting great content with good engagement.

Reach out to them with a friendly message.

Offer them something valuable in return for a shoutout or review.

It could be free products, a commission, or even cash.

Remember, it’s all about building relationships.

Be genuine in your approach.

Micro-influencers appreciate brands that value their work.

Don’t forget to track your results.

See which partnerships bring in the most sales or followers.

This will help you refine your strategy over time.

With micro-influencers, you can start small and grow your Instagram side hustle.

It’s a great way to dip your toes into influencer marketing without breaking the bank.

2) Run Instagram Stories ads

Want to make some extra cash on Instagram? Try running Instagram Stories ads.

These are short, full-screen ads that pop up between users’ Stories.

They’re perfect for catching people’s attention.

You only have a few seconds, so make them count! Use eye-catching visuals and snappy text to grab viewers.

Instagram Story ads are great for promoting products or services.

You can add links that viewers can swipe up to visit your website or online store.

To get started, you’ll need a business account on Instagram.

Then, use Facebook Ads Manager to create your ad.

Pick your target audience carefully to get the best results.

Keep your ads fresh and interesting.

Try different styles and see what works best.

You might use videos, photos, or even fun animations.

Don’t forget to track how your ads are doing.

Instagram gives you stats on views, clicks, and sales.

Use this info to make your next ads even better.

With some practice, you could turn Instagram Stories ads into a nice side gig.

It’s a cool way to earn money while being creative on social media.

3) Leverage user-generated content

User-generated content (UGC) can be a game-changer for your Instagram influencer hustle.

It’s content created by your followers that features your brand or products.

This can include photos, videos, reviews, or testimonials.

UGC is like gold for your Instagram account.

It shows real people using and loving your stuff, which builds trust with potential customers.

Plus, it’s free content for you to share!

To get more UGC, try running contests or challenges.

Ask your followers to post pictures using your products or services.

Offer a prize for the best submissions to encourage participation.

You can also create a unique hashtag for your brand.

Encourage your followers to use it when they post about your products.

This makes it easy for you to find and share their content.

When you share UGC, always give credit to the original creator.

Tag them in the post and thank them for their contribution.

This makes your followers feel valued and more likely to create content in the future.

User-generated content can help you save time on content creation.

It also gives you fresh ideas and perspectives from your audience.

Use it to fill gaps in your content calendar or to showcase different ways people use your products.

Remember, authenticity is key on Instagram.

UGC helps you keep things real and relatable.

It shows that real people love what you’re offering, which can convince others to give it a try too.

4) Offer exclusive discounts

Want to boost your Instagram influencer income? Try offering exclusive discounts to your followers.

This strategy can help you make money and grow your audience at the same time.

Create special promo codes for your favorite products or services.

Share these codes with your followers in your posts or stories.

Make sure to let them know the discount is just for them!

You can team up with brands to get custom discount codes.

When your followers use these codes, you’ll earn a commission on each sale.

It’s a win-win situation – your audience saves money, and you make some extra cash.

Don’t forget to make your discount offers feel special.

Use words like “limited time” or “exclusive” to create a sense of urgency.

This can encourage your followers to act quickly and use your codes.

Remember to be honest about your partnerships.

Tell your followers when you’re getting paid for promoting a product.

This builds trust and keeps your influencer side hustle ethical.

Try offering different types of discounts.

You could do percentage-off deals, buy-one-get-one offers, or free shipping codes.

Mix it up to see what works best for your audience.

Keep track of which discount codes perform well.

This info can help you make smarter decisions about future partnerships and promotions.

Plus, it shows brands that you’re serious about your Instagram influencer marketing game.

5) Collaborate on giveaways

Want to boost your Instagram following and make some cash? Try teaming up with brands for giveaways.

It’s a fun way to grow your audience and earn money at the same time.

Giveaways are super popular on Instagram.

People love free stuff, and brands love the exposure.

As an influencer, you’re the perfect middle-man to make it happen.

Here’s how it works: A brand gives you products to give away.

You post about it and ask your followers to enter.

The brand gets tons of new eyeballs on their stuff, and you get paid for your efforts.

Running a successful giveaway can really pay off.

Some influencers make hundreds or even thousands of dollars per giveaway.

Plus, you often get to keep extra products for yourself!

To get started, reach out to brands you love.

Tell them about your audience and pitch your giveaway idea.

Be sure to set clear goals and rules for the contest.

Remember to follow Instagram’s rules for promotions.

You don’t want to get in trouble with the platform.

Also, be honest with your followers about the sponsored nature of the giveaway.

Partnering with influencers for giveaways is a win-win for everyone involved.

Your followers get cool free stuff, the brand gets exposure, and you get paid.

It’s a great way to monetize your Instagram presence.

6) Show behind-the-scenes content

Want to boost your Instagram influencer game? Try sharing behind-the-scenes content.

This strategy can help you make money while giving your followers a peek into your world.

People love seeing what goes on behind the curtain.

It makes them feel like they’re part of something special.

You can show off your prep work, your creative process, or even your daily routine.

Think about filming yourself getting ready for a photoshoot.

Or snap a pic of your messy desk while you’re brainstorming ideas.

These glimpses into your life can make your followers feel more connected to you.

Behind-the-scenes content humanizes brands and strengthens online presence.

The same goes for influencers.

When you share these moments, you’re building trust with your audience.

This trust can lead to more engagement on your posts.

More engagement often means more opportunities to work with brands.

And that’s where the money-making potential comes in.

You could even turn your behind-the-scenes content into a paid feature.

Some influencers offer exclusive BTS content to subscribers or patrons.

This can be a great way to earn extra cash from your most dedicated followers.

Remember, authenticity is key.

Don’t stage your behind-the-scenes content.

Keep it real and your audience will appreciate it.

This approach can help you stand out and potentially earn more from your influencer side hustle.

Understanding Influencer Marketing on Instagram

Influencer marketing on Instagram lets you make money by partnering with popular accounts.

It’s a great way to reach new customers and grow your brand.

What is Influencer Marketing?

Influencer marketing is when brands team up with popular social media users to promote products.

On Instagram, influencers share posts about items they like.

This can include photos, videos, or Stories.

You can be an influencer or work with them to boost your business.

Influencers have loyal followers who trust their opinions.

When they recommend something, their fans often want to buy it.

Influencer marketing campaigns are growing fast.

For every $1 spent, businesses make $5.20 on average.

That’s why 63% of marketers plan to spend more on influencers next year.

Why Instagram is a Key Platform for Influencers

Instagram is perfect for influencer marketing.

It has over 1 billion active users each month.

The app focuses on visual content, which is great for showing off products.

Instagram has many features that help influencers connect with fans:

Photo and video posts
Stories that disappear after 24 hours
Live videos for real-time interaction
IGTV for longer videos
Shopping tags to link directly to products

Top brands pay big money to work with Instagram influencers.

Mega-influencers can charge over $10,000 per post.

But even smaller accounts can earn $500 to $5,000 for sponsored content.

Instagram makes it easy to track how well influencer posts do.

You can see likes, comments, and even sales from each post.

This helps you figure out what works best for your brand.

Building a Successful Influencer Profile

Creating a standout Instagram profile is key to attracting followers and brands.

Focus on defining your niche and producing top-notch content that resonates with your audience.

Identifying Your Niche

Pick a specific topic you’re passionate about.

This could be fitness, fashion, food, or travel.

The more focused your niche, the easier it is to find your target audience.

Think about what makes you unique.

Do you have a special skill or perspective? Use this to stand out from other influencers.

Test different content types to see what your followers like best.

This might be funny videos, helpful tips, or stunning photos.

Remember, it’s okay to start small.

You can grow your niche as you gain more followers.

Creating High-Quality Content

Your content is your calling card.

Make sure it’s eye-catching and valuable to your followers.

Use good lighting and invest in a decent camera or smartphone.

Learn basic photo and video editing skills to make your posts pop.

Be consistent with your posting schedule.

Your followers should know when to expect new content from you.

Mix up your content types.

Try photos, videos, stories, and reels to keep things fresh.

Engage with your audience by asking questions and responding to comments.

This helps build a loyal community around your brand.

Remember, quality beats quantity.

It’s better to post less often if it means your content is top-notch.

Monetizing Your Influence

Instagram offers great ways to cash in on your online popularity.

Let’s check out some top methods to turn those likes into dollar signs.

Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing lets you earn a cut when followers buy stuff you recommend.

It’s perfect for sharing products you already use and love.

Fashion, tech, and beauty are popular choices.

You’ll get a special link or code to share.

Add affiliate links to your bio, stories, and posts.

Be clear about being an affiliate to build trust.

Track your stats to see what works best.

Some programs offer up to 10% commission.

That adds up fast if you have an engaged audience! Just remember to only promote products you truly believe in.