Instagram monetization can help you earn money for the content you work hard to create - so why not get paid for your Instagram Reels?

Learn how to get paid for Instagram Reels, how Instagram’s monetization program works, how to grow your Instagram following and engagement levels, and more!

Key Points:

• Can You Get Paid For Instagram Reels?

• How To Qualify For Instagram Monetization

• How To Get Verified On Instagram

• Top Ways To Earn On Instagram

• How To Get More Followers & Engagement On Instagram

• Frequently Asked Questions

Can You Get Paid For Instagram Reels?

Yes, though Instagram doesn’t offer a traditional monetization program that pays 1:1 for views, like TikTok’s Creator Rewards program.

How To Get Paid By Instagram As A Creator

There are a few ways to get paid for your Reels content: 

• The invite-only Bonuses program

• Partnership ads through the Creator Marketplace

• Follower subscriptions

• Follower gifts

• Viewer badges

How Many Views Do You Need To Get Paid On Instagram?

Instagram doesn’t pay per view, like some other platforms.

However, the more view you have on a Reel, the more likely you are to qualify for the Bonuses program, snag brand partnerships, and increase your following which can directly result in more subscriptions.

Does Instagram Pay Monthly?

With Instagram subscriptions, your followers pay a monthly fee to see exclusive content.

As for Instagram’s own payout process, payouts are made twice a month:

“Payouts for Instagram bonuses are released around the 7th and 21st of every month with earnings from 2-week periods the previous month.”

How To Qualify For Instagram Monetization

Before you can start earning through the Bonuses program, Subscriptions, Creator Marketplace, and more, you’ll first need to qualify for monetization.

It’s worth noting that not every earning method requires that you qualify for Instagram’s own monetization program, but it definitely widens your options.

You’ll need to be 18 years or older to qualify for Instagram monetization.

To unlock most monetization options, you’ll first need to ensure that you’re posting from a Professional account - either as a Business or Creator. Personal Instagram accounts won’t have access to certain features, like the Creator Marketplace, subscriptions, or badges, so it’s worth making the switch.

Tap the three lines on the top right corner of your Instagram profile.

Scroll down to For Professionals and tap Account Type And Tools.

Tap Switch To Professional Account.

Follow the on-screen prompts depending on your account type.

Select either Creator or Business.

Complete the on-screen prompts to finish setting it up.

How To Get Verified On Instagram

Verification is a great way to add an extra layer of authority to your profile - and the best part is with the Meta Verification feature, you don’t need to be a celebrity to qualify!

Meta Verified

With Meta Verified, you will need to meet the following criteria:

• Be at least 18 years of age or older.

• Live in a qualifying region.

• Have an eligible Instagram or Facebook account.

• Have a valid form of ID.

• Have an Instagram Creator or personal account.

You can learn how to subscribe to Meta Verified here.

Applying For Verification As A Celebrity/Public Figure

For this method, you’ll need to meet the following requirements:

• Have an account that represents a real person or brand.

• Have a bio, profile picture, and be active on your profile.

• Your account must “represent a well-known, highly searched for person, brand or entity”

If you meet the above criteria, you can request your badge here. 

Top Ways To Earn On Instagram

Once you’ve swapped to a Professional account and you’ve decided whether or not you want to get verified, it’s time to review the many ways you can earn money from your content.

Some of these options require that you qualify for monetization, and some have high follower thresholds, but even if you’re just starting out there’s an option for you. 

Instagram Reels Revenue

Certain accounts that qualify can turn on ads for Instagram Reels, and earn from any ad revenue their views accrue.

Not everyone has access to this since it’s still in the testing phase, but those who do have access will need to meet the following requirements: 

• Located in: US, Canada, Japan, or South Korea

• 18 years or older

• Have a professional account

• Qualify for monetization
  
  

If you meet the criteria above, follow these steps to enable ads:

• Go to the Business Info page and set up your account.

• Set up your payout account to receive revenue.

• Make sure Monetize Ads In Profile Feed is toggled to ON in the Ads In Profile Feed page.

• Follow the on screen steps to complete your changes.

Affiliate Programs

Affiliate programs are a great option for anyone, since they work independently from Instagram and don’t require you to qualify for monetization in-platform.

A few of the most popular affiliate programs include:

• Amazon Associates

• eBay Partner Network

• Awin

• Rakuten

Start by signing up for the program of your choice, then include the links in your bio, Stories, or landing pages.

Instagram Shop

If you have an Instagram Business account, you can also create a shop directly within Instagram to sell digital and physical products. Keep in mind that it’s only available on mobile devices.

You can learn how to set up your Instagram Shop here.

Brand Sponsorships

This is one of the most lucrative methods for monetization. To get brand deals, you can either reach out to brands directly, or use Instagram’s Creator Marketplace to connect with companies that are looking for influencers.

First, swap to a professional account.

Next, go to your professional dashboard and under Your Tools click Branded Content.

Tap Set Up Branded Content Tools and follow the on-screen steps to get started.

You can browse projects from brands who want to work with creators, and keep track of any ongoing deals that you’re working on.

Instagram Subscriptions

Creators who are at least 18 years old, have 10,000 followers, and are posting from a Professional account can offer paid subscriptions to their followers.

To set up subscriptions, go to your profile and tap Professional Dashboard.

From here tap Set Up Subscriptions > Next.

Agree to the terms, then tap Next.

Choose your monthly subscription price, and follow the on-screen steps to complete.

Badges & Gifts

Once you’ve reached that 10k follower threshold, you’ll also unlock the ability for your followers to buy badges and gifts as a way to show their support. 

Instagram Gifts are automatically enabled for eligible creators, so there’s nothing you need to do to start receiving them.

To receive badges, just apply for Instagram monetization and once you’re approved you’ll receive a notification that prompts you to set up badges.

How To Get More Followers & Engagement On Instagram

One thing’s for certain - if you want to earn more on Instagram, you’re going to need more followers. The more followers you have, the more monetization options you can unlock, plus brands are more likely to work with accounts that have a large following and high level of engagement.

So how do you get more Instagram followers?

Choosing The Right Niche

Start by choosing the right niche.

Of course, you shouldn’t just pick a niche based on what earns the most but if you’re already passionate about one of the high-earning niches then why not make the most of it?

Typically, the most lucrative niches on Instagram include: travel, beauty & fashion, health & fitness, general lifestyle posting, business, music, photography, parenting, pets, and food.

Instagram SEO

SEO isn’t just for websites! Instagram has its own search feature within the platform, which means you need to optimize your profile and posts for user search queries.

Start by ensuring that your profile is professional and easy to find. Your handle should be brief and easy to spell, your profile picture should ideally represent you in an eye-catching way, and your bio should tell visitors exactly what you do and what you can offer them.

Next, make sure you’re not just posting one type of content. Since every feature on Instagram has its own algorithm, make sure you’re posting photos, Reels, and Stories as often as possible to make the most of each opportunity.

Finally, within your captions and bio you should be including the right keywords. These aren’t just hashtags, though those are important too, but simple words and phrases that users might be looking for when browsing the platform.

The best way to get started with keywords is to browse the profiles and posts made by your competitors. See what words they’re using repeatedly, and what hashtags appear in their content. If you’re using hashtags, aim for hashtags that have between 1k-500k posts to make the most of niche audiences and popular tags. 

Recommended Reading:

• How Long Should An Instagram Reel Be?
• The Best Time To Post Instagram Reels, Photos, & Stories For Every Niche
• Scheduling Instagram Posts
• How To Share Instagram Posts Anywhere

Buy Instagram Followers, Views, & More

If you really want to unlock every monetization feature but aren’t even close to 10k followers, don’t despair!

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All you need is the link to your Instagram profile or post and you can boost your follower count with real Instagram users from active profiles.

There’s no risk of bot engagement, and you don’t even need to provide your login information!

Frequently Asked Questions