Does Instagram pay monthly?

Instagram is one of the most popular social media platforms, with over 1 billion monthly active users. As an influencer or content creator, you may wonder if Instagram itself pays users directly. Unfortunately, Instagram does not offer direct monthly payments to users simply for having an account or posting content.

Does Instagram Pay for Posts?

Instagram does not pay users directly for posts. The Instagram platform itself does not offer any built-in monetization features where users get paid per post or per month. This means you cannot earn money directly from Instagram simply for posting content or having followers.

However, there are some indirect ways influencers and creators can earn money through Instagram, such as:

Sponsored posts – Brands may pay you to create sponsored content and promote their products.
Affiliate marketing – Earn commissions by promoting specific products and services.

Selling products or services – Drive sales through Instagram and earn income.
Donations – Users can send tips and donations through third-party services.

So while Instagram does not directly pay for posts, you can use your influence and audience on Instagram to generate income through partnerships and monetization strategies.

Does Instagram Pay for Reels?

Similar to regular posts, Instagram does not directly pay users for creating Reels. Reels are short, entertaining video clips that live on the Explore page.

However, Instagram does offer some monetization features for Reels:

Instagram Reels Bonus Program – Some creators can earn bonus payouts for original and top-performing Reels. However, Instagram determines eligibility and there is no direct payment per reel.

Reels Play Bonus – Earn a bonus when your reel is re-shared or remixed by another account.
Stars – Fans can purchase and send Stars to support their favorite creators on Reels.
Brand Partnerships – You may be able to partner with brands and earn money for creating sponsored Reels.

The key takeaway is that you cannot earn direct payments from Instagram simply for posting Reels. But there are some limited monetization options, as well as the potential to use Reels content to attract brand deals and partnerships.

Does Instagram Pay for Stories?

No, Instagram does not offer direct payments or monthly earnings for posting ephemeral Stories. As with feed posts and Reels, Stories do not generate direct income from Instagram itself.

However, you can potentially monetize your Instagram Stories in these ways:

Sponsored Stories – Brands may pay you to create sponsored stories to promote products/services.
Swipe-Up Links – Add affiliate links or direct users to sales pages.
Product Tags – Tag and link to featured products that users can purchase.

Donations – Direct viewers to donate through third-party services.

While Instagram does not pay for Stories directly, creators can test out different monetization strategies through partnerships and affiliate opportunities.

Does Instagram Pay Verified Users?

Instagram does not pay users simply for being verified. The coveted blue verification badge only confirms an account’s authenticity – it does not unlock any direct monetization or earnings.

Getting verified may indirectly help you earn money by:

Increasing credibility and authority as an influencer.
Attracting more brand partnerships and sponsorship opportunities.

Growing your audience and reach as a public figure.

However, Instagram itself does not send monthly payments or provide monetization features specifically for having a verified account. The badge itself does not generate any direct revenue.

How Do Influencers Make Money on Instagram?

Here are some of the top ways influencers and creators can actually earn money through Instagram:

Affiliate Marketing

Influencers earn commissions by promoting specific products and services using special affiliate links. They make a percentage of any sales generated through their link. Affiliate marketing works well on Instagram since it’s very visual.

Selling Products or Services

Many Instagram entrepreneurs make money by selling products directly through Instagram posts, stories, and IGTV. Things like online stores, ebooks, courses, merchandise, and consultancy services are popular offerings.

Brand Partnerships and Sponsorships

Influencers can partner with brands to create content and amplify their campaigns and messages. Brand partnerships often involve a lump-sum payment or an ongoing ambassador deal.

Licensing Content

Photographers, artists, and creators can license their content to brands, publishers, and third-party platforms. Licensing original content can provide a lucrative passive income source.

Consulting and Business Services

Offer specialized consulting, expertise, or services related to social media marketing. Many influencers offer coaching and consulting packages tailored to brands and businesses.

5 Requirements to Make Money as an Instagram Influencer

If you want to earn money through Instagram influence, here are 5 key requirements:

Large audience – Big follower count and high engagement rates attract sponsorships.
High-quality content – Valuable, relevant, and consistent content theme.

Niche focus – Become an authority on specific topics that brands want access to.
Partnerships – Build relationships with relevant brands and businesses.
Monetization strategy – Implement methods like affiliate links, product sales, etc.

Instagram Money Calculators

There are a few Instagram money calculators and earnings estimators online. However, these are just rough guidelines – actual income varies widely based on your niche, content, and monetization strategies. Some popular Instagram earnings calculators include:

Influencer Marketing Hub

Estimates potential earnings based on followers, engagement rate, and average sponsorship cost per post in your niche.

Mediakix

Estimates potential yearly earnings based on followers, engagement, gender, content type, location, and industry averages.

Obviously

Estimates potential earnings from affiliate marketing based on followers and average commission rates.

While these calculators provide ballpark estimates, actual incomes can vary significantly in real life. Many factors affect potential earnings like content quality, business skills, work ethic, professionalism, demand for your niche, and sponsorship opportunities available in your area.

Tips to Make Money on Instagram

Here are some proven tips to monetize your Instagram account and boost potential earnings:

Fill out your bio – Add a business email, relevant links, niche topics, and branded hashtag.
Leverage analytics – Use Insights to understand your audience and optimize content.
Engage with your audience – Respond to comments, ask questions in captions.

Post consistently – Regular posts maintain audience interest.
Use relevant hashtags – Popular and niche hashtags expand reach.
Leverage IGTV – Use long-form video for tutorials, behind-the-scenes.

Partner with brands – Pitch yourself to relevant companies for sponsorships.
Diversify income streams – Don’t rely on one monetization method alone.
Promote affiliate links – Share links through your bio, posts, stories.

Sell your own products/services – Offer value and solve your audience’s problems.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Instagram pay you for followers?

No, Instagram does not pay you for getting more followers. The platform does not offer money in exchange for higher follower counts. However, having a large audience can increase sponsorship opportunities.

How much do Instagram influencers make?

Influencer incomes vary widely, but one report found:

Nano influencers (5k followers) earn $30 – $60 per post
Micro influencers (50k followers) earn $150 – $300 per post
Macro influencers (500k followers) earn $1,000 – $3,000 per post

Top-tier mega influencers with over 1 million followers can earn anywhere from $10,000 up to $100,000+ per sponsored post.

What percentage does Instagram take?

Instagram does not take any percentage of influencer earnings directly. However, the platform does take a percentage of revenue from advertisements running on the app.

How often do brands pay influencers on Instagram?

Payment frequency depends on the specific brand partnership terms. Common arrangements include:

One-time payment for a single sponsored post
Monthly retainer for ongoing branded content
Commission on clicks, impressions, or conversions from posts

Payment methods also vary, like bank transfer, PayPal, Venmo, etc. Speak to brands about payment frequency and process before formalizing partnerships.

The Bottom Line

Instagram does not directly pay creators or offer monetization for regular posting. However, by growing an engaged following, creating high-quality content, and partnering with brands – you can absolutely earn money as an influencer on Instagram.

With a smart monetization strategy and consistent effort, Instagram offers immense influencer marketing potential to connect with your audience and turn your passion into a profit.